The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted down a motion to redefine marriage by an even bigger margin than it did in October.
The new motion was tabled by three Sinn Fein MLAs and debated today at Stormont.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Roman Catholic bishops had been urging MLAs not to support the motion.
Against
MLAs voted by 53 votes to 42 against redefining marriage.
In October last year, a similar motion was defeated by 50 votes to 45.
Sinn Fein tabled the motion calling for the Northern Ireland Executive “to bring forward the necessary legislation to allow for same sex marriage”.
Referendum
It follows moves in the Republic of Ireland towards having a referendum on same-sex marriage.
But the Sinn Fein motion in the Northern Ireland Assembly did not mention a referendum for the Province.
Pro-gay marriage protests were held outside the Assembly building.
Legal
Amnesty International and a gay lobby group in Northern Ireland say a legal challenge could be made if marriage is not redefined in the province, but is in the rest of the UK.
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.