9 posts tagged “gay”
Pope: Saving world from homosexuality like saving rainforests
You know, there's such a thing as carrying a metaphor too far...
My "very good friend", Irish Robinson has had her achievements recognised again. Stonewall has awarded her their 'Bigot of the Year' award for 2008.
No doubt this is in recognition for her sterling work in advancing the acceptance of gays and lesbians in Northern Ireland (where she is minister for health in the non-functioning Mickey Mouse executive).
No. Not really.
It's because she has a record of blatant homophobia and, despite her position as an elected representative, sees fit to spout gibberish about "curing homosexuals".
Yes, I've blogged about this nut-job before. Oh, and here. Sorry for the repetition. I'm just incredibly angry about the lack of an sort of apology, or the fact that there was little or no censure from her government.
Possibly because she's married to the First Minister, Peter Robinson (only in Northern Ireland...).
The BBC broadcast the DUP's annual conference this year, where her husband got a few chuckles from the dinosaurs in attendence when he mentioned her lack of political correctness (see his speech here). It's not about being PC. It's about respecting people and treating everyone equally. And (ideally) it should be about keeping your personal religious views separate from work... especially when religion has had such a negative impact on society, as in Norn Iron.
I'm sure the Stonewall award will find pride of place on her mantlepiece.
...but you could sign this petition and tell Gordon Brown you don't approve of Iris Robinson's blatant homophobia.
Mind you, this is the same Gordon Brown who bought the DUP's votes this evening, in order to pass a disgusting piece of legislation that goes against everything British society is supposed to stand for.
I wonder what the DUP will do with the money... Creationism in schools, anyone?
Somehow, I don't think he's going to take any notice. But sign it anyway, it'll make me sleep better tonight.
And if you're an Facebook, there are a couple of choice groups letting the world know what they think of Mrs. Robinson. Such as "Let's tell Iris Robinson where she can stick it".
Further to my post yesterday concerning discrimination in Northern Ireland, this morning's Irish Independent carries some more detail on Iris Robinson's Christian ways (tongue firmly in cheek) and her outburst on live radio concerning homosexualists. (My emphases in bold).
THE wife of Northern Ireland's new First Minister, DUP leader Peter Robinson, sparked outrage yesterday by offering to put gay people in touch with a psychiatrist who would help make them heterosexual.
Just one day into his new job, Mr Robinson saw his wife Iris, who is also the DUP's health spokeswoman in the Stormont Assembly, dragged into a massive political row.
The Strangford MP launched a stinging attack on homosexuality on a live radio phone-in show after a 27-year-old gay man was beaten up in a homophobic attack near his home and left with horrific injuries.
Mrs Robinson described homosexuality as "disgusting, nauseous, loathsome, shamefully wicked and vile" and said her strong Christian upbringing meant she would never change her views and nothing would stop her from speaking out on the issue.
Mrs Robinson said she utterly condemned Wednesday night's attack on gay man Stephen Scott, who was knocked to the ground by three young thugs who punched and kicked him as he lay helpless and unable to defend himself in the street.
The victim was attacked in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, and is recovering in hospital where he is being treated for broken ribs, a fractured wrist, leg and head injuries.
He said he thought he was going to die in the attack after which he was left lying on the roadside.
Mr Scott said yesterday: "As far as I'm concerned, the people who did this to me are scum.
"There were three of them against me and I was left for dead."
But Mrs Robinson refused an invitation to meet gay men and women to find out more about the problems and prejudices they face in their lives. Declining the offer from David McCartney of the gay support group, The Rainbow Project, she said: "I do not need to put my hand into the fire to know I will get burned."
She then offered to put gay and lesbian people in touch with a psychiatrist who she described as a born-again-Christian who would help them change their sexuality.
Mrs Robinson told BBC's Nolan Show: "I have a lovely psychiatrist who works with me and who tries to help homosexuals turn away from what they are engaged in.
"He is a Born Again Christian and has links all over the world and I have met people who have been turned around to become heterosexual and who have gone on to get married and raise families.
"Homosexuality is not natural. My Christian beliefs tell me that it is an abomination and that is very clear.
"It is an offence to God, an offensive act and something that God abhors.
"My Christian beliefs tell me to love the sinner but hate the sin, so I condemn the people who went out and kicked that gay man.
"I am clearly not saying that I want people to thrash the living daylights out of a homosexual man or women, because I don't."
But Michael King from the Royal Society of Psychiatrists said there was no evidence people could obtain psychiatric help to stop them being gay. He said such treatment was potentially harmful.
Professor King added: "There is a lot of evidence going back 50 years to suggest that attempts to change people's sexuality in either direction are not possible.
"Such treatments do not work and can actually cause quite a lot of harm. Homosexuality is a state and a sexual orientation and is not a question of behaviour."
My question: if she does in fact "love the sinner", why the refusal to go and meet with some of them to see what they have to say?
Afraid that she might meet human beings and not the jaded stereotypes Paisley and his ilk in the Free Presbyterian Church have been foisting on Northern Ireland since the 70's? Who knows? Who knows what goes on in the mind of someone like this?
But as an elected representative, she has made one thing quite clear - she definitely does not view all the people of Northern Ireland equally and has stated that she will refuse to meet with some of them. Not terrorists, not paedophiles, not rapists. Gays. But in her mind, perhaps they're all pigeon-holed together in the same dark, dank fear-filler corner of her mind.
Concerning all the press exposure she's received as a result of this interview, I wonder what she and her husband (the First Minister) are discussing over breakfast this morning?
What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in the Robinson household this evening. In case you haven't been following Northern Ireland latest political developments, (what? you haven't?), Peter Robinson is the new First Minister of Northern Ireland. Fair enough.
Interestingly, his wife - the fragrant Iris - is also an MP and is Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Health Committee. She has caused a bit of a storm (it's all relative, this being Northern Ireland - nobody has been blown up... yet) by suggesting she knows a psychiatrist who can help gays "turn around" from their gay ways and become nice heterosexuals.
From the BBC:
Mrs Robinson made her comments on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show on Friday. She said she would defend her right to express religious beliefs, while also condemning violence against the gay community.
"I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals - trying to turn away from what they are engaged in," she said.
"I'm happy to put any homosexual in touch with this gentleman and I have met people who have turned around and become heterosexuals."
In a statement the Royal College of Psychiatrists said that homosexuality was not a psychiatric disorder.
Readers should understand Iris put forth these ideas in the context of a recent attack on a gay man in Northern Ireland. A literal case of adding insult to injury. Readers (particularly non-Europeans, dare I say non-Irish) should also realise Iris is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which was until recently led by the effervescent and energetic Dr. Ian Paisley, a man not known for his moderate views... on anything really. He called the Pope the "Anti-Christ" in the European Parliament, and launched a "Save Ulster from Sodomy" campaign in the 1970's, in response to the threat (the horror!) of law reform in this area.
I note all this not to excuse Iris Robinson, but to put a little context around the situation. Northern Ireland is not what you'd call progressive and is indeed one of the few places in Western Europe that make the Republic of Ireland seem liberal and at ease with itself - I can say this (I think!) as I was born and raised in Dublin.
In all seriousness, Iris Robinson is in a position of authority and influence. She is also entitled to her views. I meekly suggest, however, that she should think twice before implying gay people need psychiatric help while discussing gay-bashing.
Yes indeed, he is. And who cares? I mean, good for him and everything. But I wasn't sitting on the very edge of my seat waiting to find out. I do like Brown and really enjoyed his book "Tricks of the Mind", particular when he debunks various peddlers of hocus-pocus.
I hope this story just dies a death and he doesn't end up being viewed as "Gay Illusionist, Derren Brown". You know what I mean? He's good at what he does. Let's acknowledge him for that.
Predictably, the knuckle-draggers at The Sun had their moment with this headline. Scumbags.
I like Brown's attitude to all this, though:
"Coming out when you are in the public eye is one of those things that isn't an issue to yourself, your friends or your family. But you have to make a statement about it. You have to be open and up front – or you end up turning it into a dark secret in your mind."
Be open and up front - exactly. If everyone was able to do this, there would be a lot less mystery, less hypocrisy, and sexual preference would just be another demographic variable.
This just in: Wapping Psycho is also gay. I wonder if I'll be labelled a "gay psychologist" from now on...
I was trying to enjoy London Pride while simultaneously keeping an eye open for random terrorist car bombs. There had been two failed attempts to blow up innocent Londoners the previous night, so people were a tad nervous that the gays might be next... think how many virgins these fuckers migh expect in paradise if they managed to wipe out an entire gay pride parade??
Despite the apalling weather (I mean it was *bucketing* down), there was a great turnout, people had a great time, and I was among them. Ably assisted by Mr. Veuve Clicquot, I sat in a bar with friends, watching various drag queens and topless (male) models walk by. (Note to self: get to the gym!).
I thought my new shirt lent me a kind of 'Brokeback Mountain' chic...but apparently I was the only person who thought this. Maybe I should have gone the whole hog and worn a cowboy hat too?
The mood was slightly dampened by a phone call from my sister in Edinburgh, telling me that more of these terrorist twats had attempted to blow up Glasgow Airport. This increased the stress levels slightly, but also led to an interesting conversation, whereby we all reckoned we'd do a better job of blowing things up than the amateurs in the news.
I mean, come on. Covering yourself in petrol and then driving your jeep through the front door of an airport? What was that about? Morons. The only consolation being one of them is presently in agony in a burns unit in Glasgow.
The day for me represented two things that are great about living in London:
1 - The weather seldom gets in the way of having fun
2 - Unlike in Russia and other eastern European states (I'm looking at you, Poland), there was explicit government support for the thousands of gays parading and cavorting through the streets, late into the night.
That, I think, is the best possible two-fingered salute to these terrorists.
From this morning's Times:
There is a curious battle being fought in the wings of the Scottish Parliament.
In one corner stands the Rev George Hargreaves, leader of the Scottish Christian Party, whose belief that homosexuality is a sin underpins his election campaign. In the other is Patrick Harvie, the openly gay Green MSP for Glasgow and a prominent gay rights campaigner.
However, only one of the contestants for the Glasgow vote is also the songwriter behind the 1980s Sinitta hit, So Macho, and its double A-side, Cruising, which were gay anthems for the disco generation. And it isn’t Mr Harvie.
You have to read the rest of this story. It's hilarious. I love how Hargreaves justifies his use of the monthly royalty cheques. Priceless.
Yep, the Scottish elections are going to be interesting.
