Explain to constituents why they didn't vote in the equal marriage debate.

The Issue

We want them to explain in person to a collective of progressive East Belfast voters why they refused to take part in a vote that addressed the rights of a marginalised group of people within our community. In a robust democracy politicians must be held to account and particularly when their actions are intentionally prejudiced against those within our society who already experience discrimination. As concerned constituents we feel that we have the right to have politicians who we believed would represent our views, particularly around issues of human rights and equality, answer to us directly. The Alliance Party in East Belfast won support by offering an alternative to dominant religious and political dogmas, and suggesting they would be "leading change". However, the actions of Judith Cochrane and Chris Lyttle in refusing to vote in the equal marriage debate on 1st Oct 2012, left constituents feeling betrayed. If you live in East Belfast and want to call on them to give account for this, please sign and share.

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Kellie TurtlePetition Starter
Media enquiries
This petition had 288 supporters

The Issue

We want them to explain in person to a collective of progressive East Belfast voters why they refused to take part in a vote that addressed the rights of a marginalised group of people within our community. In a robust democracy politicians must be held to account and particularly when their actions are intentionally prejudiced against those within our society who already experience discrimination. As concerned constituents we feel that we have the right to have politicians who we believed would represent our views, particularly around issues of human rights and equality, answer to us directly. The Alliance Party in East Belfast won support by offering an alternative to dominant religious and political dogmas, and suggesting they would be "leading change". However, the actions of Judith Cochrane and Chris Lyttle in refusing to vote in the equal marriage debate on 1st Oct 2012, left constituents feeling betrayed. If you live in East Belfast and want to call on them to give account for this, please sign and share.

avatar of the starter
Kellie TurtlePetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

East Belfast Alliance MLAs Judith Cochrane and Chris Lyttle
East Belfast Alliance MLAs Judith Cochrane and Chris Lyttle
East Belfast Alliance
Responded
“I am sorry if you feel that I have let you down this week. I have many friends in the LGBT community both in NI and further afield whom I care about deeply but who accept that I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I do however believe that the law should protect people in life-long, same-sex relationships in equivalent ways as it does married people and this is why I supported the Civil Partnership legislation back in 2005. I believe the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act provides equality of treatment for all and consequently, if a Civil Partnership does not provide equality of benefits and rights that are available through marriage then amendments to strengthen the Civil Partnership Act would be appropriate. I appreciate that you may not agree with my view and I respect you for that. You will know that many of us in the Party have wrestled with this over the past few months and some felt able to support the motion. Unfortunately I could not come to that position and therefore, out of respect to those who were strongly in support of the motion, I did not speak against it nor vote against it. I therefore disagree with those who have suggested that I have tried to enforce my beliefs on others. I joined Alliance because it was the only NI party that I felt at home in – being neither a Nationalist nor a Unionist. I believe that Alliance has so much to offer the people in Northern Ireland and I stood on a much broader manifesto than this one issue. Whilst you may feel that I have not represented your specific views by my decision not to vote, indeed, I know (from the numerous emails and calls that I have received), that there are also many who would have wished that I had voted against the motion. It would have been impossible to adequately represent the views of all my constituents given the diverse range of opinion, however I did not stand in the way of those who wished to vote in favour. You asked in the petition that I would answer you in person and I hope that this has gone some way to doing this. I have already met with representatives from the Rainbow Project and have agreed to meet with them again to discuss other issues. I am more than willing to meet with any constituent, and this can be arranged by contacting my office on 028 90 472004. Best regards Judith Cochrane MLA ”
Judith Cochrane
Judith Cochrane
MLA
Chris Lyttle
Chris Lyttle
MLA

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Petition created on 1 October 2012