'Hollyoaks' star involved in anti-gay row

Hollyoaks star Gerard McCarthy has called for a Northern Irish MP to resign after she made anti-gay comments.

The Belfast-born actor, who plays cross-dresser Kris Fisher in the Channel 4 soap, said Democratic Unionist Party MP Iris Robinson's description of homosexuality as an "abomination" was "simply unacceptable in a modern democracy".

McCarthy accused Robinson, who is married to Northern Ireland's First Minister, of "helping to destroy [the] lives" of young people struggling to come to terms with their sexuality.

The Belfast Telegraph quotes him as saying: "An estimated 2,725 young people call ChildLine each year because they are the victims of homophobic bullying and violence. Of these, 60% are children between the ages of 12 and 15.

"There should be no place for hateful and extremist opinion. Moreover, to have a Member of Parliament advocate them must certainly be in violation of the MPs’ Code of Conduct."

The 27-year-old, who supports Stonewall’s Education For All anti-bullying programme, called for Robinson to retract her remarks and resign.

A DUP spokesman said: "The DUP is committed to equality and fairness for all of our people. Mrs. Robinson was expressing her religious convictions. Ulster people, who are tolerant of all opinions... understand that."

More than 5,000 people took part in a Gay Pride event in Belfast in support of Northern Ireland's gay and lesbian community on Saturday.

> 'Hollyoaks' star: 'Gay bullying must stop'