Panti Bliss: Before I die I want to get married in Belfast!

But how long will she have to wait?

Happy Belfast Pride!

Thousands will take to the streets of Belfast later today for the city's annual Pride march, Ireland's largest.

But Northern Ireland looks set to become an equality backwater for the LGBTI community as equal marriage for same-sex couples is introduced in the rest of the UK and Ireland (if passed in an Irish constitutional referendum in Spring 2015), but not in the region, as the Stormont's biggest party, the DUP, continues to block moves to introduce legislation.

On Thursday, Panti Bliss, aka Rory O’Neill, aka Ireland's most famous drag queen, paid the city a visit to give the Amnesty International Pride Lecture, during whichj he reflected on this issue, homophobia and human rights.

Alan in Belfast has a full audio-recording of the lecture andf a round-up of the event, but before you listen to the full thing (embedded below), watch the video for a little taste of what Panti told us before the sell-out lecture at The Mac.

listen to ‘#pantibliss @PantiBliss versus Homophobia - the annual @AmnestyNI @BelfastPride lecture’ on Audioboo
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