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I hold the same views as Mrs Robinson and yet have gay friends - it is possible to disagree with peoples behaviours but still have respect for people as individuals. People seem to forget it was Christianity that give rise to equality and freedom

- Jim, belfast NI

Jesus died for all our sins!!! He loves us all, sin is sin. You that has not sinned cast the first stone. I agree it is a sin see Romans 1: 26-27. One sin is as bad as another. But, we are to LOVE one another as God loved us and sent his son we should pray because all of us sin only by the grace and mercy of God are we saved!!! We are born into sin so... Mrs. Robinson is a sinner just like ME, the, theif, the murder, The adulter, the drug addict, the child molester, the glutton. Nothing is too great for our God!! Only HE can truly change our hearts!!!!

- Kathy, Rockwood Pa

Maybe Iris Robinson should get back in their lovely house washing up, cleaning and making a home for her husband. Sorry, but we are not living in the 1600's any more. She should understand as a woman of some profile standing on a proud country that is in reality a pin-head on this planet we all share, her comments really have no place in Democratic modern society.

- A Robinson, Midlands UK

I feel utter disgust towards Mrs Robinson and her comments. How is it these people can be so narrow minded and tainted in their veiws? It is both sickening and worrying that they hold such positions of power that 'represent' us within society.

- James, London, UK

It is about time a high profile person stands up and calls it what it is.

- Michael V,T, United States

First, Mrs Robinson needs to brush up her Bible studies. She's citing Leviticus for the "abomination" viewpoint, which as we all know contains all kinds of crazy rules which were in vogue in the middle east two thousand years ago. We've moved on since then. She claims to be a Christian - the clue is in the name, Iris: you're supposed to follow the teachings of Christ (who never condemned homosexuals), not Leviticus and the other books of the Torah. That would make you a Jew rather than a Christian.

The astounding thing is that she wasn't immediately sacked, or even subsequently when, in an attempt to justify her comments, she compared gay people to murderers! ("Just as the murderer can be redeemed by the blood of Christ, so can the homosexual...") If any other politician in Great Britain said these things, it would be the immediate boot.


- John Self, Belfast

Shame on you Iris. You have made your husband look a fool. You make the people of N.Ireland look like fools. Your views are wrong, old-fashioned and against the tide. You are a bigot. N.Ireland has no room for bigots any more.

- John, Belfast UK

The fact that Colin Holcroft is fat may be something he needs to 'deal with', as he puts it. The only issue that gay people need to deal with, on a daily basis, is the threat to their freedom represented by the vicious attacks of people like Iris Robinson, which legitimise a more widespread violence. Iris Robinson can think and say whatever she wants in the privacy of her own life, where she is merely a sad bigot. The fact that she uses public broadcasting space and her own prestige as a political figure to propagate hatred is more worrying. This isn't freedom of expression, but abuse of power. If she wants to say this kind of thing she should retire from public life and take up soapbox oratory, for which she is clearly more suited.

- Charles Lambert, Italy

While I tend to agree very much with the comment from Victoria in London that Mrs. Robinson has a right to speak her mind and the right of free speech should reign, I do have to say that I don't think it was right for Mrs. Robinson to say what she did in her capacity as the wife of the first minister.

I feel that it was very short-sighted on her part and that she obviously did not think about the consequences before she opened her mouth. It has now come across that this is Peter Robinson's political view which may not actually be the case. I have always thought she was a relatively intelligent woman, but to act on impulse in this manner astounds me.

I think that in any case, any politician with any sense would be better received by saying that they are all for the "live and let live" school of thought rather than causing such a fracas..then again, it is Northern Ireland - unused and apparently unable yet, to dealing with "real" issues with open minds after the 30 year long preoccupation with the troubles.

It is about time Iris Robinson retracted her statement and looked around her at what people deal with in their lives on a daily basis..homosexuality being one of the many. Perhaps if she was able to live a day in the life of a person struggling with the very difficult issues associated with homosexuality, and realise that is is not a choice, she would be rather humbled and less scathing.

- Sarah, Belfast

The Bible doesn't say they should get therapy, but it does say they are an abomination. What is truly disgusting is that anyone exercising their right to freedom of expression should be reported to the police for possibly committing a crime! If you don't like it, tough, don't vote for her! You're gay, I'm fat, lets deal with it shall we?

- Colin Holcroft, Wigan Lancs, England

This woman's view are vile, but she should be allowed to voice her opinion. We all know that many 'Christians' voice this point of view, and forcing them into silence won't force them to suddenly become tolerant. Freedom of Speech is being slowly eroded in this country and it is wrong.

- Victoria, London, UK

People of course have the freedom to hold - and express - religious opinions. However, I'm not sure even the most fundamentalist Christian can point me to the passage in the Bible that says that gay people are mentally ill and require psychiatric treatment. That is where she crossed the line into hate speech, and she said it after being invited onto the radio programme to comment on a homophobic assault on a 27-year-old man that left him with head and leg injuries. That's what's truly "vile" and "disgusting'.

No doubt, she won't be prosecuted, but she should certainly receive a formal caution. Freedom of speech comes with responsibilities, and if people can be responsible, that's where the law should be there to protect the rest of us.

- Tom Wilton, Belast, Northern Ireland

Soon it will be a "hate" crime to NOT be gay.
Soon calling thugs, thugs, will be a hate crime.
Soon simply saying "I don't like you" will be a hate crime.

- Trunk, US

This might just be what this country needs, here is where we find out if we really do have the right to free speech.
My guess would be that we haven't so I am keen to see what happens to this lady.

- Pat, Sussex

The article states:

(1) "Iris Robinson referred to gays as 'disgusting, loathsome and shamefully wicked' during a live phone-in on BBC Radio Ulster."

(2) "She called homosexuality 'an abomination' but said she knew of a cure."

Is it not 'free speech' to state her Christian belief, which she gets from the Bible, and knowledge of the world? How can she be charged for a criminal offence, when she states she has a cure?

We must remember that we are part of the EU now, and soon Turkey will be a member. Will every person in Turkey be arrested?

- Tom Nicholls, Bournemouth UK

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