Northern Irish activists will protest next month for marriage equality.

LGBT activists in Northern Ireland have said that their country is now the odd one out in the British Isles, as Ireland just voted in favour of marriage equality last week (as if you didn’t already know).

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) government continues to block the issue of marriage equality, filing a ‘petition of concern’ to block plans for a fourth time last month.

LGBT activists in Northern Ireland plan to take to the streets next month to fight for civil marriage equality.

A number of groups are joining together to hold a March for Civil Marriage Equality in Belfast on Saturday June 13 to call the Northern Irish government to action.

The demonstration is organised by Amnesty International, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Rainbow Project – with over 2000 people listed as attending on Facebook so far.

Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Programme Director Patrick Corrigan said: “Northern Ireland is now the last bastion of discrimination against gay people in these islands.”

“They want to live in a place where all citizens are guaranteed equal rights and equal opportunities – that’s the message of the march for equality.”

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the referendum result in Ireland showed that the country is increasingly embracing human rights.

“Politicians, particularly in the North need to reflect on this progress. The world is moving on and Ireland is taking the lead. Pride in Ireland has taken on a whole new meaning.”

South Down MLA Caitríona Ruane said Sinn Féin would continue its campaign for marriage equality for all in the North.

“Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for marriage equality for all in the North and to end the discrimination against our LGBTI community.”