Speaking at Pride event, taoiseach Leo Varadkar denies politicising issue during first official visit to BelfastThe Irish Republic’s first gay prime minister has predicted it is only a matter of time before same-sex marriage is legalised in Northern Ireland. In contrast to the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, LBGT couples cannot be legally married in Northern Ireland. Repeated bids to legalise gay marriage have been vetoed by the Democratic Unionists, which has an influential evangelical Christian base and is the largest party in the Northern Ireland assembly. Any fresh bid to introduce gay marriage legislation will only take place if and when the Stormont assembly and power-sharing government are restored. It is also the first time uniformed Gardai have marched in any parade up here in Northern Ireland.

Source: The Guardian August 05, 2017 10:58 UTC