Dáil debates

Thursday, 23 June 2022

LGBTQI+ and Equality: Statements

 

2:25 pm

Photo of Chris AndrewsChris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak ahead of what will be a great Pride march on Saturday. It is always a great event. It is very positive. It makes people feel good and feel happy. There is a real sense of solidarity on the march. Pride month has many great events. Last week I was at one, the Pride dog show, in the Cabbage Garden off Kevin Street. It was a fantastic event and everybody enjoyed it. It was very positive. All of this positivity contrasts with the homophobic attacks carried out recently. It makes those attacks even more shocking and more upsetting. It is very important that those who carry out these crimes face the full force of the law. There can be no place for this type of behaviour whereby somebody can feel threatened or unsafe because of their sexuality. We have to, as we are doing today, give voice to the LGBTQI+ community.

Last week I was here when the portrait of Senator Norris was hung. I have to say it was a lovely event. It is important to acknowledge the contribution Senator Norris has made for more than 30 years. He was first elected to the Seanad in 1987. He flew the flag. He was openly gay at a time that was much different to now. He deserves huge credit. He walked the walk and flew the flag. He did so much for his community and for wider society. He made it a human rights issue and a social justice issue. He fought the fight and is still fighting it. It was lovely to see him. He was in great form. There are many people like him, such as Kieran Rose who headed up GLEN for many years, who have been huge advocates for the LGBTQI community. It is important to acknowledge and remember the contribution and actions they carried out. Ireland was a bleak place for anybody who was gay at the time. It is still challenging and difficult but it was a significantly darker place. It is important to acknowledge, remember and name those who carried the flag. Many people have been named here.

Leinster Rugby's Nick McCarthy came out recently. This is very positive for a number of reasons. He has been well supported in the rugby community and the wider community. It is a credit to Leinster Rugby that he has got this support. It is very important. It is significant that an elite male sportsperson has come out. Elite male sports are a cold house in many ways for any diversity, particularly for the LGBTI community. We see the Premier League in England and we do not have to look too far from home in the League of Ireland. Very few male elite athletes come out and state they are gay. Nick McCarthy coming out is very welcome. There is no openly gay football player in the Premier League. The last footballer who came out was Justin Fashanu back in the 1990s. I do not know whether the Minister remembers him. I remember him as I am around that long. When he came out, the abuse he got was horrendous. At the time I remember thinking it would be a watershed moment but it was not. Even today we do not have any Premier League player, and very few elite sportspeople, who have come out as gay. This is an issue that we need to be aware of. The national governing bodies, NGBs, must be aware of it and do more to support players coming out.

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