Just writing the headline for this article makes my heart sink. It conjures up visions of kids and teens ignored, picked on and/or beaten up in that most tyrannical of places; school. What can be a more damning illustration of a society than young, terrified people getting no support from their elders?

Coming to terms with being gay is tough. Not the gay part, the coming to terms part. Hey, who am I talking to here? Y’all know of what I speak. But the times they are a changing. Check out the article from the Irish Times mag this week. No longer should anyone feel they are the only gay person in the world.

There are two good things about September. Getting the Guide to Evening Classes, looking through it and laughing at the thought of getting up off the couch every Wednesday for months, and The Dublin Theatre Festival which is just as entertaining and much better for your brain.

Oscar Wilde is famous for two things; being gay and being funny. Being a lesbian who likes funny, I was seriously looking forward to seeing An Ideal Husband at The Abbey Theatre.

At its best in quiet moments, Loafers provides a perfect venue for a pint, a game of pool and a good old natter.

Thank god we seem to have crawled out of the era when we all went to lesbian plays/films knowing they’d be crap, but having to do our community duty. This production is professional, perfectly-pitched and thought-provoking.

Any queer woman could be forgiven for thinking that no gay women existed in the years between Sappho (bi) and kd lang (dyke). It may surprise you to hear that lesbians not only lived but were socially and politically active throughout the intervening years.

Martin Sherman’s “Bent” is a wonderful drama based on two gay men who meet in Dachau in the 1930’s. Max is willing to do anything to stay alive but after meeting Horst, his outlook on what’s important in life is challenged.

I had heard on the grapevine that there were myriad things to see and do at Panti Bar each night, but to my shame it was only last week that my lovely lady friend introduced me to the wonders of The Panti Show on Thursday nights. We were so impressed, that we decided to return again this evening, wondering if it could live up to last week’s high standards.

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This year’s Dyke Night took place in Dublin club, Sin, as part of the Pride Festival 2008. This year’s festival is the 25th anniversary of Pride in Dublin. That’s 25