Irish councillor and doctor facing growing pressure over ‘stupid’ remarks against equal marriage

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A Dublin politician, who claims to ‘fight’ discrimination, has been roundly condemned after protesting against the city council’s decision to vote in favour of opening up civil marriage to all citizens “regardless” of their sexuality.

Gay rights campaigners welcomed last week’s move with the Dublin-based Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) saying it was another welcome demonstration of the “transformation in attitudes to lesbian and gay people in Ireland”.

However, the Irish Herald reports that Dr Bill Tormey, a Fine Gael member of Dublin City Council, remarked by saying that homosexuality was once perceived as being a “disease”.

He added that marriage among LGBT people is “philosophically incorrect” due to their ‘inability’ to produce children.

The councillor, who is a consultant at Beaumont and Connolly hospitals, also believes heterosexual couples should “come first” when it comes to adoption.

In response, Councillor Rebecca Moynihan described the comments as “shocking” and “deeply insulting”.

Meanwhile, TV presenter Brendan Courtney, host of RTE’s Off The Rails, has blasted the councillor for being “stupid” and “out of touch”.

Tiernan Brady from GLEN, said Mr Tormey was “completely out of step” with his council colleagues on the issue of marriage equality.

According to his personal website, Mr Tormey is a “liberal social democrat and fights discrimination head on”

In August, campaigners staged a parade in support of marriage equality in Dublin City Centre.

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