Wells apologises for gay marriage claims

Wells apologises for gay marriage claims

24 April 2015

HEALTH Minister Jim Wells has apologised for remarks he made about gay marriage during the Down Recorder hustings debate in Downpatrick last night.

A huge Twitter storm erupted when Mr Wells claimed a child of a couple in a gay relationship was more vulnerable to abuse or neglect.

There was uproar in the St Patrick Centre as members of the audience reacted with anger to the veteran DUP politician’s remarks. Although Mr Wells quickly tried to clarify the remarks by saying he meant a child in any dysfunctional family, gay or straight, is at risk, the damage had been done.

The debate was prompted by a question from Ardglass man, Peter Surginor, who asked the panel the following question: 

“With equal marriage in place in the rest of the UK, is it time the Northern Ireland follows suit?

The debate had taken a fairly predictable course — the unionist panelists were opposed to equal marriage while the other members were in favour.

Mr Wells was well into his presentation and was being typically forthright in his remarks. At one stage he pointed at the audience and said: “If you support gay marriage don’t vote for me.”

He was highly critical of  the “gay lobby” and claimed their “demands were insatiable.”

However, as members of the audience began to catcall Mr Wells went further, leading to his already infamous statement: “All the evidence throughout the world shows that the best way to raise children is in a loving, stable, married relationship, the facts show that.

“The facts show that certainly you don’t bring up a child in a homosexual relationship where a child is far more likely to be abused or neglected. A child is far more likely to be abused in a non stable marriage.”

As the debate moved on Mr Wells asked to be allowed to make another comment, clarifying what he had said.

“A child is far more likely to be abused or neglected in a non stable marriage situation, gay or straight.”

Before the hustings event had finished a full blown Twitter storm had erupted, prompted by some of the political bloggers who had been covering the event.

At 12.10am the DUP press office issued a statement in which Mr Wells claimed he had been misrepresented but by early morning it became clear his remarks, captured in an amateur recording by a member of the audience, were damming. The DUP press office issued another statement in which the Minister apologised.

Mr Wells, who is the DUP South Down candidate in the 7 May election, said the last few weeks had "been extremely difficult" for him personally.

"I had just come from a hospital visit and my focus was not on the debate," he said. "Indeed, during the event I received several messages from the hospital.

"I have listened to a recording of the relevant part of the debate. I accept that one line of what I said caused offence and deep concern amongst members of the audience and beyond.

"I regret having wrongly made that remark about abuse and I'm sorry those words were uttered. The comment did not reflect my view nor that of my party.

"Within seconds of realising this error, I asked the chairman to let me back in and twice corrected my remarks before the debate moved on.

"This clarification has been confirmed by the journalists present at the event. Partial clips, spin and selective reporting regrettably miss this.

"The neglect or abuse of children is awful and happens in unstable relationships whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.

"I make no distinction between anyone who neglects or abuses a child regardless of their sexual orientation. I trust people will accept my explanation and my apology.”