Bert Johnston, Chairman of Fermanagh District Council.
COMMENTS made by Fermanagh council chairman Bert Johnston in last week’s Herald have been labelled ‘disgusting’ by members of the gay community here.
Councillor Johnston, DUP, was asked last week by the Fermanagh Herald for his New Year’s resolution.
He replied that he wanted gay marriage, “put to rest” and that the scriptural marriage should be upheld in the North.
He told the Fermanagh Herald: “I hope the things people are pushing for that I don’t think should be justified – which is gay marriage – will be put to rest. Northern Ireland is generally a Christian country and most people think the scripture marriage should be upheld in Northern Ireland.”
When asked if that was a marriage between a man and a woman, he said: “Yes, well that’s the scriptural one. It’s Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”
Dean McKenzie, 25, from Enniskillen said that more needs to be done for gay people here and said that comments like Cllr Johnston’s ‘can be quite damaging to a young person who is struggling with their sexuality’.
“Everyone is entitled to have there own biblical beliefs,” he said, “but I most certainly believe that politicians should leave the bible at home or church, because when you’re in a position of power you are setting an example. You can’t just pick verses out of the bible to back up why myself and other gay people can’t get married but yet forget other verses and rules.”
He added: “I’d be quite happy to meet Bert and he can tell me why he thinks I can’t get married to someone I love.”
Kurtis Johnston, 24, also from Enniskillen, said that he was ‘absolutely disgusted’ by the chairman’s comments.
“For someone who is meant to represent the people of Fermanagh he seems to only want to represent what he believes in alone
“There are people in Fermanagh who would still be abusive towards me for being gay but to be honest when Bert Johnston is throwing his remarks like that others will think it’s fine to do the same.
He described being gay in Fermanagh as ‘very difficult’.
“[It gets to the point] where I don’t go out in town on Saturday nights as you tend to get more people that would easily pick a fight with me just for the fact that I am gay.”
He concluded: “A man in his position should have more sense. He should be replaced with someone who will meet the needs of the people in Fermanagh living in the 21st century.”
In response, Councillor Johnston said: “My comments were made as an elected representative and not as chairman of the council. I feel that it would be unfair if those who elected me were disenfranchised.”
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