For those that didn’t catch this on slugger.

Apologies for the delay in getting this up – it’s a debate I took part in, focusing on local Councils and councillors and how they interact, or not, with rate payers and the general public, as well as a discussion on education and the SDLP and UUP call to have the Executive deal with it.

It’s well worth a watch.

The launch of the Lisburn LGBT group took place last night in the Cherry Room in Lisburn City Council. Considering the previous unnecessary controversy around the use of council property for civil partnerships, last nights meeting represented a massive step for the advancement of equal rights and treatment for the gay community.

The DUP and Alliance failed to attend, as did the single TUV representative.  

When something such as this event happens, there is no doubt that it represents a major victory for the LGBT community, and every other marganilised group, who in the past has been excluded or faced discrimination. There is no doubt that the legislation that made an event like this possible, has proven to work. And credit must be given to those who fought for and obtained these legislative protections, not least the SDLP.

So when you hear the DUP or others attacking the integrity of such legislation, when you hear them say that the institutions such as the Equality or Human Rights Commissions are worthless, or when you hear some say that a Bill of Rights for NI is pointless, recognise that it is just these things that enable it possible for an event like last nights to happen.

An event that shouldn’t have needed to rely on legislation but unfortunately had to, as some people aren’t willing to recognise that members of the gay community are also our doctors and teachers, our bin men and street cleaners, they are our colleagues and friends, our family and community. They are human beings entitled to human rights – bar none.

Credit must be given to the Lisburn LGBT group and it’s members for organising the event, there was no doubting the feeling in the room last night, history was being made. March On.