Thousands set to march on London and Belfast to protest deal with anti-LGBT DUP

Thousands of people are set to march in protest at the Conservative Party’s proposed deal with the Democratic Unionist Party, which strongly opposes LGBT rights.

The rallies will take place in the two capitals involved – Belfast and London – with those involved explicitly marching against the DUP’s restrictions on LGBT rights and opposition to same-sex marriage.

More than 2,000 people have signed up to join the publicly organised Women’s March On Downing Street Against The DUP or Love Equality NI’s March for Civil Marriage Equality in Belfast.

After losing its majority in last week’s election, the Tories entered into discussions with Northern Ireland’s ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party, which is strongly opposed to LGBT rights.

The DUP has stalled all progress on equal marriage in Northern Ireland, and previously supported the introduction of a ‘conscience clause’ to protect people who discriminate against LGBT people.

A PinkNews investigation found that seven of the party’s 10 MPs have espoused darkly homophobic views, from being against discrimination laws to virulently anti-same-sex marriage.

A Women’s March organiser said that their event was “for self-defining women, kids, non-binary people and all who love and support us”.

As well as supporting “the right to access abortion in Northern Ireland,” they said the rally would also protest a Tory-DUP alliance.

They explained that such a deal would have “no democratic mandate,” and would be entered into with a party “known to promote policy which restricts the rights of women and LGBT people.”