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Recent press coverage of the Assembly Ombudsman’s findings that Ian Paisley Junior’s comments were not a breach of the Assembly Member’s Code of Conduct has prompted CoSO to issue a press statement calling on the Assembly to show leadership over homophobia.
In May of this year CoSO utterly condemned the Junior Ministers’ comments by stating that they were “at best damaging and at worst dangerous; furthermore they are completely unacceptable – indeed repulsive - in pursuance of a genuinely Shared Future in Northern Ireland.”
The Assembly Member’s Code of Conduct clearly states that in relation to public duty “Members have a duty to uphold the law” .
The law, in this instance, the Criminal Justice (No.2) (N.I.) Order 2004, clearly states that Hate Crime is illegal! It places homophobia on exactly the same level as other forms of hate crime such as sectarianism, racism and hatred towards disabled people.
CoSO firmly believes that homophobia as with other forms of hate crime has no place in a modern forward looking society which is built upon equality and that it should be unreservedly condemned by all!
The Code of Conduct also states, in relation to 'leadership' that
"members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and infavourof the public interest."
CoSO is of the opinion that because the comments were not dealt with effectively at the time that this issue has been allowed to drag on and has resulted in the Assembly being ridiculed within the press abroad in North America and particularly Europe. The integrity therefore of the Assembly we believe has been seriously compromised.
The Code clearly states that
"Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public's trust and confidence in the integrity of the Assembly and never undertake any action which would bring the Northern Ireland Assembly, or its Members generally, into disrepute."
We believe that this is clearly a breach of the Code of Conduct of Assembly Members and that few, if any, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered people have any confidence or trust in the Member concerned to make decisions on their behalf in relation to their equal rights within society.
CoSO recognises that we are a modern, diverse society and that we should be celebrating this. Instead we are constantly being reminded that Northern Ireland has a long way to go and that by the continued expression of homophobic and discriminatory views, the people who are leaders within our society have a longer road than some of us to travel!
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people have the same human rights and should be treated with the same dignity as all people within our society and indeed all societies. All of us have a responsibility to stop the spread of homophobia and any other manifestations of inequality resulting from the promotion of hate!
CoSO calls upon all elected representatives to show the leadership which people clearly want and have entrusted to them to provide and to stop the harassment of minority groups of all hues. Political ‘goal scoring’ and homophobic comments will not be tolerated.
This leadership must come from the top levels of government not only to help re-build confidence in the Northern Ireland Assembly and its members within our society but also to show to the world and individuals within our society that hate has no place here.
One question CoSO would like to ask the elected representatives “What have you done today to stop homophobia?” Show us that you mean it! Show us you care! Let us hear your voice!
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