Irish columnist recommends gay people abstain from sex

Irish columnist Breda O’Brien has suggested that gay people should abstain from sex.

O’Brien hit headlines last year after she was labelled a “homophobe” by drag queen and LGBT rights activist Panti Bliss. She was later compensated by Irish Broadcaster RTE over the remarks, which were made live on television.

In a new interview for The Irish Independent, O’Brien – who has repeatedly voiced her opposition against same-sex marriage – suggests that gay people should abstain from having sex with their partners, even though she realises this could be “difficult”.

“It will be excruciatingly difficult – I think you will need huge support, huge help, lots of very strong, loving relationships,” she says. “Knowing that you are loved by God and that you are valued. Sometimes giving something up can lead to other kinds of happiness. ”

“You would have to be a very unselfish person to do that and I think very good people have great capacity for joy and happiness. To be sexually attracted to people is obviously completely natural and gay people can love as much as anyone else.”

“But if you are looking as nature intended, I think that sex is very bound up with having children,” she added.

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