Gay Belfast 2009 News

Its Official, Homophobic MP, Iris Robinson stands down due to mental illness! (29 December 2009)

Homophobic MP, Iris Robinson, has announced that she is quitting politics due to serious bouts of depression. She says, “The stress and strain of public life comes at a cost and my health has suffered” Robinson has been the Spokesperson for Health, Youth and Women since 2001 and an elected member for Strangford since 1998. Her career in the UK parliament has been mixed. Iris Robinson and her husband First Minister Peter Robinson have good reason to laugh

Iris Robinson and her husband First Minister Peter Robinson have good reason to laugh

While she has voted and debated substantially less than the average member, she voted against gay rights, against climate change legislation, for the Iraq war, and against the hunting ban. She and her husband have come under fire for what appeared to be extravagant expense claims. However, Iris Robinson is possibly best known for ruining the career of psychiatrist Dr. Paul Miller, by boasting publicly about his ability to cure homosexuality. Dr Miller, who trained under well-known, unlicensed and thoroughly discredited American ex-gay Richard Cohen, then resigned as her advisor and stood down temporarily from his post as consultant psychiatrist at Belfast’s Mater Hospital. A born again Christian, Mrs. Robinson’s greatest hits include saying homosexuality makes her nauseous, comparing homosexuality to murder and saying that gays are not people with standards and morals. Her most often quoted, “There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children,” is from a parliamentary debate on Risk Assessment and Management of Sex Offenders. Of course we shouldn't cheer too loud, her “mental illness” is a serious issue, the Belfast gay community recognise how disabling and awful depression can be. In her own words, “Only those who have faced similar challenges in life will know the ordeal faced by those who are profoundly depressed and the distress caused to those around them as they grapple with personality changing illness.” Lets hope she gets a better shrink than she was recommending to us!

Irish Robinson, nee Collins, was born in Belfast in 1949. She attended Cregagh Primary School, Knockbreda Intermediate School and Cregagh Technical College before becoming a private secretary. She married Peter Robinson in 1970 and the couple have three children, two boys and one girl. Mrs Robinson was first elected as a councillor in Castlereagh Borough Council in 1989. She became the borough's first woman mayor in 1992. She was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 and became the MP for Strangford in 2001, taking the seat from the UUP. Mrs Robinson was the party's health spokesman and chaired the Assembly Health Committee from 2007. That year she was suspended from Stormont for a day after refusing to withdraw comments she made about Health Minister Michael McGimpsey misleading the Assembly over a draft budget. But it was to be in June 2008 that saw her embroiled in a major controversy over her beliefs about homosexuality. Speaking on a BBC radio programme she described homosexuality as an "abomination" and that with help, gay people could be "turned around". Her comments were made in the same week that a gay man had been badly beaten in a homophobic attack and there was a massive outcry. An online petition calling for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to reprimand Mrs Robinson gathered 16,000 signatures. Amnesty International and the Labour Party were among the many groups calling for action against her. Mrs Robinson, a member of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church in Belfast, defended her remarks claiming she aired them in the wrong environment before saying "love the sinner, not the sin". A police investigation examined claims her comments breached hate crime laws but no charges were brought. Comments made by Iris Robinson about homosexuality do not warrant disciplinary action, the Assembly Ombudsman has ruled. Following the scandal, gay rights group Stonewall voted her the UK Bigot of the Year 2008 while the gay news service Pink News landed her with the nickname "wicked witch of the north". Further controversy followed earlier this year when the Westminster MPs expenses scandal broke. She described the reporting of the story as "a witch hunt" which almost led to her leaving politics. In an interview with the News Letter, she said the reporting of her and her husband's salaries and expenses was "totally wrong in most cases". Among their claims was about £30,000 for food over a four-year period and £160,000 in mortgage interest. Mrs Robinson reiterated that all their claims were legitimate at the time.

A Labour councillor from Hull who was arrested in a Belfast hotel room with his teenage boyfriend has failed in a legal challenge against the police. Stephen Bayes, 47, who was once tipped to succeed John Prescott as an MP, was detained because his partner was under the legal age of consent at the time. Mr Bayes applied for a judicial review, arguing that he had been discriminated against and his privacy breached. His application was dismissed largely because of a delay in applying for it. Mr Bayes was held on suspicion of gross indecency and other offences when police raided the Holiday Inn on University Street in December 2007. The former chairman of Humberside Police Authority was in the city with his partner Dale Martin, who he met earlier that year through the internet. Mr Martin was 17 when they were together in the hotel room, one year lower than the Northern Ireland age of consent for gay sex at the time. It has since been reduced to 16, in line with the rest of the UK.

Although a report was prepared for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), Mr Bayes learned in July this year no action would be taken because it was not in the public interest. Mr Bayes and Mr Martin, who are now engaged, then launched legal proceedings against the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the PPS. The pair argued the fact that the law in Northern Ireland was different at the time was discriminatory. They also complained that their right to privacy had been breached. Judges hearing the application were also told the alleged breaches of their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights involved the seizure of property and searches of their homes, the hotel room and work places. Mr Bayes said police raided the Guildhall in Hull and the House of Commons where he worked as a research officer for Labour MP Linda Riordan. However, the legal challenge was dismissed largely due to the delay in bringing it before the court. Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan pointed out the changes in law around the age of consent were introduced in February. "The legal landscape and architecture in respect of those provisions has changed," he said.

Following the ruling, Mr Bayes insisted the judicial review could only have been brought after he learned a prosecution was not being pursued. He also hit out at how police handled his case, claiming they must have known Northern Ireland's age of consent was to be lowered. "The police just came in with their big stomping feet all over everything and didn't look at it, bearing in mind the law was changing," he said. "If it wasn't in the public interest in July 2009, it wasn't in the public interest in December 2007 and they should have known that." Mr Bayes stressed how he believed his partner was 18 when they first met online. He pointed to their still being together as evidence that there was nothing "predatory" in his actions. The councillor, who was returned with an increased majority following the publicity surrounding his arrest, said Mr Martin came over to be with him in November 2007. The couple had returned to Northern Ireland to collect personal belongings when police arrived at their hotel room. At the time he was tipped to succeed former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott as an MP, but ended up withdrawing from the process when he was suspended from the party for a time.

Daily Mail column on Stephen Gately death provokes record complaints (16 October 2009)

A routine assignment for one of the Daily Mail's star columnists, Jan Moir: a catty take on the death of Boyzone star Stephen Gately which pandered to the prejudices of its homophobic readers. But the Daily Mail was forced to withdraw advertising from part of its web site after an extraordinary internet campaign prompted by the article questioning the role the Boyzone star's lifestyle and sexuality played in his death last Saturday.

Marks and Spencer was among the major firms whose adverts were taken down following outrage at Moir's article, headlined "There was nothing 'natural' about Stephen Gately's death". Complaints poured in to the Press Complaints Commission at the fastest rate in its history, causing its website to crash. The Mail also removed adverts for Nestle, Visit England, Kodak and National Express. Moir wrote that the circumstances surrounding Gately's death at 33 "are more than a little sleazy" and told how he and his civil partner, Andrew Cowles, had taken a Bulgarian man to their flat in Mallorca after a night clubbing, and that Gately reportedly smoked cannabis on the night he died. She said: "Under the carapace of glittering, hedonistic celebrity, the ooze of a very different and more dangerous lifestyle has seeped out for all to see."

A postmortem on Tuesday showed that Gately died of natural causes. A court official in Mallorca said the singer suffered a pulmonary oedema, an accumulation of fluid on the lungs. Moir's article, published on the eve of the singer's funeral in Dublin, sparked a storm of protest on the internet, led by Stephen Fry and Derren Brown on the messaging site Twitter, on which they have a combined following of almost one million. Fry wrote: "I gather a repulsive nobody writing in a paper no one of any decency would be seen dead with has written something loathsome and inhumane. Disgusted with Daily Mail's Jan Moir? Complain where it matters. She breaches 1,3,5 and 12 of the code."

By this evening the PCC had handled 1,000 emails and calls complaining about inaccuracies, insensitivity to Gately's family and alleged homophobia. The PCC's deputy director, Stephen Abell, said officials contacted Boyzone's PR company yesterday "to let them know what had happened and to make themselves available if they wanted to complain". The names and numbers of the corporate advertisers on the article's web page were posted on a Facebook group called "The Daily Mail should retract Jan Moir's hateful, homophobic article".

"We have asked the Daily Mail to move our advert away from the article," said a spokesman for Marks & Spencer. Asked why, he said: "That is a matter for the Daily Mail." A spokesman for Nestle said it had received several complaints, and added: "The views in the article are not shared by Nestle. We have always emphasised the importance of mutual respect and tolerance." James Bromley, Mail Online managing director, told New Media Age magazine that the decision to remove the ads was taken by Mail Online after it "saw the strong reaction".

As outrage grew, the Mail changed the headline on Moir's piece to "A strange, lonely and troubling death …" and late this afternoon Moir published a clarification of her article. "When I wrote that 'he would want to set an example to any impressionable young men who may want to emulate what they might see as his glamorous routine,' I was referring to the drugs and the casual invitation extended to a stranger," she said. "Not to the fact of his homosexuality. In writing that 'it strikes another blow to the happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships' I was suggesting that civil partnerships – the introduction of which I am on the record in supporting – have proved just to be as problematic as marriages."

She questioned how many of those complaining about her piece had read it completely and said that she had been subject to "a heavily orchestrated internet campaign". "I think it is mischievous in the extreme to suggest that my article has homophobic and bigoted undertones," she said.

At times, reaction on the internet became disturbing. Moir's home address was reportedly posted, and the false allegation that the Daily Mail had claimed Gately had been murdered by his partner was repeated on Twitter.Moir has previously employed innuendo when commenting on homosexual public figures. In an article in August about Peter Mandelson, the business secretary, she wrote that "with his blue suede shoes, his peach mansion and his green tea devotionals, he is like a rock star camping it up on a farewell tour", and said he has spent years "clawing his way up the soil pipe of politics".

Gately's body arrived back in Dublin from Palma airport today. The remaining members of Boyzone are expected to sing at his funeral at St Lawrence O'Toole Church. Gately came out as a in 1999 after a security guard for Boyzone went to a tabloid newspaper about his sexuality.

Stephen Gately who died yesterday visited Northern Ireland on several occasions during his performances with Boyzone. His sudden death has left the local community stunned and led to an outpouring of tributes from those who had met and worked with the popular singer during his time in the province. Belfast singer Brian Kennedy, said the music industry had lost a “colourful” entertainer. "I saw Stephen just recently, because he uses the same gym as me when he’s back in Dublin. To be honest, I thought he seemed to be in the best form I’d seen him," said Brian. "He was very happy, madly in love with his partner and delighted that Boyzone were back together again." Television and radio presenter Gerry Kelly is currently on holidays in Majorca where Stephen died. He said: "I’ve known Boyzone since they formed in the 1990s. I switched on the BBC World News and I just could not believe it, it was such a huge shock. I’ve always liked Stephen, he was quiet and he was a real gentleman. I’ll certainly contact Boyzone members. Certainly whatever service there is, I’ll be there. I’m in a total state of shock." Promoter Peter Aiken was responsible for bringing Stephen and Boyzone to the Odyssey in Belfast on numerous occasions. He said: "Stephen was one of the good guys in the business.I worked with him for around 20 years and he was always helpful and likeable." Broadcaster Ivan Martin of U105 said: “He was an extremely talented artist and one of the nicest people in showbusiness. Always ready to help people. He had a traumatic time over his sexuality and he was told that if he talked openly about it, his fans would turn against him. However, he came out and told the world he was gay and the predictions were proved to be wrong. His fans adored him all the more and gave him their full support." Belfast comedian Frank Carson told how he once took his granddaughters Saiorse and Ashling backstage at a concert in Manchester to meet Stephen. He said: “The girls were struck dumb at the face to face, but Stephen made them feel at home and then made their evening by inviting them to stay for the concert which hadn’t really been my intention. Barry O’Kane, editor of Big Buzz magazine, described Gately as a "warm, funny, honest guy2. "I interviewed him several times and always found him to be a bubbly, lovely bloke,” he said. “Stephen lived for music, he really did, and I can’t believe that he has died. It’s such a shame."

Northern Ireland MP Iris Robinson has declined an invite to see a play about anti-gay discrimination. The MP who has called homosexuality "an abomination", is one of the stars of the show, as her voice is being used as part of the storyline. The play, To Be Straight With You, will be shown at this year’s Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s later this month. Excerpts from the Nolan Show from June 2008, in which she said gays could be turned straight, will be played during some scenes. Robinson had 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'm happy to put any homosexual in touch with this gentleman and I have met people who have turned around and become heterosexuals." In the same month, she told the Belfast Telegraph that homosexuality was "comparable" to child sex abuse and that she was "repulsed" by the idea. Lloyd Newson, the show’s director told the Belfast Telegraph he was disappointed Robinson had not accepted the invitation. Her office told producers: "Thank you for your invitation and kind offer of tickets. Mrs Robinson will not be able to attend the Belfast event, as she already has engagements in her diary for those dates. “Thank you again for contacting us. Best wishes."

Belfast church allowed judicial review on 'homophobic' advertisement (11 September 2009)

A East Belfast church has been granted a judicial review on a ruling from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that its advertisement's were homophobic. Sandown Free Presbyterian Church appealed the decision at the high court this week. It placed the full-page advert in the Belfast NewsLetter this summer, ahead of Belfast Pride. It contained verses from the Bible describing gay sex as an abomination and referred to "sodomy". The ASA ruled that the church's advertisement, which called gay people perverts and called on "religious" people to publicly oppose gay rights and the Pride event, broke their rules on decency. It said it had received seven complaints that the advertisement's were homophobic. After the ASA rejected the church's appeal to have its adjudication overturned, the church appealed to the high court. Its legal team argued that a judicial review is necessary because the regulator's ruling breached its right to freedom of religion and expression. John Larkin QC, for Sandown Free Presbyterian Church, said: "The advertisement was not homophobic nothing could be further from the truth. This is the classic evangelical position between loving the sinner and hating the sin." He added that the church could not revise the words on its ads as the 'biblically-based church' was "bound to proclaim the truth as they see it" and argued the ASA had misconstrued passages taken from Leviticus. Speaking for the ASA, Tony McGleenan countered that the language used was "forceful, confrontational and threatening to a section of the community." Mr Justice Weatherup decided to grant a judicial review but said it would be preferable for the two parties to work together.

Jamie Dornan, the young man from Belfast dubbed the male Kate Moss' by GQ and the Golden Torso' by The New York Times. Hermione Eyre from the London Evening Standard takes a look at the Belfast hunk

The good news: he's smart, sweet and thoughtful. Tidies up before his cleaner comes round. Carries stamps in his wallet because he likes old-fashioned letter-writing, particularly to his dad. Charming. Modest to a fault. Single. Broody. Touched by melancholia. The bad news? He wouldn't take his top off for our photo shoot. Sorry. I did try. But at least he showed me the Dornan Furrow. I'm not going to take my shirt off every time I'm in front of a camera,' he explains patiently in his strong Northern Irish accent. It's very accessible. Google “Jamie Dornan torso” and there you are. I've done it enough that I really don't see how it's interesting any more. People assume you're stupid enough as it is. Then you take your shirt off and they're like, “He must be an idiot.” Seriously, people approach me and you can see it in their eyes.' They speak to you very s-l-o-w-l-y? They're like: “Let's talk about grease and oil on your body. And aftershave. And your grooming technique.”

I understand: I mean, if I saw a picture of me, I'd probably be the same.' Said with the weariness of someone who, at 27, has been there, done that, had Gisele lying in his lap. He's been spooned by Kate Moss on a billboard, shielded Eva Mendes' modesty in a pants advert… Where else is there for a male model to go? He's more interested in acting, having made a ravishing debut as Kirsten Dunst's lover, Count Axel Fersen, in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. Much more stretching than simply working the Dornan Furrow. That's his trademark modelling technique. It's so funny. Until I do it, the photographers just aren't happy. They're like, “It's not working, it's not working.” Then I look down, and then I look up, and it creates this furrow in my brow' – he demonstrates, devastatingly – Then they're happy.' He takes a big bite of his club sandwich. I've never bought that “my body is a temple” shit. Although mine does help pay my mortgage.' He owns (courtesy of a Dior Homme campaign) a house in Notting Hill where he lives with a flatmate. They went to a Pilates class last night, where they were the only boys. He used to play rugby; now he works out only once a week. He's not precious about his looks. On nights out, the Golden Torso opens beer bottles with his teeth. In a bar in Clapham a few years ago someone broke his perfect nose with a headbutt. And it was National Courtesy Day!' he says, outraged. When I go out with my mates, we're a big group of Belfast boys and at the end of a night we can get a little, you know, hyper-active. But I tend to get my sensible head on and can be quite strict with them, like, “Calm down, lads.” Which is why they call me Daddy Dornan.'

daddy doran hunky belfast boy Jamie Dornan

Daddy Dornan is going to be a role model for underwear hopefuls this month when he's judging the Calvin Klein Underwear male model competition. I'll probably help them find someone that puts me out of a contract,' he says. Runners-up get a year's supply of Calvin Klein underwear. It seems a job wasted on a straight guy, though doubtless Dornan will do it gracefully. He is often told how well he passes for straight. The amount of people who think I'm gay is astounding.' From 2003 to 2005 he stepped out with Keira Knightley, an affair both of them refuse to talk about to the press. When they split, he was quoted as saying, The man is meant to be the alpha in the relationship on the money and power front and clearly I was not,' but when I put that to him he cringes. That was taken totally out of context. I didn't mean that.' Since Keira he has, as the tabloids put it, been linked with a string of beautiful women'. Which is hilarious, since I've never even met half of them. My friends ring up asking why I didn't tell them I was going out with Kate Moss? And I'm like, “I'm not! I worked with her for half a day, that's it.” Honestly, I don't do love affairs. That's the most embarrassing thing about the whole situation. I never pull.' What about older would-be seducers? His most recent movie, the languorous Shadows in the Sun, a British independent film directed by David Rocksavage, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, hinted at a time-defying romance between him and Jean Simmons, 80, the screen legend who appeared alongside Deborah Kerr in Powell and Pressburger's Black Narcissus in 1947. I did fall a bit in love with her, actually,' he says. In real life, he recalls one recent emergency situation with an older woman at a dinner in London. There was lots of me going, “Oh, really?” and turning away, and mouthing at my friends for help, and lots of her pulling at my shoulder and asking, “Would you like some of my drink?” No way, I don't know what you've put in it!' Instead, he goes to bed with a book. He's currently ploughing through modern American classics such as John Fante's Ask the Dust, and has just finished Ayn Rand's capitalist masterpiece The Fountainhead, which was incredible, although Ayn Rand wouldn't be my favourite person to be around, politically'. An all-time favourite is The Picture of Dorian Gray. He was desperate to play the role in Oliver Parker's forthcoming adaptation, but lost out to Ben Barnes (Chronicles of Narnia's Prince Caspian).

I don't understand people who don't read,' he says. It's like, what else are they doing?' He also says he doesn't understand people who get fat. Why don't they eat less? There's a strict Protestant heredity at work here. On both sides of his family, his grand-parents were Methodist lay-preachers. His father considered being an actor – won a place at RADA, even – but become an obstetrician. I struggle with the whole religious idea myself, but my mother found faith again when she was dying and I totally respect that.' She died of pancreatic cancer when he was 16. The following year, four of his friends were killed in a car crash. I had a terrible time when I was 16, 17,' he says. Therapy got me through that, actually; I'm not sure how I would have coped without it. It's awful to say this but it's almost better that I went through that early on because it's prepared me for situations that might arise later in life.' Then he thinks again. Actually I don't know that it did, it's just some shit that happened.' There's a thread of sadness that recurs in conversation with Jamie Dornan. I don't keep a diary any more because I used to scare myself when I re-read it. You just learn stuff about yourself that maybe you don't need to know…' He tells me how he discovered he was distantly related to Greer Garson, the actress who won an Oscar in 1942 for Mrs Miniver (he is her great-nephew), and wrote to her as a stage-struck teen, but two days after writing the letter he heard her death announced on the radio. He recently re-read all the classics from his youth: Swallows and Amazons, Tom Sawyer and Peter Pan, because they must have shaped me in an important way, but I wasn't sure how.' He's very protective' of his two sisters, even though they're older than him. One is expecting her first child and that's the most exciting thing in my life at the moment, to be honest. I'm going to be the best uncle in the world, that's the plan anyway. I can't wait. I get broody even when I see stranger's babies.' If you say so, Daddy Dornan. We may be a step away from an Athena poster here. If only he would take his top off one last time.

Nelson McCausland is determined to make Northern Ireland one of the most welcoming destinations in the world. But don’t expect the new Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister’s own welcome mat to extend to the homosexual community. Mr McCausland’s views on that subject mirror those of several of his high-profile DUP colleagues. And, despite his elevation to what many regard as the ‘Minister of Fun’ role, there won’t be much support for ‘amusements’ such as the annual Gay Pride parade in Belfast. "I think my views on homosexuality are very well known," the 58-year-old said. "I would not be a supporter of Gay Pride, and I think that in spite of attempts to portray it as an event that’s going to boost the country and increase the number of major events in the city, I think the majority of people in Northern Ireland would have great reservations and in many cases strong opposition to it. I believe it is the will of God that relationships should be heterosexual. I believe that’s what God intended and planned. But I would not treat anyone unfairly. I would not seek to do anyone any harm and I hope that homosexual people who have had dealings with me in the past would confirm that was the case." The Ballysillan native — married for 35 years — hit out at hate crimes against homosexuals. "Hatred is hatred and a hate crime is wrong, whether it be directed against a person because of their sexuality, their religion, their ethnicity, whatever," he said.

Brian Kennedy has revealed why it took him 10 years to come out of the closet. In his most candid interview yet, Brian said he decided that after a decade of success and being in the public eye, he had to come clean about his sexuality. He admitted to the Belfast Telegragh "I’ve had times when I’ve had to deal with things that are private and personal. But I suppose it was about 10 years into my career that I realised that I couldn’t be as personal and private as I had been because it looks like you’re hiding. It looks like you’re ashamed of something, which I’m certainly not. I’m the most reluctant role model there is because I don’t feel qualified enough. But I wanted to let people know, especially young people, that it's not a bad thing to be gay, it's a good thing to be gay. I think if you’re happy and confident about your sexuality then the press tend to ignore it. I'd be more newsworthy if I was really fucked up about it." The Belfast-born balladeer cited troubled singer George Michael as how not to behave.

Thousands flock to 2009 Belfast Gay Pride

Thousands of people flocked to Belfast city centre today for the annual Gay Pride parade.

The colourful event, which is the highlight of the Belfast Pride Festival, wound itself through the Belfast city streets in support and celebration of the local lesbian and gay community. It was the culmination of a week-long celebration, which included lectures, exhibitions and performing arts events.

The wet and windy conditions did not dampen spirts and there was no raining on their parade. A small group protested against the parade lead by Rev David McIlveen. The minister of the Sandown Free Presbyterian Church staged a protest at Belfast City Hall.

The nineteenth annual Pride parade kicked off at Custom House Square at 2pm and made its way to Donegall Street, left onto Royal Avenue and Donegall Place, round City Hall to Howard Street, right onto Fisherwick Place and Wellington Place, and then maked its way back to the Square via Donegall Place and High Street. Following the parade a free party featuring live music and DJs was held at Custom House Square from 3pm.

Local gay venues then took over the celebrating with some great street parties, although most went to Union Street. A series of club events across Belfast aslo took place. Although the choice cuts took place at Yello. The open-all-hours, polysexual shindig club at Mynt had the guys from London's louche and lovely Horse Meat Disco - great.

This year's Gay Pride parade in Belfast will not be subject to any restrictions, it has been announced. Religious groups are nevertheless expected to picket the annual event, which takes place on Saturday. This is the second year in a row that the Parades Commission has not placed any restrictions on the event. This week organisers gave assurances to the Parades Commission over stewarding as well as the behaviour of those participating in the parade. It sparked controversy two years when one participant carried a placard which Christians found offensive. "We respect the views of those who are organising the Pride parade and those who wish to express their opposition," said Parades Commission chairwoman Rena Shepherd. Just as with any other parade where there is disagreement the commission believes it is paramount that all concerned treat each other with respect and show tolerance towards the view of wider society. We welcome the assurances we have received in regards to the stewarding of the parade and the general conduct of the participants." Ms Shepherd added that it was "very clear" that the Belfast Pride parade was a "welcome addition to the city and it is a colourful and positive celebration of all lifestyles which co-exist in Belfast".

A man has claimed he was repeatedly beaten and raped by his former lover, who threatened to reveal his sexuality. The High Court heard on Friday that the alleged victim, a foreign national, was forced to stand in a freezing shower and was repeatedly attacked. His alleged attacker, a 40-year-old Belfast man, cannot be named for legal reasons. He was arrested in February. He faces a total of 27 charges including three counts of rape, two of false imprisonment and four of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The other charges are threats to kill, intimidation, attempted grievous bodily harm, two counts of indecent assault on a male, five counts of common assault and three of administering a substance with sexual intent. According to the prosecution, the accused threatened to post photographs to his ex-partner's parents, who did not know he was gay. Defence counsel Sean Doherty said his client denied the claims, telling the court that sex between the couple had always been consensual. The accused man's application for bail was refused by Lord Justice Girvan who said he could not yet be released despite an "entirely unsatisfactory timescale".

Iris Robinson, the Democratic Unionist Party MP who described homosexuality as an "abomination", has been cleared of any wrongdoing over her comments. The MP for Strangford made the remarks on an Ulster radio show last year and also told the Belfast Telegraph that homosexuality was "comparable" to paedophilia. She told the radio show that homosexuality was a mental illness and could be "cured". In a report obtained by the Belfast NewsLetter, assembly ombudsman Tom Frawley said: "This case does not warrant any further action in terms of the [assembly] code."

The report is expected to be presented to the Standards and Privileges Committee today. Frawley said he had asked Radio Ulster for transcripts of the interviews, saying: "Much of the language that gave rise to the complaint was introduced to the discussion by the interviewer rather than by Mrs Robinson." He added: "Effectively she was asked if she agreed with the dictionary definition of particular words and language that is used in the Bible in relation to homosexuality. "Mrs Robinson made it clear in her first interview of June 6th that comments she had made in a previous discussion in which it appears she described homosexuality as an 'abomination' were, 'scriptural, and what I clarified it with was very very clear that my Christian belief teaches me that you love the sinner and hate the sin and that goes right across every type of sin'." Responding to the report, Robinson told the newspaper she would wait for today's outcome before commenting but added: "People know and understand that I was asked to make a comment on my religious beliefs and I did so. It was never my intention to cause hurt or offence to any person. The complaints that were levelled in my direction were quite clearly politically-motivated." In March, Robinson escaped a police prosecution for her anti-gay comments. A police spokesman said the Police Service was satisfied that no offence had been committed.

Homophobia and racism are on the rise in Northern Ireland, a survey of public attitudes reveals today. Anti-gay prejudice has almost doubled in three years, according to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. In 2005, 14% of people it surveyed said they would have a problem with a gay, lesbian or bisexual person. That figure rose to 23% in the 2008 poll published today. The report comes after a series of statements by local politicians have been branded homophobic. Iris Robinson, the Democratic Unionist MP, faced widespread criticism after she said homosexuality repulsed her and could be "cured" by psychiatry. Bob Collins, the commission's chief executive, said: "The results of the survey highlight the breadth of work which remains to be done in order to effectively change perceptions and attitudes towards citizens in Northern Ireland." "When those in the gay community look around - seeing a young husband and wife with a pram and a baby, an older husband and wife holding hands, churches preaching that it is God's plan 'for one man to be with one woman till death do us part' - they are reminded that they are wrong, plainly and simply." He ended his letter with an apparent comparison of the gay movement to Nazism, saying: "Hitler said that the lies most easily believed were the biggest, loudest and most repeated." The Derry Journal said its letters page was "jam-packed" with responses to Bradfield's attack, with the vast majority of those against his homophobic stance. Earlier this year, police said Iris Robinson would not be prosecuted over remarks she had made about gays. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last summer, she said: "I cannot think of anything more sickening than a child being abused. It is comparable to the act of homosexuality. I think they are all comparable. I feel totally repulsed by both." She also suggested that there are therapies to "cure" people of homosexuality, saying: "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. "And I have met people who have turned around to become heterosexual." Shortly after her outburst, Mrs Robinson's son Gareth was photographed kissing a man and sitting on his knee at a Belfast party.

Pastor Mark Bradfield of Bethel Baptist Church has attacked homosexuality, saying it is associated with shortened lifespans and mental health problems and that people should change themselves. In language strikingly similar to that used by homophobic DUP MP Iris Robinson last year. Bradfield's tirade was published in a letter to the Derry Journal. He was responding to an article published in the newspaper earlier this month, in which the local Rainbow Project welcomed US president Barack Obama's decision to proclaim June LGBT Pride Month. He claimed that being gay was "unfulfilled, lacking, impulsive, compulsive and fraught with health risks", adding that anyone who might "dabble' in this lifestyle" does so "to their severe detriment." Belfield, whose church is non-denominational, continued: "The Word of God tells us in the old and new testament that the gay lifestyle is an abomination - Not God's will! He also provided a way out of this lifestyle - as has been chosen by many. To trust the one man - Jesus Christ - that still offers a real lifelong, fulfilling, relationship.

Things are changing for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people in Northern Ireland. The Minister for Education will launch the "OUTstanding Youth Work" training resource at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown. "OUTstanding Youth Work" is a 2 day training programme aimed at giving youth workers a better understanding of sexual orientation and how to deal with homophobia within youth settings. LGBT young people have specific experiences as young people within our community. They can often face considerable barriers in terms of marginalisation, invisibility and discrimination. They also may face emotional, physical, familial, social and cultural challenges during the process of coming to terms with their sexual orientation or gender identity. In 2006 the Young Life and Times survey carried out with young people aged 16 from Northern Ireland indicated that 8% of young men and 9% of young women were same sex attracted. In previous research 91% of LGBT young people believed that youth organisations should support them to address their needs. This research also indicated that 79% of youth organisations would like to access specific training for their staff. The training programme has been designed to meet this need, using the collective experience of youth workers from Youthnet, GLYNI, The Rainbow Project, YouthAction NI and Opportunity Youth. The workers involved in creating the training are passionate about how the training could lead to better support for LGBT young people and make a real difference in their lives as they come to terms with their sexual orientation. Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane said: " Everyone in our society has basic human rights and I as Education Minister take my duty to respect and treat all sections of the community equally very seriously. The training pack being launched is an excellent resource and I congratulate Youthnet on the work it has done to develop it. "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people should have access to support and a full range of learning opportunities to help them develop to their full potential. I am keen to support any resource which gives youth workers the opportunity to understand more about the specific experiences facing all our young people. Defending human rights requires individuals and organisations to stand up and be counted - I commend the courage and foresight of the people from Youthnet for developing this training pack." Liam Larmour from Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland said: "This is the first specific training aimed at youth workers. Those who participate in the training will notice a real improvement in their confidence and practice when dealing with LGBT issues". Sean Morrin Youth Support Worker The Rainbow Project said: "This training will meet a real need that has been expressed by Youth Workers all over Ireland. It will create a visibility within the Youth Service for young LGB People. This is a very positive step for these young people, their families and friends. LGBT young people will be present at the launch to give their personal experiences of youth service."

A significant percentage of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people living in Northern Ireland have been the victim of homophobic hate crimes during the last three years, according to a new report. However, 64 per cent of homophobic incidents experienced by individuals were not reported to the police. Through Your Eyes - perceptions and experiences of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people towards homophobic hate crime and policing in Northern Ireland , is published by the Rainbow Project and supported by the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Policing Board. It highlights that there are still high levels of homophobic hate crime throughout Northern Ireland and low levels of reporting and recommends steps that the PSNI should undertake in order to improve co-operation with the LGB community. According to the research, 21 per cent of gay and bisexual males and 18 per cent of lesbians and bisexual females have been the victim of one or more homophobic hate crimes or incidents over the last three years. Approximately 10 percent of LGB people said they had been the victim of incidents over the past 12 months. Overall, 30 per cent of those experiencing homophobic hate incidents during the past three years were physically injured, the report reveals. A quarter of incidents were carried out by neighbours or someone living in the local area and 19 per cent of crimes occurred at the home of an individual. The PSNI define homophobic hate incidents as 'any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by homophobia'. Some 39 per cent of LGB people said they alter their behaviour to avoid others knowing that they are not heterosexual. While the research shows a reluctance on the part of victims to contact police regarding incidents, the research shows that 53 per cent of those who had contact with the PSNI over the past year were either very or somewhat satisfied with the service they received compared to 29 per cent who were either very of somewhat dissatisfied. Twenty-one percent of LGB people said they believe that the police in Northern Ireland are homophobic while 30 per cent stated that they believed the PSNI was aware of issues affecting the gay community.

Iris Robinson and her husband First Minister Peter Robinson both tried to claim for the same £1,223 expenses bill on the same day. Mrs Robinson, who once described homosexuality as an "abomination", was exposed in the latest round of expense receipts published by the Daily Telegraph. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MPs have come under scrutiny for their financial affairs before, with a tabloid newspaper reporting last month that they claim almost £600,000 a year in salaries and expenses. The double claim was rejected by officials, as was a claim for a total of £10,860 in mortgage interest payments made by the couple - covering five months - because they did not provide mortgage interest statements as proof. It was not clear whether the money was paid to them or if they eventually submitted evidence of the interest. Between 2004 and 2008, the couple claimed a total of £159,208 on their east London flat, most of which went on mortgage interest repayments.They bought the flat in 2001 for £450,000. They also claimed £30,525 for food between 2004 and 2008, reaching the £400 limit most months. In response, Mr Robinson described the double claim for the £1,223 bill as "an innocent mistake". He said: "The two claim forms were prepared for the signature of my wife and myself by the same person. They are signed separately and then sent together in the one envelope. Anyone in the fees office would have been dealing with the claims together and inevitably would have noticed the innocent mistake. It is clear that this one duplicate entry over many years was an innocent error and happily was spotted." He added that the £100 per week claims for food were "not unreasonable", although he said none of the couple's children had spent "more than half a dozen nights in the apartment over the years".

Mrs Robinson earns £63,291 for her position as an MP, £24,296 as an Assembly member and as chairwoman of its health and social services committee and £9,550 as a councillor for the Castlereagh borough in Northern Ireland. Mr Robinson takes home £63,291 as MP for East Belfast, £71,434 for his role as First Minister plus a third of the £43,101 salary for being an Assembly member because he is also an MP. They also claim more than £150,000 for the salaries of their staff with Mr Robinson employing their daughter Rebekah as office manager and private secretary and son Gareth as parliamentary assistant. Mrs Robinson employs their other son Jonathan as office manager and daughter-in-law Ellen Robinson as part-time secretary. Earlier this year, police said Mrs Robinson would not be prosecuted over remarks she had made about gays. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last summer, she said: "I cannot think of anything more sickening than a child being abused. It is comparable to the act of homosexuality. I think they are all comparable. I feel totally repulsed by both." She also suggested that there are therapies to "cure" people of homosexuality, saying: "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. "And I have met people who have turned around to become heterosexual." Shortly after her outburst, Mrs Robinson's son Gareth was photographed kissing a man and sitting on his knee at a Belfast party.

WHEN 'The Central' bar opened in Castle Street in Strabane last year, many said it wouldn't last months. Well those critics have been proved wrong. The Central is one of the North West's most thriving gay night spots and last Saturday, staff joined punters in celebrating the bar's first birthday. The celebrations got under way just two days after the bar was named alongside some of the biggest names in the industry at the FATE Awards in Belfast.

The success of the Central has largely been down to the vision of landlord James McCarron. During his year at the helm he has worked alongside his clientele in uniting the gay and straight communities locally. While currently operating discos, karaokes and entertainment almost nightly, James has also run Mr and Mr nights, drag events and even brought the Foyle Gay Pride Parade to Strabane for the first time in the festival's history.

Few can deny that opening a gay bar in a small Tyrone town was a gamble and one that could have easily proved the naysayers right. So how has James and his team made it work? "Looking back now, it was a gamble and could easily have went either way. "But over the past six months it has really taken off and now we have a crowd almost every night and our name on the street seems to be fairly good. "So thankfully the gamble seems to have paid off," James explained.

Some months, the Central was plagued by rumours that it had cast off its 'gay bar' tag. Not the case at all according to the owner. "We are still very much a gay bar. I wouldn't want to stop anyone coming in for a drink, provided they appreciate what they are coming in to. What I would say is don't be offended because this is a gay bar and you know what you are getting. "Some people were fairly negative towards the idea of a gay bar at the start but even a few of them have started socialising in here and thankfully no one seems to have taken offence so far," he said.

Prior to April 4 last year, concerns were voiced that the Central's opening would lead to an increase in homophobic attacks and anti-social activity. Again, none of these fears have become a reality James said.
"We generally attract a younger gay clientele, aged between 20 and 30 and they haven't seen any trouble and I haven't had any reports of bother. I think it did take people a while to feel secure about drinking here, but there has been no trouble at all.

"I think a lot of the success the Central has been down to the customers. They have taken it upon themselves to organise various events and nights and that has helped bring people from Derry, Donegal and even further afield. "One of our customers recently started up a new gay group, Truly, Madly, Deeply, which is basically about bringing like minded people together and building up contacts and organising events and weekends away. So hopefully the working relationship we have with our customers continues, because without them, we wouldn't be here ourselves.

"As for the future of the bar, all I can ask for is more of the same. Myself and the staff will continue to try and build on what we have here and keep it going in the right direction. "If things keep going the way as they are, there could be bigger things down the road as far as the Central is concerned," James added.

Pope benedict has caused extreme concern amongst HIV /AIDS prevention specialists across the world with his comments on condom use. Speaking on his first trip to the African continent, the pontiff told journalists on his flight to Cameroon that the condition was "one that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems". David McCartney of the Rainbow Project said today "if the pope is serious about preventing new HIV infections, he should not oppose wide access to condoms and spreading information on how best to use them, HIV is not a contraception issue it is about preserving life and preventing the decimation of communities, condoms alone will not stop the spread of HIV in Africa but they are one of the very few HIV prevention mechanisms proven to work" "The Pope promotes precautions such as chastity and abstinence as fundamental methods for stemming HIV; however this ignores fundamental human nature and shows a lack of understanding of the nature of human sexuality and behaviors." Health experts across the entire world have adopted the position that condoms provide the most effective method of prevention, the evidence is unassailable. One recent analysis which audited thousands of studies concluded that condoms when used in line with the correct information can cut HIV transmission by 80%. The pope's claim that condoms aggravate the spread of the virus is totally without any reasoning. David McCartney added "that whilst faith plays an important role for millions of Catholics worldwide faith alone is no prevention against AIDs"

Gay Belfast: the award winning website for scene news and events for the Belfast gay and lesbian community and those visiting the city. Coming to Belfast? Let Gay Belfast plan your day finds out what's happening each day in Belfast's gay scene. We tell you the best gay bars and clubs in Belfast so you do not waste any time. Check out the Gay Belfast recommended hotels and guesthouses for places to stay.