Belfast solicitor advocate Ciarán Moynagh of McLernon Moynagh Solicitors and barrister Steven McQuitty will join an expert panel discussing marriage equality after a film screening hosted by the Human Rights Centre in the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast.

This Friday, the Centre will host a screening of 8, an American play portraying the closing arguments of Perry v Schwarzenegger, the federal trial that led to the overturning of a constitutional amendment eliminating rights of same-sex couples to marry in California.

It features a star-studded cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch and Kevin Bacon.

The play will be shown in the School of Law’s Moot Court Room as part of a series of events marking Human Rights Week.

In a short panel session following the screening, human rights lawyers and marriage equality campaigners will consider parallels between the experience in Northern Ireland and in California.

Professor Sally Wheeler will offer a senior academic perspective on the issues raised by the film and current events.

Meanwhile, Mr Moynagh and Mr McQuitty will speak about their experience of taking instructions in Petition X and attempting to advance marriage equality through litigation.

A representative from the LoveEquality coalition is also expected to join the panel and to discuss that campaign’s perspective.