Legal action could be used to force same-sex marriage on Northern Ireland, according to two groups that back gay marriage.
Last year the Northern Ireland Assembly voted against a motion to support same-sex marriage, with a minister saying there were many other issues it should be debating.
But Amnesty International and a gay lobby group in the Province say a legal challenge could be made if marriage is not redefined in Northern Ireland, but is in the rest of the UK.
Challenge
Amnesty International’s programme director in Northern Ireland said international law was “clear” that different parts within a territory should provide in the same way for same-sex couples.
Patrick Corrigan said: “There could be a straightforward legal challenge on the basis of inferior treatment of same sex couples in Northern Ireland with regards to the right to marry and found a family.”
The Rainbow Project, which works in Northern Ireland, said legal challenges would be likely if the rest of the UK brings in same-sex marriage.
Legal
Gavin Boyd, the group’s education and equality officer said: “As long as there exists a legal inequality between Northern Ireland and Britain, there will be legal challenges. That has been the route that has been most successful in the past.”
At the time of the vote in Northern Ireland, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said there was “no widespread demand across society for the kind of changes which are being asked for in this motion”.
And he commented: “I am opposed to gay marriage, I would have no intention of bringing forward any legislation to this House to facilitate gay marriage and I believe that in doing that I do reflect what is the general view in this society in Northern Ireland.”
Protections
In February this year the Westminster Parliament saw most Conservative MPs vote against David Cameron’s plans to redefine marriage.
In Scotland a consultation has recently finished on the details of a same-sex marriage Bill, with concerns raised about the civil liberty protections in the proposed legislation.