First NI same sex marriage set for Valentines Day
Valentine’s Day 2020 is set to be the date of the first same-sex weddings in Northern Ireland.
Love Equality campaigners confirmed the date with UK Government Ministers.
The legalisation of same-sex marriages in the region is due to come into effect on January 13th 2020.
But couples will have to wait the normal 28 days to elapse after they submit their notice of intention to marry, meaning the first same-sex weddings are expected to be celebrated on Valentine’s Day.
In July, Parliament voted to pass the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act, which obliges the Government to act if the devolved Northern Ireland Executive has not been re-established by 21 October 2019.
Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, part of the Love Equality campaign for marriage equality said:
“There could be no more fitting date for Northern Ireland’s first same-sex weddings than Valentine’s Day, the feast of love.
“We are now working closely with Government ministers and officials to ensure that the legislative obligations are met, in time and in full, so that couples here can start to enjoy the same rights as elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.
“We now look forward to the sound of Valentine’s Day wedding bells.
“We thank everyone who has worked with us and supported this campaign - especially Conor McGinn MP and Lord Robert Hayward for their steadfast commitment to the cause of equality.”
Patrick Corrigan confirmed the February 14 date in a meeting last week in Westminster with Northern Ireland Office Ministers Lord Duncan and Robin Walker. Lord Duncan confirmed the date in a debate in the House of Lords.