People of Northern Ireland support equal marriage, study shows

Northern Ireland might be the only part of the UK not to allow equal marriage, but a new survey has found that almost 70% of the country supports it.

The poll by Ipsos MORI found that 68% of adults supported same-sex marriage, after asking 1000 people aged 16 and over: “To what extent do you agree that homosexual couples should be allowed to marry each other?” the News Letter reports.

The survey found that 82% of 16 to 34-year-olds supported same-sex couples’ right to marry, while the figure stood at 75% among 35 to 54-year-olds, and and 47% of people aged 55 and over.

The report also broke down support by religious and political affiliation, and found that 75% of Catholics supported equal marriage compared to 57% of Protestants.

Meanwhile, support among Sinn Fein voters – who called for marriage equality in Northern Ireland in the wake of the Republic of Ireland’s referendum result last month – stood at 80%, compared to 79% Alliance voters, 61% of SDLP voters, 49% of Ulster Unionist voters, and 45% of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) voters.

Equal marriage was rejected by the Northern Ireland Assembly for a fourth time in April, following continued opposition from the DUP. A pro-equality rally took place in the capital, Belfast, last month (June 13), attracting a crowd of thousands.

Two same-sex couples from Northern Ireland are currently challenging the country’s equal marriage ban at the UK high court, in an attempt to see it legalised through judicial means.

The US Supreme Court’s ruling legalising equal marriage throughout all 50 states ten days ago made the USA the sixth country worldwide to adopt the measure his year alone, after Mexico, Finland, Slovenia, Ireland and Greenland.

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