Thanks Gness :) Of all the bed fellows they could have picked (and I know their hands were tied but still) the DUP are the very last folks I want wielding any influence over a Prime Minister. Tora, we no longer live in the dark ages where an anti LGBT agenda is acceptable so quotes like the following from a political party that the Tories desperately ally themselves with are not acceptable. The DUP are anti-abortion, anti-Ireland, anti-Catholic, anti-gay rights, Sectarian, Nationalist, populist and anti-immigrant. They belong in the 16th century and not as power sharers in the UK Government. "There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children". 'Just as a murderer can be redeemed by the blood of Christ, so can a homosexual.... If anyone takes issue, they're taking issue with the word of God' - Irish Robinson ( whilst she was having an extra-marital affair with a 19 year old. And a little calendar of their anti LGBT antics- the British people will NOT stand for this, mark my words... 26th July 2011 – DUP MLA Jim Wells calls Belfast Pride ‘repugnant’.
2nd August 2012 – Lord Mayor of Belfast, the DUP Cllr Gavin Robinson, stands by his party’s opposition to gay rights at a panel debate during the Belfast Pride festival.
25th August 2012 – Magherafelt District DUP Cllr Paul McClean calls for homosexuality to be made illegal in Northern Ireland.
1st October 2012 – DUP MLAs block a motion brought forward to facilitate marriage equality in Northern Ireland.
25th October 2013 – DUP MLA Tom Buchanan tells school children attending a public event that homosexuality is an ‘abomination’.
October 2012 – DUP Health Minister Edwin Poots MLA lodges an appeal against the NI High Court Ruling overturning the ban on gay couples being allowed to adopt.
5th Feb 2013 – DUP MPs vote against the second reading of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill and all technical motions to facilitate the passing of the Bill.
29th April 2013 – DUP MLAs block a second motion brought forward to facilitate marriage equality in Northern Ireland.
2st May 2013 – DUP MPs vote against the third reading of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill.
11th Oct 2013 – Despite an NI High Court ruling, DUP Health Minister Edwin Poots MLA refuses to lift the lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.
13th Nov 2013 – DUP Health Minister Edwin Poots MLA claims in the NI Assembly that the ‘natural order’ is for a child to be raised by a mother and father.
5th March 2014 (Busy day for the DUP) – DUP MPs vote against Government proposals to allow same-sex marriages to be annulled or for same-sex spouses to divorce. They also vote against plans to allow consenting places of worship being able to register and de-register their property as venues in which to conduct same-sex weddings. On the same day they vote against plans to allow the registration of Armed Forces chapels as venues in which to conduct same-sex weddings. That same day they vote against plans to allow same-sex weddings for British citizens to be conducted in UK Consulates in foreign nations, to allow same-sex marriages from England and Wales be recognised as Civil Partnerships in Scotland and against the right of UK Armed Forces personnel entering into a same-sex marriage whilst serving overseas. On a bit of a roll that day, weren’t they?
29th April 2014 – DUP MLAs block a third motion brought forward to facilitate marriage equality in Northern Ireland.
8th December 2014 – DUP MLA Paul Givan publishes a Bill (nicknamed the Conscience Clause) designed to allow religious people an opt out from equality legislation when providing goods and services to gay couples.
21st Jan 2015 – Health Minister Jim Wells MLA of the DUP announces that he will maintain the present ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men.