Thousands attend gay marriage march in Belfast

Lady Portia Di'Monte (C) takes part in the Rainbow Project rally for marriage equality in Belfast, Northern Ireland, June 13, 2015. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

A woman with a rainbow painted takes part in the Rainbow Project rally for marriage equality in Belfast, Northern Ireland, June 13, 2015. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

Lady Portia Di'Monte (C) leads the march during the Rainbow Project rally for marriage equality in Belfast, Northern Ireland, June 13, 2015. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Campaigners attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

People hold placards as they take part in the Rainbow Project rally for marriage equality in Belfast, Northern Ireland, June 13, 2015. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Northern Irish actresses Niamh McGrady and Bronagh Waugh (right) attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Representatives from the Hazelwood Integrated College, "Gay Straight Whatvever" group and the Shimna Integrated College, "Gay Straight Alliance" group address the campaigners at a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Campaigner Emma Chism-Doyle with her 10 month-old son Leo attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Campaigners attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Campaigners Patsy Brennan (left), aged 95 with her daughter-in-law Rita Simmonds attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Campaigners attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Campaigners attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Campaigners Gwen Doherty and Kevin Murray (right) attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Campaigners attend a rally in Belfast to show their support for marriage equality. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 13, 2015. Thousands of people walked through Belfast today in a rally for gay marriage rights. Following the Yes vote in last month's Irish referendum, Northern Ireland is now set to be the only part of the UK or Ireland where civil marriage is denied to gay couples, campaigners said. Actress Nuala McKeever is expected to address protesters. Unionists earlier this year rejected a proposal from Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to hold a referendum on the issue similar to the Republic. The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage, after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. See PA story ULSTER Marriage. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire