Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris announces victory for his relationship and sex education (RSE) plans for NI at Stormont's annual LGBT reception

The TUV and DUP, who were not present, were subjected to strong criticism, although UUP leader Doug Beattie was received in a relaxed manner.

Mr Heaton-Harris told the audience of some 200 people: "One of my department’s key priorities is to support greater inclusion, tolerance, and openness in Northern Ireland, where rights and equality of opportunity is protected and promoted."

In 2019 he was proud to support the extension of same sex marriage to Northern Ireland, he said.

Earlier this month, he noted, he unveiled plans to amend the curriculum in NI for adolescents, to make "age- appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights a compulsory component of curriculum".

He then announced that these regulations had been voted through the Commons only hours earlier - by 373 votes to 28.

(His plans have been commended by the NI Human Rights Commission and NSPCC but criticised by all the major NI churches, the DUP and a House of Lords legislative scrutiny committee.)

Alliance MLA Paula Bradley - who sponsored the Wednesday evening event - was applauded when she strongly criticised the TUV for a recent press release on trans issues.

And the DUP was subjected to repeated criticism for failing to provide a representative, after expected guest Pam Cameron MLA fell ill - and for delaying LGBT related legislation at Stormont with its ongoing boycott.

Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin and Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson joined Doug Beattie and SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite on the panel, where they were quizzed about their record on LGBT rights in the past year - and their plans for the year ahead. The politicians spoke about the need for more robust hate crime protections, gender recognition reform, and the continued need for a conversion therapy ban.