Abortion decriminalised in Northern Ireland & Same Sex Marriage Legalised!

[Sarah]

It's a big day in wee Northern Ireland.

Arlene ain't happy.

Aw well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50129880

A new chapter has been written in the political and social history of Northern Ireland, centred on one of the most sensitive issues and one which continues to divide opinion.

As the clock passed midnight and Monday became Tuesday, abortion was decriminalised in line with Westminster legislation, which said the law would change unless Northern Ireland's devolved government was restored by October 21.

The Abortion Act 1967, which regulates terminations in England, Scotland and Wales, has never applied in Northern Ireland, meaning abortion law there has been more restrictive than in the rest of the UK.

Abortion was only allowed if a woman's life was at risk or there was a danger of permanent and serious damage to her physical or mental health.

Now, the UK government will take responsibility for introducing new regulations to provide greater access to abortions by next April.

There was a brief sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly in a last-ditch attempt to stop the changes but it ended in failure.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/50135994

People of the same sex are now allowed to get married in Northern Ireland.

It's been legal in England, Wales and Scotland since 2014, nogw the rules have changed for Northern Ireland too.

The new law came into place last night. It means two men or two women can now enjoy their own wedding.

The first same sex weddings in the country will take place in February 2020.

(boo hoo)

 

[Angela Channing]

The Labour Party did a brilliant sting on the DUP by amending the government's Northern Ireland bill which aimed to set a budget while Stormont wasn't sitting to include same sex marriage and to decriminalise abortion. Although I understand people's religious objections to abortion, it can't be right to impose your religious views on to others who believe something different.

 

[Sarah]

Arlene imposes EVERYTHING SHE BELIEVES on to us. We are sick of it. It's over.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Michelle O'Neill was quite correct in calling it "a day of political stunts [and] antics" and to highlight that the day was "an attempt to try to deny people their rights". As Gerry Carroll was correct to say it was "a shameful stunt by the DUP to try and block rights for women, for the LGBT community. And it's a real disgrace that they're trying to do it."

Some of the frothy, subjective language used by those who would oppose rights and criminalise innocent people was sickening. Isn't there democracy? Haven't we moved on from the fifteenth century?

 

[Alexis]

The DUP are unknowingly undoing their own power here. By refusing to move forward in ANY way they are just going to be left behind, with no, or very little support. They are becoming a joke. Holding on to a past that nobody wants anything to do with. A bigoted, oppressive past. They have held Northern Ireland to ransom for years now with no government but now that hold is broken. Things are a changing!

 

[Sarah]

The DUP are unknowingly undoing their own power here. By refusing to move forward in ANY way they are just going to be left behind, with no, or very little support. They are becoming a joke. Holding on to a past that nobody wants anything to do with. A bigoted, oppressive past. They have held Northern Ireland to ransom for years now with no government but now that hold is broken. Things are a changing!

I tried to think of an intellectual response, but could only come up with,

"YEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!"