Conservative who opposed gay marriage reveals his daughter married a woman
Lord Trimble, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, revealed his daughter is married to a woman
Former First Minister of Northern Ireland Lord Trimble, who previously opposed same-sex marriage, has revealed that his daughter is now married to a woman.
Lord Trimble made the revelation in the House of Lords on Wednesday (July 10), after MPs voted to extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland in the absence of a devolved government.
The former Ulster Unionist Party leader, now a Conservative peer, previously voted against allowing civil partnerships for same-sex couples and lowering the age of consent for gay sex from 18 to 16.
Lord Trimble: I acquiesced to my daughter’s same-sex marriage
He told peers: “Abortion and same-sex marriage… are delicate matters.
“I have found myself taking a particular position with regard to same-sex marriage, which was forced upon me when my elder daughter got married to her girlfriend.
I cannot now go around saying that I am opposed to it because I acquiesced to it.
“I cannot change that, and I cannot now go around saying that I am opposed to it because I acquiesced to it. There we are.”
Lord Trimble described the decision for the UK Parliament to intervene as a “very unusual situation,” acknowledging that he “is not really clear about what has happened or what is likely to happen” following the passage of the amendment.
Lord Trimble, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, revealed his daughter is married to a woman
Under the wording of the amendment passed by the Commons, the process of extending equal marriage to Northern Ireland would begin in October if a devolved government is not restored beforehand.
However, the government has warned that further changes could be required before wedding bells ring across the region.
More changes may be needed to implement equal marriage in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland minister Lord Duncan of Springbank told the Lords: “Those votes demonstrated the strength of feeling of the Members of Parliament.
“However, these are sensitive issues and careful consideration needs to be given to both the policy details and their implementation.
“Crucially, the amendments as drafted do not function properly, and so do not enable the Government to deliver on the instruction of Parliament.”
The government minister added: “I have just met [MPs who brought amendments] Conor McGinn and Stella Creasy to discuss how best to take this forward and to ensure that the changes agreed by the Commons can be delivered.
“I know that a number of noble Lords have also been involved with these issues, and I will of course work with them as we go forward.
“I will come back to your Lordships on the changes we need to make to the Bill.”
