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appalachiablue

(41,054 posts)
Mon Oct 21, 2019, 10:08 PM Oct 2019

Northern Ireland Set To Legalize Abortion, Same- Sex Marriage

Source: The Guardian

Equality campaigners were celebrating before the midnight deadline for law to take effect. Northern Ireland is to legalise abortion and same-sex marriage after an 11th-hour attempt by the region’s assembly to block change collapsed into farce.

Equality campaigners celebrated on Monday as the clock ticked towards midnight when laws extending abortion and marriage rights came into force, ushering in momentous social change as Northern Ireland aligned with the rest of the UK.

Anti-abortion groups led by the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) tried to avert liberalisation by recalling the mothballed chamber at Stormont for the first time in almost three years. But discord and walkouts stymied debate and left the assembly deserted.

“The beginning of a new era for Northern Ireland – one in which we’re free from oppressive laws that have policed our bodies and healthcare,” said Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland campaign manager.


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/21/northern-ireland-set-to-legalise-abortion-and-same-sex-marriage



The new legislation puts the House of Commons on track to legislate for marriage equality by January 2020, paving the way for same-sex couples to wed Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. The abortion law obliges the UK to ensure regulations for free, legal and local abortion services are in place by 31 March 2020.

There will be a moratorium on criminal prosecutions after midnight, halting police investigations into abortion cases, including one against a mother who faced jail for buying her then 15-year-old daughter abortion pills online.

- BBC, Northern Ireland abortion and same-sex marriage law change deadline passes
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50128860

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Northern Ireland Set To Legalize Abortion, Same- Sex Marriage (Original Post) appalachiablue Oct 2019 OP
Never thought they'd be more progressive than the US. BigmanPigman Oct 2019 #1
The UK government is forcing the NI government to accept these changes PupCamo Oct 2019 #2
Thanks for the info! BigmanPigman Oct 2019 #3
Well there goes reunification. PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 2019 #4
It's pretty much reunified on the issue FunkyLeprechaun Oct 2019 #5
I did not know that! PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 2019 #6
They did gay marriage a while ago FunkyLeprechaun Oct 2019 #8
And yes, the church isn't as influential FunkyLeprechaun Oct 2019 #9
The years FunkyLeprechaun Oct 2019 #10
Once again, the world moves forward leaving us behind. n/t Yavin4 Oct 2019 #7

PupCamo

(288 posts)
2. The UK government is forcing the NI government to accept these changes
Mon Oct 21, 2019, 10:37 PM
Oct 2019

something about how the NI government hasn't been in session for nearly 3 years. WTH are they doing?

Anyhoo, today was the deadline for the government to go back into session before they were forced to accept marriage equality and legal abortion

sucks to be them

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,750 posts)
4. Well there goes reunification.
Tue Oct 22, 2019, 12:58 AM
Oct 2019

Which is what I've been sort of hoping would happen with the Brexit cluster fuck.

I do prefer that Northern Ireland legalize abortion and same sex marriage, even if it means no United Ireland. Plus, it will be a lot easier for Irish women to go north and get abortions, I hope.

 

FunkyLeprechaun

(2,383 posts)
5. It's pretty much reunified on the issue
Tue Oct 22, 2019, 02:26 AM
Oct 2019

The republic, much to the DUPs chagrin, has gay marriage and abortion.

Fuck Brexit 🤬

 

FunkyLeprechaun

(2,383 posts)
10. The years
Wed Oct 23, 2019, 02:02 PM
Oct 2019

gay marriage- 2015
Abortion rights- 2018.

And if you were about to ask, yes the DUP had a hissy fit when the republic made those legal.

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