Gay and Lesbian Activism in the Republic of Ireland, 1973–93

Description

This thematically-arranged study traces the emergence of visible gay and lesbian communities across the Republic of Ireland and their impact on public perceptions of homosexuality. Along the way it explores the critical and hidden activism of lesbian women, the role of rural provincial activists, the importance of interactions with international gay and lesbian organisations and the extent to which HIV and AIDS impacted the gay rights campaign. Gay and Lesbian Activism in the Republic of Ireland, 1973–93 focuses in particular on activists’ efforts to engage with the different religious organisations in Ireland, the Trade Union movement, Irish political parties and the media, and how these efforts in turn shaped the strategies and activities of gay and lesbian organisations. McDonagh argues that gay and lesbian activists mounted an effective campaign to improve both the legal and social climate for Ireland’s gay and lesbian citizens. In doing so, gay and lesbian individuals were important agents of social and political change in the Republic of Ireland in the period from the 1970s to the early 1990s, particularly in relation to Irish sexual mores. The book also helps to contextualise the changes in perceptions of homosexuality that have taken place in recent years and encourages scholars of Irish history to further explore the contribution of Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community in transforming Irish society in the 20th and 21st centuries. This thematically-arranged study traces the emergence of visible gay/lesbian communities across the Republic of Ireland and their impact on public perceptions of homosexuals. Along the way it explores the critical and hidden activism of lesbian women, the unknown role of rural provincial activists, the importance of interactions with international gay and lesbian organisations and the extent to which HIV/AIDS impacted the gay rights campaign in Ireland. Gay and Lesbian Activism in the Republic of Ireland, 1973–93 focuses in particular on activists’ efforts to engage with the Trade Union Movement, Student Movement, the different religious organisations, Ireland’s political parties and the media, and how these efforts in turn shaped the strategies and activities of gay/lesbian organisations. It argues that gay and lesbian activists mounted an effective campaign to improve both the legal and social climate for Ireland’s gay and lesbian citizens. In doing so, gay and lesbian individuals were important agents of social and political change in the Republic of Ireland in the period from the 1970s to the early 1990s, particularly in relation to Irish sexual mores. The book also contextualises the dramatic changes in perceptions of homosexuality that have taken place in recent years and encourages scholars of Irish history to further explore the contribution of Ireland’s queer citizens to transforming Ireland in the 20th and 21st centuries. Cover Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Contents Plates Dedication Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Book outline and reflection on sources Overview of (homo)sexuality in the Republic of Ireland in the twentieth century 1 Irish Homosexuals are Revolting, 1973–1978 Irish Gay Rights Movement ‘The perverts are not the homosexuals but the bigots’ Gay movement seeks rights A palace coup 2 Social Life as Resistance in 1980s Dublin ‘“Gay” group opens new headquarters’ ‘A centre for counsel and friendship’ ‘Lesbians, Ireland’s sexual exiles’ ‘70 faggots and dykes all bedecked with pink carnations’ Gay paree of Dublin 3 1980s Provincial Activism: Cork and Galway NGF and IGRM: national organisations? ‘In Dublin they just saw us as provincial lunatics’ ‘The peculiar circumstances of organising people in the West of Ireland’ ‘Lesbians are everywhere’ Galway march for international gay pride day 4 Gay Rights are not Extravagant Demands ‘The gay society would be an embarrassment to the college’ ‘The right not to lose our job or promotion because of our sexual orientation’ ‘Bringing Irish law into line with civilised European opinion 5 Ireland was Ill-Equipped to deal with the AIDS Epidemic ‘Hear no Sex, See no Sex, Speak no Sex’ ‘Gay disease hits children’ ‘If you decide to fuck, using a condom will significantly reduce your risk’ ‘This work is not the concern of 10 or so people, it is the concern of you all’ ‘Stay with one faithful partner, and remain faithful to that partner’ ‘The heterosexual community owe a debt to thehomosexual community’ 6 Gay Rights: It’s Time ‘We must divide the opposition and isolate the bigots’ ‘I was taught that the Irish hate oppression’ ‘Not too gay orientated’ ‘The Homosexual Challenge’ ‘The law on homosexuality in the Republic is a bad and stupid law’ ‘They’re here, they’re queer and now they’re legal’ Notes Appendix: Glossary of Terms Bibliography Index Plates