Northern Ireland

Timeline shows north's isolation on same-sex marriage

The north is now one of very few states in western Europe that does not recognise same-sex marriage 
The north is now one of very few states in western Europe that does not recognise same-sex marriage  The north is now one of very few states in western Europe that does not recognise same-sex marriage 

A TIMELINE spanning 28 years shows that north is surrounded by countries that recognise same-sex marriage.

The timeline, posted on imgur, shows the gradual legal recognition of same-sex marriage across Europe from 1989 through to changes planned to take effect in 2017.  

In 2001, the Netherlands was the first European country to recognise same-sex marriage. A law recognising same-sex marriage has been approved by the Finnish government, which will take effect in 2017.

View post on imgur.com

The graphic shows that the north is one of the few states in western Europe that does not fully recognise same-sex marriage, following a change in the law in the Republic in May.

A majority of assembly members at Stormont voted to legalise same-sex marriage for the first time in November, but the motion was blocked by a DUP petition of concern.

Failure to pass the motion means the north is the only part of Ireland and Britain where same sex marriage is illegal, however, a number of same-sex couples are currently seeking to overturn Stormont's ban in the courts.