Gay weddings are set to begin in the region on Valentine’s Day after Westminster moved to extend equal marriage to the region in the absence of a devolved parliament. However, the London-based evangelical lobbying group Christian Institute has said that Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith could face legal action if there is not an immediate move to bring forward “free speech protections” for opponents of equality in the region. The group’s deputy director Simon Calvert claimed in a release: “I am extremely concerned that Northern Ireland’s unique public order law could get in the way of free speech and debate about gay marriage. “In the run-up to same-sex marriage coming into law, I’d expect lots of churches to be preaching in support of traditional marriage and against same-sex marriage.