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GAY BELFAST NEWS for February 2005
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Africa's Threat to split the Anglican Church over Gay Bishop (23 February 2005)
Leaders of the 70 million-strong Anglican Communion have been meeting this week in Belfast to discuss an ongoing crisis that threatens to split the church. The 38 primates will consider the so-called Windsor Report, published after the consecration of gay bishop Gene Robinson in America and the blessing of same sex unions in Canada. African and Asian leaders have started a campaign to restore order and to discipline an American Church which, they say, has departed from the Bible and Anglican tradition.Geraldine's 'Belfast Blues' is the toast of New York (23 February 2005)
Belfast born actress Geraldine Hughes is the toast of New York at the moment with her play 'Belfast Blues'. Set in Belfast in the 1970's and 1980's, Belfast Blues is one wee girl's story of family, war, Jesus, and Hollywood. Simultaneously funny and tragic, this touching piece allows Ms. Hughes to portray 24 different characters, from her parents and neighbors to, most importantly, her younger self. "It's drawn from my memories of growing up in war-torn Belfast. Maybe telling my story will not only give people an insight about kids in war, but will inspire others to tell their story as well," said Geraldine. Although the 34-year-old actress never intended to write a play, it was a friend that finally convinced her that her experiences growing up in Belfast needed to be told, and the result is a one-woman show that has won accolades, and the support of Hollywood veteran Angelica Huston. 'Belfast Blues' played in Belfast in November 2004 as part of the Belfast Festival.Discuss this article on the Gay Belfast Forum
Paisley's fear of 'route' to Sodomy (10 February 2005)The launch of a new Belfast bus network, which sees pink buses on the streets for the first time, has suffered some teething problems. Ian Paisley Junior will not be using them! "So called 'Bendy Buses' are bad enough but painting them pink is the last straw" complained Mr Paisley Junior in the Portadown News. Given the DUP's near pathological obsession with all things gay, the party surely has no choice but to organise a boycott of this mode of transport. Their colour, after all, has long been associated with gayness. So to save Ulster from sodomy (again) the DUPers and their allies in the Free Presbyterian Church ought to demand that a more macho gloss be painted over the vehicles; possibly royal blue or maybe lily-white, the latter being the same colour as the clear collective conscience of all those true-believing homo haters. Comment on this fabricated story at the Gay Belfast Forum |
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Anglican bishops to meet in Belfast to discuss the ordaination of Gene Robinson (08 February 2005)
Conservative Anglican bishops have demanded that the US branch of the church repent for ordaining an openly gay bishop and reverse the action ahead of a meeting of congregational leaders in Northern Ireland. Nigerian primate Peter Akinola, a spokesperson for Anglican bishops from Asia, Africa and Latin America who met here this week, said the US Episcopal Church must "repent" for ordaining a homosexual, Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire in November 2003. "America must repent, they must put a stop to that practice," Akinola told reporters here. "If God says (homosexuality) is an abomination, they should say it is an abomination... if God says it is wrong, then it is wrong." Anglican leaders from around the world will meet in Belfast from February 20 to 26 to discuss a report commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, after several conservative provinces threatened to split in the wake of Robinson's ordination. Asked whether they would permanently split if the US branch fails to reverse course, Akinola replied: "When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it."Discuss this article on the Gay Belfast Forum
Christians persecuted under equality laws, CALEB claims (05 February 2005)
A DUP Assembly member claimed today Christians are being persecuted by equality laws after Ian Paisley junior was officially censured for attacking the civic union / marriage of Ulster Unionist advisor Stephen King. The Policing Board passed a motion describing Mr Paisley as "homophobic" and saying his attack was "incompatible with the policies and practices" of the Board. The motion referred to comments Mr Paisley made on Monday, when he attacked Ulster Unionist advisor Stephen King, who is also a Belfast Telegraph columnist, for reportedly marrying his male partner in Canada. Mr Paisley had claimed gay marriage is "offensive" to most people in Northern Ireland. "I think these sorts of relationships are immoral, offensive and obnoxious," he said.George Dawson, leader of a Christian organisation, described the Policing Board's censure of Mr Paisley as "a further warning of the religious persecution which evangelical Christians will face as the distorted equality agenda gathers momentum". "If the remarks on Mr Paisley are incompatible with the standards of the PSNI, then it is those standards which need to change," he said. "Not only is gay marriage offensive and obnoxious, but it is also immoral and an attack on the basis of civilised society." Speaking as chairman of the Caleb foundation, Mr Dawson claimed equality legislation "requires public bodies and others to promote equality for deviant lifestyles". He said this made the law "discriminatory against those with strong religious convictions".
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Ian Paisley Junior calls for King to be sacked (04 February 2005)
Democratic Unionist Party spokesman and homophobe Ian Paisley Junior worked himself into lather over a report in the Daily Mirror's Northern Ireland edition that Ulster Unionist Party Leader David Trimble's political adviser had married his boyfriend in Canada. Stephen King's civil union with his long-term partner across the Atlantic made the front page of the tabloid newspaper included a wedding day photograph of the happy couple.The picture was accompanied by a dose of moral outrage that climaxed with homo haters Ian Paisley Junior demanding David Trimble sack his adviser simply because King had pledged his life to the man he loves. By Thursday this conflated controversy had extended to the north's Policing Board with independent members such as Tom Kelly demanding that Paisley Junior (himself also a member of the board) be censured for homophobic remarks.
Henry McDonald in the Guardian said "There is something deeply disturbing about the way DUP politicians are quick to make juvenile anti-gay remarks in council chambers or, in the case of Newtonabbey councillor Paul Girvan, on district police partnership boards. Perhaps then it's time for the gay activist Peter Tatchell to re-boot his outing campaign of the early 1990s when he threatened to expose homosexual MPs (in the main from the Tory party) who were active on the gay scene while voting for anti-gay legislation in parliament. A perfect place to start would be Northern Ireland where homophobic attitudes are more prevalent although not widespread compared to Britain. Given the size of the party and its growing support base, there must be gay DUP members out there living a double-life of backing blatant homophobic policies. They would make ideal candidates for a fresh bout of Tatchellite outing.
Although Tatchell, like any right-minded person, should feel nothing but sympathy for the way Stephen King's private life was made a public issue, the former Labour candidate and courageous hounder of Robert Mugabe should not forget the record of King's own party on gay rights. In a disgraceful display of opportunism, the Ulster Unionists remain opposed to the Blair government's plan to legalise civil unions between gay men and lesbians even though the party has in its ranks many other gay members as well as King."
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