Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Love is love, actually!
Liam leads stars calling for equal marriage in NI
LIAM Neeson has backed calls for gay marriage in Northern Ireland – ahead of a march demanding a change in the law. The Ballymena actor, along with a host of other stars including Gary Lightbody, Graham Norton, Stephen Fry and Bronagh Waugh, added his voice to those supporting same-sex unions here. The 65-year-old said: “We must welcome all members of society through civil marriages, while still keeping our Christian values. Love, is love, is love.” The marriage equality event in Belfast on Saturday is being organised by campaign groups including Amnesty International. Amnesty points to 70% of people showing support for such a move in an Ipsos MORI poll in June last year. It adds Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK in which same-sex couples cannot marry, despite “widespread public support”. They got backing for the calls from Neeson, who insisted: “We’ve had enough of a history in our society in Northern Ireland of discrimination, mistrust and hatred. “We’re also an open-hearted, welcoming and terrific people. Let us show that to the world by treating gay, lesbian and transgender peoples as our brothers and sisters and allowing them to marry, if they so wish. By joining the rest of Ireland and other western countries in celebrating equality we can also attract more investment to our province.” Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody also backed the move, saying he marched with 20,000 “fellow Northern Ireland citizens for marriage equality” two years ago. The 41-year-old added: “It was a beautiful day of hope, joy and solidarity and I was so proud to be from Norn Iron. “Two years on and somehow – defying reason given it’s the will of the people – we still do not have marriage equality in Northern Ireland.” TV host Graham Norton said he had been moved to tears when people in the Republic voted for marriage equality. The 54-year-old added: “My own mother was from Northern Ireland, so of course I have huge affection for the place and its people. “I know it is hugely frustrating for gay people there that it is the last part of these islands still without marriage equality. Especially when there is such overwhelming support for it among the public.” The Fall Actress Bronagh Waugh, who will host the rally at Belfast City Hall, said a “spotlight” is being shone on Northern Ireland over equal marriage. Saturday’s march starts at Writers’ Square in Belfast at 2.30pm,