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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Row over 'repulsive gays' comment | Row over 'repulsive gays' comment |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive has been criticised for allegedly saying he was "repulsed" by homosexuals. | A junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive has been criticised for allegedly saying he was "repulsed" by homosexuals. |
| The Democratic Unionist Party's Ian Paisley Jr made the comment to Ireland's Hot Press magazine, but he said he did not hate homosexuals. | The Democratic Unionist Party's Ian Paisley Jr made the comment to Ireland's Hot Press magazine, but he said he did not hate homosexuals. |
| Sinn Fein has accused him of "dangerous homophobia" and demanded he apologise. | |
| Martina Anderson said such comments could feed into the attitudes that "lead to homophobic violence". | Martina Anderson said such comments could feed into the attitudes that "lead to homophobic violence". |
| "Whatever about his personal beliefs, the fact is that he now has ministerial responsibility for this issue," she said. | "Whatever about his personal beliefs, the fact is that he now has ministerial responsibility for this issue," she said. |
| "Ian Paisley Jr should withdraw these comments and apologise." | "Ian Paisley Jr should withdraw these comments and apologise." |
| Mr Paisley is quoted as saying: "I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism. I think it is wrong. That doesn't mean to say that I hate them - I mean, I hate what they do Ian Paisley jnr | Mr Paisley is quoted as saying: "I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism. I think it is wrong. That doesn't mean to say that I hate them - I mean, I hate what they do Ian Paisley jnr |
| "I think that those people harm themselves and - without caring about it - harm society. | "I think that those people harm themselves and - without caring about it - harm society. |
| "That doesn't mean to say that I hate them. I mean, I hate what they do." | "That doesn't mean to say that I hate them. I mean, I hate what they do." |
| The SDLP's equality spokeswoman, Dolores Kelly, called on the assembly to censure Mr Paisley by tabling a motion with the Assembly's business office urging members to distance themselves from the remarks. | The SDLP's equality spokeswoman, Dolores Kelly, called on the assembly to censure Mr Paisley by tabling a motion with the Assembly's business office urging members to distance themselves from the remarks. |
| "Ian Paisley is a junior minister in the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, the department which is charged with promoting equality and bringing forward the Single Equality Bill," she said. | "Ian Paisley is a junior minister in the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, the department which is charged with promoting equality and bringing forward the Single Equality Bill," she said. |
| "Vulnerable groups who are potential victims of discrimination should be able to look to him for help, not attack. | "Vulnerable groups who are potential victims of discrimination should be able to look to him for help, not attack. |
| "If he cannot leave his extreme personal views outside his office, he must be kept away from any decisions which may be affected by those views." | "If he cannot leave his extreme personal views outside his office, he must be kept away from any decisions which may be affected by those views." |
| Gay rights campaigner Andrew Muir said the comments were harmful. | Gay rights campaigner Andrew Muir said the comments were harmful. |
| "Our research proves that 29% of young people have actually attempted suicide because of homophobia in society and I think these comments are very concerning," he said. | "Our research proves that 29% of young people have actually attempted suicide because of homophobia in society and I think these comments are very concerning," he said. |
| The DUP said there was no suggestion Mr Paisley's comments were any form of discrimination. | The DUP said there was no suggestion Mr Paisley's comments were any form of discrimination. |