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 regions 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 were free from oppressive laws that have policed our bodies and healthcare, said Grainne Teggart, Amnesty Internationals 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
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)The GOP part of the US that is.
PupCamo
(288 posts)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
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,750 posts)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)The republic, much to the DUPs chagrin, has gay marriage and abortion.
Fuck Brexit 🤬
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,750 posts)So the influence of the Catholic Church is greatly diminished these days in the Republic?
FunkyLeprechaun
(2,383 posts)And they passed a womans right to choose last year or the year before.
FunkyLeprechaun
(2,383 posts)Ever since the paedophilic priest scandal.
FunkyLeprechaun
(2,383 posts)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.