Neil Hannon backs Northern Ireland marriage equality

Northern Ireland music legend Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy is backing the campaign for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

“I am one hundred percent behind the fight for marriage equality in Northern Ireland… I’m delighted to lend my support to this cause and to this event. I am one hundred percent behind the fight for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.” – Neil Hannon

The Derry/Londonderry-born star has called for the introduction of equal civil marriage rights for same-sex couples. The musician, son of a former Church of Ireland Bishop of Raphoe, also sent his best wishes to everyone who will be marching for equal marriage in Belfast on Saturday 1st July.

Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the UK or Ireland without equal marriage laws, despite widespread public support.

“The inexorable march towards equality and acceptance of all sexual orientations and genders in recent decades has been a joy to behold. Many brave people have put themselves in the firing line in pursuit of the dream. Thankfully they are now claiming victory after victory across Europe and the wider world. I fervently hope for the same in our little part of that world. In the immortal words of Lenny Kravitz; Let Love Rule!! Have a great day.” – Neil Hannon

The equal marriage march will take place in Belfast on Saturday 1st July, starting at Writers’ Square in Belfast at 2:30pm, culminating in a rally in front of Belfast City Hall.

The march is being organised by the Love Equality campaign, led by the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Cara-Friend, NUS-USI and HereNI. Thousands took part in a similar march in Belfast in June 2015. The unequal position in Northern Ireland has been recently highlighted in the media as troubled Tory PM Theresa May looks to seek a government shoring-up deal with the backward DUP party of NI who frown upon same-sex couples among many other ‘backward views’. May has been forced into trying to make a deal with the party following her disastrous ‘Briexit Genertal Election’ which saw her lose her House of Commons majority, weakening the Conservative Party’s powers.

“We really welcome Neil Hannon’s backing for the equal marriage campaign. Over the years people in Northern Ireland and around the world have sung, danced and laughed along to his songs. Now we also thank him for taking a stand in this important fight for equality.” – Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland programme director of Amnesty International, one of the organisers of the Love Equality march

Theresa May’s weak and unstable government has highlighted the LGBT issues in Northern Ireland via her attempted deal with the controversial DUP.