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A straight ‘no’ from Iris Robinson to gay play invite
Friday, 2 October 2009
enlargeIris Robinson has turned down an invitation to see a hard-hitting new play about bigotry against gay people — despite being one of the ‘stars’ of the production.
The controversial MP’s voice will feature as part of To Be Straight With You, which is in the programme of this year’s Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s.
The show features true-life stories of people who have been victims of anti-gay violence or prejudice, including that of a young Ulster man.
Mrs Robinson, the wife of First Minister Peter Robinson, hit the headlines last year after claiming live on air that she knew a psychiatrist who could help gay people “turn away” from homosexuality.
Excerpts from the Nolan Show on which she made the controversial comments will form part of the new production by DV8 Physical Theatre company.
Mrs Robinson raised further controversy last year when she equated homosexuality with child abuse during a Northern Ireland Grand Committee session.
The producers extended an open invitation to Mrs Robinson to attend the show when it arrives in Belfast on October 21.
But Mrs Robinson’s constituency office told the makers she will not be available.
“In a reply to the show’s producers, Mrs Robinson’s office said: “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.”
The show’s director, Lloyd Newson, said he was disappointed that she would not be coming to see it on stage.
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Comments
27 Comments
howcome in this day and age we as a society would rather see two men hold guns than hold hands
Posted by observer | 07.10.09, 18:54 GMT
w. gould. Is gomara the twin town of Connemara?
Never heard of it before.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 07.10.09, 17:59 GMT
A cheap publicity stunt by the producers at the expense of Mrs Robinson, consistent with their standard of morality.
Posted by Ian McGuiggan | 03.10.09, 00:54 GMT
She should have gone and claimed for 2 tickets on her expenses !
Posted by Peter | 02.10.09, 19:05 GMT
A non-story penned to drum up hissy fits amongst homosexualists.
Posted by perry | 02.10.09, 17:32 GMT
gays are an offence against the laws of nature ,man and woman were born bacause that is what nature intended , nature is gods program going against it is wrong look at sodom and gomara and see what happened ,
Posted by w. gould | 02.10.09, 17:28 GMT
I wonder if she used that £500 pen to write the word NO.
Posted by man dingo | 02.10.09, 17:02 GMT
Did it ever occur to any of Mrs Robinson's critics that she is an extremely busy woman? Is it totally beyond the bounds of possibility that she might, in fact, have genuinely had prior engagements on the date of the play?
I am sure many people (from the straight society as well as the homosexual one) receive letters expressing regret due to a full diary.
Posted by Centaur | 02.10.09, 17:00 GMT
I can't blame her for not going, I imagine it'd be very uncomfortable and awkward for her.
It would be nice if she would make some sort of apology though, words can call.
Posted by Adam | 02.10.09, 16:41 GMT
It's no surprise. Iris is so blinded and entrenched in her god that there is just no point in asking her or her like to open their minds to anything else. It's just scary that such people get their hands on the reins of power in NI!
Posted by Mike | 02.10.09, 16:19 GMT
Nice choice of words Colin 'Not 'to come out' and defend Mrs. Robinson'
Was that intentional?
Also that's hearsay, the examples you used. Cant really be taken as fact unless you give sources for your information.
William, what can I say about William? In fact I dont think I need to say anything about Willy, he's made such a fool of himself with his caveman attitude.
Posted by In the Name of The Fada | 02.10.09, 16:18 GMT
Hang on.....God makes us all the way we are right? And he has everything all mapped out for us in advance right? So that means God decides who becomes gay or not right? And everything God does is holy and unquestionable and correct right?
So why then do Christians think homosexuality is a sin?
Honest question.
Posted by BenjiBear | 02.10.09, 15:58 GMT
i just read ian mc crea story these two people need to repent talk to other christians try to love thy neighbor no matter what they decide to be or do god bless you all
Posted by ray usa | 02.10.09, 15:49 GMT
arron straight people keep it indoors we dont parade through the town also if it disgusts you what was said check the word normal sex is preliminary to procreate as gods will , how can you do this with same sex hence my opinion its not natural, just as paedifillia is not normal we were put on earth to create not act perversly , thats why we have males and females if this offends you so do your actions offend me and go against nature
Posted by w. gould | 02.10.09, 14:58 GMT
Did anybody read what the play is about? Not being gay, but the bigotry that people face every day just because they don't conform to the norm - whatever that is in these days in a world where so called straight people can take pleasure in abusing babies and children for their own gratification?
Posted by living in the real world | 02.10.09, 14:49 GMT
D
I too believe that this an over the top PC country...so i'll through my hat in the ring.
The people here who are most viciforous in their defence of Mrs Robinson seem to be so-called Christians.
What right do you have to attack them on their way of life when your way of life is fatally flawed. At least they know theirs is based on what they are....not on a supernatural "being" that doesn't exist. Some say homosexuality is a sin, isn't arrogance, hypocracy, being judgemental, forcing your opinion down other peoples necks? Catch yourselves on. Start living instead of wasting it on paganistic ritual.
Posted by Straight talker | 02.10.09, 13:38 GMT
Not to come out and defend Mrs. Robinson, but are the gay community as accommodating as they want the straight community to be? I can say for a fact they are not. In Australia they have bars that are allowed to ban the entrance of straight people and in Montreal there was a story of a young woman being denied service in a gay restaurant because she was straight. The fact that she was taking her gay father out for lunch didn't matter because she wasn't gay they were denied service and asked to leave. Imagine this being reversed? There would be hues and cries of outrage.
Posted by Colin | 02.10.09, 13:25 GMT
A cure for homosexuality eh ? I wish there was a cure for religion, it would certainly make our world a much better place to live in.
Posted by GDW | 02.10.09, 13:18 GMT
William - your comments disgust me,and if as you say,gay people should "keep it indoors like all perversions" does this mean that straight people such as yourself should also "keep it indoors like all perversions"?
Thankfully,intollerant narrow minded individuals such as yourself are well in the minority these days.
Posted by arron | 02.10.09, 13:13 GMT
Louise-- Why does she need to redeem herself?
Are people not allowed to say what they believe in our over the top PC country
Posted by D | 02.10.09, 12:59 GMT
27 Comments