FIRST MINISTER Peter Robinson has said that he and his wife Iris would be at the forefront in defending gays and anyone else from discrimination, as a fresh row erupted over Mrs Robinson's views on homosexuality.
Mrs Robinson, the MP and Assembly member for Strangford, yesterday defended her comments about homosexuals and accused those who criticised her of waging a "witch-hunt" and attempting to deny her free speech.
On Friday Mrs Robinson said homosexuality was an "abomination" and that gays could be "turned around" with psychiatric help.
Mrs Robinson repeated her views on radio yesterday. "I made a statement based on Bible teachings that homosexuality is an abomination," she said.
"As regards my views, the Bible is to me an infallible word of God and I will not move from that. That does not mean that I want any homosexual attacked, abused or anything else."
Her husband, in his first question time as First Minister, said he "would be at the forefront defending anyone who was being discriminated against and I know my colleague, the member for Strangford [Mrs Robinson], would be alongside me in that".
Sinn Féin equality spokeswoman, Martina Anderson, MLA, and SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly said Mrs Robinson's comments called into question her suitability to remain as chairwoman of the Assembly health committee.
