NI's future health minister: gay pride parade participants 'repugnant'

DUP assembly member made the comments on the Belfast Pride parade in a text to the Gay Pride secretary.

By Aoife Barry Tuesday 26 Jul 2011, 7:41 AM

Jul 26th 2011, 7:41 AM 4,558 Views 46 Comments

https://jrnl.ie/186311

Celebrations at this year's Dublin Pride parade

Image: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Celebrations at this year's Dublin Pride parade

Image: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

PEOPLE WHO TAKE part in the Belfast Pride parade are “repugnant” – that’s according to the future Northern Ireland health minister, Jim Wells.

Diana Rusk, political correspondent with The Irish News, writes on page 8 of the paper today that the South Down assembly member sent a text to Simon Rea, secretary of Belfast Pride, in which he said ”I find the behaviour of those who take part in this march totally repugnant”.

Rea told the paper that he was “personally offended and deeply disappointed” by the text – which was in reply to an invitation to a debate on the event – and that politicians need to realise 7 – 10 per cent of their constituencies are lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Wells told The Irish News that his comments “refer to the parade”, including the costumes and behaviour of the participants.

Read Diana Rusk’s full article on page 8 of today’s The Irish News>

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NI's future health minister: gay pride parade participants 'repugnant'

DUP assembly member made the comments on the Belfast Pride parade in a text to the Gay Pride secretary.