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Most liberalisation of LGBT rights in Northern Ireland has been achieved under direct rule by the Government of the United Kingdom, British parliamentary legislation or court decisions rather than through laws passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly. Compared to the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, homosexuality was decriminalised in Northern Ireland a decade earlier and civil partnerships were introduced six years earlier, but the Republic allowed same-sex marriage five years sooner.
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Northern Ireland was the last part of the United Kingdom where same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised, the last to implement a blood donation “monogamous no waiting period” policy system for men who have sex with men and, after intervention by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the last to allow same-sex marriage. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in Northern Ireland have traditionally been slower to advance than the rest of the United Kingdom, with the region having lagged behind England, Scotland, and Wales. NI)īlood donation deferral 3 months (incl. MSM activity not grounds for military dischargeīlood donation deferral 3 months (excl. Nikki Sinclaire becomes first openly trans MEP Gay men allowed to donate blood (1 yr deferral) Incitement to homophobic hatred made a crime Same sex couples granted equal rights to adoptĮqualised access to IVF for lesbian couples MSM activity involving multiple men legal MSM activity made legal (England & Wales)Ĭhris Smith elected as first openly gay MPĪngela Eagle becomes first openly lesbian MP Pitt-Rivers, Montagu, Wildeblood imprisoned
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Plans to make lesbian activity illegal defeated Oscar Wilde found guilty of gross indecency One man carrying a pride flag briefly scaled a barrier separating the two sides before running back to the parade.Death penalty introduced for MSM activity However, footage posted on social media showed Christians giving speeches outside Belfast City Hall being interrupted by a small number of jeering protestors. One Twitter user said: "Ah, d'ya remember #BelfastPride? Great days, they were. The positive atmosphere was widely praised on social media, with contrasts drawn with the scenes around the city for Sunday's anti-internment parade. Supporters of same-sex marriage say opinion polls indicate public backing for a change in the law, while opponents point out that a motion to introduce legislation has already been defeated five times in the assembly. The north is the only part of Britain and Ireland that does not permit marriage between same-sex couples. Some sang: "Arlene, Arlene hear us clear - we want equal marriage here", in a reference to the DUP leader and first minister's opposition to the legislation. More than 100 events took place during a 10-day long festival, which finished on Sunday, and had a theme of We are One.Ĭustom House Square held a celebration concert on Saturday evening.ĭuring the parade through Belfast, some participants called on the Assembly to lift the ban on same-sex marriage. The parade, which was in its 26th year, was headed by Belfast's first openly gay deputy mayor, Sinn Féin's Mary Ellen Campbell. THOUSANDS lined the streets of Belfast on Saturday for the city's annual Pride parade.