Edwin Poots hits back at complaint he linked gay community to paedophilia

By The Newsroom
Published 16th Aug 2017, 16:55 BST
Updated 12th Sep 2017, 12:16 BST
Edwin Poots: Children should be children, not icons of sexualityEdwin Poots: Children should be children, not icons of sexuality
Edwin Poots: Children should be children, not icons of sexuality
Edwin Poots has hit back at criticism of a contentious comment on Twitter, saying that children should not be icons of any sexuality.

Mr Poots was the subject of a complaint by Green Party MLA Clare Bailey who claimed he had linked the gay community to paedophilia.

His comment on Twitter came in support of Jim Allister who was incensed by an article in LGBTQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning) publication Pink News which branded Prince George a ‘gay icon’.

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Part of his tweet read: “making children an icon of sexuality today, pedophilia (SIC) tomorrow”.

This comment prompted a complaint by the Green Party MLA to the Assembly Commissioner for Standards and also led to a heated debate on today’s Stephen Nolan Radio Show on BBC Radio Ulster.

Neither Mr Poots nor a DUP representative took part in the show but later the party issued a statement from Mr Poots via its press office.