“I am one hundred percent behind the fight for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.” – Neil Hannon

Northern Ireland music legend Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy is backing the campaign for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

The Derry/Londonderry-born star has called for the introduction of equal civil marriage rights for same-sex couples, saying: “I am one hundred percent behind the fight for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.”

The musician also sent his best wishes to everyone who will be marching for equal marriage in Belfast on Saturday 1 July. Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the UK or Ireland without equal marriage laws, despite widespread public support.

Neil Hannon said:

“I'm delighted to lend my support to this cause and to this event. I am one hundred percent behind the fight for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

“The inexorable march towards equality and acceptance of all sexual orientations and genders in recent decades has been a joy to behold. Many brave people have put themselves in the firing line in pursuit of the dream. Thankfully they are now claiming victory after victory across Europe and the wider world. I fervently hope for the same in our little part of that world.

“In the immortal words of Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule!!

“Have a great day.”

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland programme director of Amnesty International, one of the organisers of the Love Equality march, said:

“We really welcome Neil Hannon’s backing for the equal marriage campaign.

“Over the years people in Northern Ireland and around the world have sung, danced and laughed along to his songs. Now we also thank him for taking a stand in this important fight for equality.”

The equal marriage march will take place in Belfast on Saturday 1 July, starting at Writers’ Square in Belfast at 2:30pm, culminating in a rally in front of Belfast City Hall.

The march is being organised by the Love Equality campaign, led by the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Cara-Friend, NUS-USI and HereNI. Thousands took part in a similar march in Belfast in June 2015.