Northern Ireland is the last place in Ireland and the UK to legalise the practice.
As of today, January 13, same-sex couples can legally get married in Northern Ireland – with the first ceremonies expected to be carried out by Valentine’s Day (couples must register their intent to marry 28 days in advance).
Couples already married will also now have their union recognised by law.
From today, same sex marriage is now legal in every corner of the United Kingdom.
The law officially changed overnight in Northern Ireland to recognise same sex unions, as in the rest of the UK. Though the first marriages won’t take place there til early February.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) January 13, 2020
However, according to reports by the BBC, anyone in a civil partnership will not be able to convert it to marriage at this stage, though the Northern Ireland Office is set to begin consultations on this later this year.
This comes after MPs in the House of Commons voted to legalise same-sex marriage and abortion in the North if power-sharing hadn’t been restored by October 21st 2019. Abortion is expected to become legal by April.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in England, Scotland and Wales since 2014.