Speaking to Hot Press, Alliance Party Cllr Micky Murray has opened up about LGBTQ+ inclusion in politics. He shared, “It shouldn’t have taken until 2024 for the capital city of Northern Ireland to have an openly gay Lord Mayor,” while also condemning politicians who still make derogatory remarks.

“I think what upsets me most is the inability for elected reps to understand the consequences of what they say,” he said in the six-page spread. “A lot of right wing politicians talk about trans people as if they are some creature rather than an everyday person or as if they are some kind of anomaly.”

He recalled Ian Paisley Jr telling Hot Press that he was “repulsed” by homosexuality. “Potentially members of his family, members of the community he was elected to represent and some members of his party identify as LGBTQ. So it’s a lack of understanding – and a lack of wanting to understand as well.”

 

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When asked about any hate he has received since becoming Mayor, Murray commented, “I’ve had a lot of crap. People have said things on social media where, if taken serious, could be considered a death threat. But I don’t think any of them have had any actual level of (genuine) threat behind them. Nothing has come through official channels.”

Looking at overseas politics, the Mayor pointed out that LGBTQ+ Americans “are really scared” about life under the Trump administration. He also took aim at Elon Musk, saying that X should not be “used to whip up political tensions”.

On another note, Murray argued for the legalisation of marijuana, “at the very least for medicinal purposes,” and praised the Portugal Model. He further shared his thoughts on the abuse scandal in the Catholic church, the current sex education curriculum, and Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap.

This was Micky Murray’s first major interview since becoming Lord Mayor almost one year ago on April 29.