Iris Robinson said that gay people "should seek counselling"

I tend to agree with Eddie here. Freedom of speech is an important principle, but we should expect our elected leaders to exercise it with some kind of tact and intelligence. Some have said that Iris position is a moral one rather than a political one. I dont agree that this is a moral issue - it is a human rights issue. Were she endorsing the reintroduction of slavery, would we defend hers as a moral position? Whilst Northern Ireland might not have moved too far the rest of the world has, and so has our legislation. She is part of a government that is set up under the Northern Ireland Act, part of which is Section 75 which protects a range of groups including preventing discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.

Iris, think about what it is to speak with a public voice, and maybe keep your private views private

Sorry my absence over the last few months, I'd just been busy with other things and had been casting an eye over WIMPS news every now and again without actually bothering to contribute Sorry again.

Anyway, if there was any issue to get me fired up again this would be it Any of you who've read my other forum posts know this is an issue that I am particularly passionate about, not for any personal reasons, just because its one of the areas of our society that needs to be dealt with most.

Has anyone else realized how the comments many of the less tolerant members of our assembly make are quite similar in nature to the comments made by American's who opposed equal rights for coloured people? Or those who were pro-slavery?

I'd like to think of myself as someone who stands up to wrongs today, like people such as Martin Luther King stood up to wrongs in his life.

Anyway, on to Iris' comments:
I respect her right to have an opinion, (as much as I detest her opinion) however, I think she expressed it at a disgustingly inappropriate time. When someone is beaten and nearly killed, for any reason, their situation should be treated with sympathy. For all that she may condemn violence, essentially the message that Iris sent to the man was, "it's wrong to use violence against people, but you ARE an abomination."

Anyone who thinks that is an appropriate thing to be saying, quite frankly lacks any taste.

Whilst people have the right to an opinion, it's perfectly reasonable that we should expect them to exercise that right with common sense and decency.

A few minutes ago on BBC Newsline, Iris Robinson compared Gay people to murderers. Check out BBC News NI to watch again.

I think that this comment shows the immaturity of some politicians to be making that sort of statement in this day and age. She is not only the chair of the health committee but also the wife of the First Minister

She needs to wise up and should be removed from her post as health chair immediately