In his first Stormont question time, Northern Ireland’s new First Minister Peter Robinson today condemned attacks on members of the gay community.
The Democratic Unionist leader's comments came as his wife Iris Robinson MP is embroiled in controversy over her claims that homosexuality is an abomination.
Sinn Féin called for Mrs Robinson to resign as chair of the Stormont health committee, but with his wife sitting near him on his party's frontbench, Mr Robinson today pledged to defend everyone's right to equality.
"Can I further say I deplore totally any attacks that take place on individuals whether it's because of their religion, because of their politics or because of their way of life," he said.
Naomi Long of the Alliance Party asked for assurances from the First Minister that he was committed to upholding legislation that obliged his office to protect the rights of the gay and lesbian community.
"As far as the equality issues are concerned there is a legal obligation within the office of First and Deputy First Minister to ensure that no-one in our society is discriminated against," he said.
"I have to say even if there was no legal obligation I would be at the forefront defending anyone who was being discriminated against and I know my colleague, the member for Strangford (Mrs Robinson), would be alongside me in that.
"It is absolutely essential as far as this community is concerned that there is equality for people.
"Equality of opportunity should be at the forefront of all of our minds on all of these issues."
Mrs Robinson's controversial comments had followed a homophobic attack in Belfast. She told BBC Radio Ulster she condemned attacks on gay people, but defended her right to her religious beliefs and to her view that homosexual activity was an abomination.
She believed that homosexuals could become heterosexual with professional counselling.
PA