Gay couples defy protesters to wed
The first couples in Britain and Ireland to take part in “gay weddings” defied protestors to make history in Belfast today.
Shannon Sickels and Gráinne Close pledged their love for one another during a private ceremony at Belfast City Hall under the new civil partnership legislation.
Afterwards Miss Sickels said: “We are delighted. Here’s to many more.”
Around two hours hour later Christopher Flanagan and Henry Kane emerged from the same building and showed off their wedding bands to the assembled media.
A large crowd, made up of gay-rights campaigners, well-wishers and church protesters, gathered outside City Hall as the first same-sex civil ceremony got underway inside.
Protesters played gospel music and brandished banners which proclaimed “Sodomy is Sin”.
But they were drowned out by the cheers of gay rights campaigners, who waved rainbow flags and threw single flowers as Miss Sickels, 27, and Miss Close, 32, were driven from the City Hall in a traditional black taxi.
Two men with false Hitler moustaches, checked blazers and underpants provided a comical sideshow to the main event by holding aloft banners which read “Earth is Flat” and “Bring Back Slavery”.
