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Northern Irish politician resigns after compared gay sex to bestiality

Gay row prompts resignation of Ulster Unionist Party veteran

ANTOINETTE KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 7:57 AM

Updated Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 7:57 AM

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Former MP Lord Ken Maginnis from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, quit the Ulster Unionist Party

Photo by Pacemaker

A conservative Northern Irish politician has resigned after comparing homosexuality to bestiality and describing same-sex marriage as "unnatural and deviant behaviour."

Former MP Lord Ken Maginnis from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, quit the Ulster Unionist Party after being a member for over five decades. He was seen as a political liberal until recently.

Announcing his resignation, he said he had "agonised" over the decision as he had been surprised when his party distanced itself from remarks he made last June.

Announcing his resignation he said, "There is no room for independent or logical thinking and that does not suit me."

The 74-year-old made the comments on BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, referring to "unnatural physical acts" by "deviants."

“This is based on sexual practice, now does that mean that every deviant practice has to be accommodated? Will the next thing be that we legislate for some sort of bestiality?"

He added, "These are people that seem to take some pride expressing their particular rights. I disagree with those rights and that deviance."

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Maginnis described gay relationships as a “rung on the ladder” towards bestiality.

Senior party members moved quickly to distance themselves from his statements.

“Lord Maginnis was speaking in a personal capacity without our knowledge or permission and his comments do not reflect Ulster Unionist Party policy,” it said in a statement.

Nster.com

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IronMountainMovies | Sep 04, 2012, 04:47 AM EDT

Poor Ken. Now that hating Taighs has become history, he has to find someone else to hate. This is the guy whom the media dubbed as being a forward thinking liberal Unionist when it suited them, especially when he was dissing Sinn Fein during the troubles. A member of the hated UDR and a pompous self aggrandising fundamentalist buffoon was all he ever was and ever will be. Good riddance! A bad smell has left politics.

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IrelandNorth | Aug 31, 2012, 08:37 AM EDT

Is that the same Mike Nesbit who was a member of Amerca's answer to the Beatles pop group in the 1970s - "The Monkey's" - with Peter Tork, Mickey Dolense and Davey Jones? If homosexuality is an orientation, should one not go on an [re]orienteering course? Or move to the Orient to be with other orientationists? Personally, I agree with Lord Ken. Was acquainted at one remove with Maj Maginnis during his Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) days as a members of the Irish Army in the late 1970s. Defence Forces and UDR used play cat-and-mouse with reciprocal roadblocks along the commissioned boundary between north-eastern Ulster (ie NI), and south-western Ulster (ie nI) along the Cavan/Fermanagh county lines. Although we used observe each other through the rifle-sights of respective weaponry, it was generally with benevolence.

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IrelandNorth | Aug 31, 2012, 08:37 AM EDT

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Happyhippo | Aug 31, 2012, 06:02 AM EDT

@ciaradexy, God, don't tell me your not obsessed with sex and religion in Ireland.

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seanomelb | Aug 30, 2012, 11:28 PM EDT

IC is an American site if you have not noticed Ciara dear only those interested in Irish affairs negatively or positively post on IC. Unfortunately if you had your way no one living outside of Ireland need post anything. Go post on the Independent dummy.

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ciaradexy | Aug 30, 2012, 05:22 PM EDT

Why are Americans so obsessed with sex and religion in Ireland?

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Kilsally | Aug 30, 2012, 12:49 PM EDT

You are quite correct paradigm - if you go to the audioboo website and search for the stephen nolan show you can hear the full interview as broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster

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Paradigm | Aug 30, 2012, 10:57 AM EDT

I am informed that the detail of this report in grossly inaccurate; that Maginnis treats 'Gays' with the same day-to-day respect as he treats others; that he is strenuously opposed to the hi-jacking of the 'marriage' sacrament by state legislatures; that he speaks plainly for all of the community and tends not to hide behind ambivalent words. Maybe someone could send him over here!

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Kilsally | Aug 30, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT

`you lot` hollabackgurl - presume your not including the Roman Catholic church in that? Yet they have the exact same stance in NI, in the Republic and at the minute a quite vociferous anti gay marriage campaign going on in Scotland.

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Kilsally | Aug 30, 2012, 10:44 AM EDT

Sorry hollabackgurl but those things you mention are in the Old Testament and were Jewish laws - we are saved by Grace not the law. Secondly think you will find that yes Ken Maginnis like you and like me and Iris and everyoneelse is a sinner , hence why we need a saviour and according to the bible - Isaiah 64:6 `But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.`

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hollabackgurl | Aug 30, 2012, 10:21 AM EDT

Ken Maginnis is a deviant. He is unnatural and an abomination. Or I bet he would be appalled to hear himself described that way, at any rate. It's fine when he indulges in it himself, of course. That was an unconvincing bit of sophistry, Kilsally. Homosexuality is an orientation, not a lifestyle, you can't buy it in the shops you know. The Bible tells Christian men to marry their brothers' widows, to stone adulteresses, to prevent menstruating women from attending church, to never wear mixed fabrics, eat shellfish or get divorced - but people do. Didn't we have enough from you lot over Iris Robinson? How do you have the neck to keep this nonsense up?

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Kilsally | Aug 30, 2012, 08:59 AM EDT

Ken Maginnis, one of the proponents of the Good Friday Peace Agreement by the way - did not resign because of what he said - he stands by his comments - he resigned because of subsequent spat with the UUP leader Mike Nesbitt (former Ulster Television news presenter). UUP party policy on such issues is that it is up to individual conscience. His interview on the Nolan show on BBC radio is available on audioboo Alisann - think you will find the bible tells Christians to go into all the world and preach the gospel - not the slightest hint of keeping it private. Also Maginnis made quite clear in his comments if you go and listen to them that gay people are to be treated kindly and courteously just like everyone else but that doesnt mean you have to support or endorse the homosexual lifestyle. hermittalker - the Ulster Unionist Party is not the party of Ian Paisley - it is the older party over 100 years old - often considered more moderate that Ian Paisley`s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and which has ties to the Conservative Party on the UK mainland. Dalrishbdumb - the title of Lord can be given for numerous reasons - in this instance because Ken Maginnis was appointed as a member of the House of Lords - the UK`s second chamber akin to the US Senate / Senators - politicians who step down from seeking elections as well as the likes of church bishops often get appointed to the House of Lords after their careers in the House of Commons ends.

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mamaginnty | Aug 30, 2012, 08:09 AM EDT

Why Maginnis got the title Lord beats me, he was a trouble maker in the 70s and still the same, but he will be happy with his nice pension...and for what?

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sirpeter | Aug 29, 2012, 09:46 PM EDT

He didn't compare gay relationships to bestiality.He's talking about a lowering of morality.Morality is based on ideas of right and wrong.He gave his personnel opinion.If it is human and moral to be homosexual.Then you have to except that all human behavior is moral and exceptable.What is moral and exceptable changes like the weather.

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cillowen | Aug 29, 2012, 08:36 PM EDT

s and m - is what he means

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