LGBT News Northern Ireland Assembly votes for equal marriage, DUP blocks it anyway.

So...I am not familiar with politics there, but how is that possible when the majority has already voted?

 

It's a 'petition of concern', which is a thing that can be used to prevent legislation from being passed if a party thinks it doesn't command support from across both communities (Catholic and Protestant/Republican and Unionist). It was created as part of the peace deal to end the Troubles, and as someone from Amnesty (I think) said, it's ironic that something designed to protect minorities is being used to deny rights of minorities.

 

Plus its being used completely out of context here, which I hope somebody challenges.

This isn't an issue where Protestants and Catholics are in disagreement, polls show unity between the communities on the issue (even if those communities are both slightly in favour of preventing same sex marriage). Therefore it is completely inappropriate for them to exercise this veto for this case. No disagreement = no veto.

 

Oh I didn't know that, hopefully there's some way to challenge it officially, or if not, someone points it out. And I don't know if going to court about it will help either :/

 

Sir Ian McKellen joins fight for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland

 

this is why we cant have nice things

 

I'm assuming it's a fairly similar system to rUK, A court ruling will only say that it should be allowed but the parliament needs to legislate for it.

 

I can see this going to court in the near future. It seems the DUP has misused the "petition of concern".

 

It's a bit of a silly abuse of vetoing powers

 

Glad Im from the south not the north

 

If you were in the United States, you wouldn't be saying this. Ha ha.