Tag Archives: Northern Ireland

Patrick Stewart Backs Anti-Gay Bakery In Northern Ireland: I Feel Bad For Them

Via the Independent: Patrick Stewart has weighed into the ‘gay cake’ debate, saying that he supports the right of the Christian bakers to refuse to ice messages they find offensive. Ashers Bakery lost a court case after refusing to make a cake with the words “support gay marriage” above a picture of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. Talking on …

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Belfast City Council: Yes To Marriage

Via the BBC: Belfast City Council has voted in favour of same-sex marriage at a meeting on Monday. A total of 38 councillors voted for, 13 voted against and there were two abstentions, so the motion was carried. It had been moved by Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown. Councillors from Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Green Party, PUP, People Before Profit and …

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Freep This Northern Ireland Poll

Right here. (Tipped by JMG reader Nick)

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Anti-Gay Bakery Found Guilty Of Discrimination

Not the best timing for Friday’s referendum in the south. Via the Independent: A Christian-owned bakery which refused to make a cake carrying a pro-gay marriage slogan has been found guilty of discrimination after a landmark legal action. The Northern Ireland Equality Commission brought the case against Ashers Baking Company on behalf of Gareth Lee, the gay rights activist whose …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Candidate Makes Audience Howl Over Child Abuse Claims

Via Pink News: A parliamentary candidate in Northern Ireland has claimed to have “proof” that gay people are 40 times more likely to abuse children than the general population. Susan Anne White, who is standing in West Tyrone in Northern Ireland, last week unveiled her “biblically correct” manifesto. Speaking at an election debate in Omagh on Tuesday, White defended former …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Assembly Narrowly Rejects Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Via the Irish Times: The Northern Assembly has again voted to reject legalising same sex marriage. The Democratic Unionist Party had used its numbers to block the Sinn Féin motion on Monday evening through a vetoing mechanism called a petition of concern. In the end however the petition was not required as the Sinn Féin motion was defeated by a …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Trial Begins For Baker In Marriage Cake Case

Via the Belfast Telegraph: A legal case involving a Christian baker who refused to make a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan cannot be determined on which side shouts loudest, a court in Belfast has been told. Northern Ireland’s Equality Commission is bringing the case against family-run Ashers Bakery on behalf of gay rights activist Gareth Lee, whose order was …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Thousands Rally In Support Of Anti-Gay Bakery

Via the Belfast Telegraph: Hundreds of people including three senior DUP politicians had to be refused entry to a full-to-capacity Waterfront Hall in Belfast last night as thousands of Christians turned up for a rally in support of the Newtownabbey bakery firm which is going to court to defend their refusal to bake a cake for a gay activist. Former …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Marriage Suit Filed

Via Buzzfeed: A same-sex couple in Northern Ireland have launched a long-awaited legal challenge to the region’s continued ban on same-sex marriage in a move that could bring marriage equality to the whole of the UK. The pair have filed a case in Belfast’s High Court, where they will argue that the continued ban on same-sex marriage breaches human rights …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Sinn Fein Calls For Referendum On Reuniting Ireland

Hot on the heels of Scotland’s rejection of independence from the United Kingdom, Sinn Fein is calling for a referendum on reuniting Northern Ireland with Ireland. Via Reuters: Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Scotland’s “inspiring” referendum on independence would accelerate a vote to unite Ireland, a prospect quickly dismissed by Unionists who share power in Northern Ireland. Scotland spurned …

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BRITAIN: Cameron Promises Devolved Powers For All Nations In United Kingdom

During his triumphant speech early this morning, British Prime Minister David Cameron vowed that “just as the people of Scotland will have more power over their affairs, so it follows that the people of England, Wales, Northern Ireland must have a bigger say over theirs.” He continued, “The question of English votes for English laws – the so-called West Lothian …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Bakery Faces Court For Refusing To Make Pro-Gay Cake

A bakery in Northern Ireland is facing legal action after refusing to make a Sesame Street-themed pro-marriage cake for an LGBT rights group. Via the Belfast Telegraph: The Equality Commission has told the owner of Asher’s Baking Company that it has broken the law by refusing to bake a cake for a member of a gay rights group. Daniel McArthur …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Legislature Rejects Marriage Bill By Vote Of 51-43

Via the Guardian: Amnesty International has warned that a legal challenge is likely to the Northern Ireland assembly’s decision to block a gay marriage equality bill. A Sinn Féin motion to bring in gay marriage to Northern Ireland was defeated by 51 votes to 43. It was the third time in the past 18 months that Stormont has rejected same-sex …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Activists Threaten To Sue For Marriage After Scotland Vote

Saying that they are happy but frustrated about Scotland’s approval of same-sex marriage yesterday, activists in Northern Ireland say they may turn to the courts. Via Gay Star News: John O’Doherty, director of The Rainbow Project in Belfast and chair of Equal Marriage NI, told Gay Star News he applauded Scotland’s politicians for voting in favor of equality.  ‘But it’s …

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Northern Ireland Legalizes Gay Adoption

At least there’s some good news this week. Via BBC News: A ban on gay and unmarried couples applying to adopt children in Northern Ireland has been removed. They may now apply in the same way as heterosexual couples. Health Minister Edwin Poots had tried to challenge an appeal court decision to extend adoption rights to gay couples. However, the …

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Last Night At Belfast City Hall

Pink News reports: The City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was lit up in rainbow colours last night to coincide with the start of Pride, but it will be the only of the UK’s capital cities where same-sex couples will be banned from marrying once the law changes in Westminster and Edinburgh. Last night,the House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, …

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Northern Ireland Rejects Marriage

The Northern Ireland Assembly today rejected a marriage equality bill by a vote of 53-42. Via the Belfast Telegraph: Today’s petition of concern at the Assembly tabled by the largest unionist party, the Democratic Unionists, ensured Sinn Fein’s motion would be defeated after a majority of unionists failed to back the change. John O’Doherty, director of the Rainbow Project health …

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UK Secession For Scotland?

Scotland is once again seeing earnest talk of secession from the United Kingdom. Salmond’s Scottish National Party (SNP), which came to power in May 2011, promised to hold a referendum on secession in the second half of a parliamentary term, lasting until 2016. And while UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron is against the split, he has agreed to a referendum …

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Explaining UK, Great Britain, England, Etc

(Tipped by Rex Wockner)

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Britain’s Parliament Is Hung

But not in the good way. With no majority won in yesterday’s election, a coalition government will have to be created. David Cameron has reached out to the Liberal Democrats in an effort to form a government – after the UK general election resulted in a hung parliament. The Tory leader, whose party won most seats but was short of …

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