Gay rights activists are pleading with assembly members to vote for same-sex marriage on Monday (29 April), warning rejecting the motion could threaten the economy.

The motion, tabled by Sinn Fein, will see whether the country will progress on equal marriage.

Last October, assembly members rejected a proposal saying same-sex couples should have the right to marry.

Gavin Boyd, from Equal Marriage Northern Ireland, told Gay Star News if the country does not legalize equal marriage, it will lead to consequences worse than same-sex couples not being able to marry.

‘With Scotland, England and Wales all taking positive steps, we’ll be left as the only part of these islands that do not support same-sex marriage,’ he said.

‘This will lead to a drop in our economy, it’ll affect how we are viewed internationally, and companies will not want to work here.’

Equal Marriage Northern Ireland has recently started a lobbying campaign to ask people to write to their local politician to support same-sex marriage, and will demonstrate outside the assembly on the day of the vote.

Also lobbying are Catholic groups who argue marriage is reserved just for a man and a woman.

Speaking on the BBC’s The View, Father Bartlett, from the Catholic Council for Social Affairs, said the marriage was for the raising of children.

‘Any debate about this matter from a Christian point of view has to be framed in terms of respect, love, kindness towards each other and for each other as human beings and respect the dignity of each other,’ he said.

‘Moms and dads are important and that difference between men and women in the rearing of children is important and society has always recognized that and given it a special place.’

The Presbyterian Church has also written to politicians opposing any evolution on marriage.

Boyd has said religious organizations need to know they have absolutely nothing to fear from legalizing marriage equality.

He said: ‘We’re fundamentally opposed to a religious organization being forced to provide a marriage to anyone they don’t want to.

‘If they can work with us, then a law everyone is happy with can be passed quickly, and it will be a better law for it.’