Pride Guide 2021

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Pride behind the screens.

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Covid-19 has brought about so many changes in our daily lives, including the way we shop.

Peter Somers

Tesco Jervis Street – Customer Assistant Photography by Ruth Medjber

How I plan to celebrate Dublin Pride 2021.

Meet Peter, who has been working with Tesco since 2008 and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Proud from the inside out.

I’ve taken part in the Pride parade for several years along with many colleagues from the Jervis Street store and the wider Tesco business. I’ve loved being part of a team that gets involved in the parade - it’s such a fun way to celebrate all the different groups or individual colleagues who come together from all over the country.

With that in mind, it’s hard to believe that we’ll be experiencing it virtually again this year - we thought last year would be a once-off!

I still plan to celebrate and make the most of it.

Subject to the public health guidelines, if small socially distant outdoor gatherings are allowed, it would be nice to meet a few friends, with some music and maybe a drag show on Zoom. Fingers crossed for sunshine that day!

I think it is important to share that in Tesco we champion an inclusive workplace, and everyone is accepted for who we are. There’s a great community of colleagues in Dublin and nationally too, and I’m proud to be part of it! I cannot wait to see how my colleagues safely celebrate the Pride Festival.

I know we’ll all have a fantastic day!

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It’s great to see society beginning to safely reopen - I’m looking forward to being able to socialise with friends!

1. Retail is more on the frontline than ever before, has this changed the way you work?

I never expected to be called a “frontline” worker and didn’t think too much about it when it became a talking point last year.

However, when we hit the one year COVID-19 milestone back in March, I was nominated by my colleagues to take part in Tesco’s ‘Behind the Screens’ campaign. It was series of portraits shining a light on some of Tesco’s frontline workers. Ruth Medjber, the photographer, visited the store. We had a chat and she took my photo. That’s not an everyday occurrence, and it made me stop and think about how retail workers play such an important role in the community. I’m so proud to be called a frontline worker.

I was privileged to be selected to represent Tesco Jervis Street and the LGBTQ+ community alongside nine of my colleagues from around the country, working in different roles within Tesco.

The last year hasn’t been easy, but we’ve worked together and learned so much. I think it’s probably brought the Jervis Street team closer, because of what we’ve gone through together.

2. A year on, how have you been coping with COVID-19?

It has been a strange time. COVID-19 has impacted everyone in some way, whether it has changed how they live, work, or personally affected them, a family member or friend.

My experience has been relatively normal as I’ve been able to work throughout it. I’ve been working with Tesco since 2008 and have worked across checkouts and now the customer service desk - I’ve met so many people and experienced so many changes during that time. However, COVID-19 has been a completely different experience – we implemented a lot of changes to the store, with our number one focus being the safety of our customers and colleagues.

As with everything, there are good days and bad days. We have a great team in the Jervis Street store - we’re like a family, and we always look out for each other and our customers. On the bad days, I can always count on my co-workers for a little boost.

We always joke about how we are all so desperate to get out and socialise with our pals, that we are lost without visits to salons - but we manage to keep each other sane through it all!

It’s great to see society beginning to safely reopen - I’m looking forward to being able to socialise with friends!

3. What is your day to day routine both in and out of work?

Obviously, in the last year, there have been lots of new protocols and measures introduced to help keep everyone safe, be it on the colleague side or the customer side, but it’s busy and still fun! Even though society is slowly reopening, it’s still all about safety at Tesco. Things like social distancing in store, hand sanitising, wearing masks and the plexiglass at checkouts are still hugely important.

I’ve been working as a Customer Assistant on the Customer Service Desk for the last five years. This year my engagement with customers has been different, it’s been behind a mask or a screen. When I get to work, I try to have the craic and put a smile on a customer’s masked face – it’s so important to do that because you never know how that person is feeling. I do notice a few of the older generation are hit hard with everything, so I try to give them a few more minutes to have a chat, in case they are feeling lonely.

I think my personal life has been the same as everyone else’s. I think everyone is doing their best to keep busy. I’m lucky to have a close friend of mine who asked me to be her bridesman at her wedding early next year, so helping them with planning has helped to pass time.

Happy Pride from everyone at Tesco 3

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

BRÓD MEANS PRIDE. And that’s something we

An Post proudly supports Pride 2021.

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e can all understand.

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

#justbe #lifeatsky 6

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together let’s just be At Sky, we know it’s our people that make us unique. We believe in a workplace where everyone can just be themselves.

Proud to be supporting our LGBT+ colleagues and Dublin Pride 2021.

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Contents Message from the First Citizens Message from the Taoiseach

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Pride Grand Marshal announcement The Burroughs

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Some of the fabulous folk who work hard to make Dublin's LGBTQ+ community feel valued share their stories.

The Roots of the Routes

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From the Fairview March to the first Pride Parade and all the ones that followed, we take a look at the Pride routes that have gone before.

An Activist Remembers

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Bill Foley brings us through his own personal recollections of the early days of LGBTQ+ activism.

Beyond the Parade

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A look at some momentous walks, marches and runs, both in Ireland and abroad, that really capture the spirit of Pride.

Remembering Ed Bowden

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A celebration of the life and work of a community member who devoted himself to helping our LGBTQ+ family.

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A photo of the 1980 Gay Pride picnic in Merrion Square taken by Thomas A O'Shea, courtesy of the Irish Queer Archive, which has been lovingly recreated on our cover for Pride 2021 by photographer Hazel Coonagh.

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Credits PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

GOLD SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

MEDIA PARTNERS

FUNDERS

Dublin Pride Team

Pride Magazine Team

VOLUNTARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FESTIVAL STAFF

EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Andrew Deering Conor Kelly Ruth McGreevy Luke McLoughlin Cydney Thompson

Peter Dunne

Victor Coe, Brian Dillon, Alan Edge, Rebecca Kelly, Oisin Kenny, Martina Malone, Ezra Maloney, Chris Rooke.

Cormac Cashman Jason Flynn Tim Lee Dr Muiris Ó Céidigh Philippa Ryder Evgeny Shtorn

WITH THANKS TO

Dave Darcy

ILLUSTRATIONS Neave Alouf

GRAPHIC DESIGN

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

Colm Molloy Pradeep Mahadeshwar

Lisa Connell Maura Molloy

WEBSITE

DUBLIN LGBTQ PRIDE STAFF

CHIEF MARSHALL

Jed Dowling Christelle Gebhardt Jamie Kenny Eddie McGuinness

DESIGNER

Hazel Coonagh

Dave Darcy Pat Maher

EVENT CONTROLLER Martin Cullen (Safe Events)

HEAD OF PRODUCTION Damian Bolger (FUEL) 9

PHOTOGRAPHY Hazel Coonagh, Thomas A O'Shea, all other archival photography provided by interviewees and authors.

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

On May 17th, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, I was delighted to officially launch the festival programme for Dublin Pride 2021 at the Dublin Pride Hub on Duke Street; at the heart of the city. With the reopening of society, this felt like an important step towards recovery after a particularly difficult 18 months.

However, while there is reason to be hopeful this summer, the LGBTQ+ community still needs our support. Just like many other parts of our society, the work of LGBTQ+ organisations and services has been interrupted by the pandemic. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these services can continue to provide vital support to the LGBTQ+ community. As one of the biggest fundraising events for many LGBTQ+ organisations, Dublin Pride is the platform to do so.

A Message from the Lord Mayor of Dublin

Since its beginnings in 1983, Dublin Pride has played a crucial role when it comes to fostering a sense of community for the citizens of Dublin. It is a civil rights protest, but over the years, it has also become a celebration of love, identity and diversity. As the first Irish-born Lord Mayor of Dublin of Chinese heritage, I want to take this opportunity to express my solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities of colour, LGBTQ+ Travellers and LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Dublin City Council and the citizens of Dublin welcome you and support you.

June is Pride, but for the citizens of Dublin, it has also meant hope this year.

I am hopeful that the Dublin Pride March will return to the streets of Dublin soon once it is safe to do so. Until then, I look forward to marching in the Virtual Pride Parade on Saturday, June 26th on behalf of Dublin City Council.

Happy Pride, Hazel Chu Lord Mayor of Dublin

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Mayor of Fingal, David Healy Happy Pride!

Of course, Covid-19 can’t help but remind us of another pandemic, HIV/AIDS, which hit our community so badly, and which was made so much worse by prejudice and discrimination. We remember that HIV remains an enormous global public health threat. This reminds us to keep protecting ourselves and each other from HIV and to keep working to protect public health across the population of our planet.

This is a great time of celebration for our community. It is a celebration of our love and friendship for each other and the embrace of our wider families and communities. It is also one in which we remember and commemorate our past, we celebrate the present and we commit to making the future better.

We remember the journey towards tolerance, equality and acceptance which we have made in Ireland. We honour those who did so much to make it happen, and their bravery, sacrifice and generosity.

The fact that we can celebrate such progress in Ireland should not hide the fact that we still have a way to go. For many in our country, homophobia and transphobia still cause appalling pain and trauma and lead to discrimination.

Fingal County Council is proud to support Dublin Pride. Fingal respects and supports diversity and inclusion, within our organisation as a workplace and in our dealings with the citizens we serve. We’re delighted to partner with Dublin Pride in their Pride at Work training.

We commemorate also in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world, particularly in the many countries where simply being oneself leads to persecution and danger. This year, as last, Pride happens under the shadow of our global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. We remember and pray for those we have lost. We thank the frontline workers who have protected our health and who kept vital services going.

As (hopefully) the midsummer sun shines on our Pride celebrations, even though they are scaled back and socially distanced, I wish you all a Happy Pride!

I’m particularly happy to launch Fingal Pride as its own entity within Dublin Pride.

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Una Power, of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council On behalf of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the people of the County, I would like to wish a happy Pride celebration to everyone. This last year has been incredibly tough and has shown us the importance of having a strong, supportive community.

truly strong and resilient when nobody is left to feel scared or anxious about being their true self. Pride is also a time to embrace the joys of love and selfexpression.

After what has been a fairly miserable year, it is beyond heartening that we are able to once again celebrate Pride, diversity, and inclusion.

During Pride season we remember the past and recognise the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. As both allies and members of this community, our focus should be on ensuring that everyone is free to be who they are and love whom they love. Our collective community is only

Once again, I would like to wish you all a happy Pride celebration and hope that next year the Pride Parade can once again march the streets of our city.

Ed O’Brien,

Mayor of South Dublin County Council I want to send my best wishes to all associated with the Dublin Pride festival this year.

Although the celebrations may be curtailed again this year due to the pandemic, it is important that we continue to celebrate and show solidarity with the Pride movement and the entire LGBTQ+ community. As the years have gone by, it has been embraced across our community so I hope that everyone can find a safe way to celebrate Pride this year, and look forward to the streets being thronged again in the future for Pride.

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Message from the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin

The Pride celebrations were underway at the time that the Government was formed last year and, one year on, all of our lives continue to be disrupted in many different ways by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision to make ‘Community’ the theme of this year’s Festival is an excellent one. The unique challenges of the last year have tested the strength and cohesion of our communities as never before. As a nation, we have passed that test.

I feel honoured to welcome the launch of this year’s Pride Festival.

In the worst of times, we saw the best of the Irish people – a spirit of solidarity, resilience and kindness that will serve as an inspiration to all those who come after us.

The growth of Pride celebrations all over Ireland in recent years is also testament to the increasing diversity we now have in all our communities. This diversity is something to be celebrated and cherished. We are richer for it.

Jed Dowling and the entire team behind Dublin Pride deserve praise for their success over the course of a difficult year, continuing to advocate on the issues impacting LGBTQ+ citizens, and also for their creativity in ensuring that this year’s celebration goes ahead in the unique circumstances we find ourselves in.

Last year over 100,000 people watched the Virtual Pride Parade and Pride Concert which was broadcast live.

These numbers illustrate the great level of engagement in the Pride festival and celebrations across the country. As the organisers said last year: “Pride isn’t cancelled, we’re just bringing it home.”

Like all of you, I sincerely hope that we will be in a position to celebrate Pride 2022 together in person, but in the meantime, I wish everyone a Happy Pride 2021.

Micheál Martin Taoiseach

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Grand Marshal Introduction

Yes, your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to be our Grand Marshal and join the illustrious list of icons and heroes of our community like David Norris, Tonie Walsh, Dr Lydia Foy, Michael Barron, Dr Panti BlissCabrera (Yes, we’ve had two doctors), Anna Grodzka, Colm O’Gorman, Brian Sheehan, Dr Grainne Healy (three doctors!), Mark Kelly, Max Krzyzanowski, Moninne Griffith, Sara R Phillips, Will St Leger, Vanessa O’Connell and now YOU!

The Grand Marshal of Dublin Pride 2021 is… drumroll… YOU!

Being Grand Marshal of Dublin Pride is of course a huge honour but it’s also hard work, so before you accept the crown you should probably know what’s involved.

The big job is to lead out the annual Dublin Pride Parade.

Of course, we won’t be on O’Connell Street this year, so you’ll need some imagination. Maybe you’ll lead your friends on a Parade through your local park, or you could come into town and walk the route of your first Dublin Pride Parade, or maybe you’ll bring a Pride flag along to your first outdoor dining experience of 2021.

As Grand Marshal, it’s also your job to make sure everyone in your team follows all the Covid restrictions and behaves themselves. Send us pictures or videos of your Covid-safe Pride activities to parade@dublinpride.ie by June 15th and we’ll include it in our Virtual Pride Parade.

We have some great prizes for our favourite entries.

Of course, being Grand Marshal isn’t all parades and parties, it’s also your job to tell the story of Dublin Pride, to get people excited for Pride and to let everyone know how they can support their community.

This year, we want everyone who can to support the new Dublin Pride Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland. All money donated to the fund will be distributed between LGBTQ+ community organisations and projects.

As Grand Marshal, it’s your job to let all your friends know about the fund and encourage them to support it.

It’s a lot of work, but we hope you’ll accept the challenge.

As our thank you for accepting this responsibility, the first 100 people to email us at parade@dublinpride.ie and say, “I will be the Grand Marshal” will receive a Dublin Pride Gift Pack and a limited edition Dublin Pride Grand Marshal T-Shirt (don’t forget to let us know your t-shirt size and address, or else you can collect it from our city centre Pride Hub in June).

So, if you’re ready to accept the challenge, sign up and make this copy of the 2021 Dublin Pride Magazine a collector's item!

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Ireland

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Let’s celebrate how far we’ve come and join us on the journey to a more inclusive society.

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Of all the things we set out to do, helping to create a community that could support every one of us is perhaps the thing we are most proud of and why we have chosen ‘Community’ as our theme this year. Our community has done so much to hold us together over the past year, from community organisations who have worked tirelessly to support our most vulnerable members, to drag queens and DJs who kept us dancing in our bedrooms, and friends who checked in on each other.

In the old days, when just a handful of people came to Pride, everyone had a job, and this year we have a job for every one of you. We need your help, we need to make sure that no one gets left behind, we need to make sure that when we return to the streets next year our community organisations are still there to lead our Parade and we need to make sure our friends are there to march beside us. We need your help to achieve that.

Dublin Pride Introduction

As restrictions start to ease and the city starts to reopen, we need you to check in on friends you haven’t heard from in a while, invite them for coffee or a walk in the park, or, better yet, walk your first Dublin Pride route with them. We also need you to tell us if you need help - organisations like LGBT Ireland, TENI, BeLonG To, Switchboard, Dublin Lesbian Line, and more, are there to support you. That’s the community we've built, it’s there for you.

When Dublin Pride started over 40 years ago, we were just a handful of friends having a picnic in a park, celebrating who we are, supporting each other, dreaming of an Ireland where we could be equal and safe, and figuring out how to achieve that.

There’s one other thing, we’ve never asked anyone to pay to come to Dublin Pride and we never will, but if you can, we need you to support your community. Over the past year many community organisations have been stretched to their limits. As the demand for services increases, opportunities to raise funds through events have vanished. They need your help to survive. If you can, please support the Dublin Pride Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland.

We never imagined that we would lead 100,000 people on a Parade through the city, and as proud as we are of that, and as much as we miss it, and as excited as we are to do it again next year, that is not what we set out to do.

On behalf of the Board of Dublin LGBTQ Pride, our staff and all our wonderful volunteers, we want to wish you the very happiest Pride!

We set out to stop violence against LGBTQ+ people, to decriminalise homosexuality, to achieve full equality under the law, to celebrate our culture and to help create a community that could support every one of us.

Brod shona #CommunityFirst

We learnt a long time ago that a small group of friends sitting outside on a sunny day in Dublin can be just as powerful as 100,000 people marching on a street. So let us be clear, Dublin Pride is not and never will be cancelled, this year we’re doing it old school, but don’t forget, old school got us where we are today.

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visit the

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

At PayPal, we believe every person has the right to participate fully in the global economy.

We are proud to support Dublin Pride in their efforts to advocate for and empower LGBTQ+ people throughout Ireland.

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DublinPride #KnowYouCan www.

.ie

Helping our community thrive

We believe in helping all communities thrive. That’s why we’re proudly supporting the LGBTQ+ community all around the world.

Wishing you a happy Pride.

axa.ie/pride AXA Insurance dac is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. 05/21 OMG172526

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Every colour, every stripe, every type Volkswagen, proud sponsors of Dublin Pride 2021

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Pride Partners We share a common belief and commitment with all our wonderful Pride Partners and Sponsors – Pride is more than a Parade. Their year round support, not just of Dublin Pride, but a host of other LGBTQ+ organisations demonstrates that commitment. Becoming a corporate partner is a great way to show practical support for your LGBTQ+ community. Not only do your fees contribute to the work of Dublin Pride, they also support other LGBTQ+ projects and organisations.

Pride Partners also have access to our Pride at Work diversity and inclusion training program and can qualify for entry into our annual Pride Parade.

Entry to the annual Pride Parade is limited to companies who have been Pride Partners for at least 12 months prior to the Parade date. For more information contact prideatwork@dublinpride.ie

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSOR

MEDIA PARTNERS

FUNDERS

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PROUD TO STAND PROUD TO PARTY PROUD MEDIA PARTNER TO

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

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With Pride

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Happy Pride

from all at Bank of Ireland

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Dublin Pride 2021 Another year, another Pride!

We are delighted to announce that Dublin Pride will return for another edition this June. The festival programme was launched by The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu, on Monday, May 17th - International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). The launch took place at the Dublin Pride Hub on 18-19 Duke Street, Dublin 2. You can visit the Hub until the end of the festival.

This year’s theme is ‘Community’, with a focus on promoting the vital work of LGBTQ+ organisations and services. Dublin Pride is the biggest LGBTQ+ fundraising event of the year, and as such, we are thrilled to launch the Dublin Pride Community Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland. All proceeds will go directly towards supporting LGBTQ+ organisations affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

THERE WILL BE NO IN-PERSON PRIDE PARADE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 26TH. ALL OFFLINE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE ENSURE THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS MAINTAINED, FACE MASKS ARE WORN WHERE REQUIRED AND GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ARE ADHERED TO AT ALL TIMES.

Traditionally, the whole month of June is designated as Pride, with a variety of organisations running Pride events and activities. This year, each week will have a different focus:

WEEK 1: MACHNAMH BRÓD June 1st - 6th Machnamh is an old Irish concept that encompasses meditation, reflection, contemplation and thought. The term was recently popularised by President Higgins in his Machnamh 100 initiative. One year after the Black Lives Matter marches that took place around the world following the death of George Floyd, we examine and celebrate the intersections of communities within our own community and reflect on what we have done to challenge racism, misogyny, transphobia and ableism in the past 12 months and challenge ourselves to do more.

WEEK 2: CULTURE, ARTS AND HERITAGE June 7th - 13th A week dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ contributions to the arts, history and culture. Check out our Pride Player at www.dublinpride.ie for LGBTQ+ themed virtual tours of galleries and museums, walking tours, theatre and dance performances, poetry and storytelling and more. In addition to our online programme, we will run exhibitions at Filmbase in Temple Bar and Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre.

WEEK 3: HEALTH AND WELLBEING June 14th - 20th The past 18 months have been particularly difficult, and LGBTQ+ people have had to face a number of challenges such as being forced back into the closet, living in an unsupportive or homophobic environment or isolation.

Week 3 therefore focuses on ensuring our physical and mental wellbeing in times of crisis and beyond.

WEEK 4: COMMUNITY June 21st - 28th In the final week of Dublin Pride 2021, we want to showcase the dedicated LGBTQ+ organisations and support services in the country. As always, the festival will culminate in the Dublin Pride Parade and March. The Virtual Pride Parade will once again be broadcast from The Round Room at The Mansion House on Saturday, June 26th as part of a full-day entertainment programme. The festival will end on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots on Monday, June 28th.

Stay up-to-date and visit our new website www. dublinpride.ie for more information and Pride content and to find out how you can support the LGBTQ+ community.

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Scan the QR code to visit the Dublin LGBTQ Pride website for more information!

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

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Northern Trust is a Proud Supporter of Happiness.

Northern Trust is proud to support the LGBT+ Community and Dublin Pride 2021. For more than 130 years, we’ve been meeting our clients’ financial needs while nurturing a culture of caring and a commitment to invest in the communities we serve. Regardless of which community you call home.

northerntrust.com ASSET SERVICING | ASSET MANAGEMENT | WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Team GCN wishes everyone a safe and happy Pride

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

The Community Foundation for Ireland 21 Years of Solidarity, Support and Partnership

by Denise Charlton, CEO

Allies are key to the advancement of LBGTQ+ rights.

For 21 years, The Community Foundation for Ireland has been proud to partner with change-makers determined to deliver equality in thriving communities.

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T

THE BEGINNING

ogether, we work with those whose voices are often silenced, sidelined or ignored. We support people at risk of isolation, discrimination and hate.

We work with others to celebrate diversity.

Two decades ago, The Community Foundation for Ireland was founded with the mission of Equality for All in Thriving Communities. It is a mission which quickly aligned us as a strong ally, partner and advocate.

As a Community Foundation we are proud of our record of achievement and success, but we are also conscious that the journey is far from complete and there remains challenges which must be met.

Early grants went to a lesbian collective and to GCN magazine, a long-standing voice which has chronicled our recent history in this country. Projects such as these were aligned not only with our values but with those of our donors, keen to bring about positive and progressive change.

All of this would not be possible without the generosity of our donors; individuals, families and corporate donors who share a belief that Ireland can be a better place, a country where everyone can expect equality, fairness and opportunity.

Since then, over €1m has gone specifically to LBGTQ+ projects, though of course many others also deliver benefits in areas like health and wellbeing.

The huge social and economic impacts of Covid-19 over the past 12 months have created their own challenges – and the LGBTQ+ community is not immune. We know from the Life in Lockdown surveys (by LGBT Ireland and BeLonG To) that the community has been hit harder than most.

We have been there to confront homophobia in all its forms, to make schools, workplaces and the wider community better, fairer and equal, to advocate for parental rights, family rights and immigration reforms so that people fleeing persecution can be joined by their loved ones.

93 percent of LGBTQ+ young people reported a decline in their mental health (compared to 53 percent of the general youth population) and adults in more vulnerable groups (including older members of the community, people living in Direct Provision, and LGBTQ+ Travellers) experienced significant mental distress as a result of being cut off from community supports during the restrictions.

We worked also to support the establishment of the National LGBT Helpline, which celebrated a decade of working with the community last year. Since its launch, the service has provided support to thousands of people, their family members and friends. It developed in response to the emerging needs of the community, and now, under LGBT Ireland, offers a wide range of telephone, online and face-to-face supports, including most recently, in response to the pandemic, the development of online social supports for older people.

Gathering for support, meeting family, friends and allies, has been greatly curtailed, while empowering gatherings like Pride have, like so much of our lives, moved online.

Digital may have served us well, but it can never replace the comradeship of gathering socially together.

We partnered with TENI to produce an information guide for counsellors and psychotherapists to provide appropriate supports for transgender people. As a result we have an important document to combat transphobia, stigma and discrimination.

As we emerge from the experiences of the past 12 months, the volunteers, workers and communities are now asking how we can recover better, to arrive in a space which is fairer and more inclusive that the life we all knew before the pandemic. However, in order to move forward it is important to look back on our experiences of the past, to learn from the victories and achievements we have shared together, as well as examining some of our missteps and mistakes so they are not repeated again.

Growing up LGBTQ+ is different depending on where you live, your background and your circumstances.

Together with partners such as BeLonG To and others in the regions, we are boosting services so that no young person should feel abandoned or alone.

Health and wellbeing is key – no matter what your sexual orientation. Access to support services is something our donors are passionate about and are committed to improving.

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

A highlight of the past 21 years is the pride we feel when recalling that when money and support was in short supply, The Community Foundation for Ireland and its donors made the first ever financial contribution to Marriage Equality. It is something we are immensely proud of, but just one milestone of many.

Despots, dictators and regimes which have always targeted our community with imprisonment, violence and even execution knew they could carry on trampling on human rights without any fear of retribution from the Trump administration. Going back to normal – or certainly that normal – is not acceptable.

THE JOURNEY IS NOT OVER

Now is the time to invest our communities.

Together we have shared great moments, and we have also overcome setbacks and defeats. That is what philanthropy allows us to do.

We are at a moment which is pivotal. Decisions and actions we are about to take personally, as a society, and as a country, will shape the future for generations to come. This is an opportunity to reassess our priorities.

Do we want to be solely focused on national economic recovery at any cost, or do we want prosperity which is fair and ensures that no-one is left behind? Do we seek recovery where, this time, we are all truly in it together?

Today I am delighted to report that the passion, drive and energy of our donors is stronger than ever. There is an awareness that our journey to equality is not complete.

Our donors share the view of our partners on the ground in communities that, as we emerge from the most devastating impacts of Covid-19, as a society we have to recover better.

Such an approach needs all voices to be heard. Young people, women, Travellers, ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ people, communities suffering poverty, people living with disabilities, in fact, everyone who calls Ireland home.

It maybe difficult to recall the world we were in prepandemic. Economically it may have been more secure, but it had many issues, and inequality was certainly looming large.

As a foundation which has invested over €75 million in building strong and resilient communities we have been looking at our role.

Six out of ten young LGBTQ+ people were afraid of coming out. The fear of rejection, isolation and bullying was real. It was tangible. The risk to the health and wellbeing of teenagers was very real.

Our partnership with Dublin Pride to develop a new fund is one important step. We are thrilled to embark on this new path, refocusing our own LGBTQ+ support fund to invest in long-term change for volunteers, groups and advocates who are responding to issues for the community. If you are a change-maker passionate about equality, we would love to hear from you.

Older members of our community, in particular those outside of major centres, were often living lonely lives. They are at a much higher risk of social isolation, loneliness and poorer physical health than their heterosexual peers. This is due to diminished support networks and a reluctance to access mainstream health and social care services due to a fear that their identities will not be respected, or worse, that they will be discriminated against by staff or other patients/service users.

This fund is the bedrock. It has provided over twodecades of support, and now is ready to respond again.

The Community Foundation for Ireland is inviting likeminded individuals, families and corporates to join with us.

We are particularly honoured by supporters who have pledged a gift in their will to the Community Foundation for Ireland so that we can continue to create a future based on equality for all.

Emboldened by the rise of right-wing politics, not just across the Atlantic but much closer to home in other member states of the European Union, we were seeing concerted and very public efforts to undermine our rights. A small but vocal minority, which had been moved to the fringes, was once again on the march.

Our journey is far from over. But at this key moment we are welcoming those who want to join us and deliver change which will benefit generations to come.

Thank you, and Happy Pride!

A short flight out of Dublin Airport brought us to countries like Poland where towns were declaring themselves antiLGBTQ+ zones. Public figures there were citing Ireland not as a beacon of hope but as a country which was “morally bankrupt” because of the advancement of our rights.

Full details are available at www.communityfoundation. ie or drop us a mail info@foundation.ie.

Denise Charlton is Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland.

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LGBT+ Fund for Ireland Where there’s a will there’s an... opportunity - to do something amazing! The Community Foundation for Ireland stands for a fair, caring and vibrant country and has been supporting LGBT+ projects in Ireland since 2001.

Will you consider including the LGBT+ Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland in your will?

To find out more 01 874 7354 or visit www.communityfoundation.ie/impacts/lgbt Other funds supported by wills include the Arts, Environment, Women’s and Older Persons’ Funds.

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Dublin Pride Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland Dublin LGBTQ Pride is one of the biggest fundraising events of the year for many LGBTQ+ organisations. You may not even realise just how much you’ve supported your community over the years just by coming to Pride.

All those tickets to events, the flags, t-shirts, Pridethemed cupcakes and milkshakes you bought - they all add up, and without even thinking about it, you probably gave €20 to different community groups over the Pride weekend. Now imagine 100,000 people all doing the same thing.

Right now, many of our community organisations are struggling; demand for their services has increased but at the same time opportunities to raise funds by running Pride events or even simple bucket collections are no longer possible. This is especially true for smaller organisations that don’t receive government funding or corporate sponsorship and rely on individual members of the community to support them.

We know, that next year, our Parade and Festival will be back even bigger, and on the streets of Dublin, but we need to make sure that no one gets left behind. When we come back, we come back together.

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Can I run my own Pride event to raise funds?

Yes, you can even run your own Pride event just to celebrate Pride, but if you can use it to support your community, even better. We do have a couple of important requests if you are planning your own Pride event with friends or work colleagues:

This year, we have partnered with The Community Foundation for Ireland, a registered and trusted charity, to create the Dublin Pride Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland and we’re asking everyone who has ever joined our march to do what they can this June to support our community organisations and the services they provide.

• Please follow all Covid guidelines in place, what you do over Pride can impact your whole community. Don’t ruin it for everyone else.

How the fund will work We want to make giving as simple as possible and we want you to know exactly where your donation is going and what it will be used for. All donations received are processed by the Community Foundation who adhere to the highest standards of governance and accountability for charities, Dublin LGBTQ Pride does not take any portion of the donations.

• If you’re planning a fundraising event, either in a personal capacity or through your business, please don’t use our logos or branding without our permission.

Dublin LGBTQ Pride and The Community Foundation for Ireland adhere to the highest standards of accountability and transparency in all of our fundraising activities and cannot be associated with any activities that breach the codes of the Charities Regulator or go against the principles of our organisations.

At the end of Pride, all donations received will be divided between LGBTQ+ community organisations and projects.

If you’re part of a community organisation that would like to be included as a beneficiary of the fund, contact community@dublinpride.ie.

I already donate to an LGBTQ+ organisation That’s great, thank you and please keep it up if you can.

A main purpose of the fund is to make up for the lost income community organisations generate from Pride events and activities. They still need your support all year round. There are lots of wonderful organisations working tirelessly in our community, visit our website to learn more about them and how you can support their work.

How can I support the Fund?

Go to dublinpride.ie/donate, every donation counts and you’ll automatically receive a receipt from the Community Foundation. We understand that it’s been a very tough year for a lot of people, that’s why we’ve created this fund, so don’t worry if you’re not in a position to make a donation, you can still support us by telling your friends about the fund and sharing our posts on social media.

For more information on the Dublin Pride Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland, visit our website, www.dublinpride.ie.

Can my business support?

Absolutely. You can make a direct donation and avail of any tax benefits for donations to a charity. You can also promote the fund by letting your staff know about it.

Go to dublinpride.ie/donate, every donation counts and you’ll automatically receive a receipt from The Community Foundation for Ireland (Charities Regulator Number: 20044886).

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UNITED IN COMMUNITY Responding to the sexual health needs of all gay and bi men.

Happy Dublin Pride from the MPOWER team at HIV Ireland

HIV Self-Test HIV Rapid Test Condoms & Lube Information Support Referrals Education ●

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mpower.hivireland.ie An initiative of

MPOWER is an initiative of HIV Ireland and funded by the HSE

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Empowering gay and bisexual men with sex-positive, judgement-free and harm-reduction based responses to our sexual health and wellbeing needs.

www.DublinPride .ie

ACT UP Dublin demands the full opening and increased funding of all sexual health services to meet the needs of EVERYONE in Ireland.

ACT UP Dublin is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the HIV crisis.

Our meetings are open to all. If you’re interested in getting in involved please email act.up.dublin@gmail.com ACT UP Dublin 41

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E, D I R P Y B D E UNIT N! O O S N I A G ER A NING INFO COMING SOON. H T E G O T E B WE’LL OUR WEBSITE & SOCIAL PAGES FOR REOPE •••••

•• •••••• • E ID R P IN #DUBL •••••• • • • • • D02 R220 ••• , DUBLIN 2, RGE’S STREET

ON KEEP AN EYE

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REAT GEO 89 SOUTH G

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The Mercantile Group proudly supports Dublin Pride 2020 1 We can't wait to welcome you back into our venues soon! mercantilegroup.ie

@mercantilegroupdublin

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Victor Coe, Dublin City Council My career in Dublin City Council started in 1998, when I joined the draining planning unit as an engineer. I was in my mid-20s, and had only come out to one close friend. I certainly couldn’t have imagined coming out to my colleagues.

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ike many people in our community, throughout my childhood I thought that I could suppress being gay, that I would simply live a ‘normal’ life, and everything would be fine. It wasn’t until I came out to that first person that things started to change. That first conversation allowed me to realise that I could be accepted as a gay man, and that I could say that out loud – something I had until that point believed I would never do.

The DCC LGBT+ Staff Network is a confidential support for council employees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The Network has done terrific work over the last decade to progress LGBTQ+ inclusion in the council for staff at all grades, and has arranged quite a few social events along the way also.

Martina Malone is our chairperson, and she leads the Network with a really lovely energy, and always has a mischievous smile and a determination to drive progress faster. I really strongly believe that every workplace should have such a staff network. If every workplace could have a Martina Malone, that would be even better!

But even after that, taking further steps out of the closet took quite a while. At the time I was singing in the Christ Church Cathedral choir. As is common in many choirs, there were a number of gay singers, but whenever I was asked if I was gay, I had a stock answer: “Why? Do you fancy me?” That always served to put a stop to further probing. I was brought up not to tell lies, but finding ways of avoiding the conversation worked for me.

23 years after I started my journey with Dublin City Council, I am a Senior Executive Engineer who is a Project Engineer for the Dublin District Heating System. I’m a married gay man. And neither of these things has ever negatively impacted upon the other.

It wasn’t until Christmas Eve in 2003 that I came out to any of my council colleagues. As is often the case, I was helped with a little Dutch courage in a local pub, and came out to two work mates I trusted. They didn’t have any issue, and were delighted I had told them. And ever since, my coming out experience within Dublin City Council has been somewhat uneventful - I am now married to a wonderful and understanding husband, and many of my colleagues joined us for our wedding day.

If you work in Dublin City Council, get in touch with our staff network, and get involved. Whether it’s just for a confidential chat on the phone, or (hopefully soon) a more social night on the town, you’ll find lovely people at all different grades ready to welcome you into the fold.

But I know that’s not the case for everyone. I know of many DCC employees who are not yet out in the workplace. For some, that may be how they want things to be. But for others, I want them to know that, unlike when I joined the council back in 1998, we now have an amazing staff network in place.

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Putting the ‘Out’ in South Dublin Gerry Curran and The South Dublin LGBT+ Network — on launching online just in time for Dublin Pride 2021!

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f the lockdown has taught us anything, it’s the importance of local communities. South County Dublin stretches all the way from Rathfarnham Castle to Lucan Weir, from Tallaght Stadium to Clondalkin Round Tower, from the Hellfire Club to Waterstown Park: a great expanse of greater Dublin with a population of nearly 300,000. Yet despite its size, ’til now there has been little or no visibility for its LGBT+ citizens, and no mechanism for them to come together to build a community.

Working with the Council and the PPN, we hope in time to provide a strong voice for the local LGBT+ community on matters affecting them, such as housing, social inclusion and healthcare.

We also hope to reach LGBT+ people in minority communities for whom coming out may be a complex business. We have already been working closely with Greenbow, which is run by and for deaf/hard of hearing LGBT+ people, and the newly formed Full Spectrum run by and for LGBT+ people with disabilities. We are also connecting with people from different heritages and backgrounds, including migrants and asylum seekers, among them those in Direct Provision, and we are actively engaged in trying to reach out to LGBT+ members of local Traveller communities.

Now, with the help of South Dublin County Council, the Public Participation Network and a team of volunteers from all walks, including the county’s three LGBT+ councillors, we are putting the ‘Out’ in South Dublin once and for all!

The South Dublin LGBT+ Network started as a Facebook group in Dublin South-West but very soon it was clear that there was a burning need for a countywide group.

Polls showed a near total lack of knowledge about what services were available for LGBT+ people in the area and so the aim very quickly became to create a safe, inclusive and welcoming space for our community to socialise, to network, to advocate and to push for progressive change.

LGBT+ people have always been active in South Dublin.

We delivered one of the biggest turnouts and ‘YES’ votes in the Marriage Equality referendum in 2015. We have a proud history of openly out and proud politicians.

Huge progress has been made in the area as a result of the involvement and participation of the LGBT+ community as an engine of positive social change. South Dublin LGBT+ Network aims to harness that energy and togetherness to build upon the progress we have made for our own community and for our county.

An important first step is visibility. That’s why this Pride month, you’ll see us looking fabulous on bus shelters throughout the county, celebrating at the same time our pride in who we are and where we live!

South Dublin LGBT+ Network is still in its infancy and we want YOU to help shape its future. Why not get involved and check us out on our social media platforms and join our dedicated members group on Facebook SDLGBT+ South Dublin LGBT+ Network Members Group.

So, Happy Pride from all of us at South Dublin LGBT+ network and we hope you’ll come and join us as we paint this county in our proudest rainbow colours!

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A History of the Pride Parade Pride is a time for celebration, a time to mark how far we’ve come and what the community has achieved, it’s a time to gather together in solidarity and support.

Importantly, it’s also a community protest. None of the landmark moments for LGBTQ+ folks, none of the rights we’ve achieved, were made solo, or made quietly. In earlier days, it was the bravery of small groups marching in the face of bigotry that caught the public’s attention, that inspired others to get out there and make our voices heard, that made a difference.

While official celebrations remain virtual this year due to the fact we can’t gather in the numbers we once did, it doesn’t mean we can’t, or shouldn’t, mark the big day. It also doesn’t mean we can’t give back to the community or support those in need.

As was explained earlier in the magazine by the Dublin Pride Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland, there are ways to fundraise, not just during Pride but throughout the year, to support your community organisations. One way would be to walk your own Parade route - in small numbers, safely and socially distanced of course - and perhaps make a personal donation or ask friends or family to sponsor you. There are notable Parade routes you could follow, not just the most recent, but historical routes the march took throughout the years.

In the stories that follow, we’ll look at all the routes the Parade and various marches took throughout the city and hear from some of the people involved. From the Fairview March, to the first Pride march and all the Prides that followed, you’ll hear of the courage it took to walk down the main streets of the city as openly LGBTQ+ people in times when it was illegal to be homosexual - pre decriminalisation, pre public support, pre corporate support.

While it is impossible to tell all the stories of those involved and all the events that took place over the years, a handful of the organisers and Grand Marshals share their tales of those monumental times and achievements.

So here are the routes the Pride marches took, here are the memories of those involved and the monumental events that occurred in those years.

Perhaps pick a route you feel connected to, in honour of the people and events described, and think about those days while you walk, think about those who have left us and those still with us and what they, and we, have gained, for what is remembered lives.

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Declan Flynn

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History Made in Solidarity The Fairview Park March marked a significant turning point for LGBTQ+ people in Ireland as it amplified their voices on an unprecedented scale. Oisin Kenny looks at what was hailed as the ‘Irish Stonewall’ - a protest and a shout of outrage that powered the queer rights movement going forward.

Route 01: Liberty Hall → Fairview Park 19th March 1983 — ➊ Liberty Hall ★ Beresford Place, Amiens Street, North Strand Road, Annesley Bridge Road ➋ Fairview Park 55

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n March 19, 1983, LGBTQ+ people rose up against systemic discrimination, stigmatisation, ignorance, injustice and violence as they marched side-by-side from Liberty Hall to Fairview Park.

This protest erupted out of the pain and anger felt by the queer community around the trial of 32 year-old Declan Flynn’s killers and An Garda Síochána’s investigation into the death of the RTÉ set designer, Charles Self.

While organising the demonstration, a few people in the Collective advocated for marching towards Fairview Park rather than following their usual protest route from Parnell Square and along Government buildings. Although many backed this idea, there was an overall sense of unease, as Foley shared, “We began to realise, ‘Oh, my God, are we putting ourselves in danger? How much support will we get?’ There was some outrage in the press about the leniency of the sentence. And there was some sense of public support in what we were doing.

But we decided to call out favours from our friends and organisations from the left to come out and support us in this demonstration of injustice. And that’s what happened.”

When the presiding judge in the trial, Justice Sean Gannon, claimed that the horrific death of Declan Flynn “could never be regarded as murder,” it proved to be a breaking point for many LGBTQ+ people as they were once again viciously struck by a system that devalued queer lives.

The revolutionary, and nerve-wracking, protest march carved out a path from Liberty Hall to Fairview Park, going through Beresford Place, Amiens Street, North Strand Road, and Annesley Bridge Road. There were also technically two marches on the day, as Foley notes, “We were all so nervous about it that we deliberately set off on time. It was a very long march, and we had set off so much on time, that, as usual with Ireland, there were some late comers, and they were accumulating at the starting point. Then they realised that the march had gone. And so for a time, there was a kind of main march and a second march following on behind.”

As if Flynn's killers receiving suspended sentences despite pleading guilty wasn't a hard enough blow, An Garda Síochána were also outing GBT+ men to their families and places of work during the Charles Self murder investigation.

As part of a 2015 Journal.ie interview, Senator David Norris reflected on how these tragedies signalled a turning point for the queer rights movement in Ireland: “It was significant because it got the whole community out together. People were revolted by the sentencing.

There was solidarity amongst people against what had happened to Declan. It really was an early manifestation of support for gay rights.”

On this long journey towards Fairview Park, LGBTQ+ people and their allies amplified the defiant messages shaped by prior queer rights demonstrations. This can be seen in a 1970’s Gays Against Repression pamphlet which reads, “Communication ends isolation. By helping each other to help ourselves, our solidarity is our strength.”

In a bold declaration of visibility, around 500 to 1000 people joined forces on the Fairview Park March, formerly known as the ‘Protest March Against Violence Against Women and Gay Men’. Speaking about the support for the protest, Bill Foley, a former member of Dublin’s Lesbian and Gay Men’s Collective, the group who organised the demonstration, said, “There was a huge amount of outrage, obviously within the LGBT community, but also within the allies that we had formed through the anti-amendment campaign and the broad left.”

Foley and his late partner, the trade union activist and photographer, Christopher Robinson, were instrumental in organising the landmark protest. Speaking about what it meant for them to be involved, Foley expressed, “Myself and my partner both came out to our parents just before the march, we knew because of the publicity that the case was attracting, it was going to attract a lot of media attention. We didn’t want them to see us in the march as a way of finding out. So it was kind of a personal reckoning as well as a political reckoning coming into the organisation of it.”

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"There was solidarity amongst people against what had happened to Declan. It really was an early manifestation of support for gay rights."

Activist, DJ, and one of the founders of the Irish Queer Archive, Tonie Walsh, only shy of his 22nd birthday at the time, further illustrates the personal edge to this march in what he considers one of its most enduring elements, which was that “it made lesbians and gay men angry enough to get out in the streets.”

This has become all the more apparent in recent years as the park bench, where Flynn’s attack occurred, was decorated with flowers and tributes following the passing of the Marriage Equality Act, while the first Dublin Trans and Intersex Pride March made their way from Amiens Street to this historic location, and Dublin Pride 2020 had intended to follow the 1983 protest’s route before the pandemic hit.

Walsh expressed, “If you are sufficiently comfortable enough to go out into the streets to protest about your rights, it’s very difficult to go back into the closet again. And in a way, it also makes explicit the need for progressive campaigning; campaigning around vindicating our rights and campaigning around ensuring our safety on the streets of the country we live in.”

However, despite attempts from various councillors, there are no official State commemorative murals for Flynn and all those lives lost to horrific anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes. Highlighting the monumental queer history behind Fairview Park (which was once a popular cruising area for GBT+ men) and these semi-public private places, Walsh said, “In the absence of dating apps, and also particularly in the absence of equality legislation and anti-discrimination legislation, when you could be kicked out of a bar for just looking gay, whatever that means, we found our own people, both for pleasure and even for socialisation. We found a lot of that in the shadows or in the very few gay-friendly venues that existed.”

Looking back on the march, Walsh remembers the sense of dread and apprehension within the crowds gathered: “It was a freezing cold day, 19th of March, 1983. We met at Liberty Hall. This is only a few days after his [Declan Flynn’s] killers had been released and they had their bonfires and everything else. [...] I remembered having a clear feeling that there was a possibility of being stoned or scraps breaking out, that we were going to be attacked.

It was a really grim and fearful experience because we knew we had no protection from the police, especially after the charge of the Charles Self murder investigation, so we didn’t trust them.”

While many found a sense of community and connection within these parks, this pervasive invisibility presented various dangers for queer people across Ireland. Walsh added, “By the early ‘80s, you still had a lesbian and gay community that’s in its infancy, it’s trying to find its voice, it’s trying to make its presence felt in Irish society.”

Reflecting on the former title of the march, Walsh addressed how this demonstration was also fuelled by the protestors’ anger over an increase in sexual assault and rape cases against women in Ireland. These calls for safety and equality reverberated throughout the protest with banners declaring ‘Get Your Filthy Laws Off My Body’, ‘Gays Have the Right to Life’, ‘I’m Straight But is the Law?’ and ‘Parents of Gays Love Their Children’. As the activist shared, “The march was a statement about making a bit of Dublin, and Ireland, safer for gay people.”

Due to those angry, scared, and brave queer people, alongside their allies, protesting on that bitterly cold day in 1983, the LGBTQ+ rights movement made their presence known on a massive scale and the Fairview Park March became a symbol for a community only growing stronger in their solidarity.

On the Irish Queer Archive Facebook page, Walsh wrote, “The Fairview Park March was utterly transformative.

Nothing would ever be the same again, even if as a society we have yet to formally acknowledge the shocking waste of life and destruction visited on a fearful community at the time. We will not forget our brothers and sisters murdered for no other reason than their sexuality or gender.”

As a result of the protest, Fairview Park radically changed from a place of shadows and loss to a nexus for queer power and activism.

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In these uncertain times TENI is here for you.

This year, we are in this together. We may be physically distant, but our community is supporting each other online.

You can contact us at 01 873 3575 or email us at office@teni.ie.

We are using Zoom to make sure our TransParenCI and Transformers groups continue to run online. If you’d like more information on family support, please contact hannah@teni.ie.

We’re also using Zoom to help trans peer support groups to continue to run online. For details of support groups in your area check out http://teni.ie/ supports. If you’d like more information, please contact keeva@teni.ie.

The Transgender Family Helpline is available at 01 907 3707 on Sundays from 6pm to 9pm and on Tuesdays from 10am to 12pm. We work with our friends at LGBT Ireland to help families to support families.

If you’re in a place where you are not able to be yourself.

If you’re worried about your healthcare.

If it’s difficult to reach out to the people who matter most in your life.

We see you. We hear you. We’re here.

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We’re Here for LGBTI+ Young People We offer confidential support, information, crisis counselling, and youth groups for LGBTI+ young people from 14-23 across Ireland.

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www.belongto.org 01 670 6223

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

at the Mansion House

PROUD VENUE of

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PROUD SUPPORTERS OF

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#NXF40 1979—2019

The Dublin Pride NXF Political Debate 2021

by Adam Long (Debate Chair and NXF Board Director) THE NATIONAL LGBT FEDERATION (NXF) IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ONCE AGAIN CO-HOSTING THE DUBLIN PRIDE POLITICAL DEBATE, WHICH, SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2014, HAS BECOME A MAJOR HIGHLIGHT OF OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS.

The vast majority of our publicly funded schools continue to be under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church, whose own schools’ curriculum calls for the highlighting of what they teach to be the superiority of heterosexual marriage - a wholly unacceptable state of affairs in a country that has very publicly affirmed marriage equality and which is now enshrined in our Constitution, no less.

There will certainly be no shortage of issues to discuss with my panelists this year as we continue to seek progress towards full equality for LGBTQ+ people across society.

In response to the publication of the Catholic Church’s controversial RSE document, the government signalled its willingness to legislate for an inclusive, fact-based curriculum and the whole controversy has only served to refocus attention on the pressing need for education equality to become a reality in our schools.

The need to enact robust and effective Hate Crime legislation has been a key priority since it was identified as the major LGBTQ+ political issue in our NXF Burning Issues 2 report of 2016.

Efforts to finally enact a complete ban on the abusive and discredited practice known as so-called ‘conversion therapy’ - labelled a form of torture by the United Nations - has seen significant momentum in 2021 as a new all-Ireland coalition was formed in April with support from every political party on the island with the glaring exception of the DUP.

Ireland stands virtually alone in the Western world in failing to have specific laws to address hate-motivated crime.

But after many years of advocacy and campaigning, the government brought forward a ‘Heads of Bill’ in April, which proposes to legislate both for Hate Crime and also to update laws targeting the related issue of Incitement to Hatred.

Minister for Equality Roderic O’Gorman recently stated his intention to outlaw this so-called ‘therapy’ to make clear that a person’s “sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression are not up for debate” and I look forward to discussing the whole issue with my panelists in greater detail.

The reaction to the Bill has been broadly positive, with sexual orientation and gender identity/expression being explicitly referenced as protected characteristics.

As the government’s proposals make their way through the legislative process, I will be keen to explore with my panelists how we can best ensure that the final law that is enacted is fit for purpose in tackling the scourge of Hate Crime and sending a clear and unequivocal message that targeting people for who they are will not be tolerated in our society.

We cannot afford any complacency when it comes to building on our equality gains, and indeed we only need to look across the Irish Sea, where a toxic antitrans discourse has gained traction and which is being used as part of a larger assault on LGBTQ+ rights in the UK more generally, to see how quickly progress can be undermined. It is certainly not difficult to see why the British government’s own LGBTQ+ advisors resigned in protest in recent weeks, denouncing the actions of Conservative Ministers and what they described as their “hostile policies”.

We will also be discussing the Incitement to Hatred aspect of the Bill, not least in the context of a disturbing rise in far-right extremist online content and the need for social media platforms to be much more proactive in this area.

Another topic that is sure to feature in this year’s discussion is the whole area of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE).

Here in Ireland, we have the opportunity to do things very differently but it will require concrete, tangible, change.

A most interesting and informative political debate around how such change can be delivered awaits.

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Where Pride Starts

Visit the Dublin Pride Exhibition in the Stephens Green Shopping Centre

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L—R: Tonie Walsh, Kieran Rose

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Did They Really Notice Us? Between 1983 and 1984, ten years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality, and in the wake of the Fairview Park March, the LGBTQ+ community seized upon their growing visibility to create a defiant and innovative Pride that was bursting with the potential for change. Oisin Kenny captures a moment in time with some of those involved.

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n the cover of the 1984 NGF News July/August edition, activist Tonie Walsh delivers a speech from a demonstration stand during Dublin Pride while a child squints up at him (Pg 50). Across this humorous image, there’s a simple yet earth shattering question: "Did They Really Notice Us?" These words embody an LGBTQ+ community that was reckoning with what it meant to “Be There!”- as stated on a Gay Pride Week ‘83 flyer - and a queer rights movement exploring different forms of visibility in Ireland.

While the media might not have given the 1984 Pride March airtime, there’s still an electric presence to the bravery of the 200 or so LGBTQ+ people filling Dublin with queer protest and celebration.

Former President of the National Gay Federation (NGF), Tonie Walsh, shared, “It’s a powerful feeling the idea that you are with a bunch of peers and you have the power to change society. The realisation that comes from some of these events, the realisation that anything is possible, that you have the power to not only change your own world but you can also change it for others.”

Route 02: Fusiliers' Arch → GPO 1983 and 1984 — ➊ Fusiliers’ Arch ★ St Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, Suffolk Street, College Green, Westmoreland Street, O'Connell Street Lower ➋ GPO 67

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Galvanised by the success of Fairview Park March, Gay Pride Week ‘83 culminated in the Gay Rights Protest March “to demand our basic human rights as lesbians and gay men.” This rallying cry reached a crescendo during the ‘80s, with Walsh noting, “Pride has been developing slowly. I think there’s a common misconception that the Fairview Park March and Declan Flynn’s murder started Pride in Ireland. And it didn’t. What it did do was that it accelerated its development in the short run.”

Widely referred to as the first Pride Marches in Ireland, the ‘83 and ‘84 public demonstrations informed future events in their approaches to advocating for visibility and change. Walsh said, “There was a massive protest underpinning that celebration of Pride on June 25, 1983.

In a sense, it already held the beginnings of what would later become Ireland’s national Pride parade.”

The week-long celebrations and protests of ‘83 and ‘84 pushed forward a Pride movement that started in June, 1974, when a group of ten marched from the Department of Justice to the British Embassy. That small number grew to 200 across many Merrion Square picnics, pink carnations, and revolts against the criminalisation of homosexuality.

On a sunny day during June 1983, the LGBTQ+ community marched from Fusiliers’ Arch towards O’Connell Street in a Pride which acknowledged how far they had come, as well as amplifying their vision for a queer future. This can be felt in writer Joni Crone’s satirical reworking of the 1916 proclamation, where she renamed the GPO as the Gay Pride Organisation. The ‘Gay Generation’, a sardonic term used by In Dublin magazine at the time, were spearheading an uprising and there would be no going back.

In many ways, this defiant refusal to back down radiates throughout the early Pride March route, as Walsh shared, “I remember when the march was just about to set off, a really exciting and beautiful sunny day, the complete and utter contrast to the grimness of the Fairview Park March.

But when the Parade was just about to set off down Grafton Street, the police were not letting us down. And we were like, 'this is our day. This is our day in the sun and we are walking down Grafton Street.'”

Pride during ‘83 and ‘84 offers an insightful and rebellious insight on the means by which queer people created spaces for themselves to flourish outside violent and oppressive social environments. From unveiling the Pink Triangle to a Motown/Reggae night in Flickers, these week long events did not only develop on from the energy of previous protests but also utilised the exhilarating potential of a safe space such as the Hirschfield Centre, which was opened in April 1979 by the NGF.

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Ciarán McKinney

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Speaking about the significance of being visibly out in public spaces during Pride, co-founder of Gay and Lesbian Network (GLEN) and a member of Cork Gay Collective, Kieran Rose, states, “It’s using the public space, the streets, to make a public statement. It’s such a powerful thing that has happened throughout the world and throughout history, all the protest marches. And that’s why it was very important that we were continuing in that historical trend. It’s like the coming of age of a movement.”

involved. There was often that kind of tension of perhaps covertly nodding to somebody but realising you can’t really say ‘Oh, hi’,” McKinney continued.

Reflecting back on the long road to Pride in Ireland, McKinney spoke on what can be learnt from these protests and celebrations, “We are stronger when we work collaboratively with allies. [...] Change is possible.

And persistence really does bring about results.”

Former member of Dublin’s Lesbian and Gay Men’s Collective, the group who organised the Fairview Park March, Bill Foley further highlighted the importance of Pride in Ireland, “There’s a history to it starting off as a Pride protest march rather than a Pride celebration. And I think there’s some element of that still coming back into Pride these days. Among the celebrations, you do have organisations that are marching along to advance rights in relation to parenting, adoption, immigration and relationship status. There’s still a lot of work to be done and that component of Pride, I think, is still a valuable and useful one.”

Rose went on to share, “It was the first Pride Parade that I’d been on. It was the first for most of us [...] There was a sense of delight that we were taking to the streets to celebrate being lesbian or gay. People were having a great time and being very, very self-confident about taking their place in a public space and marching down the street. As if they were used to doing it.”

Further illustrating the joyous and chaotic energy underpinning these early Pride marches, Engage Programme Manager at Age and Opportunity, Ciarán McKinney, recalls, “I have a really vivid memory of about 150 of us or something marching down Grafton Street, when traffic could still go down it. And somebody had the bright idea that they would play ‘Sing If You’re Glad To Be Gay’ on their car speakers, and the bloody engine seized up. So we had to push the car down Grafton Street, which was embarrassing.”

As highlighted by both the Fairview Park March and the ‘83 and ‘84 demonstrations, the queer rights movement was growing stronger in its visibility and solidarity. During the late ‘80s, the LGBTQ+ community faced devastating losses as many people emigrated abroad for financial reasons or were lost to the AIDS epidemic, alongside the Hirschfield Centre being destroyed in a suspected arson attack. Against this backdrop, Pride went dormant until a resurgence in 1992, a year before the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

McKinney shared another heartwarming memory from the early Prides, “As we were descending on College Green, there was another thing coming along Dame Street, which was a group of FCA volunteers pushing a cannon for charity, as one of those guys was my youngest brother. And so we had this hilarious moment, giving each other a big hug and then him going back to his mates and me going back to mine.”

Flash forward to 2021, with multiple Prides spanning Ireland, there remains a remarkable power in the LGBTQ+ community openly celebrating their achievements while also creating an uproar about their futures. Similar to those week long events in ‘83 and ‘84, the NGF News' question still holds relevance today: "Did they really notice" all that goes into the fight for trans rights, adoption rights, Black Lives Matter, HIV awareness, sex workers rights, and so many more causes that advocate for equality and justice?

However, McKinney also acknowledged that there was a sense of caution among the people taking part in the Pride March regarding their interactions with the crowds gathered. He said, “I guess for me one of the strongest memories is being there as part of the March and having to be very careful about saying ‘hello’ to people who were on the sidelines because many of them would not have wanted to have been identified.

As numerous movements have shown throughout time, from shed tears to shared laughter, the way to make them notice is by having fun while finding a new path forward, along with embracing all the shades of glitter and shadow along the astounding journey.

“These days, being in the audience, being a spectator, is as much a part of the whole thing. But in those days, it wasn’t because we weren’t celebrating the Parade - this was a demonstration. It was demanding our rights. And I think lots of people were far too nervous to become 69

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Visit man2man.ie for updates on PEP, PrEP, HIV, STI clinics and other sexual health and wellbeing information.

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For four decades, Ireland’s LGBTI+ community has played a leading role in standing with, caring for, and supporting our community of people living with and vulnerable to HIV. Today, we are working to end new HIV transmission and HIV-related stigma by 2030.

www.DublinPride .ie

Let’s work together to make this the last decade of HIV.

We have all the tools we need.

Vision 2030

Ending HIV and HIV-Related Stigma in Ireland For more information, visit hivireland.ie/vision2030 Wishing everyone a very Happy Pride 2021

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A new exhibition featuring the extraordinary lives of Ireland’s LGBTQ+ Diaspora.

Opening June 2021 #outintheworld www.outintheworld.ie

Custom House Quay, Dublin 1, D01 R9Y0.

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Live Out Celebrating LGBTI+ Youth

A celebration of LGBTI+ Youth in Ireland A showcase of stories of LGBTI+ youth in culture, sport, youth clubs, schools and communities.

With Stephen Byrne as host and special guests Pillow Queens the event will be streamed live across social media and as part of Dublin Pride’s Video On-Demand platform.

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Streamed Live on 25 June 2021 gov.ie/LiveOutLoud

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Live Out Loud Live Out Loud: Celebrating LGBTI+ Youth event, from the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, will be live streamed from the National Opera House in Wexford on June 25th as part of Dublin Pride 2021. This event is a national celebration of LGBTI+ young people and shows how LGBTI+ youth are visible, valued and included across Irish culture, society and sport.

WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN?

The Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth will show the valuable contribution of LGBTI+ young people to the nation, with a showcase of stories of LGBTI+ youth in culture, sport, youth clubs, schools and communities.

TV personality, Stephen Byrne will host the event, with special guests including indie-rockers, Pillow Queens.

Live Out Loud is a youth-led action that has been developed by the LGBTI+ Youth forum. The Youth forum is a group of LGBTI+ young people, aged from 16 to 22 that support implementation of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy. The Youth Forum keeps young people at the heart of strategy implementation and gives them an opportunity to participate in decision-making on issues that affect them.

The event is the culmination of the Live Out Loud national campaign that celebrates LGBTI+ youth as part of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy, a worldfirst national strategy for LGBTI+ young people.

Since the campaign launched on National Coming Out Day in October 2020, the team has collected some incredibly positive stories of those who are influencing, educating and inspiring every sector of society for LGBTI+ young people.

The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy was published by the Government in 2018 and is the first of its kind in the world. The mission of the Strategy is that all LGBTI+ young people are visible, valued and included.

Three strategic goals are identified to support the achievement of this mission: GOAL 1:

GOAL 2:

GOAL 3:

Create a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTI+ young people.

Improve the mental, physical and sexual health and wellbeing of the entire LGBTI+ community.

Develop a research and data environment to better understand the lives of LGBTI+ young people.

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‘Living with Pride’ is a public expression of the National Library’s commitment to LGBTI+ representation in Ireland.

We are delighted to offer; a year-long programme of events We are •delighted to present: •

an exhibition, also entitled ‘Living with Pride’ showcasing the Christopher

an exhibition of photographs of gay activism, Pride, and LGBTI+ life by activist Christopher Robson a series of online events throughout 2021 a focus on exploring the Irish Queer Archive at The National Library

Visit www.nli.ie for more information 76

IN THIS TOGETHER

IN THIS TOGETHER

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L—R: Izzy Kamikaze, Hayley Fox Roberts, Dr Lydia Foy

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A Grand Return The Dublin Pride Parade returned to the streets in 1992. While Pride events had continued to take place, no march had been held for almost a decade. Chris Rooke looks at a celebration and a protest fired by years of change.

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alvanised by the Belfast Pride March, and angered by the exclusion of the LGBTQ+ community from the NYC St Patrick’s Day Parade earlier that year, a group of activists including Izzy Kamikaze, Mick Quinlan, Barry Quirke, and Dónal Traynor determined that a march should happen through Dublin's city centre. The route would begin in the Garden of Remembrance, and end at the Central Bank.

This would be the route that the Pride Parade would take until 2011, although after a few years it was extended to the Civic Offices at Wood Quay.

Of course much changed during that time, the first major milestone being the decriminalisation of homosexuality during Pride Week in 1993, following Senator David Norris’s successful legal case in the European Court of Human Rights. “To be honest with you, I just remember crowds and people applauding,” recalls Senator Norris.

Route 03: Garden of Remembrance → Civic Offices Wood Quay 1992 to 2011 — ➊ Garden of Remembrance ★ Parnell Square, O’Connell Street, Westmoreland Street, College Green, Dame Street, Lord Edward Street, Fishamble Street ➋ Amphitheatre at Wood Quay 79

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That burgeoning sense of optimism inspired many participants. Among them was Hayley Fox Roberts, who was a member of the Pride organising group from 1997 to 2004. “What I saw in Dublin Pride was the space for LGBT people to not only celebrate, but to positively identify and to push a positive identity into the faces of people who resented us,” she remembers.

Fundraising also happened during the festivities, with events that will sound familiar to anyone who has attended the Mother Block Party in the last few years.

“For a few years we did the Pride concert,” Hayley describes. “They were fundraisers: three of them were for the HIV Support Unit in Cherry Orchard. They were lovely, and engaged loads of local musicians and performers.

It was an amazing thing to see because that was quite a sort of high end event for us. We did one in Vicar St, we did the others in the Tivoli. I remember we used to hire the Tivoli, and the theatre would be dark and we’d have to clean the place first, and then set up, and then do the gig.

And again, it was so much a community event: everyone got to dress up for the night.”

“One of the things I thought so much about in those early years of my involvement was the great sense of community and the range of events that were planned.

You didn’t have to have money, you didn’t have to be goodlooking, you didn’t have to be part of the scene.

“It was the actions of individuals acting on a collective basis who made [the March] happen again. So it continued to happen, with that ethos of grassroots and community voice, and I think that’s how, for about ten years, it absolutely continued to have that community ethos.”

Even as periodic advances were made in the fight for civil rights (the Employment Equality Act passed in 1998, and the Equal Status Act in 2000), protest remained an important part of the Parade. “One year there was a teacher’s protest within [the Parade],” recounts Hayley.

“All of the members of the Teachers' Union had made these cardboard blackboards to put over their head, as they couldn’t be identified because they’d lose their jobs.

But they still participated, and that was a really powerful image. Imagery is so important, and one of the things about a Pride March or Pride Parade is the opportunity to use visual imagery to affect people. For a lot of people you can talk and talk, and they’re not necessarily getting your point, but imagery works every time.”

As a result, the work and the Pride events that Hayley believes were most important weren’t necessarily those that received the most attention. “We used to do a géilí- a gay céilí. Lots of different people would go to it, but it was particularly nice for some of the older men who were less socially skilled in terms of the scene. That was an event that was tailored to them and they really enjoyed it.”

Another moment that touched Hayley was “a memorial event for the friends and family of those who had died from HIV and AIDS. We planted a little tree in the little memorial garden up by Jury’s Christchurch. That was a very small and meaningful ceremony. It wasn’t necessarily about having hundreds at it or having great publicity about it and getting in the papers, it was for the attendees.”

With those battles still being fought, Pride was always met with some resistance. But organisers and participants were ready. “The stewards prepping beforehand always used to spend time talking about how to deal with aggression, because there would be aggression,” says Hayley. “Broadly speaking, our main thrust was that was if somebody yells abuse at you, laugh at them. Tinkle merrily, giggle at them, because it’ll drive them mad, which it does, and it also reduces one’s own fear, because we probably all know how threatening it is to have abuse hurled at us.”

These things didn’t fund themselves, however, and much of the work and events centred around fundraising. “We always tried to keep prices really low,” Hayley explains. “We used to do bucket collections, around loads of pubs every year, and we would raise thousands. That meant that the events were funded by the people, for the people.”

Senator Norris had a slightly different approach to a snide comment he encountered while acting as the first Grand Marshal of the Parade in 2007. “I was sitting in a car travelling down O’Connell Street, when for some reason it stopped and four muscular young men had to push it,” he recounts. “There was a middle-aged couple with the woman wearing trousers on the pavement. The man leaned in and said to me ‘Why aren’t you wearing a skirt,’ and I said ‘I think that is a question you should most appropriately address to your wife.’”

The money raised wasn’t the only advantage of getting out into the community. “It’s heavy work — quite literally — for collecting, but it’s really good because in doing that you’re meeting people,” she continues. “You know some people go, ‘what the heck is Pride,’ or you meet a heterosexual person who wants to be supportive but doesn’t understand how to be, and you get to have that communication that can be lost, especially as [the scale of] Pride escalated.”

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2007 also saw one of the most seismic victories for the trans community during this period, with Dr Lydia Foy winning her case for gender recognition against the State (although it took until 2015 for the State to act on the ruling). She would be Grand Marshal of the Parade in 2010, the same year that legislation would be passed giving same-sex couples the right to enter into civil partnerships. That legislation came into force in January 2011, the final year that the Parade would follow its route down Dame Street.

While many Pride Parades have sprung up around the country since the Dublin Pride Parade became a mainstay of the Irish calendar, its position in the capital city still allows it to be the largest.

In the spirit of its original grassroots, inclusive, and outreaching nature, Hayley says she would like to see some fundraising go to organisations outside Dublin, such as Teach Solais in Galway. “It’s the only community centre for LGBT people in the whole of the Northwest and West,” she explains. “You’ve got stuff in Cork, in Dublin, in Dundalk. There is nothing else on that side of the country.

So I would very much like to see Teach Solais being fundraised for. It would be a nice acknowledgement of LGBT people with a very different life outside urban centres.”

Much like today, the Dublin Pride Parade wasn’t the only LGBTQ+ march to take place in the city during this time.

In 1998, the first (and so far, only) Dyke March took place in Dublin, following the same route as the Pride Parade. In Pride Week, “Friday night was Dyke Night,” recalls Hayley, “so the Dyke March was planned for the Friday night, in order to facilitate women who were traveling from different parts of the country.”

Dyke Marches began in 1993 in Washington DC, and were organised by the Lesbian Avengers. The initial marches were in response to violence against lesbian women, including two women who were burned to death in their house. As a result, “the Dyke March was very much a political March,” tells Hayley, “and that is one of the reasons why it did get a bit of kickback from people who had a ‘can we not just keep it nice’ kind of approach.

“It was an amazing event. We did the Dyke March, and at the end of the march, there was a little bit of a gap before the Dyke Night gig of Dublin Pride. It involved some of us running from the end of the Parade up to the Tivoli to clean it out before we set up [for the gig]. It was an amazing event because of the strength that was behind it, because of the commitment to the political message, as well as the celebration of ‘aren’t we all just gorgeous, look how fabulous I am,’ and that was a bit in-your-face.”

While there hasn’t been a Dyke March in Ireland since, “it’s one of those things where every now and then, in certain rooms in certain places, there will be a few women who say ‘it’s about time we did another one of them,’” says Hayley. “But the point was not to become an annual thing, it wasn’t intended to be a regular event. It was intended to be a strike.”

Senator David Norris

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HAPPY PRIDE 2021 LET'S MIND OURSELVES AND LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

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Equality for Children is a not for profit organisation which was founded in 2019 by a group of LGBTQ+ parents who came together to fight for equality for their children.

Did you know that the majority of LGBTQ+ couples require Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) treatment in order to be able to conceive a child. However, most children born through AHR treatment are left in an uncertain legal position without any functioning legal framework to establish a legal parent-child relationship with both of their parents. This has many practical impacts for the children of these families in areas such as; birth registration, citizenship provisions, childcare and/or educational provisions, access to social welfare, succession/inheritance rights etc.

Equality for Children is a not for profit organisation which was founded in 2019 by a group of LGBTQ+ parents who came together to fight for equality for their children.

There is a misconception that with the marriage referendum, equality has been achieved. The introduction of the Children and Families Relationships Act (CFRA) last May meant that, for the first time, same sex female couples who met the criteria could go to court and both be recognised as thier childs’ legal parents.

Going forward from May 2020, any female couple who conceive and birth their child in the way set out in the CFRA, will have automatic recognition of both parents from birth.

The progress was welcome, but legislation is needed to recognise all remaining LGBTQ+ family units for what they are - families - and give equal rights to both parents. In recent

both of their parents, something that has been denied to them

months, the Irish Government published a report on children’s

to date.”

rights and best interests in the context of assisted human reproduction. If adopted, the recommendations contained in

Equality for Children have set up a petition calling on the

this report would address numerous legislative gaps that exist

government to act swiftly and adopt all of these recommendations

for LGBTQ+ families in Ireland.

into legislation governing assisted human reproduction. You can sign that petition on their website or across all their social channels.

Ranae von Meding, CEO of Equality for Children says, “Professor Conor O’Mahony’s report represents another crucial step forward

www.equalityforchildren.ie

in our campaign. By adopting all of the recommendations in

@equalityforchildren

Professor O’ Mahony’s report, thousands of children in Ireland

@equalityforchildren

will finally be able to have a legal parent-child relationship with

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@equalchildren

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KIDS OF LGBT PARENTS DON’T HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS.THAT’S NOT RIGHT. Find out how you can help at equalityforchildren.ie

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At Bord Gáis Energy we believe in a workplace where everyone can bring their whole selves to work.

Proud to be supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues.

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L—R: Mark Kelly, Brian Sheehan, Dr Gráinne Healy

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Changes Long Awaited From 2012 to 2016, Dublin Pride commanded a route through the main streets of Dublin City Centre. Ezra Maloney looks at the seismic changes for the LGBTQ+ community during those years.

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veryone remembers their first Pride. For many, it’s interwoven with memories of coming out, of being out in public for the first time surrounded by a sea of people just like you. There’s a profound sense of community when you glance about and see the crowd chanting together in solidarity. Pride makes LGBTQ+ people visible and shows the strength of numbers in the community.

From 2012 to 2016, falling on the last, usually (luckily) sunny, Saturday in June, the Parade wove its way from the Garden of Remembrance, culminating in a celebration at Merrion Square. The vibrant procession marched the main streets, filling the wide thoroughfare of O’Connell Street with balloons, banners and music. These four years were monumental for the Irish LGBTQ+ population, so it seems only right to have a look back on the highlights, and the lead-up to the Marriage Referendum and the Gender Recognition Act.

Route 04: Garden of Remembrance → Merrion Square 2012 to 2016 — ➊ Garden of Remembrance ★ O'Connell Street, College Green, Nassau Street ★ O'Connell Street, Eden Quay, Custom House Quay, City Quay, Lombard Street, Westland Row, Lincoln Place ➋ Merrion Square 91

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In response to the massive growth of Pride over the years, the route was changed in 2012. Moving from the traditional venue at the Civic Offices on Wood Quay, the new location at Merrion Square had space for up to 15,000 attendees. The theme of the 2012 parade was ‘Show Your True Colours’ and the future Queen of Ireland - Panti Bliss - served as Grand Marshal.

2014’s Dublin Pride was the biggest yet, with over 40,000 revellers of all ages demonstrating on the city streets. The theme of the parade that year was simply ‘Freedom’ - an optimistic look ahead to the next year’s decisive referendum. Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International, was an apt choice of Grand Marshal that year and spoke powerfully of the long road to LGBTQ+ liberation in Ireland as a journey still unfinished.

Marriage equality was at the forefront of many activist’s minds that summer as a same-sex marriage bill in Denmark passed by a landslide vote of 85 to 24 in the Danish Parliament. Back in Ireland, a poll revealed that 73 percent of Irish people were in favour of same-sex marriage. It was an encouraging increase from 2008, when just 56 percent of the population had supported it. With support from the public on the rise, it was a demonstration of progress to come.

That year, I stood among the people in Merrion Square, blowing bubbles and waving flags amid the tentative hope and nervous excitement about the coming referendum.

The festival atmosphere of 2014 Pride was a muchneeded break from the uninterrupted debates that flooded the media, and people’s homes, in the build-up to the referendum. LGBTQ+ people were pitted against age-old religious institutions and, in some cases, their own families, as our rights were picked apart in the name of free debate.

2013 marked the 30th anniversary of Dublin Pride. On the 25th of June 1983, just 200 activists, led by the National LGBT Federation (NXF) marched from Stephen’s Green to the GPO in an Ireland where being gay was still a crime.

This had followed a protest in March of that year when over 500 men and women angrily expressed their outrage in response to the suspended sentences handed to the murderers of Declan Flynn. Brutally beaten to death by five teenagers in Fairview Park on September 9th, 1982, Flynn’s murder, and the later acquittal of his killers, was a watershed moment in Irish LGBTQ+ history.

‘Children Deserve a Mother and a Father - Vote No’ posters were littered across the country, often outside schools attended by some young LGBTQ+ pupils. The referendum year was a tense and sometimes difficult one for many, but the ‘Yes’ campaigners were passionate and tireless.

On the 22nd May 2015, Ireland - gay and straight - held its breath. Voter turnout was unprecedentedly high, though at first, it was unknown which side this would benefit. The next morning, as counting began, thousands gathered into the yard at Dublin Castle, spilling out onto Castle Street, clamouring to hear the results.

The March protest was, at the time, the largestscale LGBTQ+ rights demonstration in Ireland. To commemorate Flynn’s legacy, the inaugural Trans and Intersex Pride in 2018 chose Fairview Park as the endpoint of their procession.

2013’s Grand Marshal was Polish MP Anna Grodzka, the first openly transgender MP in Poland and only the third worldwide. Grodzka became the second trans Grand Marshal following Dr Lydia Foy in 2011 and was the first non-Irish person to be chosen. On the 5th of November that same year, news broke that a referendum on samesex marriage would be held in the first half of 2014. The campaigning and debate, on both sides, began in earnest.

One of those anticipating the vote was Gráinne Healy, co-director of Yes Equality. Remembering the vote count, she says: “It was beyond, I think, everyone’s wildest expectations. Don’t let anyone tell you that they knew it would pass, nobody knew!” As the votes rolled in, excitement rose to a fever pitch.

Finally, at three minutes past seven that night, it was confirmed that Ireland had voted for marriage equality with 62.1 percent in favour. The country erupted with celebrations accompanied by hooting car horns, street parties that carried into the night and balloons drifting up into the early summer sky. Even the Iona Institute offered their begrudging congratulations.

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The parade in 2015, appropriately themed ‘The Future is Equal’, was without a doubt the loudest and proudest Pride in the festival’s history. On Saturday the 27th of June, upwards of 50,000 people lined the streets of Dublin, travelling from all corners of the country to take a victory lap through the city.

2016 Pride was the last to use the route from the Garden of Remembrance to Merrion Square. The next year the parade was forced to change direction due to LUAS works. The theme of 2016’s march was ‘Rebel Rebel’ and honoured music icon David Bowie as well as the centenary of the 1916 Revolution. Max Krzyzanowski, a long-time activist and member of LGBT Noise led the parade as Grand Marshal.

Brian Sheehan, a co-chair of the ‘Yes Equality’ Campaign, was one of three Grand Marshals on the historic day, along with Dr Gráinne Healy and Mark Kelly. Remembering the route through the city’s central streets, Brian comments: “There’s something really important about walking down the main street in Dublin as recognition that LGBT+ people exist. There was a great sense of the achievement of the people of Ireland.”

This year’s Pride was held just under a year after the long-awaited Gender Recognition Act was introduced in Ireland. The Act allows transgender people to change their gender on government documents through selfdetermination for the first time. Ireland became the fourth country in the world to introduce this type of legislation which removed all medical criteria from the legal recognition process for those over 18. The legal fight had been kickstarted by the pioneering Dr Lydia Foy, very fittingly a previous aforementioned Grand Marshal.

For Sheehan, a veteran activist and former executive director of GLEN, the triumph of the day was cause for celebration but also for remembrance. “I thought of an awful lot of people who’d emigrated, or died of AIDS, people we knew who’d had a difficult time in Ireland, and it was tinged with sadness. But then I remembered earlier Prides I’d been at in the ‘80s and ‘90s where there’d be people shaking their fists and scowling at you from the street. This year was so different, it felt like half the country was on the Parade with us.”

Tracing back the route Dublin Pride has travelled connects us to our history as LGBTQ+ people. Although without an in-person Parade this year, it offers us a sense of solidarity and community, even while we are apart.

Gráinne Healy recalls the sound of the marchers and onlookers: “The sound of the crowd as you turn by the Bank of Ireland and Trinity and come up the narrow bottom of Grafton Street- it’s that amplification of sound there, it’s a memory I have going right back to the divorce marches, early abortion marches and anti-tax marches.”

She notes the strong political history and significance of the route too, saying: “There is something about that route. It touches off some of the biggest institutions of the State and there’s something powerful about hearing your voices reflected from those buildings.”

Pride is a heady antidote to the shame and isolation faced by many LGBTQ+ people, it’s a demand to be seen, to take up space, which is why it’s so vital that the Parade directs itself through the main streets of the capital.

Speaking to Ollie Bell, co-founder of Trans and Intersex Pride, they describe the liberating experience of their first Pride in 2016, saying, “I had come out as non-binary and bisexual the year before. I was excited to go to Pride that year because I spent so many years feeling guilty and ashamed about my gender and sexuality that I just wanted to go out and celebrate it.”

Colm O'Gorman, Max Krzyzanowski

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To all the aces & aros

Happy Pride!

We see you.

We support you.

Do you want us to promote your event or group this June and throughout the year?

Get in touch: info@dublinpride.ie

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Nestlé UK & Ireland is proud to support its LGBT+ network and employees in leading the way at this years Digital Dublin Pride.

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Community advocacy support Bi+ Ireland provides support, community and advocacy for bi+ people throughout the island of Ireland.

Both our volunteers and members work to bring about a more inclusive LGBTQIA+ community and a society where all of us are valued equally.

Bi+ Ireland provides a safe and welcoming space for all adults that fall under the bi+ umbrella - be they bi, pan, queer or any other identity under the bi+ umbrella.

Bi+ Ireland offers members online spaces in a private Facebook group and a private Discord server.

Bi+ Ireland helps increase bi+ visibility by hosting bi+ events, providing an online presence and selling badges on our website.

Bi+ Ireland hosts multiple Zoom Virtual Meets a month such as a Bring Your Own Book Club, Peer Support Group and other changeable events.

Find us, support us, join us

Bi Ireland Page

@irlBi

www.biireland.com

Bi+ Ireland Community Group

bi.ireland

biirelandnetwork@gmail.com

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LINC VIRTUAL 5k

Fundraising Event

EXCITING UPDATES FROM LINC LINC has launched a new LINC-Out community outreach project in Waterford following the success of the existing Kerry project, and a Silver Scribblers programme, featured above, this year. Women from any region can access the full range of LINC supports, advocacy services and groups as well as dedicated services in their areas.

LINC-Out Kerry: Hannah O'Connor: hannah@linc.ie; 0870634137 LINC-Out Waterford: Alison Martin: alison@linc.ie; 0870529811

June 18th-20th Categories for walkers, finishers and athletes Register: info@linc.ie

Happy Pride from LINC!

LB women have made a big mark on the small screen. Join LINC for a discussion about LB women on TV, test your knowledge with our quickfire quiz and find out the results of our poll to decide the best and worst LB TV characters of all time. Dress as your favourite character if you dare.

Register with info@linc.ie.

Week 2: Culture, Arts & Heritage Thursday, June 10th at 7pm

www.linc.ie

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On Tuesday, June 15th join LINC in taking five minutes out to connect with the senses, wherever your are. Join our virtual Drop-In at 12.30pm for a group meditation or enjoy a few moments of stillness in your own time that day. Take an image of your favourite place. Meditation and accompanying download available from info@linc.ie

www.linc.ie

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Happy Pride from the Mother Family

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Before We Became Virtual Pride Parades have evolved and taken many shapes and forms over the decades, and that has never rung truer than during the pandemic.

Brian Dillon highlights the celebrations and achievements the community made in the years before Covid hit.

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or most, Pride is first and foremost a protest.

For others, Pride is celebration of queer expression. For some, it’s a time of remembrance and for many, it’s all of the above.

But for a celebration based around community and coming together (in ever increasing numbers as years went on) what do we do when circumstances demand we stay apart?

Considering the extra strains the Covid-19 pandemic has put on connections between queer folk, there is even more reason to mark Pride this year, with many ways to do so safely. Whether it’s a walk around the back garden or taking in one of the previous routes of the Parade, Pride remains one of the most important dates in the diary for LGBTQ+ people in Ireland.

Route 05: St Stephen's Green → Smithfield 19th March 1983.

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In 2017, the Dublin Pride Parade started at Stephen’s Green and made its way past St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christchurch, over the Liffey and up to Smithfield.

Many notable moments for the LGBTQ+ community happened during 2017, including Leo Varadkar becoming the first openly gay Taoiseach, while also being the first Taoiseach to attend the Parade. That same year, the lifetime ban on GBT+ men donating blood was lifted, Ireland’s first ever government-led LGBTQ+ youth strategy was launched and Ireland’s most popular TV soap opera, Fair City, introduced its first ever trans character. Plus, our queer brothers and sisters in Australia celebrated the passing of same-sex marriage.

With the theme of ‘Finding Your Inner Hero’, it seemed natural that Moninne Griffith, CEO of BeLonG To, would be chosen as that year’s Grand Marshal. Moninne speaks about how special the experience was for her and why, no matter what form it may take, Pride still stands as an important date in the LGBTQ+ diary today: “Being Grand Marshal was a highlight of my life. It was important for me both personally and professionally, for us all to be on the streets being seen and heard together.

I see it overseas where Pride Parades are illegal and brave activists could be arrested or worse. People who dismiss Pride really don’t get how important it is for us as individuals and a community.

“It was an honour to have my work recognised by my peers and people. My partner was in the car with me and we had people coming up to us all day, hugging us and thanking us. It was so important for young people to see BeLonG To at the front of the Parade.”

much love and acceptance out there. Pride is one of the best ways to experience that. Even though we won’t be together physically, we’ll be marching around our back garden with flags.”

25 years on from the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland, 2018 was by no means any less significant for the LGBTQ+ community. Then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar became the first Irish leader to publicly get tested for HIV, helping to reduce stigma and encourage the public to ‘Know Their Status’. The government apologised on behalf of the Irish State to those who were convicted of being gay in Ireland, with Varadkar saying, “We cannot erase the wrong that was done to them. What we can say is that we have learned as a society from their suffering.”

Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin also held their first march which saw protesters call for trans equality and healthcare in Ireland.

Perhaps the most notable event of 2018 was the Repeal the Eighth referendum, which saw a majority ‘Yes’ vote after a gruelling campaign.

Former president and champion for LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland, Mary McAleese, joined the Parade that year along with her son and his husband. In the same year that the Pope came to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, McAleese had spoken out against the Catholic Church’s ‘evil’ teachings around homosexuality, saying, “Homophobia is evil. It ruins people’s lives, it has ruined families’ lives, it has caused people to commit suicide, it has caused people to live in dark shadows, so unsure of themselves.”

Moninne added, “The biggest thing is the connection, and it’s what we get the natural high from; just buzzing off each other. Last year BeLonG To sent out care packages, loads of young people posted pictures of themselves and it was about creating that connection even though we weren’t together.

In 2018, the honour of Grand Marshal was bestowed upon Sara R Phillips, a well-known and beloved member of the Irish trans community who is rightfully recognised for her extensive work with TENI. When Sara took on the role, she was the third trans person to do so. She explains the importance of trans representation at the forefront of the Parade, and what the day means to her:

“I think Covid is really hard for young people because they need connection with their friends so much. If you’re LGBT+, not being able to meet your mates is another layer of isolation and loneliness. One of the amazing things about being LGBT+ is you get this amazing family.

“There had only been two other trans Grand Marshals before me, so it was an honour but it was something I needed to live up to. I thought it was a great honour for the trans community as well. The theme that year was ‘Family’, and that was key for me.

“Until we can be back together again, it’s about posting videos and pictures online. Let’s make it the most colourful, the most fun, and fill it with all the love we can this June. We have to give hope to those who aren’t out and show them that, when they’re ready, there’s so

“Seeing the videos of kids and families with us at the front was huge to me. That atmosphere once we got to Smithfield, you really felt that sense of community and family.

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“It was important for trans people in Ireland to not only see a trans person at the front, but also somebody they knew, a person very much part of that community.

That positive visibility of one of our own at the top of the Parade was crucial. That ‘T’ in LGBT sometimes tags on the end so lightly, so to have that nod to say we are fully part of that community and to be visible in the community was a huge step.

“It’s up to people to maybe choose a charity they want to give back to and then choose an outlet for their support.

The Parade is the visible tip of Pride, and it’s the thing that mainstream Ireland engages with. It’s amazing that thousands of people come to walk in the Parade and by simply doing that, they are expressing their pride.

“I think it’s important that we use Pride and the Pride Parade to pivot and express our queer cultural identity.”

“As an LGBT+ community, we are very social. Pride is about protest and I want to hold onto that. But it’s also that social event. Being able to be on the streets together is key. Grand Marshal or not, it's about meeting friends, having fun and walking together. When Covid is gone, I think it will be as big, if not bigger, than the year of Marriage Equality.”

The Pride Parade has long been a recognition of history, a celebration of progress and a political protest. Although the traditional Parade won’t be taking place this year, many will dress up, walk, find ways to give back and come together digitally to mark this ever-important celebration of LGBTQ+ people.

The Parade would once again culminate in Merrion Square in 2019, the last year we were together in person.

Grand Marshal Will St Leger, a long-time LGBTQ+ advocate and activist, led the Parade alongside members of ACT UP. In an interview with GCN at the time, he shared, "Pride is whatever you make it. If Pride means joining your friends and wearing something fabulous - do it. If it means wearing an activist t-shirt and chanting - do it. If it means bringing your partner and kids to stroll along and enjoy the sights and sounds - do it.

"Pride is a mix of the personal and political. Never let anyone tell you what Pride should be."

Having spoken to people involved, it became evident what many of us, if not all of us, look for at the Pride Parade: connection and community. And it’s our shared experiences, values, history and culture that bind us.

Tonie Walsh, who has been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ activism in Ireland for decades, passionately explains the importance of Irish LGBTQ+ history and culture, and why it’s an integral part of any Pride celebration: “In the midst of all the partying, which I am totally here for, we need our culture. When you look at the LGBT+ community, we’re the only cultural subset that is not bound hereditary.

There’s an even bigger onus and obligation on us to acknowledge the people who signposted the way for us. We’re only a couple of years away from the 50th anniversary of the formation of Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights on the island of Ireland. That happened in 1974 in the South, and we have an awful lot to celebrate; the bravery of people, the journey we’ve been on, our successes and our failures.

Mary McAleese

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CELEBRATE GAZE'S 29TH BIRTHDAY FROM 29TH SEPTEMBER - 3RD OCTOBER, WHEN WE SAFELY RETURN TO THE IFI AND LIGHT HOUSE CINEMA FOR THE BEST NEW LGBTQ+ FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. WE CAN'T WAIT TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN. HAPPY PRIDE FROM ALL AT GAZE!

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Queer cinema to inspire

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NEW BOOK AVAILABLE TO BUY FROM GAY THEATRE.IE

IRISH GAY THEATRE COMING OF AGE 18 years of Ireland's unique theatre festival in review and new Irish LGBTQ+ plays inside.

UPCOMING EVENTS DUBLIN ONLINE PRIDE FESTIVAL 7th JUNE 2021 The 18th Festival of new LGBTQ+ digital plays will be available to watch via the Pride website dublinpride.ie For more information visit gaytheatre.ie

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All episodes streaming on Virgin Media Player and On-Demand for FREE

SEASONS 1&2

Available from 1st June

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Our mission is to help humanity thrive by enabling the world’s teams to work together effortlessly.

This Pride month, we support our communities to express themselves and share their love effortlessly.

Asana, proudly supporting Dublin Pride 2021

Happy Pride 2021 www.demonware.net

Scan the QR code to visit the Dublin LGBTQ Pride website for more information!

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newspapers magazines film video audio letters journals diaries badges buttons t-shirts flags stickers theses reports essays pamphlets photographs slides flyers leaflets posters administrative financial records

...we collect. access: www.info@nli.ie www. f a c e b o o k . c om/IrishQueerArchive support: irishqueerarchive@gmail.com 110

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021 PHOTOGRAPH (C) ALAN CURRIE, SUBMITTED TO THE UNDER THE RAINBOW PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

UNDER THE RAINBOW

AN LGBTQ+ LED AWARD WINNING EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AGENT, TRAINER AND THERAPY CENTRE. CONTACT US: INFO@UNDERTHERAINBOW.IE WEBSITE: WWW.UNDERTHERAINBOW.IE 112

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Memories Of Early Prides While the Parade is undoubtedly the visual centrepiece of Pride each year, it wasn’t always the huge celebration we see today. Activist Bill Foley describes the early days of Pride to Rebecca Kelly.

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efore the floats and the block parties, Dublin Pride began as a protest, with a small number of LGBTQ+ people taking to the streets of the city demanding liberation. Activist Bill Foley recounts his own experiences in both organising and attending the many LGBTQ+ marches of the 1980’s and explains just how different these events were from the Pride Parades we’ve seen in more recent years, in both the scale of the march as well as public reception.

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Bill was involved with a group called Gays Against Repression. He explained that these early protests weren’t exactly “parades” in the way we’d think of today, recounting; “One year we simply decided to wear carnations and walk through town, starting at Stephen’s Green and wandering down Grafton Street, just saying things like ‘Happy Gay Day’ or ‘Gay Pride’ to people as we went by. There were about ten of us in attendance, so it wasn’t very big.”

This route, from Stephen’s Green, down through Grafton Street, and then often on to the Central Bank was very commonly used for marches; “The '80s were a tumultuous time, there were protests every week about a whole myriad of things, not just LGBT+ specific topics, things like the increase in criminal justice bills, labour laws and restrictions on labour union organisations towards the divorce referendums, and the anti-amendment campaign were all also happening around the same time, so there was hardly a Saturday went by without there being a march.”

While Stephen’s Green and the Central Bank are still used today as focal points in many marches and rallies, in the mid 1980’s, it was decided that although the route was to remain the same, changes needed to be made to the structure of the Pride Parade. This did not come without its own problems however. Bill recounts one year in particular which he referred to as “the worst Pride ever” where in an attempt to mimic some of the things he had seen at the Pride Parade in NYC Pride the previous year met with disastrous consequences.

“I believe it was 1986, that we had what would soon become known as ‘the worst Pride ever’, for several reasons. For one, as it was on the day there was also a co-operation north cycle taking place, and despite having notified the guards of our plans ahead of time, we really had to argue our case.”

The group had no option but to stray from their usual course; “Because of the cycle of course there were huge crowds in the city, and so we had to divert from our usual route instead going from Stephen’s Green, down Cuffe Street, to George’s Street before ending up at the rally point at the Central Bank Plaza.

“I naively thought that I could invest some of the ideas from the huge New York Pride I had gone to the year before by playing a kind of mix tape of LGBT+ songs out of the back of a car and we had balloons and all that stuff too.

“So we were this motley crew of people wandering around, wandering the streets of Dublin, vaguely chanting LGBT+ slogans and following a car that was playing music. It was a terrible experience really. There were less than a hundred of us and we had a lot of kids throwing stuff at us and people shouting abuse and all sorts of things.”

The lack of support from the public and official bodies alike, culminated at this march, which was the last for a while.

The marches did start back up again however. Bill explained that towards the end of the 1980’s and into the early 1990’s, there was a shift away from centring the Pride Parade solely around protest, as the event began to take a more celebratory tone, which came with an open invitation for anyone to join.

Bill recounts that although still facing challenges, protesters and marchers started receiving less pushback from the general public; “In general, I suppose you could say people were kind of looking at us in a bemused fashion and the support began to increase over time.

“We saw that the more celebratory type of Parade there was, the more people were likely to be smiling and waving at us rather than throwing anything. As well, for a lot of people, the way they approached, prior to whether they would go on the march or not, is they would line the streets with everybody else who was watching and then decide on the basis of how big the Parade was to join in or not. So the more positive response also really helped in boosting numbers at these events.”

Listening to Bill’s memories of those times hammers home the bravery of those early LGBTQ+ activists and how much modern Pride events have to thank them for.

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Ten short films inspired by queer poems

A new poem released every day on the ActingOutDma channel on YouTube

Starting 7th June 2021

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Discovering Pleasure It has taken me years to discover my body, and deepen my understanding of what it truly is. Time spent staring at it, touching it, admiring it. I am still unsure of it, but I am learning.

I love it. The beauty of our bodies is that they change. They change shape, they squeeze and grow. With this evolution comes a change in our feelings and our respective relationships to our bodies. The connection between mind and body can be a struggle, but it can also be harmonious.

I spent most of my adolescent life in a string of heterosexual relationships complying with societal norms. I was led to believe that heteronormativity was what I wanted, not by anyone in particular, just by the expectations of the world we exist in. It wasn’t until separating from that part of my life that I fully discovered my queerness. What I desire and how I present myself now is not tied to anyone but myself, not attached to any societal expectations but my own. It is relationship to pleasure.

Previously, I found myself designing my appearance to appeal to the desires of cis men; the ones I have dated, and men

I have spent the past year single, using the time to explore a Engaging in sexual relationships and connecting with other Queer people has given me a whole new perspective on who I am. I use my art to illustrate my perceptions of and observations on what I’m feeling in relation to my body, sex and my evolving relationship with myself.

Text by Orla O’Boyle

Excerpt from TONGUES by Origins Eile in association with Black Pride Ireland.

TONGUES is an all Black Queer publication and the first of its kind.

If you are Black and Queer and want a FREE copy sent out message us at info@originseile.com Reach out on IG @ORIGINSEILE

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Cork Galway Sligo Mayo Belfast

Foyle Dublin

Cork The Union of Students in Ireland represents 374,000 students across the island of Ireland. USI has a long and proud history of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. From a small gathering of students in 1992 at an event called Pink Training, which would grow to become Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ conference, to registering 30,000 students to vote ahead of Marriage Equality, the student movement has always fought relentlessly for a better life for LGBTQ+ young people.

While we can’t be present at a physical parade again this year, our activism does not stop. We continue to support and represent the LGBTQ+ community across the island.

Almost six years after Marriage Equality, we are still calling for change. Many children of LGBT+ parents in Ireland are denied the right to have a legally recognised relationship with both of their parents. We need an adequately resourced, informedconsent model of Trans healthcare. Our lacking healthcare forces many Trans people abroad for surgery with little or no aftercare in Ireland. We must remove the MSM blood ban which discriminates against people based on their sexuality. We need gender recognition laws for under 16s and proper gender identity and expression policies in our institutions that support non-intrusive and accessible routes for transitioning for Trans and non-binary people.

We look forward to Dublin Pride returning next year with more energy than ever - USI will be there armed as always with the drive and passion to make Ireland a more equal place for all.

Newry

Trans Pride

Carlow

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Limerick @TheUSI

@usi.ie

@USI.ie

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The Irish Cancer Society is proud to serve the LGBTQ+ community across Ireland.

Cancer can affect us all.

No matter who you are or who you love, we’re here to help.

From all of us at the Irish Cancer Society, have a safe and healthy Pride 2020. www.cancer.ie 1800 200 700 119

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Proud to support Pride.

At Zurich, playing an active role in society helps us better understand our employees, customers and communities. We are proud to partner with Pride Dublin to build advocacy and allyship and enrich our diversity and inclusion commitment.

Celebrating diversity and inclusion.

Visit zurich.ie 5918_ Landscape A4 AD Pride Dublin Magazine_SA_5918_0421.indd 1

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Zurich Insurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Opportunity for all.

When we work to facilitate a diverse, inclusive workforce, we unlock our creative spirit and create the tomorrow we wish to see. For everyone.

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Be Proud Be Equal IBM is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and non-binary individuals. Our success in creating an open and welcoming environment—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression—has allowed us to attract and retain valuable new talent.

IBM is proud to support Dublin LGBTQ Pride 2021. beequal.com

IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies.

A current list of IBM trademarks is available at ibm.com/trademark. ©International Business Machines Corp. 2021. B34107

Inclusion matters.

Diversity matters.

Pride matters.

For over a decade, the Ulster Bank Rainbow Network has supported LGBTI+ colleagues, friends and family. This year is no different.

Wherever you’re celebrating Pride 2020, we hope that it’s one to remember.

Wishing you the best this Pride

Ulster Bank Ireland DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

St Pat’s For All Taking place every March in New York City, the St Pat’s For All Parade is an inclusive alternative event to the traditionally exclusionary St Patrick’s Day Parade.

Chris Rooke talks to its founder, Irishman Brendan Fay.

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he St Pat’s For All Parade began at the turn of the millennium in the borough of Queens. It was created by Brendan Fay, founder of the Lavender and Green Alliance - a group of Irish LGBTQ+ immigrants in New York. While they had been permitted to march (without a banner) in the 1991 St Patrick’s Day Parade organised by the city, subsequent years found them ousted from that and other parades.

“In 1994, we began to apply to other parades in the Bronx and Brooklyn only to find ourselves excluded and arrested,” recounts Brendan. “In 1999 after being arrested and excluded from every Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the city, I decided it was time to apply for a parade permit and create a parade that would be known for its spirit of welcome.”

Brendan’s determination to create a parade that would represent the theme of ‘cherishing all the children of the nation equally’ - taken from the Proclamation of Independence - was fuelled by his experience of previous marches in NYC.

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There were cheers and tears of joy as we crossed the threshold from 48th St onto Fifth Avenue with our banner: 'Lavender and Green - Muintir Aerach na hEireann' “Parades are vital expressions of community and cultural life,” he explains. “Every community has its moment on [Fifth] Avenue and March 17 is the Irish moment. As LGBT Irish immigrants, that’s where we belonged. Little did we know we would find ourselves excluded and told we did not belong for many years. As LGBT Irish, being familiar with the experience of exile and exclusion, we feel compelled to continue reaching out in friendship and solidarity.”

The first St Pat’s For All Parade took place in March 2000, and immediately had an impact. “Our first parade opened with a blessing from the Choctaw community leader. Hillary Clinton came from the White House, which brought media attention. Fr Mychal Judge showed up in his Franciscan habit despite Church opposition. The Local NAACP carried a banner of Frederick Douglass.

We had the support of labour groups and human rights organisations,” Brendan recalls.

Despite the high profile support, the Parade was met with a mixed reaction. “There was some fierce opposition. In the early years, homophobia was evident in the messages left on answering machines and on posters around Woodside and Sunnyside. But there was also hope and excitement and a growing sense of the possibility of breaking the cycle of exclusion, protests, and arrests.”

The parade has grown annually since its inception, and garnered support from more sectors of society as its message spread. “The change over the years is visible in the growing numbers of local community groups and the dramatic support of local businesses and positive profiles in the local media,” says Brendan. “Through the years the parade has grown more diverse and inclusive while at the same time being like an annual celebration and gathering of friends.”

Among the parade’s most noteworthy participants was Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag. “Gilbert was an artist of our movement, an instinctive, inspiring activist and beloved friend,” Brendan says. “I met Gilbert shortly after he arrived in New York to create the mile-long rainbow flag.

“He called me in March 2015 and said, ‘Brendan, I have a surprise gift for you.’ He arrived in Sunnyside and unfurled this beautiful tricolour silk flag. I said, ‘You need to lead our parade with this flag!’, and Gilbert led the parade in the snow.

“In 2017, Gilbert said he wasn’t feeling great. Nonetheless, he came to Sunnyside and carried the tricolour flag he created up Skillman Avenue. Ray Hegarty, a photographer from Dublin, captured Gilbert with my spouse, Tom, close by the staging area at 43rd and Skillman Avenue. This would be our last moment with Gilbert. St Pat’s For All 2017 would be his last parade.” Baker passed away in his sleep on March 31, 2017.

Much has changed since St Pat’s For All began. Following consistent boycotts by invitees (including NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and President Mary McAleese) and advertisers, the city’s main parade began allowing LGBTQ+ groups to join. And sure enough, in 2016, the Lavender and Green Alliance marched down Fifth Avenue on St Patrick’s Day. “There were cheers and tears of joy as we crossed the threshold from 48th St onto Fifth Avenue with our banner: ‘Lavender and Green – Muintir Aerach na hEireann,’” Brendan remembers.

Despite the success in getting LGBTQ+ representation in the city parade, Brendan still believes there is work to be done for the Irish LGBTQ+ community in New York.

“There is the generation of LGBT immigrants who are now in their 70’s and 80’s who have unique needs,” explains Brendan. “There is a need to tell the stories of generations of LGBT Irish who left towns and villages, arriving on the shores of the US with hopes and dreams in search of a place to call home. There is the generation lost to the HIV epidemic, the undocumented.” It’s this work, and creating hospitable and welcoming spaces for the Irish LGBTQ+ community, that Brendan sees as important next steps.

St Pat’s for All continued until 2020, with a virtual celebration taking place instead this year. They plan to return to the streets of New York in 2022.

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Who are we?

We are a voluntary trade union group, that are part of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation.

We are LGBT+ teachers who work to make schools more LGBT+ inclusive!

We want LGBT+ people to be represented and celebrated in staffrooms, classrooms, school communities and within the curriculum! AND we run social events too!

What do we do?

This year, our members have:

presented at Féilte: the Teaching Council Festival of Teaching and Learning worked with the INTO Equality Committee collaborated with the National Library Service worked to promote LGBT+ inclusive resources ran our Different Families, Same Love competition ran a webinar for primary school teachers worked on a CPD summer course for teachers called Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive School

Social Events Our social events have been online this year.

We've had Zoom Quizzes, Arts and Crafts Night and watched Telly Bingo together!

INTO LGBT+ Teachers' Group

@intolgbt @intolgbt lgbt@into.ie

More info: into.ie/lgbt

Want to support us?

Anyone can follow us and show support on social media!

If you're an LGBT+ primary teacher 124 send us an email to join our group.

www.DublinPride .ie

HAPPY DUBLIN PRIDE!

To our LGBTI communities and siblings in Ireland and around the world: We see you, we hear you, we love you & we stand with you.

LGBTI rights are human rights.

Proud no matter what. Proud no matter where. Now and always.

Join us to protect the human rights of LGBTI people around the world: www.amnesty.ie/lgbti

Contact lgbt@amnesty.ie to learn more and get involved.

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Proudly Supporting Dublin Pride 2021

At Expleo, our mission is to harness the creativity and passion of our people to curate and promote a culture where everyone is respected and celebrated for the things that make them unique; where people with different backgrounds and experiences can thrive in their personal and professional lives and have pride in who they are.

Think bold, act reliable expleogroup.com 126

Proud

www.DublinPride .ie

OF OUR COMMUNITIES

Supporting Dublin Pride 2021

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#LET'S GET

A Sporting Pride Campaign Showcasing Ireland's LGBTQ+ Sporting Community

www.sportingpride.ie /

@SportingPrideIreland @SportingPrideIE

Sporting Pride ©

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March For Marriage An Irish independent non-party political organisation founded in 2007, Noise campaigned for full civil rights for all people irrespective of gender and sexual identity. Max Krzyzanowski of Noise, Pride Grand Marshal in 2016, spoke with Rebecca Kelly about the organisation, and in particular, their fight for same-sex marriage with the March for Marriage in 2011.

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lthough Noise was initially formed with the core intention of campaigning for marriage equality, it soon morphed into something bigger as the organisation began to focus on other issues facing LGBTQ+ people in Ireland.

“Noise was founded with the goal of campaigning for and achieving marriage equality in Ireland, it quickly broadened its remit and also began to focus on areas of law reform, including Gardaí regulation,” Max Krzyzanowski explains.

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"These routes are historic. They were where the gay community showed itself to its city unashamedly and said ‘We demand to be equal’"

“There was a piece of legislation called Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act which permitted any churchrun institution to fire, bully, demote or simply not hire any LGBT+ person, so we campaigned for the repeal of that.

We also campaigned for gender recognition legislation, Ireland being the last country in Europe with no recognition of trans people’s identities, as well as creating anti-bullying campaigns in schools across the country.

All of this was happening at the same time, of course, as these marches and rallies for a same-sex marriage referendum.”

"Essentially, what we did was devise a template that meant that we could have speakers at the end of these rallies, that were an equal split of genders, we wanted to have equal representation, we wanted every identity within the LGBT+ community to be represented on stage for everybody in the audience to see somebody who shared their identity on the stage, talking about their experience. We also tried to make sure that we had some form of entertainment in the form of a band. As time went on, we added more elements each year, but the general layout stayed quite similar.”

These marches were not only important for garnering support to spur on change and government reform, but also indeed worked as a call to arms to the LGBTQ+ community itself.

For many LGBTQ+ people and their families, these marches were more than just about legislation reform, they were a humanising experience. Max discussed the lasting personal impact that the amount of support shown at these rallies had; “Coming from a place in society where the first 23 years of my life gay people were seen as criminals, to then see all the incredible work that was done by the LGBT+ community and our supporters who got criminality abolished was incredibly vindicating. To go from being a criminal in society, to the immense support seen coming up to the marriage referendum, from the lead up to the day itself.”

“There was a bit of slowness amongst the LGBT+ community to mobilise on these issues, of course there were certain individuals and groups going back decades campaigning on all of these issues, long before Noise was as well, but the mass mobilisation started to gather pace around 2010,” Max recounted.

“This was in part due to the fact that Panti Bliss wrote a blog after Noise’s first big public event at the Central Bank where only a few hundred people showed up. Panti wrote asking ‘Where were the gays?’ which garnered a lot of attention.

“Then later that same year in August when we held our first March for Marriage, we had 2,500 people show up.

So there was almost a tenfold increase, and people had begun to realise that this is something that the wider community needed to coalesce around.”

With this new spotlight being placed on marriage equality and LGBTQ+ issues in Ireland in general, Max detailed how Noise sprung into action in order to keep people talking while also gathering even more support. “The 2010/ 2011 period was a time of strong growth and community awareness, our part in which was organising the March for Marriage among other things.

He recounts seeing the colourful banners and signs that would fill the streets of the city, along with the sounds of protestors chanting mixed with music blaring from loudspeakers, followed by the pure joy of turning the final corner at Stephen’s Green to look back and be faced with “a river of humanity rounding the corner.”

Max wants to reiterate the importance of marches and rallies just like the March for Marriage, stating that marriage equality was “purchased by people pounding the pavement.”

He added, “These routes are historic. They were where the gay community showed itself to its city unashamedly and said ‘We demand to be equal’ and I think that had such a powerful impact on not only the LGBT+ community but on Ireland itself.”

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Rainbow Autistics Ireland

www.DublinPride .ie

Rainbow Autistics Ireland is a new social and community space set up this year for adult LGBTQIA+ Autistic people based in, from, or closely connected to Ireland (North and South).

This group was born due to GSRM Autistic adults finding it hard to be out in Autistic groups, especially trans members that found discourse in other groups unsettling. The aim of Rainbow Autistic Ireland is to have a safe space for members to be their true Autistic rainbow self.

All identities under the rainbow umbrella are welcome.

We recognise that to have a diagnosis is a privilege and as such we know self-identifying Autistic adults are valid.

The group is very aware that some identities under the rainbow are less seen than others, that's why we strive to make sure our asexual, agender and all GSRM members feel welcomed and validated.

Our Facebook Group provides a space for people to socialise and engage in virtual events like board gaming.

Find us, support us, join us Rainbow Autistics Ireland

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Created for the LGBTQI+ community, we're a proud family-owned counselling, psychotherapy and wellness centre.

We support children, adolescents and adults through a wide range of mental health and holistic services.

With a team of 90 talented and dedicated therapists, Insight Matters supports over 600 clients per week nationwide and internationally.

Happy Pride from Anne Marie, Phoenix, Xavier, Dil and the Insight Matters tribe.

Insight Matters Psychotherapy . Counselling . Wellness

106 Capel Street Dublin 1 - T. 01 891 0703 W. insightmatters.ie 134

www.DublinPride .ie

A Princely Lockdown at the It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to my husband that we’d have to move into the Castle Hotel, just off Parnell Square, as lockdown hit last March.

He still tells the story of our first date, when as we sat down to dinner, I received a call. The hotel’s night porter couldn’t make it to work. So we spent our first night together minding the family business.

Still, I don’t think he’d ever imagine that decades later, we’d be setting up a fort-like living room, complete with large TV, in the hotel’s reception. Chairs and sofas created the two metre barriers in the foyer. We stayed in the grandest of rooms with a balcony view of the square and made good use of the hotel kitchen!

It might seem thrilling to live in a 130 bedroom mansion, spread over nine Georgian townhouses but we soon realised hotels are less fun without the people, without colleagues.

In those early quiet days we’d welcome the daily Garda visits and the trickle of guests, now dubbed ‘essential’.

We’d several father’s-to-be, waiting patiently for babies to arrive at the Rotunda as well as doctors, engineers and technicians.

We returned home after a few weeks, once the team received their Safety Charter training, and have traded safely ever since. ‘Afternoon Tea at Home’ was launched as Lockdown Two approached.

Dublin Pride Cocktail Afternoon Tea is available for collection, delivery or to dine in outdoor garden terrace 21 – 28 June. Learn more: Oldmusicshop.ie Jonathan Bin Rosli MacCumhaill

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e! www.epoa.eu

@europride.info

@europride

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Trans and Intersex Pride “We want to bring Pride back to its radical roots.” Ezra Maloney speaks with Ollie Bell (they/them), co-founder of Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin.

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ublin Pride has been a summer institution since 1983, when the gay community, outraged by the homophobic killing of Declan Flynn, kicked off the first march. The past three decades have seen Pride transform from a fringe protest to a full-scale Parade, winning massive social changes along the way.

“We are grassroots-led, we’re a protest for the community by the community.” Ollie Bell, a 24 year-old Dublin activist, founded Trans and Intersex Pride with fellow activists in 2018, inspired by the radical history of protest in Ireland. “Marriage Equality and Repeal were won by grassroots movements and through protest. We are a protest to highlight the struggles of the trans and intersex community.

“Yes, we can celebrate the progress that Ireland has seen in regards to the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s important that we can also keep fighting.” Channelling their frustration with the shocking state of trans healthcare and Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM) in Ireland, Ollie advocates “not only for more legal rights but for trans and intersex liberation.”

Following the Marriage Referendum in 2015, Ollie thinks that “some people have this idea that because we have marriage equality, it means that homophobia and transphobia no longer exist, but this isn’t true.”

The current obstacles faced by transgender and intersex people in Ireland prove that Mar-Ref is not the end of the fight. Transgender people are still facing excessive wait-times for gender-affirming care on the HSE. In 2020, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights found that 62 percent of intersex people subjected to surgery “did not provide - and were not asked for - their own or parents’ informed consent.”

This discrimination proves, Ollie says, how important it is “that a Trans and Intersex Pride exists, so at least for one day we get to have a voice and show the issues facing the trans and intersex community. It should be used as a way to show that there’s still so much we need to do before we are truly equal in Ireland and internationally.”

Looking to the future, Bell says “I hope we can get gender recognition for non-binary, intersex and trans people under 16. I hope that the current trans healthcare system is changed for one that is based on the informed consent model, that trans people are given bodily autonomy without being asked invasive questions by medical doctors who don’t know us. I hope that IGM is banned and intersex people are given agency over their bodies.”

A change to the healthcare system in Ireland is crucial, given that there are currently no surgeons offering gender-affirming operations in Ireland, forcing trans people to travel for costly treatment abroad. Young trans people seeking HRT can be left waiting for a total of five years because they are shifted from adolescent to adult services - with two separate waiting lists.

Despite facing a shambolic healthcare system among other obstacles, more people than ever have become empowered to resist the system. Over 1,000 joined together in solidarity to march with Trans and Intersex Pride 2019, a 100 percent increase in numbers since the initial outing in 2018.

Ollie remembers the 2018 protest, which took place on a typically Irish rainy Saturday in July: “I was nervous about making sure everything ran smoothly, but it was really inspiring to see so many people turn up to march and support trans rights.”

From Liberty Hall, the procession snaked north towards Fairview Park and ended there to commemorate the brutal murder of Declan Flynn in the park 36 years earlier, Noah Halpin from This is Me and Cearbhall Turraoin of SWAI (Sex Workers Alliance Ireland) gave potent speeches to cheering crowds. Banners waved, and it was exhilarating to see trans people of all ages, and their supporters, gathered together in one spot for the first time. This was a tipping point, a moment that the trans and intersex people of Ireland refused to be ignored and demanded our needs met by taking to the streets, much like those activists back in 1983.

The 2019 protest was held on the anniversary of the death of legendary activist Marsha P Johnson. Cassandra from United Against Racism called attention to the unjust and underreported death of Sylva Tukula, a trans woman held in an all-male Direct Provision centre in Galway in August 2018.

Through the injustices and challenges thrown in the path of trans and intersex people, Trans Pride is a day of release, a refusal of shame, and, most of all, a celebration of a community that is thriving despite its attackers. Even through email, I can sense the happiness in Ollie’s voice as they write “I felt empowered seeing how much of an impact we had made on that day.”

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Full Spectrum Ireland (FSI) is a network for Disabled People / People with a Disability who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual, Non Binary, or simply as non-heterosexual or gender non-conforming.

We formed as a steering group in June 2020 when a group of Disabled LGBTI+ people realised they’d been having conversations amongst one another about the experience of living our lives as intersectional beings, living either as a disabled person in LGBTI+ spaces or as an LGBTI+ person in disabled spaces. Often the stories we shared highlighted how our lives become separated and segregated adding to a sense of anxiety of still being isolated.

Full Spectrum Ireland is the result of efforts made to change this and create a safe space to explore our multiple identities and experiences with a view to building advocacy for disabled LGBTI+ people.

With the support of Independent Living Movement Ireland (IMLI), we were able to host our first drop-in on July 14, 2020. Since then FSI has been operating a weekly online Drop-In service for people to come together, socialise and share in experiences of being LGBTI+ and disabled but also to have a laugh and be part of a diverse community.

Our drop-in currently meets Wednesday nights from 8pm-9pm.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at the handle @FullSpectrumIRL

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GUARDIANS

Did you know that GCN is a registered charity with a not-for-profit business model? Like many other organisations, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the way we run our business and our ability to raise much-needed funds in order to sustain and stabilise the work we do for the Irish LGBTQ+ community.

We have been proudly reflecting queer life in Ireland since 1988 and we need your help to continue doing the vital work of amplifying and celebrating our community with a monthly print production, a daily newsite and a dynamic range of (now virtual) live events.

We have an exciting new initiative, GCN Guardians, that allows you, our dear readers, to be part of GCN and invest in the work we do for the community.

Become a #GCNGuardian today by pledging €50 (minimum) a month.

Visit gcn.ie/support and use the code #GCNGuardians when you pledge €50 or more per month.

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11 years ago, Tonie Walsh took members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies on a historical queer walking tour of Dublin. To say it would become an institution of queer life in the capital would be an understatement. Here he tells Brian Dillon the story of its creation.

C

o-founder of GCN and the Irish Queer Archive, Tonie Walsh has long been an avid historian of LGBTQ+ life. Since originally conceiving of the Queer Dublin Walking Tour, Tonie has continued feeding the growing hunger for LGBTQ+ history and, due to the pandemic, has taken his tours into the virtual sphere, bringing queer stories into the homes of those looking to uncover this underrepresented part of Irish history.

Tonie explains how the digital version of his tour came about before he left Ireland to live in Turkey: “Stephen Quinn from Spicebag asked me to do one last walking tour before I left, and it was quite emotional. A digital walking tour is a great idea because you can reach people globally. When I’m doing physical walking tours, I’m conscious that when I’m throwing out information like names, dates and events, it can overburden people.”

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Queer Dublin Walking Tour Listening to Tonie speak about the tour, you start to realise just how rich Irish queer history is, proving that an experience like this will treat you to little known facts and snippets that even the most knowledgeable of us may have never been aware of.

“People take what they want from these tours. At the moment, it’s a general walking tour. It covers activism, socialisation, politics, culture and a bit of Dublin architecture. There’s enough information and history out there to actually spin it off into different themes. I have a former life as a DJ and club promoter, so I’d love to do a walking tour around clubs and bars to deep dive into how LGBT people have socialised over the years.

“For example, it’s a little-known fact that Ireland’s first trans club used to run from The Turk’s Head. It was called The Friends of Lola. When it was The Parliament Inn, it was one of Dublin’s first-ever gay-owned, gay-friendly bars. It was unapologetic in terms of reaching out to a queer clientele in the early ‘80s. It had a women’s night, a fetish night and it had a trans night.

“How we socialised is important, because there was a time when you could get kicked out of a bar, as I did before. For a lot of early ‘80s Pride events in Dublin, there used to be a pub crawl. It was designed for a bunch of gay men and women who would get together and do a load of pubs in Dublin 2 to see how many we could get kicked out of.”

Tonie reflected on the first ever tour he did with fellow LGBTQ+ activist David Norris, describing how they discovered the huge appetite for such a queer cultural experience. “I asked David to join because he was a good friend of mine. We ended up with nearly 100 people strolling around Dublin 2 on a lovely sunny afternoon.

David and I ended up like a bickering married couple. We’d be at a stop and I would start talking about gay saunas and drugs. We ended up having divergent opinions on things which made it very entertaining.

“After we did it, I realised that there was a huge hunger for it. It became an annual fixture at Pride. A few years afterwards, GAZE Film Festival and Airbnb asked me to do a walking tour as part of their experiences.

“Since that first one with David, I’ve realised that people are hungry for queer culture and LGBT history. There are obvious reasons why that is the case, of course. Because LGBT history has been invisible up until quite recently. It’s A Sin on Channel 4 really showed us how much people want to know about our past.

“When you look at the Irish Queer Archive, it’s the story of us and our struggle for liberation and normalisation of trans rights, trans identity and homosexuality. It’s also the story of Ireland becoming a modern, pluralistic and compassionate society.

“When we start to uncover our history and share it with people, it benefits everyone. People learn something about how bad Ireland was for sexual minorities and how it forced us to live abroad, how people died AIDS deaths, how gay men were sent to jail, or how people like me got kicked out of bars for holding hands with their boyfriend.

When we drill down into our history and share it, it’s about doing it on our own terms. We control the narrative. I think that’s really important given the historical way society has misrepresented, excluded and silenced us.

“I think we, as a community, have been complicit in the commodification and fetishisation of our sexuality and the way we negotiate desire and intimacy. We’ve commodified that ourselves along the way, but I think that’s important because historically, we have been the ‘cheap’ entertainment for mainstream media, for an uncaring and dispassionate mainstream suburban heterosexual audience.

“We have to control how we commodify it.”

It’s clear that Dublin’s LGBTQ+ past is as rich as it is multilayered, and by simply walking through the streets we are perhaps stepping through a history we are yet to discover.

If you take part in the virtual Queer Walking Tour of Dublin, do remember to contribute to the person behind its creation at www.paypal.com/paypalme/TonieWalsh

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WE ARE

CBRE Ireland are delighted to be Dublin LGBTQ Pride Partners for the first time.

We are proud to be an inclusive organisation that fosters a culture where all of our people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, every day.

PROUD AT CBRE IRELAND GET IN TOUCH:

PATRICK WILDING CBRE Ireland, Proud Network T: +353 1 618 5526 E: patrick.wilding@cbre.com

FIONA MILLS CBRE Ireland, Balance in Business Network T: +353 1 618 5521 E: fiona.mills@cbre.com

Learn more at cbre.ie

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FREE to be you NOW We're proud to support Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride 2021

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National LGBT+ Traveller & Roma Action Group A collective that aims to increase the promotion, protection, inclusion and celebration of LGBT + Traveller and Roma individuals and their families, within their communities and LGBT + Traveller and Roma organisations and services. Membership of the LGBT + Traveller and Roma Action Group consists of representatives from the LGBT+ Traveller and Roma communities, national, regional and local Traveller organisations and LGBT+ organisations and services.

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SUPPORT, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER

INTERSEX IRELAND Contacts Email: Facebook: Twitter:

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The Pride Run A regular fixture in the Pride calendar, the Pride Run has been a way for the community to get active, get connected and celebrate while raising much-needed funds for charity.

Rebecca Kelly gets the low-down on this year’s plans.

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ublin Front Runners AC is a running club that provides an open and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people and their friends who want to get involved in running, catering to all levels of experience and abilities. The club is well-known for their annual Pride Run which has been the first official event of Pride month every year since it began in 2005. Organiser Enda Currid discussed the club’s biggest event, from its relatively small beginnings to the large success it is today.

Talking about its origins, Enda described the creation of the run as serving a “dual purpose”; “It does a lot of good work in terms of providing funding for several organisations, however, it has also become quite a big event in its own right and a mainstay of the Dublin Pride celebrations. It also encourages people who may not be very keen on sports or running to get involved, whether they’re LGBTQ+ or not.

“Every year we see returning regulars from outside the club look forward to the race itself as well as all the festivities that come along with it, like the goodie bags, the medals and the general atmosphere on the day.

People would always comment on that, it’s always had a very good atmosphere and everyone is very supportive.”

Enda recounted the organisation required to host an event of this size, planning months in advance to make sure everything on the day runs smoothly; “We would generally begin preparations in January as it is a long process in terms of contacting our sponsors, creating the race layout and then selecting the charities we want to support that year […] it’s a very busy day, but extremely rewarding.”

All this hard work by Enda and the rest of the Frontrunners has certainly paid off, with the popularity of the run soaring. “In recent years it’s gone from strength to strength. Back in 2012, we had in and around 200 people taking part, where as in 2019, which was our last physical run held due to Covid-19, there were well over 1,000 participants crossing the finish line.”

Unfortunately, due to the continuation of the pandemic and the severity of restrictions, this year the run will again follow the same virtual format as it did last year. However, Enda explains, this will allow for more people than ever before to get involved.

“The Dublin Pride Run represents a chance for the community and our friends to come together in a friendly and welcoming environment to promote physical and mental wellbeing, inclusion and diversity,” Enda explained.

“We are delighted to be back in 2021, albeit in a virtual manner. We would be delighted to see our friends take part in this year’s virtual run and once again promote wellbeing and inclusion while raising some much-needed funds for charity. Whether you are in Dublin or Donegal or Cork, or anywhere in between, the Dublin Pride Run looks forward to seeing you on the ‘virtual’ start line.”

The Dublin Front Runners have received high praise for this particular event, as well as their other club activities.

Member Connor recounts his experience, stating; “To say joining DFR has been life-changing is an understatement.

I have made some of my closest friends in the club. A year after I joined the club, I joined the Committee as the Social Secretary as a way of giving back to a club I had gotten so much from. I cannot wait to be back with my fellow club members as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Kevin, a participant in the 2019 run, described it as “one of the best nights of the year”, saying; “I loved the fun atmosphere, the energy and excitement of the Dublin Pride Run. It’s the people that make it a very special event.”

While the run usually takes place on a Friday evening in the Phoenix Park, this year people are being encouraged to do the run themselves, either tackling the 5km all at once or in smaller increments during the week in the lead up to the official Pride weekend.

For more information, visit the Dublin Pride Run Facebook or Instagram pages.

Due to this surge in numbers, donations and proceeds also inevitably increased. Since its inception, the run has raised a total of €71,000 for various charities. In the first couple of years, the committee would select a single charity per year, but with its increased popularity they have been able to give to multiple charities yearly. In 2019 the largest amount of money in a single year was raised, with a whopping €21,000 being split between three different charities.

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ALL THE HIV T IN A WEEKLY POZCAST hosted by Robbie Lawlor & Veda Lady

@pozvibepod

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Coming Soon

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Fingal Pride in association with Dublin Pride and Fingal County Council.

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

THE PRIDE CUP Vs SHELBOURNE XI

DUBLIN DEVILS FC

TOLKA PARK // 19 JUNE 13:00 19 June 2021 sees the fourth annual Pride Cup fixture between these two great Dublin clubs.

The Pride Cup is part of the “Shels in the Community” initiative and is an official Dublin Pride event; it celebrates LGBT+ participation in sport and diversity in our local community.

Dublin Devils FC are Dublin’s LGBT+ inclusive football club, offering all levels of football to the LGBT+ community - from 11-a-side competitive teams to social kick abouts. Formed in 2005 the club has become a pillar of the community in Dublin, offering a sporting outlet and a place to develop new friendships.

The Shelbourne XI will feature an exciting line-up of club legends and supporters.

Shelbourne FC is not only a club with an illustrious past on the field but a club with a deep commitment to its community and LGBT+ inclusion in football, through its community outreach programs. The club is a Dublin institution, forming more than 125 years ago, and has won the national title 13 times and the national cup 11 times, as well as having many famous European nights. The club’s men’s and women’s teams both compete in the SSE Airtricity League, playing out of Tolka Park in Dublin’s north city suburbs.

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This Is Me - Transgender Healthcare Campaign advocates for safe, accessible, best practice, person centered healthcare for transgender and non-binary people in Ireland.

We are also here to provide information and support to those trying to access and/or currently receiving trans specific healthcare in Ireland or abroad.

This Is Me -Transgender Healthcare Campaign

@ThisIsMeIreland

TimCampaignIreland@gmail.com

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Ed Bowden Gay, Brave and Proud Ed Bowden joined Dublin City Council’s Parks Section in June 1982. The irony of Ed’s start date with Dublin City Council is that while June is Gay Pride month, being gay was not something that could be openly acknowledged, let alone celebrated in 1982.

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DCC LGBT+ STAFF NETWORK Ed, along with five others, were part of the original City Council’s LGBT+ Staff Network Committee. It may seem incredible today, but in 2013 when the Council’s LGBT+ Staff Network formed, LGBTQ+ staff and employees were still pretty much invisible in the Council. Forming that Committee with Ed was a very brave thing to do.

His achievements with the Committee are many, including his contribution when drawing up our Terms of Reference, providing insight to documents for discussion with HR such as the City Councils LGBT+ Inclusion Strategy, our internal articles, his support for colleagues who are not out, etc.

I

n fact, as homosexuality was not decriminalised until 1993, Ed, by just being Ed, would have been considered a criminal at that time.

It is difficult to convey how very difficult it was to be gay in the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and into the ‘90s in Ireland: LGBTQ+ people were almost invisible.

During this time there was nothing that reflected us back to us at all, let alone in any positive way. However, this never deterred Ed from being honest about himself; while he couldn’t be out in work, he never denied who he was.

He brought that integrity to everything he did.

The majority of Ed’s colleagues know him from his work in the City Councils parks. Other people will be well aware of his responsibility for flying and arranging flags on behalf of the Council for special occasions including the assault of colour throughout the city that is LGBTQ+ Pride.

However, his real love was his wider LGBTQ+ family.

He adored being at Pride. Since 2013, Ed was not only at Pride each year but he was there as a Dublin City Council public servant. He carried DCC’s LGBT+ banner and flags, proud of who he was and what he achieved. Ed was a proud gay man and proud public servant.

DCC’s LGBT+ Staff Network would not have thrived without Ed’s honesty, integrity, wisdom and invaluable support to sustain us when things got tough. His LGBTQ+ colleagues owe him a debt of gratitude.

While our lives have been enriched by knowing him, words will not really convey our grief and sadness at his passing.

Thank you for everything, Ed. Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a Anam!

Martina Malone Chair of DCC’s LGBT+ Staff Network, Pride 2021

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Proud from the inside out.

Dublin Pride ▲ 2021

Happy Pride from everyone at Tesco. #DublinPrideAtTesco

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