Jim Wells’ position as Health Minister is no longer tenable following his slur on gay couples, Sinn Fein MLA Martin McGuinness has said.
Mr Wells is under fire over comments he made at a political debate in Co Down where he said children were more likely to be abused if they are being cared for by gay people.
It came just a week after Mr Wells met the Republic’s first openly gay minister – the health minister Leo Varadkar.
Mr Wells has since apologised, blaming his comments on the pressures of family life . His wife has been seriously ill.
However Martin McGuinness insisted Mr Wells should resign.
“Jim Wells’ attack on the LGBT community was reprehensible and completely unacceptable from someone holding the position of Health Minister,” said McGuinness.
“I accept that he is under pressure as a result of his wife’s serious illness and I acknowledge that he has apologised.
“However I think those words will ring hollow when judged against the DUP’s opposition to marriage equality, its support for a ban on blood donations from gay men and opposition to adoption by gay couples.
“His position as Health Minister is clearly no longer tenable and the DUP leadership should now reflect on that.”