Anti-gay Bigotry Alive and Well in Northern Ireland

The Christianists in America have been working hard to export their anti-gay bigotry to other countries, the UK and Australia among them. Apparently, there is fertile ground for their noxious posion and bogus "ex-gay" programs among some in Northern Ireland as evidenced by the outburst of the wife of Northern Ireland's new First Minister, DUP leader Peter Robinson. One would think that Ms. Robinson and Sally Kern have been having get togethers to refine their anti-gay tirades. As always, these "Godly Christians" are anything but Christian in their treatment of others. Fortuantely, the Independent also quotes medical expert who debunks the "cure" myth. Here are some highlights from the Independent:

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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.

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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.

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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. "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.

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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.