For the junior minister is in the running for one of the UK's best known gay campaigning group's gongs - at a glittering ceremony in London this November.

Supporters of the Stonewall charity - which counts Lord Of The Rings' star Sir Ian McKellen as a founding member - have nominated Ian jnr as one of five candidates for the 'Bigot of the Year'.

A 'rival' for the unwanted prize is motormouth Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson (above), who was ticked off by the BBC earlier this year for allegedly making derogatory references to homosexuality, including agreeing with an audience member that a car was "a bit gay".

Ian Paisley jnr, of course, caused a storm of protest last May when he said that he was "pretty repulsed" by homosexual people.

The 40-year-old added: "I think it is wrong. I think that those people harm themselves and - without caring about it - harm society. That doesn't mean to say that I hate them. I mean, I hate what they do."

Politicians, including Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, condemned the controversial remarks by the junior minister in the OFMDFM.

However, the Northern Ireland Assembly later found that Mr Paisley's views had not breached members' code of conduct.

The 2007 Stonewall awards will be presented by John Barrowman - star of the Doctor Who spin-off TV series Torchwood - at the £100 a ticket ceremony in the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum), in London on November 1.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain is up for the Politician of the Year while Antony Cotton is nominated in the Entertainer of the Year category.

Ian Paisley jnr could not be contacted for comment.