Comedian calls out Northern Irish lack of equal marriage in a brilliant way
A Northern Irish comedian has put down a lack of same-sex marriage there in an amazing way.
Gráinne Maguire, a comedian and writer, appeared on Question Time last night.
Answering the question: “Isn’t it about time Northern Ireland moved with the times and legalised gay marriage?”, Maguire called out the “state sanctioned homophobia” brought on by a lack of legal recognition of same-sex couples there.
“I just can’t believe we’re still having this discussion,” she said, noting Tory MP Crispin Blunt’s revelation in Parliament yesterday that he is a user of poppers, as the Government moves to ban them.
Blunt said: “There are some times when something is proposed that becomes personal to you, and you realise the government is about to do something fantastically stupid. I think in those circumstances one has a duty to speak up.
“I use poppers – I out myself as a poppers user, and would be directly affected by this legislation.
Maguire mentioned the revelation, saying: “Yesterday in Westminster, Tory MPs were discussing their use of poppers, yet in Northern Ireland we still have state-sanctioned homophobia. It’s absolutely crazy.”
Same-sex marriage has been blocked several times by the DUP in Northern Ireland, amid strong calls for it to be legalised.
The show’s host David Dimbleby was left asking the audience to stop applauding, saying: “Hang on, hang on – if you all applaud we’ll have nothing to discuss if you all agree with him!”
Maguire mentioned that the Republic of Ireland legalised same-sex marriage last year by a popular vote, saying: “I am a proud Irish person but I have to think if you’re being out-liberalled by the Republic of Ireland on a social issue, you’ve got something to worry about.”
