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They Haven't Gone Away, You Know

DUP gay-phobia is reaching out into Europe through the aegis of the self-styled Caleban.

Eamonn McCann, 02 Oct 2012

The 2008 Lords ruling put Poots in a fraught and complex position. To introduce a measure giving the P couple the right to adopt without extending the same right to gay couples would likely be rejected by the courts as contrary to equality law.

The Caleban Minister’s difficulty would be deepened if the ECHR were to find in favour of X and Others and enshrine in European law a specific right for unmarried couples, including gay couples, to adopt. Hence Larkin’s dash to Strasbourg to add the voice of the North to the pleadings of the Austrian authorities.

It might be wondered why the Stormont parties which advertise themselves as gay-friendly haven’t at least raised a hullaballoo about this.

Because that would mean putting the institutions at risk by facing down the DUP on a matter the Cabeban regards as a red-line issue.

Once it was “Labour must wait”. Now it’s gays and women to the back of the queue.

Isn’t it a grand wee country now that we have a bit of peace?



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