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"They picked the wrong drag queen": The power of Panti's call

New trailer from The Queen of Ireland doc shows how Rory O’Neill as Panti “spoke the truth above the heads of the political classes, straight to the people of Ireland”.

AN UPCOMING FEATURE doc about Panti Bliss – whose iconic ‘Noble Call’ oration on homophobia in Ireland grabbed international attention – is entering its final two weeks of a crowdfunding campaign.

The filmmakers have just released this new clip, which we are bringing you first on TheJournal.ie. It looks at the effect of that speech at the national theatre early this year, with Amnesty International Ireland CEO Colm O’Gorman noting: “The very fact that it was Rory as Panti who said all this was hugely important.”

Blinder Films / YouTube

The speech came in the wake of a huge controversy after RTÉ redacted comments from its online player which had been made by Panti, aka Rory O’Neill, on the Saturday Night Show. Members of the Iona Institute as well as columnist John Waters took legal issue with O’Neill’s comments about homophobia in Ireland in that interview. RTÉ paid out a total of €85,000 to the complainants in a settlement.

However, the debate the row engendered spread beyond Ireland and opened the floor to a wider discussion of prejudice against gay people, including in the Oireachtas itself and in the EU parliament in Strasbourg. The Noble Call speech made by Panti Bliss in February became a viral sensation (the speech was filmed as part of this Queen of Ireland documentary, by director Conor Horgan).

For more on the crowdfunding campaign for the doc, see here.

An earlier trailer gives a further sense of what to expect when the doc hits screens.

Blinder Films / YouTube

In your words: Being a gay teenager in Ireland>

In your words: Being a gay teacher in Ireland>

In your words: Experiencing homophobia in Ireland>

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    Mute Joanna
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:07 AM

    Man, conservatives are a bunch of whingers.

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:16 AM

    As an elderly gay man I have to say I find Panti and the whole saga boring. I thought his ‘noble call’ was uninspired and predictable and while it might have been brave in 1980 it was pretty mundane in 2014. Drama queens are very good at faux outrage.

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    Mute Joanna
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:18 AM

    Panti’s argument is still applicable today. And not just for gay people, for anyone who has suffered insidious abuse in public because of who they are.

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    Mute Louise Coffey
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:21 AM

    I absolutely agree with you Joanna. People can call it faux outrage when it doesn’t apply to them.

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    Mute EoinOD
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:24 AM

    Girl Power !

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:30 AM

    As I said … As a gay man… I know plenty about abuse discrimination queer bashing fear hate rape and on and on… Mundane at best.

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    Mute Louise Coffey
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:35 AM

    Gay or not, to say that what is being said by Panti is mundane is wrong, in my opinion. I accept that not all gay people want to adopt or marry, but there are those that would like the choice, and for them to have that choice, we need to get angry. We need to be outraged. We need many many voices to get equality across. It might be boring to you, but to the youth of this country. It’s not. Not by a long shot. It is very very relevant and important to our lives.

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    Mute George Grey
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:53 AM

    I found Panti ‘ s speech very moving and it did stick in my head. Wondering in your own expression of yourself and whether it’s over the top is a restrictive feeling to have on your shoulder twenty four hours a day. A proverbial monkey. So I think it was important for Panti to say what she said. And lets not forget that it came about as a response of RTE running scared on an issue. If Panti ‘ s logic had been allowed to cave in as a result of RTE ‘s reaction it would have signalled the failure of deep rooted feelings within the gay and lesbian movements. It was simply a proper response.
    As for all the comments on here about the Journal giving too much time to gay issues I think a simple count over a period of time would set that right. It is just not true that gay issues are reported on here disproportionately to any other newsworthy items.
    And to all those people who say they are sick to the teeth of hearing about these issues and just get on with life…..I couldn’t agree more. Of course getting on with life is sometimes more difficult when people with chips on their shoulders keep throwing monkeys on your back!

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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 1:02 PM

    @ahippo, whilst your experiences are valid, you do not represent the voice of the gay community. Each person and experience is different. Personally I can resonate with what panti is saying and I do not find it mundane nor outdated.

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    Mute Stephen Mc
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 1:59 PM

    And wot has fauxhippo ever done ??

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 2:26 PM

    I have lived my life, built a decent business, refused to trade on victimhood, learned from the abuse given to me for being gay and Irish and determined to challenge prejudice where ever I see it. Panti is an opportunist and fair play for that, but is no radical voice in the wilderness and should not be lionised as a national treasure. Sure David Norris has been saying the same things more articulately and elegantly for years. That is my point. I suppose I could be accused of being successful in spite of being gay, where Panti could be accused of being successful because of being gay.

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    Mute Shanti
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 5:38 PM

    Rory O Neill is successful due to his act – he owns a bar on capel st, he’s been performing for years.

    Yes, David Norris has been saying things extremely eloquently for years, but has it hit the same audience, got the same level of attention? In this sense what Panti said may have seemed uninspired to you, but it caught the attention of a very wide audience and that is what made it special.

    Perhaps Panti is simply the voice for a new generation of gay men – as our much loved Senator Norris has been for so long. He may not resonate with you, but with those who have come after you. In this sense it’s perfectly understandable if you don’t have the same appreciation for him.

    32
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    Mute EoinOD
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 10:43 AM

    The journal and it’s gay agenda. Jesus will it ever end blah blah blah ….. This is just a ‘fashionable gimmick’ and everyone wants to be seen to be on board !

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    Mute Mr L.Jay
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 10:51 AM

    Eoin
    What exactly is this “agenda”?

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    Mute As the fella says
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 10:57 AM

    Hard for small minds to know shat to make of it alright

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    Mute Mr L.Jay
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 10:58 AM

    PJ
    Its a drag ACT, nothing more than that.

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    Mute linda o neill
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:00 AM

    Gay Marriage … Abortion …. And Educate Together are the bloody Journal goes on about at the moment … Liberal headwreckers

    65
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    Mute EoinOD
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:00 AM

    Liberalisation to the point of collapse of social order, particularly the family structure.

    Every day without fail the journal has an article on some gay rights issue. Now the gay community is about circa. 10% of the population so I can’t see the justification in the numerous articles about them !

    It comes across that if were all not singing happy songs like the gays and wanting every right under the sun were bigots.

    So it the fashion of things I want the right of being able to have a trio marriage, the unity would be between me and my two girlfriends and we want the right to adopt as well, because I’m infertile.

    We would also like a house from the state …

    66
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    Mute Joanna
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:02 AM

    Stop reading it then, Linda.

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    Mute Wesole
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:07 AM

    Exactly linda, it’s nonstop. Like who cares the rose of tralee is gay, move on, we don’t care. Get married, just don’t ask me to endorse it, I don’t care.

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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:09 AM

    I never understood the gay man dressed up as drag queen fascination some gay men seem to have either. Each to their own though.

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    Mute Dungeon Master
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:12 AM

    I love it when the religious fundamentalists get their Panti’s in a twist!

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    Mute Mr L.Jay
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:15 AM

    Eoin
    “Liberalisation to the point of collapse of social order, particularly the family structure”.
    Really? How?
    If gay people had equal rights then there would be fewer articles on the Journal .
    Alas with people like yourself and your views it makes it difficult for gay people hence the need for Pantis speech

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:18 AM

    There you go again Linda. What is your beef with Educate Together? Would it be better if they were called the Multi Denominational National School Association. Coz that’s what they are. No more and no less.

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    Mute EoinOD
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:19 AM

    Jesus you’d swear it was North Korea we were in with all these brave and noble calls!

    Give me a break

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    Mute paulanthony
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:19 AM

    Linda- the right to reply ?
    However it sounds !

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:23 AM

    @ PJ….When any outcome of those desires are in private and consensual what the feck it got to do with you at all.

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    Mute thetruth
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:30 AM

    If its so offensive to you. I’ve got a suggestion. Don’t click on the article, don’t open it and dont read it

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    Mute finbarr ocormac
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:50 AM

    There you go again Ahippo

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    Mute finbarr ocormac
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:50 AM

    thats the thing with this country …you can not have an opinion

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    Mute Jason
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:55 AM

    Really finbar? I think you’ll find the opposite is true. This is not Russia or North Korea. Just look at all the opinions expressed on this site, granted some people get attacked for theirs because it’s not perceived as hip or cool, or because it’s not to the narrative of what liberals want to hear, but everyone is free to express their opinion in Ireland todday

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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 1:06 PM

    @eoin, anything stopping you from skipping over gay related articles? There are many topics that don’t interest me, if there is an article on them then I tend to scroll down until I find an article that appeals. It’s quite simple really!

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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 1:07 PM

    @linda/finbarr, you seriously need to get out more!

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    Mute Shanti
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 5:32 PM

    If you’re sick of hearing it – how do you reckon a gay person feels living in a country where their rights to be treated as EQUAL under our constitution are denied?

    Do me and everyone else a favour and get over yourselves. Allowing full equality to all members of society does exactly jack$h1t to you. So live and let live.

    You have no idea of the privilege you were born with, no concept of the fact that your privilege blinds you to the very obvious disadvantage meted out unfairly to others simply for being who they are.
    It’s selfish, it’s petty and it’s downright disgusting – and you are totally oblivious to how callous and heartless your opinions are.

    You’re free to say what you want – but if you get that freedom, don’t expect to get away with saying it without being challenged. Everyone else has the right to disagree with you and point out the errors in your reasoning.

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 6:07 PM

    Linda, you and your alter ego Finbar are the only ones on about educate together. God forbid we don’t brainwash our kids and feed them fairytales and label it ‘fact’.

    You are full of hatred, you judge all those around you and spill your bitter garbage of loathing directed at anybody different to you. You are far from a Christian. I really pity you. I hope you manage to release whatever it is that upsets you so much and enjoy lifes diversity.

    Leave the judging and hatred behind Linda, you’ll be a better happier woman for it. Smile!

    13
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    Mute Ben Dover
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:18 AM

    Must be awful not to be gay .

    95
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    Mute Shit you not
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 12:01 PM

    Man, it is, sometimes I wish I was attracted to men. At least I’d understand what the fcuk they were thinking and make logic out of their moods…you lucky fabulous b@stards!

    73
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    Mute Seán O'Ceallaghan
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 12:16 PM

    You’d always have someone to play fifa with

    45
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    Mute Scipio
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:19 AM

    This guy is really trying to squeeze his 15 minutes out of that speech. That Amnesty guy speaks about it as if we have witnessed the second coming of Martin Luther King. Let’s be honest there was nothing profound or ground-breaking about it. It was a drag queen having a rant at a bunch of conservatives he considers to be enemies. This type of stuff happens in the US every week.

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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:25 AM

    I watched it the first time, and can’t recall a single line from it. It didn’t strike a chord with me at all – at least not any kind of a lasting one. But it did strike a chord with many, many people and so I thought it was a positive thing for their sake.

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    Mute VF Counselling
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 4:08 PM

    I can. Check yourself.

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 7:00 PM

    Niall it may not have struck a chord with you, that’s fair enough, but it has struck a chord with many. So to be so negative about something so positive is unnecessary.

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    Mute Louise Coffey
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 11:16 AM

    I’m really looking forward to seeing this :) In a country that has a lot to be ashamed of, Panti really is a national treasure. I read some of the comments on The Journal and I see intolerance and hate. Why are people so set on stopping the happiness of others? We have to get past all of that! Let everyone be happy :)

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    Mute Scipio
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 12:00 PM

    Compared to most countries histories, we have very little to be ashamed of. You see ‘intolerance and hate’, I see mainly apathy. Most people could not give a sh*t.

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    Mute Louise Coffey
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 2:17 PM

    Believe me, we have ALOT to be ashamed of. And if you were to come out of your cave, you’d see that most people do actually give a shit. When you, or people you love aren’t afforded the same rights as everyone else, you do start to give a shit.

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    Mute Scipio
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 2:41 PM

    I’ve travelled extensively overseas and lived in non-Western countries. Believe me we have little to be ashamed of. It’s you who needs to come out of a cave and realise how lucky you are to live in one of the most liberal and progressive nations on this planet. And I say this as somoen who has a close family member who is gay. You’re b*tching about first world problems.

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    Mute Louise Coffey
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 3:06 PM

    That is some serious nonsense you are spouting. This country has a long way to go before becoming a liberal haven. What about the gay teachers scared to live openly for fear of losing their jobs? What about the women who are being denied reproductive rights, and risk losing their lives unless they have the means to travel? What about transgender people who are all but being swept under the carpet by this government? Liberal and progressive are not words I would use for this country. And I wouldn’t say those are ‘first world problems’ as you call them. I stick by my original statement.

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    Mute Scipio
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 3:25 PM

    ‘Liberal and progressive are not words I would use for this country’ That’s because you have no clue as to what is going on outside your little Irish bubble. Nobody said this country is utopia, but compared to the vast majority of the planet, it’s an easy place to live.
    Stick by your original statement. You’re only highlighting your own delusions.

    17
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    Mute Louise Coffey
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 3:37 PM

    I am well aware of what is going on outside of Ireland, but to dismiss the problems of this country and say ‘sure, we don’t have it as bad’ is INCREDIBLY stupid. For a large amount of the population, this country is definitely not an easy place to live. Look around you. What an incredibly ignorant statement to make!

    And you say I’m deluded? Keep on trolling there, you’re doing an A1 job.

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    Mute Danny Rigg
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 4:21 PM

    Scipio, this country is relatively liberal and progressive now, but not too long ago it really wasn’t. Only 20 years ago sexuality was illegal. It was made legal 14 years after Cuba. Gay couples still can’t adopt, still can’t marry, gay people can’t donate blood or organs, and gay people don’t have full legal protection under the law. We can still be fired for being gay in some jobs, just as atheists can be fired for being atheist in some jobs. We have a lot of people trying to force their catholic beliefs on the rest of us with issues like gay rights and abortion. Transgender people still don’t have full legal recognition. Not too long ago mother and baby homes still existed. We basically had forced slave labour. We have a poor historical record in relation to our treatment of mental patients. We still have blasphemy laws. Only a short while ago we were still covering up the crimes of the clergy in the exact same way pedophilia was covered up in Rotherham. There can’t even be a discussion about gay people’s lives and experiences on the radio without people complaining and without it being demanded that there be someone with an opposing voice on the matter. We have a situation were people can basically be fined for calling people out on homophobia. Please tell me again how this is such a liberal country.

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    Mute Danny Rigg
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 4:23 PM

    The fact that this is even deemed newsworthy, that the Rose of Tralee’s sexuality is deemed newsworthy shows just how far from being liberal this country is.

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    Mute Danny Rigg
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 4:25 PM

    * homosexuality, not sexuality

    5
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    Mute Lora Bolger
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 2:11 PM

    If you don’t want to read about Lgbt related articles then just don’t read them! Simple!
    Most gay people would be happy if we didn’t feature so much in “news” and our lives were not up for public discussion either. But sadly until there is true equality for all citizens, until bullying is eradicated and until young Lgbt people are no longer experiencing suicidal thoughts and lives are no longer being lost (fact) then it will remain relevant. If Panti’s noble call didn’t resonate with you thats fine, but it was significant to many others, me for one. I don’t understand why some people get so wound up and angry about a topic that they have apparently no interest in! If it upsets you I respectfully recommend simply avoiding it and make everyone happier.

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    Mute Shanti
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 5:45 PM

    It’s funny – they all say they hate seeing it on the site, so they click on it and add a comment – driving up the page views and comments, making the topic more lucrative to thejournal, which is a free service and presumably funded entirely by advertising – which is attracted by the average visits to the site..

    So – by bothering to come and comment on topics they say that they don’t want to see, they are actually making it more likely that the journal will publish more articles on the topic because it attracts so much attention..

    If only they actually thought about it they would see that they are contributing to the number of these articles published!!

    I’ve pointed this out before but they never seem to take heed.. So the only logical conclusion one can really draw is that they are quite happy to see these articles here, because they love a good moan!

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    Mute Eadaoin Allen
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 7:30 PM

    I am a woman of Ireland a proud and contributing member of Irish Society and the very proud mother of 3 amazing people. 2 of my wonderful children are gay my other wonderful son is hetero. However I have never introduced anyone by their sexuality ! I have never said these are my Gays and here’s ny heterosexual. Oh and look who it is Fr. Murphy the celibate ! Panties speach was eloquent impassioned and beautifully delivered. At communications module I brought it up…. but the Obama speach was suggested. Watched both go Rory …..you I listened to and you I believed x

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    Mute Hakuin Murphy
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 1:48 PM

    They picked the wrong drag queen?
    Should rename it to “They picked the wrong drama queen”

    18
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