MPs vote to extend abortion and same-sex marriage rights to Northern Ireland

[cloudsinvenice]

Historic, beautiful moment here today, folks. Absolutely overwhelmed. <3

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/09/mps-vote-to-extend-same-sex-marriage-to-northern-ireland

The only way it can be stopped is for the DUP and Sinn Fein to return to government in Stormont - you know, the thing they've refused to do for the last two and a half years. And even if the DUP were to pettily go back for a week just to thwart this progress, they can't do that unless Sinn Fein also go back. And I don't think Sinn Fein are about to let them do that.

For the first time in my life, I'm an honest-to-god real human being with more legal rights than a bundle of cells. Everyone I know can get married. And it feels pretty damn good.

Comments

[notasupervillain]

That's fantastic! Yay!

And if it took nationalism or separatism or whatever to make it happen, I'll take my wins where I can.

[cloudsinvenice]

Ironically what it took was for us not to have a government for two and a half years. Back when our devolved Assembly at Stormont was functioning, there was a majority vote in favour, but the DUP had been persistently using the Petition of Concern to stop progress on these issues. The Petition was designed, as part of the Good Friday Agreement, as a course corrector in case anyone ever tried to pass legislation that was sectarian in nature. Of course, the DUP used it entirely out of that context, as a cudgel to whack anything that smacked of progress.

[notasupervillain]

A religious minority using semilegit powers to stop rights the majority supports? I'm so tired of this story.

[cloudsinvenice]

And acting like they're the oppressed ones! Yeah, it's time to change the record.

[lunabee34]

Hurrah!

[cloudsinvenice]

I haven't been this overjoyed in a long, long time. <3

[glinda]

Hooray!!! That's excellent news!

[cloudsinvenice]

It is! <333

[komadori]

Glad to hear that things are going in the right direction for human rights somewhere in the world!

[cloudsinvenice]

Yeah, we've needed a few wins, haven't we?

[roadmagician]

This is so great. Sometimes we need good news. :D

[cloudsinvenice]

We really have here!

[silverflight8]

Yay!!!!! That is great news!!

[cloudsinvenice]

It really is. <3

[sabotabby]

Yay! This is awesome.

[cloudsinvenice]

I love your icon! :)

[umadoshi]

Such good news! *^^*

[cloudsinvenice]

I haven't come down yet! :)

[yarnofariadne]

Yay!!!!!!

[cloudsinvenice]

Honestly cannot believe this. Decades of work; people have been pushing for this since before I was born. <3

[mumsisdaughter]

At last! What a sigh of relief. Welcome to sanity :)

Now, if only the rest of this year's political shenanigans would go away :(

[cloudsinvenice]

Yes, I've just heard about John Major having to intervene to stop Boris shutting down the government to force through a no-deal Brexit. What the actual fuck...

[dolorosa_12]

As a result of the ongoing political chaos in the UK, I've blocked myself from watching/reading/knowing anything about the news since about April this year (which I feel vaguely guilty about, but it was giving me daily panic attacks and affecting my physical health). So I've been in a complete cone of silence regarding pretty much all UK political news for several months. But every so often, something filters through, such as today's madness with John Major, and I just throw my hands up and despair. What the actual fuck indeed.

[cloudsinvenice]

Honestly, you've done exactly the right thing. We can't afford not to look after ourselves at the best of times, and this... is not the best of times. Let people who have more energy to spare (and who are less directly affected by the nastiest aspects of Brexit) do more of the fighting.

[dolorosa_12]

Hooray! Some actual good news for once, and such an irony that the ridiculous posturing, refusal to return to a functional government, and general petulent pettiness of sectarian politics in NI was used against its prime instigators to force through changes that they themselves opposed.

[cloudsinvenice]

That is a particular source of delight. Apparently the DUP are now making noises about the confidence and supply arrangement, which is a delightful bonus!

[birke]

That's awesome!

[ayebydan]

SO happy. I know my MP as a friend and said 'how are you-' and he cut me off with 'come on, Sam'. I was so happy.

I meant to bring this up in the chat. Just. SO happy for you. I don't see your side getting their shit together in time. Hope they don't.