The politician awarded a MBE despite his homophobic views has said he welcomes the ‘scrutiny’ from celebrities such as Ellen Page. Over 1,100 people have called for the honor to be removed via a change.org petition:

https://www.change.org/p/the-honours-forfeiture-committee-retract-the-awarding-of-an-mbe-to-maurice-mills

Maurice Mills, a Northern Irish DUP councillor and former Mayor for the town of Ballymena has said it is a ‘silly’ idea that his honor be removed and then repeated his claim that God punishes the world for homosexuality. Mills has blamed the spread of AIDS in Africa on gay people engaging in the ‘filthy practice of sodomy’ and also blamed Hurricane Katrina on Southern Decadence, the annual LGBTI pride festival held in New Orleans.

“The media failed to report that the hurricane occurred just two days prior to the annual homosexual event called the Southern Decadence festival which the previous year had attracted an estimated 125,000 people,” said Mills in 2006. He continued – “Surely this is a warning to nations where such wickedness is increasingly promoted and practised.”

Mills also blamed the spread of Aids in Africa on gay people.

“This abominable and filthy practice of sodomy has resulted in the great continent of Africa being riddled with Aids,” he said.

The comments have never been retracted or condemned by the DUP.

Ellen Page tweeted earlier in the week – ‘F*** that’ over Queen’s decision to award Maurice Mills – who blamed Hurricane Katrina on homosexuals – with an MBE. The Oscar nominated actress, who came out while giving a speech at a packed conference for LGBT teenagers in Las Vegas last year, tweeted a link to a Vice article about the honour bestowed upon Mills with a picture of the Queen and the words “F*** that”.Lesbian Celebrity LGBT activist Ellen Page

Speaking to the News Letter, he said: ‘I welcome the scrutiny of anybody. These people are making judgment on a person when they haven’t a clue about his background or what the position is.

‘I’m not getting into a mix about that. My position is taken from the word of God and I’ll obviously not be moving from that, it’s as simple as that.’

When asked if Mills would consider returning the MBE, he said: ‘Why should I. That’s a silly question. It’s been conferred upon me by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.’

Repeating his original remarks, he said: ‘I said this “could” be a warning, just as God has done countless times through the ages.’