By Conor Sharkey
STRABANE'S gay community has reacted with outrage this week to comments made by the DUP's Iris Robinson regarding homosexuality.
The wife of the First Minister whipped up a political storm last Friday, when she described homosexuality as an abomination and urged gay people to seek a 'cure' for their condition via counselling.
And while the DUP have tried to play down the furore, Mrs Robinson stoked the fires of controversy further on Monday when she said she would not be apologising because her comments had been "the word of God".
Here in Strabane, members of the local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender group have been offering their opinion and, naturally enough, it has been less than complimentary towards the Strangford MP.
Betty Fleming, bar manager at Strabane's Central Bar accused Mrs Robinson of jumping on the "homophobic bandwagon".
"What type of example is Iris Robinson showing to the rest of the country?
"Her comments have done nothing other than highlight that she believes little in treating everyone equally. Her time would be best spent tackling discrimination rather than discriminating against gay people.
'This is a prime example of a politician using their position to exploit the gay community just to make headlines.
"Perhaps Iris Robinson should try hypnosis herself, where inclusion, equity of treatment and respect for diversity are instilled in her mind.
"This lady should be challenged for her preconceptions of how she thinks of 'others' and questioned on her commitment to developing relationships between communities. Is she not best placed as a politician to address issues of discrimination, prejudice and distrust rather than being the cause of it?
"Homophobia and attitudes towards people of different sexual orientations are issues that yet again need to be properly addressed.
"There are a lot of gay people still waiting to see a society where difference is respected and valued and it is easy to lose sight of this when our very politicians will jump on the homophobic bandwagon, to the detriment of ourselves," Ms Fleming said.
Meanwhile, Kiera (19), said Mrs Robinson could have a major fight on her hands if she doesn't retract her comments as a matter of urgency.
"It is outrageous, ridiculous and unbelievable that someone as prominent as Iris Robinson could say something like this.
"Where in the bible does it say that gay people are an abomination and suffering from a psychiatric disorder? I'm a Christian, I have read the bible and I have never come across anything like what Iris Robinson has said.
"There are equality laws in this country, but this just highlights the corruption of the political system when we have to play by the rules, but our politicians can break them when it suits them.
"The gay community pay their taxes and contribute as much as anyone else to society and deserve to be treated the same as the next person. Unless Iris Robinson apologises or retracts her comments, she could have a war on her hands, because this isn't going to go away," Kiera said.
