According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) the North of Ireland is the worst place in the UK for LGBTQ people to live. The North of Ireland has 74% equality of rights compared to 92% in Scotland.

People of the LGBTQ community are being treated like second class citizens by being denied the basic right of marriage in the north today.

“Citizens here should have the same rights as everyone else on this island and England. "For many years it has been blocked and we just feel it can’t go on any longer," Karen Mullan said.

“For us to go back into a working executive it has to be on rights-based issues for everyone on the island.”

When asked if she thought if this may have been the reason behind the DUP losing voters in the 2017 election the Sinn Fein member replied, “I think it could have been, I think young Unionists are in favour of marriage equality, I do think it might have effected some of their votes.”

The Foyle MLA then went on to say, "When you love someone it does not matter, whether it another man or another woman, we can't change who we are or who we fall in love with."

The DUP continue to use a petition of concern to block any bill which would legislate to allow same-sex marriage in the North of Ireland. However, prior to the Northern Irish 2017 elections Stormont voted in favour of a bill that would legislate to allow same-sex marriage.

The 2015 referendum in the Republic of Ireland seen same-sex marriage legalised through a popular vote of 62% and recent opinion polls in the North of Ireland have found high levels of support for its legalisation here.

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Joshua McConnellogue.