“It’s a big day for us, but an even bigger day for equal rights in Ireland”
BY SOPHIE GRIFFITHS, IMAGE JUSTIN KERNOGHAN/AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
This week is a landmark for equal rights in Northern Ireland as Belfast couple, Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peoples, have married today, the 11 February, in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.
They are the first same-sex couple to marry in Northern Ireland following a historic law change last year. Sharni and Robyn met five years ago in a gay bar called Kremlin while Sharni, who is from Brighton, was visiting for a holiday. Never did they think they would be embarking on a milestone marriage.
Last January they booked a civil partnership for 11 February 2020 to mark their six-year anniversary. The law then changed, so they decided they would get married instead.
The pair have stated that they are “overwhelmed” to be making history now that marriages can legally take place in Northern Ireland as of this week.
Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peoples – the first couple who will have a same sex marriage ceremony in Northern Ireland – share a kiss at the Lyra McKee mural in Belfast. pic.twitter.com/K2Pi4cKXOF
— David Young (@DavidYoungPA) February 5, 2020
Both were in attendance at a conference in Belfast last week, joining the campaigners from the Love Equality campaign, which championed the change in the law.
“We’re so excited for our wedding day,” Sharni Edwards said. “It’s a big day for us, but an even bigger day for equal rights in Northern Ireland.”
“Robyn and I have been together for six years but the campaign for marriage equality has been going longer. It’s thanks to everyone who has campaigned that we’ll be making our vows to each other – equal to other couples in the eyes of the law.”
Robyn Peoples added: “We did not set out to make history. We’re just a couple in love, who want to make a life-long commitment through marriage. Now the law finally allows us to do this.”
“We want to thank everyone who made this day possible – the Love Equality campaign, the thousands who marched in Belfast and beyond, and the MPs In Westminster who changed the law. Together we’ve made history – it’s quite overwhelming.”
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