Lesbian Couple Grateful to Be 1st to Legally Wed in Northern Ireland 

Marriage equality became law in Northern Ireland as of January 13, and Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peoples, who've been engaged for five years, became the first same-sex couple slated to legally marry there next week, according to the BBC.

While marriage equality has been the law of the land in England, Wales, and Scotland since 2014, but in July 2019, but the United Kingdom's Parliament stepped in following a collapse of Northern Ireland's government and OK'd an amendment to legalize marriage equality and abortion there. The law went into effect in January, which allowed same-sex couples to start registering to marry in time to begin marriages in February.

Peoples, 26, and Edwards, 27, intended to celebrate their love with a civil union ceremony if equal marriage had not passed. Now they are part of LGBTQ history there.

The women will legally wed Tuesday in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.

"We're both nervous but very excited," Peoples told the BBC. "We just can't believe it's happening next week."

The women met in 2014 when Edwards, who is from Brighton, England, was visiting a cousin in Belfast, where she met Peoples at Kremlin nightclub.

Robyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards

"We haven't been separated since. We just clicked," Edwards told Pink News. "You know when you know."

Trending stories

20 lesbian movies you probably haven't seen but really should

My magical and affordable escape to Portugal

Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring

EDC Weekend Desert Days hits Sin City with Ultra Load

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

Discover the power of Wellness in your life

Why Harvey Fierstein deserves his Tony for Lifetime Achievement

French Polynesia doesn’t need Pride flags to earn its place on every LGBTQ+ bucket list

'The Boulet Brothers' Dragula' & 'Titans' are back — here's what else the diabolical duo announced

'Drag Race' winner Venus shares apology video to Mexican people

Which 'All Stars 10' group is strongest? All returning 'Drag Race' queens' track records

Walton Goggins will poke your eye out in sexy new Speedo pics

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

Cathay Pacific expands its reach with inaugural Dallas to Hong Kong route and a new level of luxury

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes

Watch Jennifer Beals flirt with Kelly Clarkson: "I heard you like your women older"

Pete Buttigieg says he met Chasten on the apps—reacts to Grindr surge at RNC claims

Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

500,000 Children at Risk: PEPFAR Funding Crisis

'Drag Race All Stars' season 10 cast ru-vealed — why we're excited about the returning queens

K-pop star JUST B’s Bain comes out: 'Proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community'

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

Turn your Easter into the colors of the rainbow with these Pride-themed shortbread treats

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

The women became engaged a year later on a trip to Paris to see Ariana Grande. Brandishing a lock with their names engraved on it, Peoples proposed on the "Love Lock" bridge in Paris.

The next year, Edwards created a proposal of her own, spelling out "Will you marry me?" in rose petals.

The women credit the Love Equality campaign with really pushing marriage forward. They were also active in the movement, marching at Belfast Pride and various marriage equality events.

"It is so surreal for me. I still have to pinch myself. I just feel humbled and grateful," Edwards said. "The younger generation need people to look up to, to see it's OK for a woman to love a woman."