Iris Robinson (final part…for now)

Right, this is the last part until she responds. Or doesn’t as the case may be. I’ve pasted it all below. It has been emailed today at 14:00 (30/07/08) and will be snail mailed later on.

Dear Ms Robinson,

It is not often that I feel motivated to write to a member of parliament, especially not one whose constituency is outside of the area in which I live, but in this instance I feel compelled.

Much has been written and said in the media about the highly derogatory and homophobic comments that you, an otherwise respected- and elected- official, made about the entire gay community. I could not help but feel shocked and disgusted that any educated woman felt that these comments were in any way appropriate, let alone an educated woman that holds a certain position of power in our society. However, the majority of the daily media seems to be more concerned about whether or not you incited prejudicial hatred, thereby breaking a clearly dictated and defined law. What concerns me more, as if indeed you were found guilty of a crime against a minority I sincerely doubt that you would regret the things you said, is the message that you are giving to the masses, particularly young people that homophobia is acceptable in this day and age.

Regardless of your religious beliefs, as much as I respect them and your entitlement to them, the fact remains that you chose to victimise a demographic of people that you have never, or will never meet personally. Frankly, the religious basis upon which you constructed your argument holds very little weight in this century, as many in the Church have already come to accept that we are all God’s creations, in all the forms we take. Whether or not you deem homosexuality an acceptable lifestyle is irrelevant; and in fact, your personal dislike of same sex relations is not the issue. What worries me far more is the malice and anger with which you appeared to express your dislike. I’m highly concerned that you also felt the need to qualify that you were not encouraging anyone to physically abuse gay people;

“My Christian beliefs tell me to love the sinner but hate the sin, so I condemn the people who went out and kicked that gay man.

“I am clearly not saying that I want people to thrash the living daylights out of a homosexual man or women, because I don’t.”

For me, this speaks far louder than if you had actively encouraged violence against gay people. Ms Robinson, you are entitled to your beliefs and opinions as much as the rest of us, but you must be made to understand that you are a public figure who has alienated and enraged a vast number of people and that the things that you say in public (and I’m afraid in private) are likely to be seized upon; such is the responsibility of being in the public eye. I suggest that if you disagree with this, you relinquish your position.

All of the above comments you made are hurtful enough, but I cannot even begin to imagine what made you utter the following statement:

“There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality, than sexually abusing innocent children.”

Although you claim that you meant to say that child abuse is worse than homosexuality, this is still not an acceptable comment. Child abuse is a horrific, damaging crime that you or I have no comprehension of. Claiming that two people of the same sex who love each other and consent to a sexual relationship is worse than, or even akin to, paedophiles who rape, torture or even kill innocent children is not just an unacceptable and vile opinion, but a highly dangerous one.

According to the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (1999) conducted at the Massachusetts Department of Education, 33% of gay or bisexual teenagers will attempt suicide whilst they struggle with their sexuality. I wonder, Ms Robinson, how many will succeed in taking their own life after hearing your damning comments?

Whether you actively intended to incite and antagonise the gay community (and in fact a large portion of the heterosexual community) is inconsequential. It remains that by your words and by your actions you have hurt and ridiculed a demographic of people who are fiercely proud of who we are, our lifestyle and the things we have achieved.

If a gay MP, supported by the gay community decided to make this sort of derogatory comment about the heterosexual hegemony, I’m sure that you would be the first to be outraged. Likewise if you had made these comments about the Black community you would no longer be in office and your name and opinions would be discredited and held in contempt. Not everyone shares your religion, your views, or your sexual preferences and it is vital you understand this. My own grandfather was a devout Christian who worked within the Church for many years and who believed that God loves us all. I know that if he were with us today, he would be proud and supportive of my choice of lifestyle; happy that his granddaughter has found love even if it is with another woman.

Quite honestly I do not expect you to even glance at this letter, but should you feel capable of defending yourself and your comments I would welcome a response.

Yours Sincerely,

Miss Claire Blakeborough

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