Gay comments twisted - Robinson

Iris Robinson said some people had twisted her comments

DUP assembly member Iris Robinson has repeated her view that homosexuality is an abomination but has denied she ever indicated it was a mental health issue.

She told the Assembly that some people had attempted to twist everything she had said on Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show earlier this month.

At the time, Mrs Robinson said with help, gay people could be "turned around".

She was speaking on Monday after a question by Alliance MLA Stephen Farry.

Mrs Robinson asked Health Minister Michael McGimpsey if he would agree with her that there are some people who in their teenage years are sexually confused and who could do with help in terms of practioners assisting them with theraapies to help them realise whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.

Mr McGimpsey said as long ago as 1973 the American Psychological Society concluded there was no scientific evidence that homosexuality was a disorder.

But he added that homosexuals could have some specific mental health issues.