A heated debate is currently ongoing surrounding a gay rights charity’s decision to award a Northern Ireland born cleric as "bigot of the year".

Cardinal Keith O’Brien is leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland. He grew up in Ballycastle, County Antrim and was awarded the title at the Stonewall awards last night.

Stonewall is a gay-rights campaigning group, established in 1989 by a small group of women who opposed what they saw as inherent homophobia in Section 28 of the Local Government Act.

Cardinal O’Brien topped Stonewall’s shortlist because of comments he made which said same-sex relationships are "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing" of those involved. He also compared it to slavery.

But Stonewall has come under fire for its use of the word "bigot". Many people believe the charity has gone a step too far for labeling one man’s beliefs as bigoted.

Awards sponsors Barclays and Coutts banks say they will axe funding if the category is not dropped next year.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who is gay, won the award for Politician of the Year.

But she was booed by guests for criticising the bigot award.

She said it was important for young people to see that politics, gender or sexuality shouldn’t prevent success.

"But where I disagree with Stonewall in these awards is the need to call people names like 'bigot'," she said.

Stonewall has remained committed to its "bigot" labeling while chief executive Ben Summerskill says it has no intention of dropping the award.

Ulster peer Lord Ken Maginnis was also in line for the award after comments he made which suggested homosexuality is "a rung on the ladder" to bestiality.

(IT)