First Northern Irish same-sex couple to transform civil partnership into a marriage hail 'wonderful, positive change for society' after 'fighting long and hard' for the right to tie the knot
Northern Ireland's first ever same-sex couple to transform their civil partnership into a marriage under new rules have hailed the move a 'wonderful, positive change for society'.
Cara McCann and Amanda McGurk celebrated on the steps of Belfast City Hall today - as new rules were officially brought into law in Northern Ireland.
The rules - which are opposed by the country's largest party on religious grounds - mean couples in more than 1,300 same-sex civil partnerships can now marry for the first time.
Same-sex couples were allowed to marry for the first time in Northern Ireland after a law change earlier this year.
Speaking after their marriage was confirmed, Ms McCann said: 'We fought long and hard for the right to marry.
'We want to thank everyone who was part of this great movement for love and equality, and which has delivered this wonderful, positive change for our society.'
Cara McCann and Amanda McGurk celebrated on the steps of Belfast City Hall today - as new rules were officially brought into law in Northern Ireland
The rules - which are opposed by the country's largest party on religious grounds - mean couples in more than 1,300 same-sex civil partnerships can now marry for the first time
What is 'powersharing' in Northern Ireland?
Powersharing is the type of government system used in Northern Ireland.
It allows nationalist and unionist political parties to share power together in an executive - which is the branch of government exercising authority in and holding responsibility for the governance of a state.
There is also a legislative chamber made up of assembly members which proposes and scrutinises laws.
But the arrangement collapsed in January 2017 after a row between the two biggest parties - the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Civil servants had been administering and implementing policy since, but had stayed out of decisions thought to be beyond their remit.
Same-sex marriage was one of the sticking points in a new agreement being reached.
A new deal was agreed between the DUP and Sinn Fein in January 2020.
What did it mean for same-sex marriage?
Northern Ireland's largest party, the DUP, is opposed to same-sex marriage on religious grounds.
They argue that marriage is between a man and a woman and that civil partnerships were already available to same-sex couples.
The issue was one of the sticking points preventing reformation of the collapsed powersharing Executive at Stormont for several years.
In the absence of powersharing, parliament forced UK Government ministers to introduce the change over same-sex marriage.
In October, Northern Ireland minister Robin Walker introduced the new regulations to parliament.
The first same-sex marriages took place earlier this year after the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Act passed into law.
The move followed a lengthy campaign and legislative change at Westminster while the system of 'powersharing' at Northern Ireland's parliament building - Stormont - was suspended.
Northern Ireland's largest party, the DUP, is opposed to same-sex marriage on religious grounds.
They argue that marriage is between a man and a woman and that civil partnerships were already available to same-sex couples.
The issue was one of the sticking points preventing reformation of the collapsed powersharing Executive at Stormont for several years.
Powersharing is the type of government system used in Northern Ireland.
It allows nationalist and unionist political parties to share power together in an executive - the branch of government holding responsibility for the governance of a state.
There is also a legislative chamber made up of assembly members, which proposes and scrutinises laws.
But the arrangement - from the Good Friday Agreement - collapsed in January 2017 after a row between the two biggest parties - the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Civil servants have been administering and implementing policy since, but have stayed out of decisions thought to be beyond their remit.
In its absence, parliament forced UK Government ministers to introduce the change over same-sex marriage.
In October, Northern Ireland minister Robin Walker introduced the new regulations to parliament.
The first same-sex marriages took place earlier this year after the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Act passed into law.
Couples who had already sought a civil partnership were originally excluded from the reforms.
But they will now have a three-year window to change from a civil partnership to a marriage.
Opposite-sex couples will also be able to convert an existing marriage into a civil partnership.
Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy said 32 couples planned to convert their civil partnerships this week.
Ms McCann said she and Ms McGurk had been part of the Love Equality campaign for many years.
'It is just surreal that this day has come and we feel so much more equal and valued today once we received our marriage certificate,' she said.
Ms McCann said she and Ms McGurk had been part of the Love Equality campaign for many years
She said their campaign had been a positive one from the outset, encouraging conversations around and greater visibility of LGBTQ+ issues
'Marriage is universal, everyone across the globe knows what a marriage is.
'We grew up not saying, 'I cannot wait to get a civil partnership', we grew up saying, 'I cannot wait to get married'.'
She said their campaign had been a positive one from the outset, encouraging conversations around and greater visibility of LGBTQ+ issues.
'This is the final piece in the jigsaw of the marriage equality campaign and I think Northern Ireland is definitely a different place today,' she added.
Ms McGurk said it was an 'absolutely wonderful' occasion.
'I do not think we ever thought this day was going to come in our time,' she added.
'We have been campaigning and hoping for this day for many, many years and are delighted to be the first.'