The first billboards advertising legal same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland have been erected across Belfast today by Northern Ireland Humanists, marking the traditionally conservative country’s groundbreaking progress towards an inclusive, tolerant society.
Northern Ireland Humanists, which conducts humanist marriages, funerals, and naming ceremonies and has a long history of campaigning for human rights, including legal same-sex marriages, has erected eight billboards across central Belfast locations including on Boucher Road, Holywood Rugby Club, and Upper Library Street.
The billboards feature pictures of same-sex couples with the words ‘Love wins for everyone’, and promotes Northern Ireland Humanists’ bespoke, meaningful, non-religious wedding ceremonies, which are conducted by its highly trained network of celebrants.
Non-religious ceremonies are growing in popularity in Northern Ireland, particularly since humanist marriages gained legal recognition in 2018, and Northern Ireland Humanists has been inundated with same-sex couples wanting to get married in 2020 when the new law is expected to come into force.
Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator said: ‘LGBT people in Northern Ireland have suffered for too long under archaic laws influenced by religious groups which have prevented same-sex couples from being able to legally marry. Marriage is a fundamental human right and these billboards celebrate equality, fairness, and the enormous progress that we’ve achieved.
‘From next year, same-sex couples will be able to legally wed the person they love, and we hope people will choose a bespoke, humanist wedding to mark their special day.’
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For more information contact Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator on boyd@humanists.uk or at 02890 029946.
Press are free to use images of the billboard designs:
- one with two women: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/SSM-women.png
- one with two men: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/SSM-men.png
- one with two women, in situ: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Image-2019-11-04-at-21.52.42.jpeg
Read more on Northern Ireland’s move to legalise same-sex marriages.
Read more on humanist couples least likely to divorce.
Read more about our work on same-sex marriages.
Northern Ireland Humanists is a part of Humanists UK, working with the Humanist Association of Ireland. Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 85,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.
Northern Ireland Humanists’ celebrants are part of the Humanist Ceremonies network, the gold standard provider of meaningful, personalised non-religious ceremonies in the UK. Its celebrants are trained, accredited, insured, and quality-assured by Humanists UK. 98% of clients rate Humanist Ceremonies 5/5 in feedback forms.