Equality call for same-sex couples and DUP under fire

THE annual Belfast Pride parade kicked off yesterday amid a week of controversy between political parties.

Thousands of people in the LGBTQ community and their supporters took to the streets for the parade through the city centre.

Campaigners from the Love Equality campaign used the parade to highlight their call for Theresa May’s Government to extend marriage rights to LGBT couples in Northern Ireland.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, said: “Theresa May and [Secretary of State] Karen Bradley should be ashamed that 18 months after the collapse of devolution, same-sex couples in Northern Ireland are still waiting to be treated as equals.”

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The DUP has come under fire this week over the use of a petition of concern to block legalisation of same-sex marriage when the Assembly was sitting.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council councillors voted to fly the flag at the weekend but DUP members triggered a procedural mechanism on Tuesday claiming proper process was not followed.

Mrs Foster told BBC Radio Ulster: “We should have respect for each other but not if it’s going to be used as a ruse to take down the national flag.”

Meanwhile, a small group of Christian anti-Pride campaigners gathered at Belfast City Hall to protest the event, reading Bible verses and singing hymns.