The North isn’t Next, it’s Now.
At the stroke of midnight, abortion and same-sex marriage was legalised in Northern Ireland.
The last country in the UK and Ireland to have an almost all-out ban on abortion – and a full ban on equal marriage – the North officially amended its legislation last night and aligned itself with its neighbours.
At 00:00, all across the North and elsewhere, people began celebrating the simple fact that they will soon have total agency over their own bodies, and the choice to marry the person they love.
The online reaction was no different to the one in the streets, as supporters of equal marriage and abortion rights took to Twitter to express their unadulterated delight that the Northern Ireland Assembly had not been successfully restored before now.
There was the eruption of applause, tears, and screams as the clock finally struck midnight in Belfast.
https://twitter.com/BANGWOOL_PD/status/1186431869547618306?s=20
https://twitter.com/Donnan_S/status/1186408099030208513?s=20
There was Derry Girls‘ Nicola Coughlan and genuine Jonathan Van Ness shouting about the wee lesbian.
https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1186563535603716096?s=20
https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1186437387997667329?s=20
There was this factually accurate sweater.
https://twitter.com/jusdobby/status/1186367050689794050?s=20
There was this iconic Facebook purge.
All the stories and articles about gay marriage and abortion on Facebook people are sharing are making it really easy for me to remove all the hateful disgusting bigots I have on my Facebook, GOODBYE MOTHERFUCKERS #northisnow 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
— megan (@megansmyth554) October 21, 2019
And there was this oddly wholesome #throwback regarding where the North once was – and where it’s now going.
I remember when this building used to be the symbol of "Ulster Says No". Today it screams Yeeeees!! #NorthIsNow . Wonderful news. The North, now liberal, more accepting, plus one foot in EU/one foot in UK. Not a bad day's work overall!!! pic.twitter.com/phAckLCKaM
— David McWilliams (@davidmcw) October 22, 2019
City Hall Belfast tonight. ❤#TheNorthIsTODAY #TheNorthIsNow #LoveWins #equality pic.twitter.com/6xEEvO0bid
— Caolán Mc Aree (@Caolanmcaree) October 21, 2019
Abortion and same-sex marriage was legalised at the stroke of midnight on October 22.
The changes came as amendments were asked to be made by to a routine Commons Bill which had been tabled by Labour Party MPs Conor McGinn and Stella Creasy.
McGinn first put forward a proposal to Westminster to legalise same-sex marriage. This was followed up with Creasy putting forward a motion to decriminalise abortion in the North. Both amendments were passed through parliament with significant majorities.
Both amendments were set to become law unless the Northern Ireland Assembly had been restored at Stormont by today.
May the celebrations continue.
