Legal In NI

 From the BBC:

“Northern Ireland abortion and same-sex marriage law change deadline passes”

Stormont assembly members were given an ultimatum to restore power-sharing by midnight, or new laws on abortion and same-sex marriage would come into effect  Abortion has been decriminalised and same-sex marriage is to be legalised in Northern Ireland. Legislation making the changes - which was passed by MPs at Westminster - came into force at midnight. The first same-sex weddings in Northern Ireland are set to take place in February 2020. The government has until the end of March to come up with regulations for the provision of abortion services.  The legislation took effect after the 21 October deadline passed without a devolved government being re-formed. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - and some politicians from other unionist parties - triggered a recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly in an attempt to block the lifting of a near-ban on terminations.  The assembly at Stormont had not sat for more than 1,000 days after devolved government collapsed when power-sharing coalition partners the DUP and Sinn Féin split in a bitter row. But the move failed because a new speaker could not be elected on a cross-community basis. The government in London will decide on more detailed measures to fulfil the requirements of the legislation. Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith is mandated to put in place regulations by 31 March 2020.  The government has issued guidance to medical professionals which covers the period from now until that date.  Same-sex marriages have been allowed in England, Scotland and Wales since 2014, but Stormont did not legalise them. The last of five votes on the issue in the devolved assembly - in November 2015 - resulted in a numerical majority in favour of same-sex marriage for the first time. But the DUP blocked a change in the law by using a veto known as the Petition of Concern.  The new legislation says the Westminster government must bring in regulations to provide for same-sex marriage by 13 January 2020. Because couples have to indicate their intention to marry 28 days before doing so - the first gay weddings are expected to be held in the week of Valentine's Day. 

^ Even though gay marriage in Northern Ireland only became law because of the lack of a standing-devolved Government there it is still a great day for them. Starting early next year gays will be allowed to marry. Gay Marriage around the world (and Gay Rights in general) has taken a hit with many countries and territories preferring to return to the Dark Ages rather than to the 2nd Decade of the 21st Century. It’s nice to see that now gay people in all of the United Kingdom and throughout the island of Ireland can legally marry. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50128860