Aiteach Issue 8 April/May 24

Artwork by: Suzanne Law

GAMING

By: MICHAEL REDMOND

QUEERNESS IN VIDEO GAMES – PART 1

Video games as a medium to explore queerness is a “new” thing in relative time. The first ever recorded instance of a Gay character is in the Interactive Fiction or Text Explorer game Moonmist. Where a woman is arguing with her girlfriend. It wasn’t until 96’ that a character who was playable had LGBTQIA options. The main character of Phantasmagoria 2 is a Bisexual who could end up with men and women. Then in 98, the Original Fallout, a CRPG had gay marriage when that wasn’t even a possibility in the USA. There are spatterings of representation between them and The First Lesbian in Star Wars. In The Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) the player could romance Juhani.

VIDEO GAMES HAVE HELPED ME DISCOVER WHO I AM WHEN IT COMES TO MY SEXUAL IDENTITY

world began to include more and more LGBTQIA characters and representation. Though it was much more common in the Role Playing Game genre, it had begun to be a commonplace occurrence. There are some very notable gay characters, some in positions of power, such as a historical king in Assassins Creed, or a NightClub mogul in Grand Theft Auto.

Though Most of these characters are not playable, nor romanceable, they can be viewed as positive representations.

In 2004, the Video Game

Then, in Late 2009 a game by the title of Dragon Age: Origins was released. In it, the player character can choose from a plethora of different characters, not limited to Zevran, Alistair,

Morrigan and Leliana. Some straight, some gay, some somewhere in between. The same can be applied to Mass Effect, the second and third games specifically have a large cast of romanceable characters. Characters like Garrus, Tali, Jack and Samantha have been allowing folks to explore their own identity, myself included.

I’m more than willing to admit that video games have helped me discover who I am when it comes to my sexual identity, and the represenation that these games. Alistair and Garrus were two of my first man crushes and Tali and Leliana had me wrapped around their fingers.

Representation in video games has only gotten better and better as more and more societal progress has happened. Some folks, myself included, would say that as a way to spread awareness and acceptance. A massive hit of 2023, Baldur's Gate 3, has Queer relationships, some of which can be Polyamourus. The representation of these characters and the inclusion of them in some of the biggest hits of the last fifteen years I believe has helped people come to realizations of who they are, and help other people find a safe space to experience joy.

– Michael Redmond

BI

By: DORN SIMON

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR THE SUMMER?

Our community has so much to offer, with so many activities to enjoy, here in Wexford the Pride in the Park is under preparation, with additional activity groups having been added this year for a non-stop community, whether arts, choruses, support groups, or you name it, we got it!

None of us ever need to feel we are alone or that we have no options to meet, join or engage with other queers.

See more: https://www. thepinknews.com/2024/01/05/ new-research-finds-bisexualgenes-for-firs t-time-and-they-arereproductively-advantageous/

BI NEWS!

In other Bi news, “A new study has revealed that bisexual women are four times more likely than heterosexual people to have long-term physical and mental health problems.”

Some interesting Bi News earlier this year, as research has discovered bisexual genes, yes, it is closing in on being scientifically proven to be in our genes!

Of course, it is also seemingly linked to risktaking behaviours…hmmm…not sure I like the connection, but I cannot deny it either, You?

2022 saw statistics that 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ people have a disability. As we know, this can range on a spectrum of chronic illness whether in the form of neurological, mental or physical conditions, debilitating neither one more than the other as all are illaffected in their own right.

It can be as chronic to live with mental health conditions such as Bipolar, as it can be to live with undiagnosed neurodiversity such as

ADHD, or Autism; yet physical chronic illnesses are at times more obvious, as they present physically, although not all are visible, there are hundreds of invisible illnesses by which can be labelled as a disability, far too many to mention.

There is then the connection of mind-body, and mentalphysical, where the vagus nerve can carry the trauma through to the body, or where the body's pain triggers can affect the mental state, as neural pathways can target or manifest disease in any part of the body.

The studies are showing that for bisexual women, these are quantifiable enough to be acknowledged and recorded statistically.

The article I found further linked it to Biphobia and stress.

See more:https://www. thepinknews.com/2023/09/09/ bisexual-chronic-illness-mentalhealth-min ority-stress-biphobia/

On a lighter note, there is a regular club night in Dublin of

which a few (perhaps more than a few!) of Wexford Pride are interested in trekking to for a gravedigger, wipe the cobwebs, goth dancefest, as DANCE TO THE

UNDERGROUND is a Punk/ Goth Queer Night, runs approximately monthly in Fibber Magees.

https://www.facebook.com/ dancetotheundergroundparty

Next is a topic, which has personally (note: I said personally, denoting that this may not be a popular opinion) had me ponder my entire life.

“Could we all secretly be bisexual and just too afraid to admit it?”

This article piqued my interest,

https://www.independent.ie/irishnews/could-we-all-secretly-bebisexual-and-just-too afraid-toadmit-it/26229561.html

I wouldn’t go as far as believing or stating “too afraid to admit it.” However, I have always had a belief that from a Natural World, Animal Kingdom stance, all animals

Name the city for each monument!

Bonus round:

Name the monuments!

Quiz by: John Cunningham-Ryan

BODY

By: CC DARLINGTON

FINDING JOY IN MOVEMENT (AND REST)

In a world obsessed with rigid body standards and unrealistic ideals, the act of moving our bodies is often framed as a means to an end – a tool for controlling and shrinking ourselves into conformity.

But what if we flipped the script? What if we ditched that unrealistic ‘summer body’ dream? What if we embraced movement (and rest) as a form of radical defiance and activism against oppressive body norms?

size or ability. It's about reclaiming our bodies as sites of joy and liberation, rather than battlegrounds for conformity and control.

VIDEO GAMES HAVE HELPED ME DISCOVER WHO I AM WHEN IT COMES TO MY SEXUAL IDENTITY

The concept of joyful movement challenges the notion that exercise should be driven by a desire to change our bodies to fit societal ideals. Instead, it celebrates movement for the sheer joy and pleasure it brings, regardless of shape,

At its core, joyful movement is an act of resistance – a rejection of the narrow beauty standards that have been imposed upon us. The idealisation of thinness and the demonisation of fatness are steeped in systemic biases and power structures that uphold white, Eurocentric beauty standards at the expense of marginalised bodies. From the colonial era to the present day, Western beauty ideals have been used as a tool of oppression to maintain power and control over fat, queer, black and disabled communities.

In the face of these oppressive forces, joyful movement emerges as an act of resistance and liberation. It's a rejection of the toxic diet culture that profits off our insecurities and a celebration of the inherent joy and pleasure of moving or resting our bodies, on our terms.

So, how might we go about finding joyful movement?

Listen to your body

Tune in to your body's cues and signals. Pay attention to how different types of movement make you feel physically and emotionally. Rest is as much a part of this activism work as movement is. We know that, for many folks, physical movement will never feel joyful in their bodies. Instead, we learn to respect our boundaries and hope to find joy in the fact that our movement (or rest) is a powerful act of resistance!

Fuck the rules

Joyful movement is not about adhering to a strict exercise

regimen or pushing ourselves to meet arbitrary fitness goals. It's about listening to our bodies, honouring our limits and finding joy in the simple act of being present in our bodies, whether that means moving or resting in this moment.

Explore new activities

Whether it's dancing, hiking, having a stretch or taking a bath, joyful movement is about finding ways to move that are accessible to your body. Movement doesn’t have to be serious or a chore. Have fun with it! Find activities that bring you joy and fulfilment, free from the constraints of societal expectations and body shame.

Find community

Surround yourself with supportive and like-minded people who share your values. In a world where dietculture is the norm, this can be easier said than done. Looking for communities that are queer focused or who centre the experiences of

THE JOURNEY (CON’T)

immediately removed from the event and or face disciplinary procedures.” Publicize your diversity policy on your website, on isocial media pages, and on-site during any event.

Third, Set the right tone for your event/workplace by making sure every person feels included, starting with your forms and written promotional material. Always use gender-inclusive language in your writing, then include a non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy that must be agreed upon when someone is registering for an event.

Ensure the language is welcoming to transgender people, gender fluid people, and anyone else who does not identify with the traditional male or female gender labels.

Finally. Safe spaces bring us together, creating a sense of community and belonging. These spaces facilitate networking opportunities, enabling individuals to connect with like-minded people, share experiences, and build supportive relationships. Such connections can be invaluable for personal growth and empowerment.

So this comes back to us. What else would you add, what would you change. How can you affect change yourself, can you have a meeting with HR and make suggestions, can you make your workplace better. How can you contribute (and it's ok if you're not in a place that you can of course).

It's up to all of us to affect change because things won't change otherwise.

– John Cunningham-Ryan

Guess the breed!

Quiz by: John Cunningham-Ryan

Artwork by: Suzanne Law

LGBTQQIPA/LADTACIPE

LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER QUEER QUESTIONING INTERSEX PANSEXUAL ASEXUAL

Leispiach

Aerach

Déghnéasach

Trasinscneach

Aiteach

Ceisteach

Idirghnéas

Painghnéasach

Gan-ghnéasach