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Robinson office in £75k gay funding
Friday, 7 August 2009
The Government department headed by First Minister Peter Robinson handed out £75,000 to gay groups during his first year in the top Stormont job, the Belfast Telegraph has learned.
Mr Robinson’s appointment as First Minister in June 2008 was followed within hours by the eruption of a fierce controversy over anti-gay comments by his politician wife Iris. The DUP leader publicly endorsed her denunciation of homosexuality as an “abomination”.
The gay funding allocations were part of a £230,000 grant-aid package established in 2006 under direct rule by then Secretary of State Peter Hain.
It has been financed by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) and administered by the Coalition on Sexual Orientation, an umbrella organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual groups in Northern Ireland.
Payouts have continued with Mr Robinson as joint head of OFMDFM.
Funding was also released when the First Minister’s post was held by Ian Paisley.
Mr Paisley ran a Save Ulster from Sodomy campaign in the 1970s in an unsuccessful bid to prevent the liberalisation of the law on gay sex.
It is understood that the £230,000 funding scheme could only have been scrapped by DUP First Ministers with the approval of Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
The allocations made in Mr Robinson’s first year at OFMDFM have been detailed in a Freedom of Information disclosure to this newspaper.
The Stormont department stated: “On November 6, 2008, £50,000 was paid to the Coalition on Sexual Orientation (CoSO), with a further payment of £25,000 on April 22, 2009.
“A final payment of not more than £5,000 will be made to CoSO later this year, thereby completing the scheme approved by former Secretary of State Peter Hain.”
It also said: “The basic aims of the funding, as agreed by Peter Hain, Secretary of State at the time the funding was awarded, were to support capacity building and community relations and to tackle social exclusion.
“The fund has been administered by CoSO and is managed by a steering group representing the sector and facilitated by an official from this department.”
A total of £100,000 was released by OFMDFM during Mr Paisley’s time as First Minister.
Mr Robinson backed his wife’s comments on homosexuality in a TV interview last October. He said: “It wasn’t Iris Robinson who determined that homosexuality was an abomination, it was the Almighty.”
The controversy about Mrs Robinson’s remarks led to her being mocked by participants in last year’s Belfast Gay Pride parade.
That parade received £5,000 from CoSO from the £230,000 OFMDFM-funded package. A cross-party Assembly committee recently decided that Mrs Robinson’s comments about gays did not breach the Code of Conduct for MLAs.
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Comments
29 Comments
Do enlighten us Chuck, why would homosexuals push a hate crime agenda? Because they're victims of hate crime? Also is the documentation you refer to the called the Old Testament by any chance?
I don't own a bible so please hit me in the face with Peter! Please do!
Posted by Farrah | 11.08.09, 14:17 GMT
Have any of you who support the homosexual agenda really looked into why they are pushing the hate crimes agenda? You would find it most interesting hearing it from the horses mouth. Trouble is, you don't take the time to look deeper to all that is going on behind the scenes and see just how much the truth of 2 Peter 2:1 - 5 is hitting you in the face. I have documentation on this issue and it is a pity that you are not privy to it; or maybe you are and don't care that you are being used as a convenience.
Posted by Chuck | 10.08.09, 14:04 GMT
Well robbo they could have a straight pride festival,but it would have to be colourful,with lots of people from all walks of life joining in from all sections of the community and having fun together - such as St Patricks day parade,oh wait - that is already allocated a grant each year.
Live and let live - you are here for a good time,not a long time.
Posted by Andy | 09.08.09, 00:06 GMT
Robbo - that is a moronic comment, wise up!
Posted by Brian | 08.08.09, 21:57 GMT
Robbo-homosexuals do not receive these grants- it is groups that receive them. For instance, a gay man can't just phone up Stormont and ask for a few pound to buy new clothes and socialise, for example. Secondly, how can you say it is 'massive'. Obviously you don't understand government economics if you think £75,000 is a 'massive' payment.
Posted by DAM | 08.08.09, 15:19 GMT
So when are the heterosexuals going to receive massive grants?
Posted by robbo | 07.08.09, 21:57 GMT
£75k really isn't that much in the grand scheme of things, considering how much is being spent over in England on unnecessary ID cards. That runs into billions! Anyway, the funding is needed when homophobic attacks are on the rise across the province, something which surely everyone would not agree with. And lastly, being gay really isn't a choice people!
Posted by DAM | 07.08.09, 20:09 GMT
Aww poor Shane, i'm sure you are doing all you can to help the elderly, as you might be aware that most of the care givers in this country are in fact tax paying gays and lesbians, all other groups are funded publicly for example, the st patrick's day parade and you have not mentioned how you think they should spend their grants. Maybe all parades should be banned and anyone caught celebrating who they are be jailed and forced to wear grey to match the sky in the new Shane O'Neill Northern Ireland. Sounds like fun!
Posted by joe | 07.08.09, 15:21 GMT
Shane your comments are absolutley disgraceful but yet unsuprising to hear in this "backward" country that is Northern Ireland - You are not wrong in that people "have every right to oppose homosexuality" however thats like saying that homosexual members of society have the right to oppose hetrosexuality - they could - but they don't because they believe in the right of everyone nomatter who or what they are or what they believe or practice,have the right to live their lives as they see fit.
The hate that is in what you typed is plain to see and Whats sickening most of all is your attitude chum.
Posted by Andy | 07.08.09, 15:12 GMT
This might be news to Sean but gay people are ordinary citizens who pay taxes the same as everyone else.
Posted by S Lindsay | 07.08.09, 14:33 GMT
Only £75k ? That's an abomination.
Posted by Bob | 07.08.09, 14:21 GMT
Gay people pay taxes too!
Posted by Lisa | 07.08.09, 14:09 GMT
Taxes paid by ordinary citizens who include 5 - 7 % of the population who happen to be born 'gay'. Straights are not the only one who pays taxes. Such a homophobic statement !
Posted by JOHN | 07.08.09, 13:02 GMT
While i don't agree with funding unneccesary projects in a recession i think Sean's arguement is flawed.
You're making the incorrect assumption that only "God" (whoever that is) fearing citizens pay taxes.
Homosexuals pay taxes too you know!!
Posted by No God | 07.08.09, 12:51 GMT
To be tolerant does not mean to agree. I disagree and condemn it, like i would do with anyting that i or anyone else does that is wrong in the eys of God, but if you wanna make an issue about being Gay, go ahead, expect God to judge you, not me or anyone else, just dont expect me to promote it as normal and right to my children, and I hope you all respect my views on this, in the name of tolerance of course. Jesus Christs equal rights was best. All have sinned, and all have the same access repent and to overcome it with the victory of Christ already having overcome te world. Just have to humble oneself and drop the pride first. With Love.
Posted by Reuben | 07.08.09, 12:49 GMT
It is due to comments such as those previously posted that I welcome my taxes being spent to help promote equality for all; in 1950's USA many didn't believe that Afro-American's were equal in society to the white majority, and here we are today in 21st century Ireland were many don't believe that homosexuals should have equal rights to heterosexuals.
I hope this funding goes a long way to helping this society become more tolerant of other peoples values and cultures, you don't have to agree with everything and everyone, but you should accept that we are all different and that your way of life or your values and culture are not definitive for everyone in Ireland.
It's time to end discrimination.
Posted by Steven73 | 07.08.09, 11:42 GMT
I do wish we could learn to really separate church and state. Being 'gay' is not illegal. They have a right to apply for public funding, as does any community group that does not break the statutory law of the country. Bringing in religion just amplifies a hatred and intolerance yo your fellow human being - surely something the bible preaches against?
Like my mum says about the gay community, live & let live, as long as they don't make it compulsory, that's fine!
Posted by Stephen | 07.08.09, 11:01 GMT
sean, it ISNT a 'lifestyle choice', its a life. The sooner people realise its not a choice teh better. grow up.
Posted by Chris | 07.08.09, 10:44 GMT
Sence when did homosexuality exclude you from paying tax or be elderly?
Posted by Rob | 07.08.09, 10:38 GMT
Pity 'christian' politicians aren't prepared to take Daniel's lead and stand up for God's law.
Always said that the funding given to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure should either be used to reduce the tax burden paid by the taxpayer or used for more worthy causes like the health service.
Posted by Brian | 07.08.09, 10:28 GMT
29 Comments