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18th Apr 2016

Northern Ireland’s gay community urged to vote tactically in order to keep DUP out

Carl Kinsella

Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party has stood staunchly opposed to a repeat of Ireland’s marriage equality referendum taking place up north.

As such, LGBT lobby groups are taking matters into their own hands and trying to vote in such a way that DUP candidates for the north’s devolved parliament are kept out of government.

The DUP have vetoed moves to bring marriage equality to Northern Ireland five times in the most recent session of the government, intensifying the desire among the LGBT community to fight for their rights.

Website The Gay Say is therefore urging gay voters in the north to make use of the proportional representation system to make sure that DUP candidates get as few first-preferences and transfers as possible.

Speaking to The Guardian, founder of The Gay Say Danny Toner said: “Something about this election and this year in particular feels different. It feels as though people’s frustration has reached tipping point and the electorate want change. Stagnant politics has only bred anger. Collectively, we decided to tap into these emotions and controversial topics to mobilise people into action and to stand up for change.”

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