How would people of Mid Ulster vote in a gay marriage referendum?

On Tuesday, the DUP rejected a proposal for a referendum on same sex marriage from Mid Ulster MLA and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Earlier on Tuesday, a major debate on gay rights was sparked across Mid Ulster, when a Magherafelt councillor said homosexuality should not be legal.

The comments from the DUP’s Paul McLean attracted hundreds of comments on social media, both of support and outrage.

Homosexuality should not be legal says Magherafelt councillor

On Monday, Stormont rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage in Northern Ireland, after debating the issue for a fourth time.

Responding to Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness during an election debate on UTV, DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said he thought the issue should be decided by the assembly.

Four of the six Mid Ulster MLAs voted to pass the motion, with only the DUP and UUP candidates voting against it.

Mid Ulster UKIP candidate voices opposition to gay marriage

When the Mail interviewed a number of Mid Ulster candidates for the area’s Westminster seat, some voiced their opinion on the issue.

The DUP’s Ian McCrea said: “I believe that the Bible talks about marriage between one man and one woman.”

As an MLA, he voted in line with his beliefs on the motion for marriage equality earlier in the week.

And while the issue did not arise with the UUP’s Sandra Overend, who is also one of six Mid Ulster MLAs, she also voted against it.

SDLP Westminster candidate Malachy Quinn said: “The SDLP policy is to support equal marriage as of our conference in 2013 and we in Mid Ulster have voted for it on all occasions since.”

And his party colleague, Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone supported the motion during the vote.

Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill and Ian Milne, also voiced their support for the motion in line with party policy, while Mid Ulster MP Francie Molloy said he believes “all people should have equal access to marriage”.

A petition to the office of the First and Deputy First Minister titled Call for a Northern Ireland Referendum on Marriage Equality has gathered almost 12,000 signatures on change.org in just two days.