Hopes for gay marriage in Northern Ireland were dashed after a motion was defeated in the legislative assembly today (29 April).

Members of the Legislative Assembly debated a move to introduce same-sex marriage, as adopted in England, Wales and Scotland.

The Sinn Féin motion said religious institutions would have the choice to conduct same-sex marriages, but that was not enough.

43 MLAs voted in favor of same-sex marriage, with 50 voted against.

However, the proposal would have already failed because the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) exploited a parliamentary rule – the ‘petition of concern’.

This meant the proposal would have only been passed if a majority of both parties supported it.

Supporters of same-sex marriage have held protests across Northern Ireland about the use of the petition.

Changing Attitude Ireland, a Church of Ireland gay rights group, spoke out against the decision.

‘Behind the denial to a gay or lesbian couple of the right to civil marriage is the belief that their relationship is inferior to a heterosexual one, and objectionable in itself,’ a spokesman said.

‘This we believe to be a cultural assumption rather than a divine instruction.

‘Changing Attitude Ireland supports marriage equality not despite our faith background, but because of it, believing marriage and stable relationships to be one of the bedrocks of society.’

The first gay marriages in the UK took place in England and Wales on 29 March, with the first in Scotland due to take place at the end of the year. Some critics believe the only way Northern Ireland, and by extension the entirety of the UK, can get same-sex marriage is through a legal challenge.

A referendum on the issue, that is expected to go in favor of same-sex marriage, will be held in the Republic of Ireland in 2015.