"Iris Robinson, considered Northern Ireland's first lady as the wife of First Minister Peter Robinson, has been accused of 'hate crimes' and is facing both a police investigation and the possibility of a civil complaint, according to reports."
-- From "Watchdog set to probe Iris’s stance on gays" by Lesley-Anne Henry in the Belfast Telegraph 6/13/08
The Assembly's standards watchdog was last night urged to investigate Iris Robinson's anti-gay comments.
It comes as the PSNI confirmed it was launching a probe into the controversial comments after receiving at least two official complaints.
Last week the DUP MP and MLA sparked a huge row when she described homosexuality as an "abomination" and claimed gay people could be 'turned around' with psychiatric help.
Mrs Robinson has refused to apologise, claiming she is standing up for God and has every right to express her view.
Meanwhile, the police last night confirmed they have taken legal advice to establish if Mrs Robinson's comments amount to an incitement of hatred under anti-discrimination legislation in Northern Ireland.
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And from "Northern Ireland's first lady accused of hate crime" © 2008 WorldNetDaily 6/13/08
A report in An Phoblacht, an online political weekly in Ireland, said Robinson had been invited onto the BBC Radio Ulster's "The Stephen Nolan Show" to talk about a recent physical assault on a homosexual by a team of thugs described by the reporter as "gay-bashing."
She condemned the violence, then described homosexuality as "disgusting, nauseous, shamefully wicked and vile," and said, "It's an abomination."
Now, the report said, a government agency has confirmed it is investigating complaints that have been filed against her, and one homosexual activist said he's contacted a lawyer about the situation.
On the radio program, Robinson said, "Homosexuality is not natural. My Christian beliefs tell me that it is an abomination and that is very clear. It is an offense to God, and offensive act and something God abhors."
She went on to urge homosexuals to seek psychiatric counseling, because of the success of various programs that offer to help them re-focus their sexual lifestyles.
"I have a lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my office trying to turn homosexuals away from what they are engaged in," she said. "I'm happy to put any homosexuals in touch with this gentleman. I have met people who have turned around and become heterosexual. They are married and having families."
The comments from both Robinson and Miller were condemned immediately by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which holds "lesbian, gay and bisexual people should be regarded as valued members of society who have exactly the same rights and responsibilities as others."
Such "discrimination" they experience by having to hear opinions such as those held by Robinson, the report said, makes them worry.
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