Sinn Féin will stand against DUP bigotry
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Human Rights and Equality, South Down MLA Caitriona
Ruane has said that Sinn Féin will take a firm stand against DUP bigotry
after she branded a DUP motion due to be debate in the Transitional Assembly
on Monday as homophobic and pointed to the discrimination faced by members
of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Ms Ruane
said:
"The DUP know that this motion not only undermines the
equality and human rights agenda but will also stir up the type of
homophobic sentiment that leads to discrimination and violence. That they
appear determined to do so for political gain is outrageous. That any
political party, particularly one that would share the leadership of the
Office of First and Deputy First Minister which is responsible for such
issues, would seek to make political
gain out of bigotry is a disgrace.
"Sinn
Féin are determined to stand against this type of bigotry whether it is
in the Assembly, in OFMDFM or on our streets. People in the gay and lesbian
community should not have to take this bullying alone, it is essential that
across political and civic society and human rights groups that we stand
together to protect and promote the rights of all.
"Sinn Féin
believe that establishing a human rights culture here in the north of
Ireland demands leadership from all of the political parties. It demands
that we recognise and respect diversity and promote tolerance and protect
the rights of all.
"This motion from the DUP is clearly
homophobic in intention and retrograde in nature because the outlawing of
discrimination in good and services against people because of their sexual
orientation should be a shared objective. The gay and lesbian community need
legislation to protect their rights because in significant and important
areas there do not enjoy the same legal protections as everyone else and
this is totally unacceptable.
"There is an onus on us to stand
together and isolate those who preach or practice bigotry because as a
society we need to send out the clearest message that whether it is an
attack on the rights of people on the basis of sexual orientation, race,
religion or disability that it has no place in a modern Ireland." ENDS
Note
to Editors
Caitriona Ruane will be speaking at a Human Rights
conference on 'Building a Human Rights Culture' tomorrow, Thursday 7th
December in Belfast along with other political representatives including the
DUP.
The DUP motion in the name of J Donaldson and G Dawson will
be debated in the Assembly on Monday morning, 11th December.
The
motion reads:
"That this Assembly notes the Equality Act (Sexual
Orientation) Regulations (NI) 2006 have been laid before Westminster in
advance of the Equivalent regulations for the rest of the UK and calls upon
the government to withdraw these regulations and leave the issue to be
determined by the NI Assembly upon restoration."