{{Short description|Northern Irish politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date = November 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | office = 83rd Lord Mayor of Belfast | image = File:Cllr Mickey Murray, Lord Mayor of Belfast 2024-25.jpg | image_size = 200x200px | deputy = Andrew McCormick | term_start = 3 June 2024 | term_end = 2 June 2025 | predecessor = Ryan Murphy | successor = Tracy Kelly | office1 = Member of <br/> Belfast City Council | constituency1 = Balmoral | term_start1 = 27 May 2022 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Kate Nicholl | successor1 = | birth_date = | birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland | death_date = | party = Alliance Party }} '''Micky Murray''' is a Northern Irish politician who was Lord Mayor of Belfast from June 2024 to 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title = Councillor Micky Murray becomes new Lord Mayor of Belfast|url = https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/news/councillor-micky-murray-becomes-new-lord-mayor-of|website = Belfast City council|date = 3 June 2024|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref> He is the city's first openly gay mayor.<ref>{{cite news|title = 'Significant moment' as Alliance councillor to become Belfast's next lord mayor|url = https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/significant-moment-as-alliance-councillor-to-become-belfasts-next-lord-mayor-BXOUY4Z5CZC4XMCFZXAWJ5MZJU/|work = Irish News|date = 29 April 2024|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref> A member of the Alliance Party, he has been a Belfast City Councillor for the Balmoral DEA since May 2022<ref>{{cite web|title = AI Con 2024 - Speaker: Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Micky Murray|url = https://ai-con.ai/2024/speakers/lord-mayor-of-belfast-councillor-micky-murray/32|website = AI Con|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref>
==Background== Murray's first election was in 2019, where he stood in Belfast's Botanic District. He was eliminated on the tenth count, polling 754 first-preference votes (7.7%).<ref>{{cite news|title = Botanic: in Belfast results - NI Local Elections 2019|url = https://elections.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ni-local-election-2019/belfast/botanic|work = Belfast Telegraph|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref>
He was co-opted onto Belfast City Council in May 2022, following the election of then lord mayor Kate Nicholl to the Northern Ireland Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|title = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|url = https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=570409184454129&id=100044551564427&set=a.498373801657668|website = Facebook|date = 27 May 2022|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Alliance councillor to make history as city's first openly gay Lord Mayor|url = https://uk.news.yahoo.com/alliance-councillor-history-citys-first-094250035.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADSsE5zEpfamqFB-VlwYnLXVMJWSJHxEUBWst4uflgt_iChehr7ansKXHyd3PSwFWfJ5tOwE7kjRxXUrUCQgyJOORV1nKniNHlSXboqNGl1AveQdIzjrYkz2qY3X553aoizkuV3cxkdfHzT5HCFdVQnIt9GhVVsjHBUYLJF760eZ|work = Yahoo News|date = 30 April 2024|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref> Murray was re-elected at the 2023 local elections, being the last candidate elected in the Balmoral District<ref>{{cite news|title = Belfast result - Northern Ireland Council Elections 2023|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2023/northern-ireland/councils/N09000003|work = BBC News|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Balmoral: Belfast result - Northern Ireland Local Elections 2023|url = https://elections.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ni-local-election-2023/belfast/balmoral|work = Belfast Telegraph|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref>
===Lord Mayor of Belfast=== In April 2024, Murray was announced as the next Lord Mayor of Belfast, succeeding Ryan Murphy of Sinn Féin.<ref>{{cite news|title = Belfast Lord Mayor: Alliance councillor Micky Murray to become next lord mayor|date = 30 April 2024|access-date = 3 November 2024|work = BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68910064}}</ref> As an openly gay man, Murray became the first member of the LGBTQ+ Community to hold the office of Lord Mayor.<ref>{{cite news|title = First gay Lord Mayor of Belfast Micky Murray installed in historic moment|url = https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/06/04/first-out-gay-lord-mayor-of-belfast/|work = Pink News|date = 4 June 2024|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = NI's first Black Mayor and Belfast's first openly gay Mayor|url = https://mygwork.com/news/nis-first-black-mayor-and-belfasts-first-openly-gay-mayor-both-installed-on-historic-night|website =mygwork|date = 5 June 2024|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref> On his selection, he said: “I want to help transform Belfast into a more inclusive city where everyone can enjoy, regardless of who you are or where you’re from. We’re 26 years on from the Good Friday Agreement and we were promised peace, which has largely been delivered, but now is the time to further break down barriers and create a thriving city. Our city should be recognised for its inclusivity, rather than its division. As the first openly gay Lord Mayor, I want to use this platform to represent the LGBTQ+ community and be a positive role model for them.”<ref>{{cite web|title = Micky Murray to make history as Belfast's first out gay Lord Mayor|url = https://gcn.ie/micky-murray-belfast-gay-lord-mayor/|website = gcn|date = 30 April 2024|access-date = 6 November 2024}}</ref> He officially took office on 3 June 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title = Micky Murray officially installed as Belfast Lord Mayor|url = https://www.allianceparty.org/micky_murray_officially_installed_as_belfast_lord_mayor|website = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|date = 3 June 2024|access-date = 3 November 2024}}</ref>
==Political views== Murray is an advocate for LGBTQ rights, condemning homophobia among political representatives in Northern Ireland and calling for greater understanding and inclusivity. He has criticised the right-wing rhetoric of figures like Donald Trump and expresses concern over the increasing anxiety felt by LGBTQ+ communities in the United States. Murray has also called for greater responsibility from social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), suggesting they should be regulated like traditional publishers due to their role in amplifying political division.<ref name="Hot Press April 2025">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=18 April 2025 |title=Lord Mayor of Belfast Mickey Murray: “It shouldn’t have taken until 2024 for the capital city of Northern Ireland to have an openly gay Lord Mayor" |url=https://www.hotpress.com/opinion/lord-mayor-of-belfast-mickey-murray-it-shouldnt-have-taken-until-2024-for-the-capital-city-of-northern-ireland-to-have-an-openly-gay-lord-mayor-23082005 |work=Hot Press |location= |publisher= |access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref>
Murray supports a health-focused approach to drug reform. He backs the legalisation of marijuana for medicinal use, endorses the Portuguese model of drug decriminalisation, and argues for the introduction of safer injection centres in Belfast. He believes Northern Ireland’s current approach to addiction is outdated and emphasises the benefits of international harm reduction practices.<ref name="Hot Press April 2025"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Micky}} Category:Living people Category:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland councillors Category:Lord mayors of Belfast Category:Gay politicians from Northern Ireland Category:Members of Belfast City Council Category:LGBTQ mayors of places in the United Kingdom Category:Year of birth missing (living people)