LGBTQ Ireland
The Republic of Ireland became the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by referendum when a vote was taken in May 2015 and passed with 62% in favour. Whether you agree that minority rights should be determined by plebescite or not, the outcome was a win for the LGBTQ community and the country itself. This is all the more welcome given the traditional conservative, Catholic characteristics of Ireland.
The historic event in the Republic of Ireland has put pressure on Northern Ireland to follow suit.
However, if you look at the history of the LGBTQ community in Ireland as a whole, it is perhaps less surprising an outcome. The annotated existence, and often acceptance, of notable LGBTQ individuals goes back to the mid-1600's. For example, most Irish know well the story of lesbians Sarah Ponsonby (1755-1831) and Lady Eleanor Butler (1739-1829), affectionately called the Ladies of Llangollen, in poems and stories as they became social luminaries of their time.
Before the 2015 vote there was a vibrant and active LGBTQ community consisting of out politicians, entertainment personalities, writers, poets, sports personalities, painters, singers, religious leaders, and more. True, they often recounted the usual travails of being a homosexual minority subject to taunts and bullying - but the vote shows that the instigators were in the minority.
How well do you know this history?
- which Irish lesbian of the late 1800s founded the global Animal Rights movement?
- who was the first gay Member of Parliament voted into public office in Ireland?
- which Irish lesbian pirate (1702-1782), immortalized in poetry, was found guilty but spared hanging when it was determined she was pregnant?
- which Irish director of 'Little Dorit' won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special ?
- which globally acclaimed and honoured gay Irish novelist wrote 'The Master' (2004)?
- which gay Irishman is the CEO of Quantas Airways?
Read on for more fascinating biographies of this unique culture that has shaped the world, including the LGBTQ community:
- Peter Ashman, lawyer
- John Atherton, Bishop
- Francis Bacon, artist
- James Miranda Barry, doctor
- Brendan Behan, author and playwright
- Louie Bennett, activist
- Anne Bonny, pirate
- Elizabeth Bowen, writer
- Tiernan Brady, activist
- Lady Eleanor Butler, writer
- Jerry Buttimer, Member of Parliament
- Oisin Byrne, Artist
- Pat Carey, politician
- Roger Casement, Consul-General
- Helen Chenevix, activist
- Philip Chevron, singer
- Frances Power Cobbe, activist
- Gavan Coleman, intersex activist
- David Collins, interior designer
- Brendan Courtney, television entertainer
- Conor Cusack, hurler
- Donal Og Cusack, hurler
- Brian Dowling, television presenter
- Jeff Dudgeon, activist
- Madeleine ffrench-Mullen, activist and politician
- Lydia Foy, activist
- Mark Feehily, pop singer
- Stephen Gately, pop singer
- Ann Louise Gilligan, theologian
- Eileen Gray, interior designer
- Ursula Halligan, journalist
- Vincent Hanley, radio DJ
- Dominic Hannigan, Member of Parliament
- Patrick Hennessy, painter
- Gavan Hennigan, extreme adventurer
- Desmond Hogan, writer
- Percy Jocelyn, Bishop
- Lionel Johnson, poet
- Alan Joyce, business
- Brian Kennedy, singer
- Darren Kennedy, television presenter
- Riyadh Khalaf, YouTube star
- Caitlin Kiernan, writer
- Danny La Rue, entertainer
- Kathleen Lynn, medical doctor, politician
- John Lyons, Member of Parliament
- Micheal Mac Liammoir, actor
- Peter Mandelson, politician
- Violet Martin, writer
- Timmy Matley, singer
- Nell McCafferty, journalist
- Fergal McFerran, student activist
- Lyra McKee, journalist
- Chris McNaghten, strongman competitor
- Helena Molony, activist
- Andrew Muir, mayor
- William Mulready, artist
- Kristian Nairn, actor
- Anna Nolan, television presenter
- David Norris, Senator
- Graham Norton, television host
- Colm O'Gorman, activist
- Jamie O'Neill, writer
- Nuala O'Faolain, author and journalist
- Panti, entertainer
- Sarah Ponsonby, writer
- Keith Ridgway, writer
- Andrew Scott, actor
- Patrick Scott, artist
- Fiona Shaw, actor
- Margot Slattery, business executive
- Edith Anna Somerville, writer
- Gary Talbot, fashion model
- Colm Toibin, writer
- Gearoid Towey, rower
- Leo Varadkar, politician
- Dearbhla Walsh, film director
- Fintan Warfield, Senator
- Oscar Wilde, writer
- Katherine Zappone, Senator
