The TUV has prompted a formal equality investigation into Belfast City Council’s decision to install a “Pride” window in City Hall, following a detailed complaint lodged by party secretary and equality spokesperson Ann McClure.
The complaint, submitted on 24 June 2025 under Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, highlights serious breaches of the Council’s own Equality Scheme. Chief among the concerns is the inclusion in the window of a slogan that reads: “Save Sodomy from Ulster.”
Ann McClure said:
“Many people – including but by no means limited to those who value Christian teaching – were appalled to see the slogan ‘Save Sodomy from Ulster’ glorified in a public building funded by ratepayers. This is not a neutral or inclusive message – it’s a provocation, and it makes a mockery of the idea that City Hall belongs to everyone in Belfast. Such vulgar language should have no place in our chief civil building in Belfast. It wouldn’t happen in relation to any other movement and frankly no section of society should be granted an exemption from public decency.
“Such debasing of public discourse is something which needs to be resisted.
“The Council had a legal duty to consider how this decision would affect people of faith and those with sincerely held beliefs about marriage and sexuality. That process never happened. No screening, no consultation, no effort to understand how this would impact the people of faith. Once TUV established this via a Freedom of Information request, I felt compelled to take action.
“I welcome the fact that following my complaint the Council has confirmed that it will now carry out an internal investigation. Under the Equality Scheme, a substantive response is due within 30 working days.
“My complaint identifies four key failures:
• No Equality Screening: The Council relied on a 2012 EQIA unrelated to this specific window and admitted under FOI that no fresh screening was conducted.
• No Consultation with Religious Communities: Despite the Equality Scheme requiring engagement with affected groups, including those of religious belief, there is no evidence that churches or faith organisations were consulted.
• No Committee Report Addressing Equality Implications: It remains unclear whether any report was brought to committee with the required equality and good relations section.
• No Publication of Screening Outcomes: The absence of any published screening outcome breaches the Council’s duty under Section 4.20.
“I am now calling on Belfast City Council to:
1. Immediately cover or remove the offensive portion of the window pending the investigation;
2. Undertake retrospective equality screening and proper consultation;
3. Apologise to faith communities who were ignored and disrespected by the process;
4. Reassert that shared civic buildings must reflect the diversity of all citizens, not just those with one ideological viewpoint.
“This complaint is about ensuring that expression doesn’t come at the expense of others – especially in a shared public space and funded with public money.
“I will continue to monitor this process closely and am prepared to escalate the matter to the Equality Commission if the Council fails to uphold its obligations under its Equality Scheme.”