I have to document on here that as of 21st October 2019, abortion has been decriminalised and same-sex marriage legal in Northern Ireland. Although it may seem because of this that the long fight for equality may be over, and as such the need for artists such as myself to use their platform to target these areas may be smaller, this is not the case. To me, it just provides further proof that if we band together, we can and will make a change, albeit slower than our neighbouring countries.
Although these legislations have been passed, they were passed due to N.I.’s devolved government failing to reform, and Westminster’s MPs were the ones who made this decision. The DUP even triggered a recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly to try to block the lifting of the ban of abortion, and many are calling this event tragic for the unborn and for the democracy. Although many other politicians didn’t show for this meeting, it just shows how our own government still is ready for this change, and in order to grow as a country indefinitely, a massive change in government needs to come about.
Therefore, our work is far from done. We need to put our differences aside and learn to be more accepting of things we don’t personally agree with, whether you’re Catholic and need to learn that just because someone is from a Protestant background, it does not give you the right to immediately judge them as a person, or whether you’re a politician that needs to learn that you yourself don’t have to attend a gay wedding or have an abortion to allow others the freedom of choice.
Source:
time to change 