As conservative governments crack down on LGBTQ rights globally, some say Pride is more important than ever.
LGBTQ activist James O'Hagan and Tonie Walsh, founding editor of Gay Community News, told The Pat Kenny Show that celebrating Pride was extremely vital despite the rise of anti-immigrant and anti-queer rhetoric in Ireland.
But 11 years since Ireland's historic marriage equality referendum, just how far have we moved the dial when it comes to discrimination and marginalisation of the LGBT community?
Mr Walsh said that celebrating Pride continues to be “extremely vital”.
“I see people living their lives without fear and shame attached to it”, he told The Pat Kenny Show.
He explained that coming out in the late 70s and early 80s in Ireland was not easy due to “ social, cultural and political elements” that impacted on the way LGBTQ people had to struggle to find their collective voice.
“We have to remember that David Norris was still progressing his constitutional action. Sex between men was illegal.
“This goes back to the 1861 Offences Against the Persons Act, which remained in place until ultimately on foot of David Norris's efforts in Europe.
“Indeed, until 1993 and also until those laws were abolished, it was impossible to advance anti-discrimination and equality legislation.”
JNBW3J People marching in Dublin gay pride, June 24 2017 Pride marks overcoming inequalities and injustice and festival has become a celebration of diversityWhy Pride is still extremely vital
LGBTQ+ activist James O’Hagan told Newstalk the rise of conservatism in the United States in regards to queer rights was “insidious and gets under the skin”.
Mr O’Hagan explained that the period immediately after marriage equality in Ireland was marked by a real sense that “you could walk with your head held up high.”
“You felt so confident that you could take the hand of your partner in public or if you were in a non-queer space that you could give your partner a kiss on the cheek or you could be boisterous in your identity.
“Certainly in the last 11 years that has felt like it has ebbed away and sort of, you know, anecdotal.
“I would [hesitate to hold my partner’s hand in public].”
He said that while Ireland remained extremely safe to be a member of the LGBTQ community, there were ways in which the country could do better.
Friends singing karaoke during party at home. Image: Alamy“There are minority groups within our community who maybe are still needing to go on a bit more of that journey.
“I think that globally, the sort of LGBTQ community has been sort of taken up a little bit as one of the ways in which some of the more far-right actors are creating that misinformation and fear and anxiety about the changing worlds.
“And that is having a blowback then on the safety that people perceive themselves to have.”
The Dublin Pride Parade began at 12pm and will end at Merrion Square at the Pride Village.
