Ghost of DUP's past reappears as gay rights row haunts party
27/07/2011
Submitted by
ILGA-Europe
Original article: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk...ights-row-haunts-party-16028497.html
Despite its advances in recent years, the issue of gay rights regularly returns to haunt, and even define, the DUP.
The latest spat over the party's failure to find a speaker for the Pride on the Hill event at Stormont suggests it is still not comfortable dealing with the issue.
Already named as the party's next choice for Health Minister, MLA Jim Wells (below) in particular was criticised for his reluctance to meet gay and lesbian organisers.
Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay asked on Twitter: "Would he meet them in his capacity as Health Minister? The DUP (are the) odd party out."
A DUP spokesman said party headquarters only received a request for a participant last Thursday and given the busy schedule of its MLAs could not supply a speaker "on this occasion."
Of course, feelings of unease, embarrassment - and, for some, disgust - about homosexuality is not an exclusively DUP problem.
In the run-up to his election, Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott also made a point of making it clear that he had no inclination to attend gay pride events.
But the DUP under Peter Robinson has been portraying itself as a more broad-based entity than the Ian Paisley-led party that wanted to 'Save Ulster from Sodomy'.
However, it was Mr Robinson's wife Iris who, before her fall from grace last year, was well known for her stance against homosexuality.
The former MP sparked controversy after stating in a Parliamentary debate that homosexuality is "viler" than child sex abuse.
Later she told the Belfast Telegraph she had meant homosexuality and child abuse were "comparable", and argued her comments had been inaccurately transcribed in the record of a Grand Committee debate. However, after reviewing its tapes, Hansard, which publishes transcripts of all Westminster debates, said it was happy that the transcription was accurate.
But with the return of devolution, taking power also meant staying within legal boundaries.
The annual Gay Pride Festival was boosted by a £2,000 grant increase from an incoming DUP minister's department. Culture Minister Edwin Poots, a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, explained: "There are laws that have to be observed, whether we like them or not."
But Free Presbyterian minister and former colleague, Rev Ivan Foster, used the issue to launch an attack on power sharing.
"If it turns out that financial support for a celebration of sodomy is sanctioned by a member or office bearer of the Free Presbyterian Church, then it will underscore the utter futility of the powersharing agreement that has been put together by the DUP and Sinn Fein," he argued.
"Far from the DUP elevating the morals of society, it seems that the DUP is going to come down to the level of morality that society demands."
Despite its advances in recent years, the issue of gay rights regularly returns to haunt, and even define, the DUP.
The latest spat over the party's failure to find a speaker for the Pride on the Hill event at Stormont suggests it is still not comfortable dealing with the issue.
Already named as the party's next choice for Health Minister, MLA Jim Wells (below) in particular was criticised for his reluctance to meet gay and lesbian organisers.
Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay asked on Twitter: "Would he meet them in his capacity as Health Minister? The DUP (are the) odd party out."
A DUP spokesman said party headquarters only received a request for a participant last Thursday and given the busy schedule of its MLAs could not supply a speaker "on this occasion."
Of course, feelings of unease, embarrassment - and, for some, disgust - about homosexuality is not an exclusively DUP problem.
In the run-up to his election, Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott also made a point of making it clear that he had no inclination to attend gay pride events.
But the DUP under Peter Robinson has been portraying itself as a more broad-based entity than the Ian Paisley-led party that wanted to 'Save Ulster from Sodomy'.
However, it was Mr Robinson's wife Iris who, before her fall from grace last year, was well known for her stance against homosexuality.
The former MP sparked controversy after stating in a Parliamentary debate that homosexuality is "viler" than child sex abuse.
Later she told the Belfast Telegraph she had meant homosexuality and child abuse were "comparable", and argued her comments had been inaccurately transcribed in the record of a Grand Committee debate. However, after reviewing its tapes, Hansard, which publishes transcripts of all Westminster debates, said it was happy that the transcription was accurate.
But with the return of devolution, taking power also meant staying within legal boundaries.
The annual Gay Pride Festival was boosted by a £2,000 grant increase from an incoming DUP minister's department. Culture Minister Edwin Poots, a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, explained: "There are laws that have to be observed, whether we like them or not."
But Free Presbyterian minister and former colleague, Rev Ivan Foster, used the issue to launch an attack on power sharing.
"If it turns out that financial support for a celebration of sodomy is sanctioned by a member or office bearer of the Free Presbyterian Church, then it will underscore the utter futility of the powersharing agreement that has been put together by the DUP and Sinn Fein," he argued.
"Far from the DUP elevating the morals of society, it seems that the DUP is going to come down to the level of morality that society demands."
