We are supporting the current legal challenge by the UK's first two civilly partnered LGBT couples, Shannon Sickels & Grainne Close, Henry & Chris Flanagan-Kane, to extend equal marriage to NI. Who would have thought that 13 years after having the first public civil partnerships in the UK, that Northern Ireland would remain the last place in the UK and Ireland where same sex couples cannot get married. 

Our challenge to the ban on equal marriage in NI was denied in Aug 2017 by the High Court in Belfast. We have lodged our appeal and anticipate the case will be heard by the Court of Appeal in NI early in 2019. 

Our application is a direct challenge to the legislative provision which prevents a couple from marrying solely on the basis that the couple is of the same sex.  

While it is the case that the NI Assembly recently voted that equal marriage should be permitted, this was, and always can be, blocked by a Petition of Concern, under the constitutional set up in NI. 

Therefore, the ONLY way equal marriage will ever be permitted in NI is by way of a legal challenge. 

This is why we have taken our case. Our case is NOT about religious marriage; we are challenging the current prohibition to civil marriage only. 

Why does this case matter?

This case is crucially important to the future of equal rights in Northern Ireland. If our case is successful, ALL couples in NI may apply to be married, irrespective of their sexual orientation. 

How much are we raising and why? 

As the applicants in this case, we are personally liable for all legal fees, which are likely to reach £30,000. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, we have been able to raise £5,000 so far, but we still have significant amount to raise to cover our costs, as our case is likely to reach the Supreme Court, and will accumulate costs along the way. We are not supported by any organisation, and are taking this case with personal and financial risk because we believe this inequality should not continue. 

Any contribution you make will be used directly on our legal challenge and we will be sure to keep you updated as the case progresses. 

Thank you for your support and being part of a movement to bring marriage equality to couples in Northern Ireland!