Boyzone's new music video, one of the first to feature a gay couple, is sending a “deadly message to young people”, an Irish minister has said.

The video for the band's new single 'Better' sees singer Stephen Gately, who came out in 1999, gets close with a male actor.

Although it has been praised by the band's fans, The Rev. David McCullough, minister of Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church, wrote to Dromore's leader newspaper claiming that it sent the wrong message.

“This video, that will be watched by millions, is sending out a deadly message to young people,” he wrote.

“It is stating that homosexuality is simply another norm. The video very cleverly interweaves softly lighted, black and white images of heterosexual couples with a homosexual couple.

“The message is plain and the often repeated drum beating of the homosexual lobby that says that homosexuality is a normal lifestyle.”

Gately said recently that he didn't think there “should be a real big issue” with the video.

"I just think it's just a beautiful video and I think it works superbly for the song,” he said. "I'm hoping this video will have a good, positive, all round reaction.”

Boyzone reformed last year and are due to head out on a new European tour next summer.

(by Jason Gregory)