A powerful political statement...
Student Ciara Cinnamond, a Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduate made a statement at her graduation in Queen's University Belfast over the weekend after she unfurled a Pride flag when collecting her degree.
Her graduation was on the same time as a march was taking place in Belfast city centre demanding marriage equality. Same sex marriage is against the law in Northern Ireland, making it the only place it's illegal in Ireland and the UK.
Although she was unable to attend the march to lend her voice, she decided to make her voice heard in a different way as she unfurled the flag moments before accepting her degree.
https://twitter.com/brendanhughes64/status/881631401745014785
Writing online, the 23-year-old said: “Today I proudly graduated and walked across the stage with my pride flag, cheered on by my parents and my girlfriend Becky Miskimmin.
“On a day when I couldn’t make it to the #MarchForEquality, instead I showed my unwavering support to a packed Whitla Hall.
“I showed hundreds of people that I want the same rights as them.”
https://twitter.com/ciara_cinnamond/status/881647396891095041
Speaking to
Belfast Live, Ciara said: "I knew that I would be graduating on the same day as the march for equality and despite not being physically present, I wanted to be there in spirit at least.
"I was at the march last year and to be surrounded by so much love, strength and happiness was incredible.
"I wanted to take that feeling of solidarity across the stage with me. What I did at my graduation was only one small incident in a far greater campaign aimed at getting equal marriage for everyone.
"I want the opportunity to marry the person that I love and in that moment, I marched too."
