Equality battle
MP: Same-sex marriage fight is personal
Campaigning politician Ged Killen has vowed to keep battling until same-sex marriage laws are passed in Northern Ireland.
The Hamilton West MP – who is married to a Northern Irishman – gave a rousing speech at the 2018 Amnesty International Pride Lecture in Belfast, telling the audience that the fight is “personal as well as political”.
Mr Killen and his husband exchanged vows in Massachusetts in the US in 2014, but the couple are angered that their marriage is still not recognised when they regularly travel to Northern Ireland together.
While the MP’S husband prefers to stay out of the limelight, the Labour politician is publicly campaigning for equal marriage rights for gay people.
Mr Killen said: “When I take off from Glasgow Airport I am a married man, but when I step off the plane in Belfast my marriage will no longer be recognised under Northern Irish law.
“It can’t be right that people separated by a small amount of sea are treated so unequally. The law must change to make sure everyone – no matter where they live – has equal access to marriage.”
Delivering his ‘ Marriage Equality: Winning At Westminster’ speech, Mr Killen claimed that opponents of same-sex marriage were using parliamentary tactics to try and prevent legislation being passed. He told the audience that opponents would lose the fight, saying: “Make no mistake. Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland will happen.”
The MP argues that the majority of the Northern Irish public supports same-sex marriage, with opinion in favour regularly polled at above 70 per cent.
He said: “There is a clear majority in the Houses of Parliament that would vote to extend the right of marriage to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland.
“The opponents of same-sex marriage seek to impose a minority view on the LGBT community in Northern Ireland through a technicality.
“Under these circumstances, it is antidemocratic not to legislate for same-sex marriage and Westminster has a moral and a democratic obligation to do so.
“Instead of facing a vote, they now run away, using cheap parlour tricks and the machinations of parliamentary processes and the petition of concern to deny the will of the people of Northern Ireland.
“It can only be described as one thing, a stitch-up to prevent people from claiming their rights.”
He added: “MPS, peers and communities across the UK will continue to put pressure on the government and call on Theresa May to act.
“For many of us, including myself, this is personal as well as political.
“It is hard for a single MP or peer to change the law as ultimately the government is in control, and while it is minded to oppose equal marriage in Northern Ireland, there is always an archaic parliamentary process that it could deploy to block our path.
“So, what we need to do is simple, we need to force the government to change its mind.
“Theresa May needs to decide whether £1billion and a fragile grip of power is worth perpetuating the ongoing discrimination against the LGBT+ community in Northern Ireland.
“Make no mistake, same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland will happen.”