SINN Féin Foyle MLA Maeve McLaughlin has said history was made in the Assembly yesterday when the majority of MLAs backed marriage equality.
Maeve McLaughlin said: ““It is hugely important that more than half the Assembly has voted in favour of marriage equality.
“This signals a major shift in society with more and more people supporting marriage equality for our LGBT community.
“It vindicates our position to bring this motion forward for the fifth time and we will continue to push on until equality becomes law.
“It is also encouraging that growing numbers of unionists are now supporting marriage equality.
“It is disappointing there are still those who oppose equality and used a petition of concern to block this motion.
“Marriage equality needs to happen right across the island. We cannot have a situation where we continue to have inequality against members of the LGBT community.
“This is a historic day but the campaign from marriage equality is not over and will not be until we have equality enshrined in legislation.”