This morning, a Pride flag was raised at Stormont House in Belfast.
The flag was raised to mark the beginning of the city’s Pride festival, which is set to kick off this evening.
This is the first time that a Pride flag has been flown outside Stormont.
The momentous decision was made by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, who has been a supporter of the marriage equality campaign in Northern Ireland for many years.
Northern Ireland is currently the only country in the UK that still holds a ban on same-sex marriage.
Pride flag raised at Stormont House for first time at @JBrokenshire request. He expresses hope for intro of gay marriage in NI in future. pic.twitter.com/yUQChFVNSL
— David Young (@DavidYoungPA) August 4, 2017
Brokenshire said that he was “pleased” to have authorised the flying of the Pride flag at Stormont House for the first time.
He also made reference to Northern Ireland’s marriage equality campaign and his own stance on the issue.
“Whilst policy on equal marriage is entirely a devolved matter for politicians within the Assembly, I voted in support of equal marriage in England and Wales and like the Prime Minister hope this can be extended to Northern Ireland in the future.”
All previous attempts to make same-sex marriage legal in Northern Ireland have been blocked by the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) – the only main party who are against the introduction of marriage equality.
However, thousands took to the streets of Belfast last month to protest the law and they remain hopeful that same-sex marriage will become a reality soon.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that he will be attending a Pride event in Belfast this weekend.
Varadkar said that he is going to speak to Northern Ireland’s leaders about the Northern Executive at a Pride breakfast event on Saturday morning, but that he will not be attending the Pride parade later that day.
