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| Same-sex marriage: Thousands of gay rights campaigners march in Belfast | Same-sex marriage: Thousands of gay rights campaigners march in Belfast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of people have attended a march in Belfast, calling for the introduction of civil marriage for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland. | Thousands of people have attended a march in Belfast, calling for the introduction of civil marriage for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland. |
| The march began at Writer's Square and moved towards Belfast City Hall, where a rally was held. | |
| The organisers said Northern Ireland is "out on a limb" as the only part of the UK and Ireland not to change its laws. | The organisers said Northern Ireland is "out on a limb" as the only part of the UK and Ireland not to change its laws. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has debated the issue four times, and each time MLAs rejected same-sex marriage. | The Northern Ireland Assembly has debated the issue four times, and each time MLAs rejected same-sex marriage. |
| 'Left behind' | 'Left behind' |
| Saturday's demonstration has been organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), Amnesty International and the Rainbow Project. | Saturday's demonstration has been organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), Amnesty International and the Rainbow Project. |
| In a statement, the ICTU said: "In 2005, history was made when Northern Ireland became the first place in the UK to hold a civil partnership. | In a statement, the ICTU said: "In 2005, history was made when Northern Ireland became the first place in the UK to hold a civil partnership. |
| "Ten years later, with every other part of these islands recognising marriage equality, citizens in Northern Ireland have effectively been left behind." | "Ten years later, with every other part of these islands recognising marriage equality, citizens in Northern Ireland have effectively been left behind." |
| The ICTU added that its members had "played a leading role in campaigning for a Yes vote in the marriage equality referendum in the Republic of Ireland". | The ICTU added that its members had "played a leading role in campaigning for a Yes vote in the marriage equality referendum in the Republic of Ireland". |
| Last month, more than 62% of the electorate in the Republic of Ireland voted to legalise same-sex marriage. | Last month, more than 62% of the electorate in the Republic of Ireland voted to legalise same-sex marriage. |
| It was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by a referendum. | It was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by a referendum. |