It’s 2019 and for some reason same-sex marriage is still being ‘debated’ on live TV
Andrea Williams on This Morning. (Screen capture via ITV)
As thousands celebrated that same-sex marriage has become a reality in Northern Ireland, a Christian lobby group head expressed her fury at the news on This Morning today.
Andrea Williams, director of Christian Concern and founder of the Christian Legal Centre, appeared on the ITV daytime show to debate the country’s decision to decriminalise abortion as well as marriage equality.
Williams, who opposes both on religious grounds, was quickly slammed on Twitter for turning fundamental human rights into a debate.
Many viewers pondered why the individual, who once said Olympian Tom Daley is gay because his father died, was asked to discuss LGBT+ rights on television.
Same-sex marriage is not a ‘true marriage’, says Andrea Williams.
“For the people of Northern Ireland, they’ve not had a chance to say what they believe in,” Williams said.
“There will be many people in this country that hold firmly and deeply to the view that marriage is the life-long union of one man and one woman.
“Many people will go on to recognise that whether or not that’s in law, that is not something that is true marriage.
“It’s been recognised in law for centuries being one man and one woman, just because today we say it’s two men and two women you can’t suddenly overhaul the whole history of marriage.”
Melissa Thompson, who argued against Andrea, responded: “I think family is made up of all sorts of different people.
“This whole idea of a man and a woman, some times people raise their children in one-parent families, sometimes you have two mums and a dad, I think as long as there’s love, it doesn’t matter.
“Ultimately, Andrea, with all due respect, hard-luck because we are moving forward.”
This Morning viewers unnerved by Andrea Williams’ opinions.
The discussion rattled viewers, many disquieted over Williams’ “terrifying” views while others expressed their disbelief at her having airtime in the first place.
@thismorning #thismorning My blood is boiling watching Andrea Williams and her backwards, small minded views, get off of my tv and get into the real world.
— Lauren Coombes (@LaurenCoombesx) October 22, 2019
Terrifying listening to people with views like Andrea Williams #ThisMorning— Kim (@MissKimb0) October 22, 2019
#ThisMorning thank god that’s over, love who ever you want, don’t let people like that bring you down, what Northern Ireland did was right, let women have the right to choose abortion, man or woman ? Who cares , as long as there is love, be you.— Ryan (@Ryan_Jonesy) October 22, 2019
Cannot believe you are giving a platform to someone with such divisive and offensive views. Have you even looked at Andrea Williams Twitter Feed? #ThisMorning— Becci French (@becciroake) October 22, 2019
#ThisMorning it’s all getting a bit Handmaids Tale-like. Women are ‘vessels’. Get with it Andrea 😡
— Sara (@Sara70920109) October 22, 2019
Northern Ireland joins the rest of the UK in legalising same-sex marriage and abortion.
Scenes of celebration occurred across Northern Ireland, as crowds erupted in cheers in LGBT+ pubs and bars when the clock struck 12 and marriage equality officially became law.
A last ditch attempt to oppose the legislation was led by DUP and UUP members, who on the eve of the deadline tried to reform Northern Ireland’s devolved government, Stormont, for the first time since March 2017.
Fortunately they were unable to gain enough cross-party support to undermine the law, and the first same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland are now due to take place on Valentine’s Day 2020.
Lawmakers across the UK welcomed the news, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recognising the “historic moment” for women’s rights and equal marriage.
