Hollyoaks Gerard says Iris should stand down
Friday, 8 August 2008
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An Ulster actor who plays a bi-sexual character in a top television soap has launched a scathing attack on DUP MP Iris Robinson following her recent anti-gay comments.
Gerard McCarthy, who plays cross-dresser Kris Fisher in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, said remarks made by the First Minister’s wife, in which she branded homosexuality an “abomination” were “simply unacceptable in a modern democracy”.
Gerard said he received letters every week from young people who were bullied because of their sexual orientation and accused Mrs Robinson of helping to destroy their lives.
The Belfast man who joined Hollyoaks in 2006, said: “An estimated 2,725 young people call ChildLine each year because they are the victims of homophobic bullying and violence. Of these, 60% are children between the ages of 12 and 15.”
Gerard (27), who supports Stonewall’s Education For All anti-bullying programme, said that Ulster, more than most places, knew the price of prejudice and it was essential to build a society where everyone could live in peace “regardless of race, religion, colour, creed or sexual orientation”.
He said: “There should be no place for hateful and extremist opinion. Moreover, to have a Member of Parliament advocate them must certainly be in violation of the MPs’ Code of Conduct.”
Gerard called on Mrs Robinson to retract her remarks and resign.
“Only last year we had the conviction of Labour councillor Miranda Grell, who was barred from public office for three years, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 towards prosecution costs for instigating a homophobic dirty tricks election campaign on rival candidate Barry Smyth,” he said.
“The wife of the First Minister should be forced to resign, made to give a formal apology and retract her comments in order to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and equally under the law.”
When contacted by the Belfast Telegraph, Mrs Robinson was unavailable for comment.
However a DUP spokesman said: “The DUP is committed to equality and fairness for all of our people. Our record shows that we are working to bring the maximum benefit of devolved government to everyone in Northern Ireland regardless of their background. Mrs Robinson was expressing her religious convictions. Ulster people, who are tolerant of all opinions... understand that.”
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The DUP's Minister for Homophobia has hopefully cooked her goose and it wont be too much longer before she's gone.
Posted by LC | 13.08.08, 14:34 GMT
Well done Gerard for saying what everyone thinks!! I hope more celebrities can get on the band wagon, as it will raise this debate to a higher level. She should just resign already!!
Posted by Sean O'Rourke | 08.08.08, 17:07 GMT
The DUP (been stirring up hatred since their birth and it came as no surprise to me when Iris Robinson said what she did. She should be shown the door that says above it, "EXIT ONLY"
REAL ULSTER PROTESTANT
Posted by James Nicholson | 08.08.08, 13:52 GMT
Completely agree with what Gerard has said..... more people should speak out against this bigot.
Posted by Lisa | 08.08.08, 12:13 GMT
GOOD FOR YOU GERALD,WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU AT HOME AND ALL AROUND THE PLANET.
IRIS ROBINSONS COMMENTS ARE NOT ONLY CAUSING A STORM IN A TEA CUP AT HOME IRELAND,BUT WORLD WIDE.
IS IT NOT TRUE ,THAT IRIS ROBINSON AND THE DUP COMMITTED THEIR PARTY TO REPRESENT THE COMMUINTY IN ALL FAIR AND EQUAL WAYS,REGARDLESS OF WHO OR WHAT WE ARE.
IRIS YOU AND YOUR PARTY SOULD LOOK UP THE MEANING OF HOMOPHOBIC AND DEMOCRACEY.
Posted by JOHN | 08.08.08, 11:29 GMT
Fair play to Gerard McCarthy for having the courage to speak out against this dreadful woman's medieval thinking.
Posted by sam millar | 08.08.08, 11:06 GMT
Hate speech is defined as that intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action based on factors beyond the control of the target.
It may well be that Mrs. Robinson's personal interpretation of her religion leads her to believe that such speech is acceptable against some groups and individuals, but it is still hate speech and still her preference to express it.
Religion can be an explanation of prejudice not an excuse for it, and being religious does not give one special privileges to incite hatred in a manner that would considered a crime were it expressed as a political or moral preference.
Posted by Andy Mayer | 08.08.08, 10:59 GMT
"The DUP is committed to equality and fairness for all our people."
It's a good DUP soundbite however they conveniently ommitted the last part "equality and fairness for all our people except the gay community whose lifestyle is an abomination and who are similar to child molesters" would have been more appropriate.
Posted by JOHN | 08.08.08, 10:07 GMT