Iris Robinson: Stonewall’s Bigot of the Year

Iris Robinson, the Northern Ireland politician has been named as the Bigot of the Year at the Stonewall Awards.

She has refused to withdraw comments that homosexuality is an abomination and gay people can be “cured” by therapy.

Robinson has been the center of controversy since June, when she said in a radio interview about a gay related hate crime that the victim could be “cured” of his homosexuality. She also cited the work of her adviser, psychiatrist Dr. Paul Miller, as an example. She said:

“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. I am happy to put any homosexual in touch with this gentleman and I have met people who have turned around to become heterosexual.”

Dr. Miller has since resigned as her adviser.

So Here’s to You Mr. Robinson

The government department headed by Peter Robinson, the husband of infamous homophobe, Iris Robinson, is going to be allocating £80,000 to GLBT groups over the next seven months.

It has also been reported that that Stormont grant-aid of £100,000 has been allocated to the GLBT community during Ian Paisley’s period as First Minister.

It has also been reported that money from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) helped fund this year’s Belfast Gay Pride parade.

So Here’s to You Mrs. Robinson - Hate On!

Iris Robinson will not be rebuked by Prime Minister Gordon Brown over her comments on homosexuality, Downing Street has said.

A petition on the Number 10 website calling for the Strangford DUP MP to be reprimanded was signed by more than 15,000 people.

Mrs Robinson described homosexuality as an abomination (amongst other things that should be considered as a hate crime) in a radio interview.

Downing Street said there was no constitutional role for the PM to reprimand individual MPs.

It said members “are accountable to their electorate for their own comments”.

Read more about Iris here or the rest of this story at news.bbc.co.uk.

Robinson Advisor Steps Down Amidst Controversy

Dr. Paul Miller, a psychiatrist who found himself caught up in the flurry of controversy caused by the anti-gay remarks made by Iris Robinson has temporarily stepped down from his position at a Belfast hospital. He has also resigned as Mrs. Robinson’s part-time adviser.

In June, Robinson publicly stated homosexuality was an abomination and she had a psychiatrist working in her office who had “cured” gay people. Other psychiatrists have distanced themselves from those with similar views stating that homosexuality is not an illness and did not require medical treatment.

Neither Dr. Miller nor Mrs. Robinson will comment.

North Ireland’s Gay Pride: A Tribute To Iris

The gay community in the Foyle region of Northern Ireland will celebrate Pride next month with an “Iris Robinson tribute.”

The six day festival will also feature the return of some the biggest events on last year’s programme, ‘Rock for Pride @ Sandinos’ and ‘The Silver Tongued Devils.’

It emerged earlier this month that in June, during a House of Commons committee discussion on the assessment and management of sex offenders, Mrs Robinson said: “There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality, than sexually abusing innocent children.”

Get more on this from pinknews.co.uk.

You can also read more on Mrs. Robinson right here at gayagenda.com.

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