A petition started last month calling on the DUP to end their abuse of the “Petition of Concern” mechanism to block attempts to introduce marriage equality legislation has now achieved over 9,000 signatures. Danny Toner, the founder of The Gay Say, who started the campaign said: “The LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland continues to face unfair treatment which is out of step with human rights standards in Western Europe. Many jurisdictions are now being seen to advance the treatment of LGBTQ+ people, who have faced widespread oppression because of their sexual orientation for many years. “Indeed, last year the Republic of Ireland voted overwhelmingly in favour of equal marriage through a referendum. Just north of the border, the largest political party continues to aggressively and shamefully discriminate against people within the LGBTQ+ community. “The DUP have abused the ‘petition of concern’ mechanism to stop equal marriage legislation five times in a row. As a result the LGBTQ+ community are being continually denied equal status and protections for their relationships and are being treated as second class citizens. Not only is this an abuse of a parliamentary veto but it also highlights the DUP’s constant attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland. An LGBTQ+ couple’s love and commitment is exactly the same as any heterosexual couple’s. We all should be equal under the law but elements within the DUP insist on pursuing a hurtful and damaging campaign of intolerance, discrimination and verbal attacks that has ultimately placed a stranglehold on human rights. Yesterday's news that the DUP will continue fighting equal marriage has given the #EndTheVeto campaign an added boost as people took to the internet to express their disappointment. No one is above the law but somehow the DUP think that that they can dictate who in society has access to one of the cornerstones of society and family life. “Because of the DUP’s attack on human rights in relation to the rights of LGBTQ+ people, it is now time for us all to make a stand. “The #EndTheVeto campaign is attracting massive amounts of attention online, particularly from neighbours in the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales where same sex couples who have already entered into marriages are unaware their marriage licenses are downgraded to civil partnerships in Northern Ireland. “All of the main political parties, apart from the DUP and UUP, have so far backed the campaign. “Feedback from campaign supporters has hinted at unknown amounts of lost foreign investment, tourism and trade. “We all, as citizens of Northern Ireland, should be aware of what voting for the DUP on 5th May actually means. “I would encourage anyone who values the human rights of their LGBTQ+ family, friends and neighbours and colleagues sign the petition and support the campaign to finally bring an end to the oppressive and dehumanizing actions of the Democratic Unionist Party. "People have had enough of this and want to move on with their lives." Thank you to everyone for their continued help and support with the campaign. We can do this together.