Ulster Unionist councillor Dr Chris McGimpsey has deplored statements by DUP justice spokesman Mr Ian Paisley jnr describing homosexual relationships as "immoral, offensive and obnoxious". Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor, reports.
Mr Paisley made his comments after Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble's senior adviser, Dr Steven King, married his gay partner four weeks ago in Canada. Mr Paisley said it was "a wee bit perverse" that while Ulster Unionist MPs opposed the Civil Partnership Bill, which will allow such partnerships, that Mr Trimble's main adviser was getting married.
Dr King would not comment on Mr Paisley remarks published in yesterday's Daily Mirror and made on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme.
"I find those sorts of relationships immoral, offensive and obnoxious, and I think the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland feel the same, and have expressed the view that they feel that way," said Mr Paisley.
Mr Paisley said it was wrong to infer from what he said that gays ought not to be employed or that he did not "have some sort of desire to see them change" or that he did not care for them, or that he hated them.
"I do not hate gay people," he said.
"But I do think people are allowed to draw a conclusion that if you are, supposedly, opposed to this and your party acts in opposition to it in the House of Commons and votes against civil partnerships, is it not obnoxious, is it not a bit perverse that a key adviser to your party leaves the country to enjoin in one somewhere else," added Mr Paisley.
The UUP would not comment on Mr Paisley's remarks as they referred to Dr King's personal life.
UUP Belfast city councillor Dr McGimpsey, however, said Mr Paisley was being "opportunistic" in attacking Mr Trimble through Dr King.
"What he is actually saying is that while Steven King was 'living in sin' with his boyfriend it was all right to be David Trimble's adviser.
"But now that he is married and made a commitment to his boyfriend that he should be sacked," he added.
"Now how far does he want to take this? Would he want to throw all gays out of employment? Does he want everybody who is homosexual or lesbian never to be allowed to have a job? How far does Ian Paisley junior want to go?
"What he is saying is that homosexuals should not be in employment," said Dr McGimpsey.