LGBT culture in Ireland
Encyclopedia
LGBT life on the island of Ireland
is made up of persons who are either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender/transsexual.
which provided for legal recognition for the relationships of same-sex couples.
The Labour Party
, Sinn Féin
, Socialist Party of Ireland and the Green Party
support same-sex marriage
.
In December 2006 the Labour Party
reintroduced a civil unions bill which they brought before the Dáil in March 2007. The bill was supported by Fine Gael
, Sinn Féin
, the Green Party and the majority of independents, however it was opposed by the two Government Parties of Fianna Fáil
and the Progressive Democrats
which lead to its defeat. The Labour Party
, promised that a bill legalising gay adoption would be on the top of their priorities should they assume control of the Government in the 2007 general election, but they did not manage to do so. In the aftermath of the General Election, the Labour Party reintroduced their Civil Unions Bill, which was supported by Sinn Féin and Fine Gael. The Green Party, then part of the governing coalition, voted against the bill, favouring their continued advocacy for same-sex partnership rights from within the government.
Before the 2011 general election, the Labour Party manifesto included a commitment to a referendum to allow same-sex couples to marry. This was mentioned as an item for the Constitutional Convention in the Programme for Government between Labour and Fine Gael after the election.
In 2006, at the opening of the new headquarters of the gay rights organisation GLEN
in Dublin, the then-Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
said:
The only Irish political party that has officially come out in opposition to LGBT rights is the small Christian Solidarity Party
, which has never been successful electorally, at either local or national level.
, Derry
, Galway
and Waterford
. There are 8 Gay Lesbian Resource centres in Ireland, 1 LGBT centre in Dublin, 1 LGBT centre in Belfast, 1 gay centre & 1 lesbian centre in Cork, 1 LGBT drop-in centre in Limerick, 1 LGBT centre in Derry, 1 LGBT centre in Waterford and 1 LGBT drop-in centre in Dundalk.
There are also some gay communities in the smaller towns in Ireland. Strabane
has a gay bar, and Castlebar
, Dundalk
, Drogheda
, Ennis
, Newry
and Sligo
have occasional gay club nights.
with parades and festivals.
The town of Sligo
with less than 20,000 inhabitants has its own annual Gay Pride parade and festival and is warmly received and supported by the local population, something which is becoming increasingly common in rural Ireland. It is more than likely the smallest city in the world with its own gay pride parade.
The gay scene across the island of Ireland is brought together during the annual Alternative Miss Ireland
drag contest and Mr Gay Ireland
events.
has taken hold in Ireland and continues to grow. The bear movement is a counter culture to the mainstream gay scene and challenges the stereotypes of gay men. Everything masculine is celebrated within the Bear community. There are Bear events held monthly in Belfast and in Dublin. An all Ireland Bear Event called Bear Feile is due to take place on the 25–28 March 2010. Bear Feile is the first event of its kind to take place in Ireland.
is another occasion for gays to celebrate, as all of Ireland's ethnically diverse population including the gay community take an active part in the St. Patrick's Day parades and celebrations across the island in cities such as Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Derry, Galway and Waterford.
All-Ireland Republic of Ireland
& Northern Ireland
:
Dublin: (pop 1.7m)
Belfast
: (pop 650,000)
Cork
: (pop 400,000)
Limerick
: (pop 100,000)
Derry
: (pop 100,000)
Galway
: (pop 70,000)
Waterford
: (pop 50,000)
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
is made up of persons who are either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender/transsexual.
Politics
There was all-party support in 2010 for the Civil Partnership BillCivil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010
The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 is an Act of the Oireachtas which allows civil partnerships. The act also provides rights for participants in long-term cohabiting relationships who have not entered into a civil partnership or marriage...
which provided for legal recognition for the relationships of same-sex couples.
The Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, Socialist Party of Ireland and the Green Party
Green Party (Ireland)
The Green Party is a green political party in Ireland. It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 by Dublin teacher Christopher Fettes. The party became the Green Alliance in 1983 and in 1987 was renamed to its current title in English...
support same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
.
In December 2006 the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
reintroduced a civil unions bill which they brought before the Dáil in March 2007. The bill was supported by Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, the Green Party and the majority of independents, however it was opposed by the two Government Parties of Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
and the Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
which lead to its defeat. The Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
, promised that a bill legalising gay adoption would be on the top of their priorities should they assume control of the Government in the 2007 general election, but they did not manage to do so. In the aftermath of the General Election, the Labour Party reintroduced their Civil Unions Bill, which was supported by Sinn Féin and Fine Gael. The Green Party, then part of the governing coalition, voted against the bill, favouring their continued advocacy for same-sex partnership rights from within the government.
Before the 2011 general election, the Labour Party manifesto included a commitment to a referendum to allow same-sex couples to marry. This was mentioned as an item for the Constitutional Convention in the Programme for Government between Labour and Fine Gael after the election.
In 2006, at the opening of the new headquarters of the gay rights organisation GLEN
Gay and Lesbian Equality Network
The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network is an Irish non-governmental gay rights group, based in Dublin, Ireland. The organisation was founded in 1988 and focuses mainly on achieving change in legislation and social policy that will achieve full equality and inclusion for lesbian, gay and bisexual ...
in Dublin, the then-Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
said:
The only Irish political party that has officially come out in opposition to LGBT rights is the small Christian Solidarity Party
Christian Solidarity Party
The Christian Solidarity Party is a registered political party in the Republic of Ireland. It has no representation at local or national level. Founded in 1991 as the Christian Party, it was renamed in 1994 to incorporate the word "Solidarity" following a mutual pledge of support between the party...
, which has never been successful electorally, at either local or national level.
Openly gay Oireachtas members
- David Norris, elected as an IndependentIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Senator for Dublin University at each election since 1987, and was the first openly gay member of the Oireachtas. - Colm O'GormanColm O'GormanColm O'Gorman is an Irishman from County Wexford, founder of One in Four, former senator, and current executive director of Amnesty International in Ireland...
served as a Senator from May to July 2007. He was appointed as a Taoiseach's nominee representing the Progressive DemocratsProgressive DemocratsThe Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
. - Dominic HanniganDominic HanniganDominic Hannigan is an Irish Labour Party politician and a member of Dáil Éireann. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Meath East constituency at the 2011 Irish general election, having previously served in the 23rd Seanad from 2007–11.- Early and personal life :Hannigan was born in...
, was elected as a Labour PartyLabour Party (Ireland)The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
Senator in 2007, and was elected to the Dáil in 2011 for Meath East, becoming the first openly gay person elected as a TD. - John LyonsJohn Lyons (Dublin politician)John Lyons is an Irish Labour Party politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North West constituency at the 2011 general election...
, was elected in 2011 for Dublin North WestDublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
for the Labour Party. - Katherine ZapponeKatherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone is a member of the Irish Human Rights Commission and an independent member of Seanad Éireann.Zappone was born in Washington state, and educated at Boston College , The Catholic University of America and University College Dublin...
, was appointed to the Seanad as a Taoiseach's nominee in May 2007. She is the named plaintiff in an ongoing case to seek legal recognition of her marriage and is the first openly gay Oireachtas member who is married.
Cities & towns
The gay scene in Ireland is quite developed and Irish society has become more open and tolerant as a result of increased levels of prosperity and rising liberal attitudes. Indeed many foreigners comment that for such a small island nation of 6 million, there's so much going on, with vibrant gay scenes in all Irish cities Dublin (2 superpubs, 2 gay bars + 13 club venues), Belfast (1 superpub, 3 gay bars + 5 club venues), Cork (4 bars + 5 club venues), LimerickLimerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
and Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
. There are 8 Gay Lesbian Resource centres in Ireland, 1 LGBT centre in Dublin, 1 LGBT centre in Belfast, 1 gay centre & 1 lesbian centre in Cork, 1 LGBT drop-in centre in Limerick, 1 LGBT centre in Derry, 1 LGBT centre in Waterford and 1 LGBT drop-in centre in Dundalk.
There are also some gay communities in the smaller towns in Ireland. Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
has a gay bar, and Castlebar
Castlebar
Castlebar is the county town of, and at the centre of, County Mayo in Ireland. It is Mayo's largest town by population. The town's population exploded in the late 1990s, increasing by one-third in just six years, though this massive growth has slowed down greatly in recent years...
, Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
, Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
and Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
have occasional gay club nights.
Gay pride
All Irish cities and many smaller towns celebrate Gay PrideGay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
with parades and festivals.
The town of Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
with less than 20,000 inhabitants has its own annual Gay Pride parade and festival and is warmly received and supported by the local population, something which is becoming increasingly common in rural Ireland. It is more than likely the smallest city in the world with its own gay pride parade.
The gay scene across the island of Ireland is brought together during the annual Alternative Miss Ireland
Alternative Miss Ireland
The Alternative Miss Ireland is an annual event which takes place in Dublin, Ireland on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick's Day, 17 March. It occurs over about 3 and a half hours and features a pastiche of the beauty pageant rounds inspired by Andrew Logan's Alternative Miss World, with...
drag contest and Mr Gay Ireland
Mr Gay Ireland
Mr Gay Ireland is an annual contest for gay men, with regional heats held in gay venues around Ireland, with a grand final held in late October. In previous years the final has been held in The George, Dublin. The current title holder is Max Krzyzanowski. Max won the title of Mr...
events.
Bear Movement
As in many other countries around the world, the Bear CommunityBear community
"Bear" is a LGBT slang term that refers to members of a subculture in the homosexual and bisexual male communities and to an emerging subset of LGBT communities with events, codes, and a culture-specific identity...
has taken hold in Ireland and continues to grow. The bear movement is a counter culture to the mainstream gay scene and challenges the stereotypes of gay men. Everything masculine is celebrated within the Bear community. There are Bear events held monthly in Belfast and in Dublin. An all Ireland Bear Event called Bear Feile is due to take place on the 25–28 March 2010. Bear Feile is the first event of its kind to take place in Ireland.
St. Patrick's day
Saint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
is another occasion for gays to celebrate, as all of Ireland's ethnically diverse population including the gay community take an active part in the St. Patrick's Day parades and celebrations across the island in cities such as Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Derry, Galway and Waterford.
Annual events
Each city has its own range of LGBT-themed annual events:All-Ireland Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
& Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
:
- Alternative Miss IrelandAlternative Miss IrelandThe Alternative Miss Ireland is an annual event which takes place in Dublin, Ireland on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick's Day, 17 March. It occurs over about 3 and a half hours and features a pastiche of the beauty pageant rounds inspired by Andrew Logan's Alternative Miss World, with...
- March, usually closest Sunday to St. Patrick's Day - Mr Gay IrelandMr Gay IrelandMr Gay Ireland is an annual contest for gay men, with regional heats held in gay venues around Ireland, with a grand final held in late October. In previous years the final has been held in The George, Dublin. The current title holder is Max Krzyzanowski. Max won the title of Mr...
- Saint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
parade & festival - Bingham Cup Gay Rugby World Cup, June 2008
Dublin: (pop 1.7m)
- Bear Feile - The all Ireland Bear Party - March 25th - 28th
- Mr Gay Dublin
- Alternative Miss Philippines
- ALAF - Lesbian arts festival - March/April
- Dublin Gay Theatre FestivalDublin Gay Theatre FestivalThe International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival is a theatrical event held annually in Dublin, Republic of Ireland during the first two weeks of May. The eight festival will be held from 2–15 May 2011 with 30 productions participating, staging over 200 individual performances and events. Over 70%...
- May - GAZE - Dublin Lesbian & Gay Film Festival - August
- Dublin Gay Pride parade & festival - June
- Lesbian Lives - international conference - February
- World AIDS DayWorld AIDS DayWorld AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...
- charity event
Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
: (pop 650,000)
- Belfast Gay Pride parade & festival
- Mr Gay Belfast
Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
: (pop 400,000)
- Alternative Miss Cork - February/March
- Cork Women's Fun Weekend - May
- Cork Gay Pride parade & festival - June
- Outlook - Lesbian & Gay Film Festival - October
- Lesbian Fanstasy Ball - November
- Mr Gay Cork
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
: (pop 100,000)
- Limerick Gay Pride parade & festival
- Alternative Miss Limerick
Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
: (pop 100,000)
- Derry Gay Pride festival
Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
: (pop 70,000)
- Galway Gay Pride parade & festival
- Alternative Miss Galway
Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
: (pop 50,000)
- Waterford Gay Pride festival
See also
- LGBT rights in the Republic of Ireland
- Civil unions in the Republic of IrelandCivil unions in the Republic of IrelandCivil partnerships in Ireland, granted under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, give same-sex couples rights and responsibilities similar, but not equal to, civil marriage...
- Civil unions in the United Kingdom
- Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland
- Same-sex marriage in the United KingdomSame-sex marriage in the United KingdomSame-sex marriage is not currently legal in the United Kingdom. Marriage laws vary in the countries of the UK, however they all currently prohibit marriages between same-sex couples. Since 2005, same-sex couples are allowed to enter into civil partnerships, a separate union which provides the legal...
- List of gay and lesbian resource centres in Ireland