Last weekend, thousands of people took to the streets of Belfast to call for equal marriage in Northern Ireland. They were diverse but united, frustrated but hopeful.

Standing amongst this crowd were representatives from many of our political parties standing shoulder to shoulder with the LGBT+ community. Alliance, the SDLP, Greens, Sinn Féin and People Before Profit were all active participants, proudly holding aloft banners and rainbow coloured flags.

Yet not one Unionist party had an official presence at the parade and it is possible, though one cannot tell for sure, that not one Unionist politician took part.

This is a shame. Unionism has nothing to fear from the LGBT+ community and everything to gain by supporting it. Views on sexuality transcend sectarian divisions and there is absolutely nothing to suggest that Unionists are either less likely to be gay or more likely to hold anti-gay views.

Nevertheless, Unionist politicians have let the LGBT+ community down time and time again. Citing their consciences, Unionist leaders queue up to reject this community and their demands for equality; vetoing equal marriage and talking up formalised discrimination in the form of a conscience clause. Some have even attempted to portray themselves as victims of a militant LGBT+ agenda.

Unionism should be bigger than this. Unionism is founded on the notion of diverse peoples and nations coming together to build a country bigger than the sum of its parts – a progressive idea if ever there was one.

Consequently, in turning their backs on the LGBT+ community, Unionist leaders are turning their back on the very ideals of Unionism itself.

In so doing, Unionist politicians risk seeing the LGBT+ community, and its supporters, turn away from Unionism. Many will look to the Republic of Ireland, with its openly gay Taoiseach, and to the parties that marched last Saturday and wonder if they wouldn’t be better off voting for something else. Others may leave Northern Ireland altogether.

This is self-defeating. As a movement, and as an identity, Unionism ought to be attracting voters, not pushing them away. Northern Ireland is changing and Unionism must be seen to be on the side of progress.

Why shouldn’t Unionists champion equal rights for all within the UK? Why shouldn’t they demonstrate just how the UK can deliver for everyone? If Unionist politicians don’t make those arguments, who will?

All this is not to say that this writer does not recognise and respect the deeply held religious views of many Unionist politicians. As a gay Christian myself, I understand these issues very well. But this is an issue of leadership.

To suppose that Sinn Féin voters in rural Mid Ulster are any more disposed toward equal marriage than DUP voters in rural North Antrim is ridiculous – yet Sinn Féin have led their community forward regardless and despite any personal issues of conscience.

In all this Unionists should take inspiration from the 2014 independence referendum in Scotland. In that vote, the LGBT+ community was involved on both sides and campaigned for both outcomes.

Both Better Together and Yes Scotland had groups that engaged with the LGBT+ community and sought to gain their votes.

It’s hard to see that happening here. It’s hard to see those who marched last Saturday marching for the Union in the future. That needs to change.

Also published on Medium.