gaelick » Dublin Pride

Keep on running

HAL — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:47 +0000

June may seem like a long way off, but you know it’s just around the corner. As soon as June pops her sunny head in the door, it’s Pride time. I know! It only flies in.

So here we are to give you a gansey-load of notice to get signed-up and ready for the Pride Run. It doesn’t matter if you’re Usain Bolt or a snail with issues, this is all about fun. You can walk, jog, run or crawl the 5km. Last year’s was amazing craic and I recommend you dust off your trainers for this year. Plus you get a very sexy t-shirt!

The Park

Did you know that the Phoenix Park in Dublin is 350 years old this year? See, another reason to come along and enjoy a (hopefully) sunny day out with L, G, B and T friends and family.

Dave Shaw, race director of the Pride Run, said:

Just after the longest day of the year, this is a short distance fun run in lovely surroundings on a summer evening. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to come down to the Phoenix Park and celebrate Our City, Our Park, Our Pride.

There will be a party afterwards in the Phoenix Park polo club for all participants. 5K is a perfect distance for anyone trying to get into a running routine for summer and the event will be good fun for all the family.

We’re delighted to support Headstrong National Centre for Youth Mental Health and all profits will go to this very worthwhile charity.

You can register for the run/walk/jog here until 20th June. You know it makes sense.

People can visit the DFR website for further information: www.dublinfrontrunners.ie/wp/index.php/pride-run/ Online registration for the run will be available until Thursday 20th June.

Pride Unplugged

Jen — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Did you go?

The first Pride Unplugged of the year took place last Wednesday at Panti Bar, a step down from its previous venue The Button Factory.

Three acts competed in an Xfactor style competition to get to the finals where a winner would be picked to grace the Pride Village stage after the parade later this year.

Originally more acts were meant to compete but some pulled out and we were left with a drag act called Whitney and two bands by the names of Blue Sun and Just No. Roxy and David D-Pole were the judges of the night, Roxy being more of a Simon Cowell and David a nicer, Britney type.

Just no, not more of the same

It was my understanding that previous Pride Unpluggeds were a place that LGBT music lovers could go to enjoy some genuinely good bands and artists play for a gay cause. In 2010 Pride Unplugged was described as:

accomplished singer/songwriters come together to perform their favorite songs,some of which will reflect this years theme…this will be an evening of song and entertainment.

It seems that much like the rest of Pride, this has been turned in to a stereotypical event where they say they want bands but really they want the same old drag queens, male strippers or crappy Kylie tribute act on their main stage. Why do musical acts HAVE to be lip syncing drags or artists and bands playing dodgy covers of Britney that they obviously don’t want to do?

Many people took to the Dublin Pride Facebook when asked what acts they wanted to see at Pride this year and most said they were sick of seeing the same old drag acts, typical ‘gay’ performers and would prefer bands especially Irish bands in support of the LGBT community like Royseven, Heathers, Wallis Bird and Leanne Hart to name a few. Yet the feedback to the bands at Pride Unplugged were things like ‘be more upbeat, play more upbeat songs than that with a faster tempo’ and ‘you need a colour theme’ which the band Just No definitely had, they were all dressed in black and white! I think what Roxy was saying was ‘be more gay and flamboyant!’.

Leanne would KILL it!

A little more Harte, a lot more satisfaction

This is not what the people of Facebook wanted. They want good bands, good music, less drag acts, less flamboyancy and a wider variety of acts that aren’t necessarily ’gay’. A lot of us would love to have a pint with friends, a chat and enjoy a few bands in support of the community that are good, play their own stuff and maybe throw a cover or two in for good measure.

Or am I wrong? Am I just the odd lesbo out that doesn’t want to see a terrible lip synced rendition of I Am What I Am or a line of men in barely anything dancing around to whatever Tina Turner track they’ve picked, at Pride?

Blue Sun and Just No played fantastic sets with Just No actually providing Panti Bar with a PA system they didn’t even have and helping the other band with their sound levels. Both acts are through to the final of Pride Unplugged during Pride Week and Whitney was miraculously added to a drag queen act that will be performing at Pride Village.

If the organisers of events like this can’t even bother to choose a location suitable for singers and acts or bring their own equipment then what chance do we have of seeing decent acts on this years Pride stage?

Am I the only lesbian that doesn’t want to wait around for three hours watching a mainly gay-male catered for lineup? And is the music taste of our LGBT community really that bad? That’s an article for a whole other day.

http://www.gaelick.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trouser_opera_thumb.jpg

#PridePics Special: Pooch Pride!

click here — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:00:21 +0000

Now that we’ve all recovered from the excitement of Dublin Pride, we recap the festivities through the medium of … puppies!

Let us know how your Pride went – Was it your first Pride? Or are you a veteran? How did you adjust to the new surrounds of the post-Pride fun at Merrion Square? Where did you end up later? Tell all in the comments!

This is Finnegan, who was eagerly anticipating the weekend on Pride Eve

Earlier in the week: here’s Rudi looking regal in the grounds of a cathedral.

And right at the beginning of the Pride festival, this wee pup was having the craic at the Dublin Pride Run in the Phoenix Park

And so to the day of the Pride Parade: This adorable litte feller was very excitable – and very camera curious!

And our little friend in a Pride pooch mini march

Just look at this adorable litte cutie!

Someone was starting to feel a little bit tired with all the excitement at Merrion Square

Note the pink rinse on the tail – poor pup!

Adorable puppy stand-off!

Pride trottin’

Melt! Adorable labrador twofer, relaxin’ outside Pantibar just after the parade

BREAKING: Tánaiste makes historic statement on marriage equality

click here — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:40:35 +0000

listen to ‘The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announcing that same-sex marriage will be included for consideration by the Constitutional Convention’ on Audioboo

Hot on the heels of Minister Shatter’s statement on Thursday, the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore made the following statement this afternoon:

As the event draws to a conclusion today, I would like to congratulate the organisers of Dublin Pride 2012 for a very successful week.

Dublin Pride dates back to 1983 and has become an important part of the city’s social calendar. It is also becoming an increasingly important attraction, bringing thousands of people to the city, and I would like to warmly welcome these visitors to our capital.

But while the event is primarily a social and cultural one, it also has a political dimension.

As leader of Labour, a Party for whom the politics of personal freedom is so central, I acknowledge that when it comes to promoting understanding and respect, progress has been made in recent years. However, there are some outstanding matters, and if we as a Party are serious about building a new progressive society, these are matters that we will have to resolve.

I believe that in certain key areas, our laws are out of step with public opinion. I don’t believe for example, that it should ever be the role of the State to pass judgement on whom a person falls in love with, or whom they want to spend their life with.

That is why the issue of same-sex marriage is to be included for consideration by the Constitutional Convention. I believe in gay marriage. The right of gay couples to marry is, quite simply, the civil rights issue of this generation, and, in my opinion, its time has come.

Here’s the reaction from Marriage Equality:

HISTORIC MARRIAGE EQUALITY SUPPORT FROM TÁNAISTE EAMON GILMORE TD

1st July 2012 – Dublin: Below follows a statement by Moninne Griffith, Director of Marriage Equality, a national not for profit organisation working for equality for same sex couples, families and their children through access to civil marriage welcoming Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s statement of support for marriage equality today.

Today the Tánaiste, the second most senior politician in Ireland, became the first government minister to publically add his voice to the 73% of Irish people who believe that same sex couples, our families and our children deserve equality. With today’s statement, he joins the growing majority of Irish people who believe in truly Irish values of justice, equality, fairness, and respect for difference and diversity.

As the most senior member of Government to declare marriage equality an important issue, the Tánaiste’s full public support marks an historic point in our campaign for equality. But we have a lot of work ahead of us. The Government will soon be launching its Constitutional Convention, to look at, amongst other issues, the provision of same-sex marriage.

We look forward to having the full support of the Tánaiste as we work with the Constitutional Convention to protect same sex couples and families, and to ensure that they are treated equally under the law by enshrining marriage equality in the Irish Constitution.

Keep an eye on Marriage Equality for updates!

Pride Champagne Breakfast at Outhouse!

click here — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:17:48 +0000

Celebrate Dublin Pride with Outhouse and a glass of Champers on the morning of Pride Parade Day!

There’ll be delicious freshly baked goods from Brother Hubbard, along with teas, coffee and snacks.

Oh, and of course: Champagne & Mimosas just €4 per glass!

Get it int’ya Cinthia..

What? Champagne Breakfast ahead of the Dublin Pride parade
Where? Outhouse, 105 Capel Street, Dublin 1
When? 11am-1:30pm
How much? Free ‘cept for the champers and mimosas!

Facebook event

Outhouse:

web / facebook / twitter / tumblr

Your #PridePics! (part 2)

click here — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 08:40:28 +0000

Earlier in the week, we brought you the first batch of our Pride Pics, and today we bring you more of ‘em (and more adorable pooches!).

Have you spotted a rainbow? To get your pics to us, here’s how:

Email: editorial@gaelick.com, or
Twitter: mention us (@gaelick) and include the #PridePics hashtag, or
Facebook: just tag us or post on our page.

Whichever’s easiest! And now, to our photographic wonders…

From sender-inner Áine:
“Rudi showing her Pride colours.”
Adorables!

From sender-inner Rachel:
“Proud gay leprechauns” at the Leprechaun Museum.
Well, be-gob and be-gosh!

Everything in San Francisco is liberal… Even the chain store window displays.. twitter.com/AliDonnelly/st…

— Alison Donnelly (@AliDonnelly) June 18, 2012

ScrumQueens’ Ali Donnelly tweeted this the other day from San Fran!

This wooly number was spotted in St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre!

Miss Fantasia, flying the flag on South William Street, Dublin!

Clever morkeshing?

Contains Pride!

Gig poster Pride!

Jolly jolly! Pink Hockey Fest is nearly here!

click here — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Pink Hockey Fest is less than 48 hours away!

Hosted by the Pink Ladies in Pembroke Hockey Club, the tournament runs from 29th June until 1st July in Ballsbridge, just 5 minutes from Dublin’s city centre.

The jam packed programme can be found here, and highlights include a cocktail reception party tomorrow, in Bewleys, Ballsbridge; a BBQ by the pitch; a traditional Irish pub night (especially for the visiting players); and of course the tournament’s award ceremony.

Participants will of course also be joining the the Dublin Pride parade this Saturday.

To register click here. Cost per person is €75 and includes lunch throughout the tourney, BBQ, all social events and a special welcome pack from the Pink Ladies!

Entrants can join as individuals and be placed on a team, or come along with some friends. The level is mixed – all you need is your hockey gear and you will be welcomed with open arms!

If you have any questions about the tourney please contact info@dublinpinkhockeyfest.com or call 086-3352373.

More info:

Pink Hockey Fest / Pink Ladies on Facebook / Facebook event / Pink Hockey

Previously:

Getting hockeyed

The above was reproduced from the Dublin Pink Hockey Fest blog, with kind permission from The Pink Ladies. Nom!

Suppa Earl Gae: Pride Special

click here — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:50:00 +0000

Good morning, proud people! Tis the season, and we’re all praying to the weather godess, Jean Byrne, that the rain stays away this Saturday. For that is when the Ireland’s first Pride parade of the year kicks off in Dublin! Have you all got your best outfits prepped? Have you accessorised your pets? Do you have a reliable rainbow umbrella to hand? Have you ironed your pride flag?

It’s all so exciting!

So, today’s Suppa is a seasonal affair. To find out what’s happening for Dublin and nationwide Pride, take a peek at our what’s on calendar – it’s heaving! Dublin Pride’s programme can be downloaded from the official website, and copies are available from select bars and cafes around the city centre.

So what’s been happening?

Send us your Pride Pics!

We’re asking readers to send in your photos of Pride flags between now and September when the final Pride takes place in Ireland.

These can be actual flags, or cars/people/jelly babies/accessories/pets (within reason) – or whatever Pride-themed, rainbow coloured objects that you spy. The more the merrier. (And if you can snap them near a local landmark, all the better!)

So get them to us by email, twitter, or via facebook – whichever is easiest!

So far, the Pride Pics have included: An adorable pooch in a rainbow doggy cover at the inaugural Dublin Pride Run; A Dublin Bus shelter on Parkgate Street getting into the Pride spirit; A proudly yarn-bombed Galway Hooker statue; and a lovely image of a CRT computer monitor vomiting a rainbow. It seemed apt.

And there are more to come!

Fair City’s Laura & Emily

You may have been reading the recaps of last week’s episodes of that Irish institution, Fair City.

Yes! That’s right! Fair City have a sapphic storyline (and not for the first time).

It seems the lesbians will be not quite so hot ‘n’ bothered this week (thanks a bunch, scriptwriters), but watch this space for updates! Will there be more rattling off queer film titles? Casually including lesbian lingo while flirting at the Carrigstown’s local? Sure, who’s to say?!

Irish athletes at Eurogames 2012

The annual Eurogames sporting bonanza takes place this year in Budapest, Hungary.

Among the Irish representatives heading over to the event which kicks off today are the Phoenix Tigers footballers.

The Phoenix Tigers were established in June 2004 by a group of gay women to promote playing soccer among the lesbian and female bisexual community of Dublin and the surrounding areas. It’s queer women, getting fit, meeting new people and having lots of fun!

We hope to catch up with the Tigers when they return to Dublin, to find out about how they got on – so stay tuned!

Ireland’s first out mayor is elected

Also just in time for Pride, Ireland’s first out mayor has been elected to office.

Fingal County Council elected Labour councillor, Cian O’Callaghan, as Cathaoirleach of the local authority on Friday last.

O’Callaghan first became a councillor at Fingal County Council in 2009. He joins the likes of Senators David Norris and Katherine Zappone, and TDs Dominic Hannigan, John Lyons and Jerry Buttimer – who are among Ireland’s out LGBT politicians.

Louise Hannon of the Labour LGBT group said:

We are delighted to be celebrating and marking Dublin’s pride festival with this important milestone.

She continued:

Labour LGBT has strongly supported the election of openly gay elected representatives. Today’s vote is a step forward for the LGBT community.

She added that O’Callaghan is a “talented young politician with a long record of progressive activism on many issues”.

Good man, Cian!

Belong To at New York Pride

Michael Barron and Belong To crew were at the Irish Consulate in New York last weekend.

With the Consul General Noel Kilkenny in the audience, along with Dominic Hannigan TD, Michael spoke at the BeLonG To’s New York Pride event at the weekend, before joining the Craicfest at the Irish Arts Center where they showed BeLonG To short films.

If all that wasn’t enough, on Sunday, they headed out to join the New York Pride march in Manhattan.

You can get extra jealous by checking out oodles of photos of the Belong To crew on their facebook page.

New Arsenal signing appears on cover of gay magazine

A strapping young chappy by the name of Olivier Giroud promises to be a new addition to Arsenal football club – and he has appeared on the cover of a gay magazine.

(Sorry, fella fanciers: he’s straight.)

The popular Arseblog brings us the news that The Mirror ran a story at the weekend about how Giroud posed for the cover of a Tetu magazine in France.

The footballer told Tetu:

I would be delighted if my gesture can help change the mentality of some people involved in football.

Arseblog also pointed out that The Mirror had changed its online edition overnight: the story originally suggested that there could be “trouble on the terraces” and that Giroud could be a target for opposition fans because of it.

The Mirror stated:

Olivier Giroud has set himself up as a target for rival fans, by posing provocatively for a gay magzine in France…

Acknowledging the endemic homophobia in football, the blog went on to describe the tabloid’s angle as “sad and utterly pathetic”.

Not only that, but the commenters on The Mirror’s own website were mind-bogglingly enlightened and basically slammed both the original and reviewed versions of the story.

It may not seem like it, but that’s fairly feckin’ radical (for football). Maybe there’s hope for gay footballers yet?

But things aren’t all rosy in the garden – which is why Pride and solidarity at home and abroad are as important as ever.

Not only do we still need to make progress for full equality in Ireland, but the situation is dangerous for many LGBT people around the world:

UK anti-equality campaign

Across the water, conservative forces are amassing against equality.

Some MPs and bishops have aligned as “the Keep Marriage Special campaign” to oppose the UK government’s plans for marriage equality.

According to The Guardian, they have claimed that the argument for gay marriage would also legalise incest and polygamy, claim bishops and MPs

One of the lobby group’s leaflets claimed that the logical argument for reforming the law would be equally applicable to the legalisation of incest and polygamy.

It claims:

If the only basis for marriage is the desire of the parties to get married then there is, according to the logic of this proposal, no reason not to open up marriage to more than just same-sex couples. Polygamy, polyandry and incest would all be permissible.

If that wasn’t bizarre enough, the leaflet adds:

The immigration service is already swamped with false marriages – this would only add to their problems.

Er.. What?? Keep talkin’, crazies. You’re doing wonders for the cause of equality.

Events across Europe

While Pride events take place across Europe, rights organisation, ILGA Europe, has been using its Facebook page to document developments in the region affecting LGBT people.

With a few exceptions, the picture it paints is bleak.

In Bulgaria, the capital’s Pride organisers have had to ask the church there to stop calling for violence. Activists asked that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church distance itself from recent calls for violence against the parade. Earlier in June, an Orthodox priest said that “stones should be thrown” at the Parade’s participants.

In Lithuania, a constitutional amendment to redefine the family in terms of marriage and parenthood, and to ban promotion of homosexual relations, was narrowly avoided.

Last week, a leading gay rights activist in the Ukrainian capital was hospitalised after an assault. Taras Karasiychuk, of the organisation Gay Forum, said that he sustained a concussion and a fractured jaw during the attack by a group of unidentified assailants, who screamed homophobic insults at him. It is the second known serious assault on an LGBT person in Ukraine to have taken place over the past month.

Worryingly echoing Ireland’s equality laws, a court in Germany has ruled that the German Catholic Church is entitled to fire the head of a kindergarten because she is a lesbian.

Speaking of Germany, in Greece police had to intervene when a Pride parade in the north of the country came under attack. Police say about 50 people threw eggs and plastic bottles of water at about 400 people holding a gay pride parade in the city of Thessaloniki. No injuries were reported.

Egypt’s statement to the UN

Meanwhile during a discussion about human rights at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last Thursday, an Egyptian delegation urged the body to focus its efforts on “real people” who need assistance when the issue of the LGBT community arose.

The statement included:

Finally, concerning the highly controversial notion of sexual orientation, we can only reiterate that it is not part of the universally recognized human rights.

It continued:

We call on [the UN] not to undermine the credibility and legitimacy of [its] important work in the eyes of real people who actually need it, especially in regions where such concepts are rejected by both its Christian and Muslim inhabitants like the Middle East.

This isn’t the first time that a UN meeting to discuss human rights has heard such deeply homophobic statements. In March, a group of Islamic and other nations staged a walk-out during a historic meeting to discuss the human rights issues affecting LGBT people around the world, and launch a landmark report.

Still, neither the March walkout or last week’s hateful statement managed to derail proceedings. You can’t stop progress!

Mmm, uniforms.. Dublin hosts 6th European Gay Police Association Conference!

click here — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:00:24 +0000

G-Force, the Garda LGBT Employee Support Network, on behalf of the European Gay Police Association, will host the 6th European Gay Police Association Conference on the 28th and 29th June 2012 in Dublin Castle.

At this landmark event over 130 LGBT Police delegates from 18 European countries and the United States will gather to share best practice. They will be joined by employees of An Garda Síochána and a variety of state bodies and non-governmental organisations.

The delegates will work together to develop new networks of police employees, dedicated to providing a better service to the LGBT communities and a better work environment for LGBT police staff.

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, will mark this historic event by welcoming the European Police Delegates at a reception in Aras An Uachtarain on the evening of the 27th June 2012 at 5PM. The conference itself will be launched at 9.30am on the morning of the 28th June by Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter TD. The Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan will also address the conference.

Dr. Mel Duffy and Dr. Vera Sheridan of Dublin City University will launch the results of their groundbreaking research into the experiences of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Gardaí at the conference. Copies will be available at the launch.

The conference, built around the theme “Supporting Professional Policing”, has been designed around two distinct themed days. Day one concerns Supporting Human Resources; day two deals with the theme of Supporting LGBT Communities. The conference boasts 15 workshops, many of which explore themes never before discussed at EGPA Conferences or similar conferences.

Policing and LGBT young people, practical guidelines for supporting Trans* people (employee and Community Policing perspectives), and an EU standard approach to police training on LGBT issues, are just some of the topics being explored.

The European Gay Police Association Conference delegates will participate in the Dublin Pride parade which will take place on the 30th June.

What? 6th European Gay Police Association Conference
Where? Dublin Castle
When? Thursday and Friday, the 28th and 29th June

Full details of the programme, speakers and workshops are available on the conference website egpa2012.com.

G-Force info:

web / facebook / twitter

#PridePics: Show us your true colours!

click here — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:00:40 +0000

Last week, we put the call out for your Pride Pics: basically anything with rainbow/pride flag colours. You can submit them to us through:

Email: editorial@gaelick.com
Twitter: mention us (@gaelick) and include the #PridePics hashtag
Facebook: just tag us or post on our page.

Go with whichever’s easiest!

So, what on earth could these pics include? Well, here are some examples I took from out and about and via the interwebs:

Adorable pooch at Friday’s inaugural Dublin Pride Run

A Dublin Bus shelter on Parkgate Street getting into the Pride spirit

A proudly yarn-bombed Galway Hooker, via TheJournal.
Image: @StanCarey on Twitter

Broadsheet brought us this lovely image of a CRT computer monitor vomiting a rainbow.
Seems apt.

So, let’s say you spy a collection of rainbow-y cupcakes on an artist’s pallet:

Or the Empire State Building lit up for NY Pride 2012:

Or Jake Gyllenhaal:

Or multicoloured cookies:

Well then, get those snaps to us!

Clarification: Dublin Pride Run venue

click here — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:30:48 +0000

Good morning, proud people!

There has been a little confusion over the past 24 hours about the venue of the Dublin Pride Run. And with around 300 participants registered, the organisers are keen to ensure everyone knows where to turn up!

So, the good folks at Dublin Frontrunners who are doing the organising have confirmed that the venue has not changed, and the run will still take place in the Phoenix Park.

The starting point is Acres Road in the Phoenix Park, and that’s where you’ll find Catherina McKiernan and several hundred other runners, joggers and walkers starting at 7:30pm sharp this Friday – all working their socks off in aid of the charity Headstrong.

Where: Starting at Acres Road, Phoenix Park
When: Friday 22nd June 2012 at 7.30pm sharp
Distance: 5km (around 3 miles)

Full details & info:

We want YOU to show us your true colours!

click here — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:38:09 +0000

I’ve had an idea. A Pride idea.

Since the Pride season is well under way, and will last until at least September, we want to hear from you.

Borrowing from the Dublin Pride theme – “Show your true colours” – we’re asking you to send us your photos of Pride flags.

These can be actual flags, or cars/people/accessories/pets (within reason) – or whatever Pride-themed, rainbow coloured objects that you spy. The more the merrier. (And if you can snap them near a local landmark, all the better!)

So, whether you’re in Bray or The Banner, Gweedore or Gorey, Coleraine or Crookhaven, Arklow or Achill – send them on in!

Get your pics to us by email (editorial@gaelick.com), via twitter (@gaelick), or tag us on Facebook – being sure to include the location and your name (or pseudonym if you prefer) so we can give you a shout-out!

We’ll then publish a regular post of the flags we get. Simples! Any questions, just give us a holler.

If all goes well, we can publish them all summer long, given the rolling Prides taking place across the country.

Nationwide Pride!

Dublin Pride (22 June-1 July)
Dundalk Pride (12-14 July)
Belfast Pride (27 July-4 August)
Cork Pride (29 July-6 August)
North West Pride, Sligo Town (6-12 August)
Derry Foyle Pride (22-26 August)
Waterford Pride (13-19 August)
Galway Community Pride (23-26 August)
Limerick Pride (1-9 September)

Dublin LGBTQ Pride 2012

tabula rasa — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 08:22:53 +0000

The theme of this year’s pride is Show Your True Colours, which is a pretty great theme for pride. Showing your true colours is what pride is all about after all: being our magnificent technicolour queer selves! The pride committee have put together a wonderful programme of events for the festival, a small selection of which I’ve outlined below.

Full listings are in our What’s On calendar, and programmes are available in all the queerest bars and can be found online (pdf).

Friday, 22nd June

Dublin Pride Run

Acres Road, Phoenix Park
7:30pm
€20 plus registration

Dublin Pride Festival Launch Night

The Dragon
9pm onwards
Admission €10

Saturday 23rd

Outhouse Societies Day

This is your chance to find out more about all the LGBTQ social groups, sports clubs and community societies.
Outhouse, 105 Capel Street
12-2pm
Free!

Dublin Pride: Walking History

This walking tour of gay Dublin has been one of the staples of the pride festival, and is always incredibly interesting, so I’d really encourage people to head along!

Merrion Square
2pm
Free!

Sunday 24th

Family Day, Sports Day and Dog Show

With activities including kick about with the Dublin Devils, Tag in Drag rugby with the Emerald Warriors, a dog show, games of rounders and general fun and banter, this is another event not to be missed!

Football Pitches by the Papal Cross, Phoenix Park
1pm
Free!

Tuesday 26th

DAA 25th Birthday Party

A dance off to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Dublin Aids Alliance!

The Front Lounge
7-10.30pm
€5 per person/€12 per team

AMI: This is Your Life

An event showcasing the life of AMI.

Pantibar
8pm
Free!

Last AMI Screening

Meeting House Square
10pm
Free!

Wednesday 27th

Out and Older Pride Table Quiz

Front Lounge
8pm
€40 for a table of 4

Wilde Off Scene Night

Email events@dublinpride.ie for the venue

10pm
Free

The Time for Marriage Equality is now

Panel discussion on where marriage equality is currently at in view of recent political developments. RSVP to info@marriagequality.ie

Venue TBC, keep an eye on www.marriagequality.ie
6.30-8.30pm
Free!

Acting Out presents “Gross Indecency”

This dramatic piece weaves together the 3 trials of Oscar Wilde to give a fascinating insight into his tragic downfall.

Outhouse, 105 Capel Street
7.30pm
Free!

Thursday 28th

Panti’s Pride Special Make and Do Do

Pantibar
10pm
Free!

Pride Hootenanny Hoedown

Don ye now your Country and Western dancing apparel and get your dance on to a mix of folk and Irish music!

The Front Lounge
8pm
Free!

Friday 29th

Mischief

Presenting Bressie from The Voice

The George
€15

Bunny’s Rainbow Marchin’, Flag Wavin’, Pride Hutch

Pantibar Basement
10pm
Free!

Dyke Night Pre-Party Drinks

Drink promos for people with tickets.

Front Lounge
8pm
Free!

The Pussy Cat Club

Dublin Pride Women’s Night, with Phil T Gorgeous, DJ Jules and others.

The Button Factory
9pm
€13/€10 (early bird)

Saturday 30th

Outhouse Champagne Breakfast

Outhouse
11am-1.30pm
Free!

Dublin Pride Parade 2012

Garden of Remembrance
Assembly at 12pm, moving off at 2pm sharp

Pride In The Park

The post parade venue has moved to Merrion Square from the Civic Offices, and it promises to be huge!

Merrion Square
3.30pm
Free!

If you’re not sure where to go after Merrion Square, you have a huge choice of after parties:

PRIDE: Mothers’ Bloc Party!

Free admission to the Block Party from 3pm
€10 to the underground party from 9pm

Dublin Pride Presents Kaleidoscope: Pride True Colours

Official Dublin Pride Night
The Button Factory
9pm
€13/€10 early bird

Pride Parade Day @ The George

Admission €10
Front Lounge:Dublin Pride
Free!

Gaydar.ie presents Gaydar Pride

The Dragon
Free before 9pm, €5 after (Doors open 5pm)

Pantibar’s Pride Street Party

Sunday 1st July

Cermony of Love and Remembrance

Oscar Wilde Statue, Merrion Square
6pm
Free

Now That’s What I Call Pride

Pride closing Bingo with Shirley Temple Bar and Pride Awards

The George
8.30pm
€5

For more information on Dublin LGBTQ Pride 2012, see: dublinpride.ie

Last chance to sign up for the Dublin Pride Run!

click here — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 09:30:01 +0000

Look! This could be you!
Image: Karl Zobel/SXC

As tabula rasa previously told us – The inaugural 5k Dublin Pride Run will take place on Friday 22nd June at 7:30pm in the Phoenix Park. The event is a summer fun run and open to all, whether you are a seasoned runner, or someone who just wants to head along for a jog.

And there are just hours left to sign up!

Former World Cross Country Silver Medallist Catherina McKiernan will start the run, which is being held in aid of Headstrong, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health.

Registration is via their ActiveGlobal.com page. I had a couple of glitches on the site, but the gang from organisers Dublin Frontrunners were on hand right away when I sent them my garbled email looking for help – so fear not!

Plus, it’s only 5 kilometers, so if this couch potato is willing to brave that, then anyone can!

And, above all else, it’s just for fun. So get registering!

Where: Starting at Acres Road, Phoenix Park
When: Friday 22nd June 2012 at 7.30pm
Distance: 5km
Registration: online
Fee: €20 plus registration

Dublin Pride Run: website / facebook / registration

Dublin Pride programme launch tonight!

click here — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:00:07 +0000

First the Pride banners appeared along the Liffey, and now the festival’s programme launch has been announced. It’s official: Dublin Pride season is upon us!

The Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival Official Programme Launch takes place tonight in the Wood Quay Venue in Dublin City Council Civic Offices at 6:30pm.

The Dublin Pride theme this year is “Show Your True Colours” and the organisers have created a programme that reflects this and is packed full of new and exciting events.

Most notably, the Pride Parade route has changed, and the Post-Parade events will take place this year in Merrion Square.

Guest speakers at tonight’s event will be the Dublin LGBTQ Pride Chairperson Jo McNamara, Alternative Miss Ireland (AMI) Winner Minnie Mélange and the Grand Marshall of the Pride Parade, Panti!

The evening will also feature the work of Yalda Pashai, who has created a multi-media project on Queer Muslims called Illumination.

Her project is a series of images with interviews of real volunteers who share their experiences of coming-out, homophobia, reconciliation of religion and sexuality, personal opinions and exposure.

What? Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival Official Programme Launch:
Where? The Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council Civic Offices (Directions below)
When? Tuesday June 5th 2012 at 6:30pm

Calling the Dublin Pride women’s night “The Pussy Cat Club”. Are you serious?

tabula rasa — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:16:10 +0000

So, it seems that Dublin Pride’s traditional Dyke Night has been renamed… The Pussy Cat Club.

I’m not really sure where to start with this, so I will just begin by saying this: #EPIC FAIL.

The roaring success and amazing theme of last year’s Dyke Night was always going to hard to follow, but to go from Dublin Pride Dyke Night presents ‘The Speakeasy’ to The Pussy Cat Club is a bit mind-boggling to be perfectly honest.

I’ve spoken to several people about this over the last couple of days and although there have been a couple of people who don’t care either way, the overwhelming majority aren’t at all happy with the change.

While some people may have issues with the word “dyke”, i’s also true that in a similar way to the term “queer”, “dyke” has been reclaimed by many LBTQ women as a positive self-designation, and is seen by many as a word of empowerment.

It is due to this sense of empowerment associated with the word dyke that it is so disappointing to see the night renamed something that sounds so sleazy and vaguely sexist.

A lot of the reactions I got both online and in person centered on how “The Pussy Cat Club” sounds like some sort of a strip bar.

A 0.42 second Google shows we weren’t wrong: the results include several strip clubs and ”gentlemen’s clubs” across the UK and the US!

So I took a straw poll of Team Gaelick. click here had this to say:

What the absolute fuck? Has this been dreamed up by the people who brought us Pussy Wagon in The George? (If you’re up there, Superman, give me strength!)

First off, let’s try some word association:

“Pussy Cat Club.” – “Strip joint.”
“Dyke Night.” – “Feck yeah, amazing biatches!”

What is not to like about the name, “Dyke Night”? It’s self-explanatory and unashamed.

I can, of course, imagine that there are some who reject or are uncomfortable with the word “dyke”. It obviously can have negative connotations. Personally, however, I’m of the view that some words can be re-claimed. (One example is “queer“.)

But if the name “Dyke Night” has to be changed, what on god’s green earth could possess anyone, anywhere (apart from pimps and sleazy hetero men), to give the name “Pussy Cat Club” to a night for queer women? (And don’t get me started on whether or not trans people are welcome. I sincerely hope the answer to that is “Yes.”)

But of all people to think of, propose, second, and agree on – members of Dublin bloody Pride?! Are you shitting me? What god awful fuck-up thought “Pussy Cat Club” was a good idea for anything associated with Pride?

Someone on Facebook suggested an alternative: “Vagina Wars!” If we can’t have “Dyke Night” back, I’m down with that.

If Dublin Pride doesn’t actually want dykes and Dyke Night, just cancel the event and be done with it!

Then there were some of other – more succinct, less ragey – responses. According to Slayer:

I think it’s a terrible name. As a friend of mine said, “Who named it? Peter Stringfellow?”

Ambivalent orange is ambivalent:

Not mad about it but I didn’t like Dyke Night as a name either

Bear found it unbearable:

Don’t like it. Because:

1. I don’t like cats, and
2. It sounds like something a sleazy straight guy would come up with.

HAL asked, “Just what do you think you’re doing, ~~Dave~~ Dublin Pride?”:

I am sick to my back teeth of Kitty/Lippy/Pussy titles for women-only nights. I know “dyke” hollers back to a time when we were taking back ownership of the name. Some younger ladies may feel it now only means butch lesbians, so I don’t mind a rebranding. But Pussy Cat? Seriously?

And others had this to say:

It’s vulgar, and very off-putting. It sounds like a straight man came up with it.

-Bridge

Reclaiming the word dyke is empowering, political and kind of sexy, in a subversive way. Reclaiming the word Pussycat is an activity solely reserved for Bond girls gone to seed.

-Sinead Dolan

So, what do you think? Let us know in the comments!

Gay Pride vs. Gay Marriage

Jen — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:00:54 +0000

We’re approaching June fast and we all know what that means…it’s Pride season! The banners are up around town, the flags will be raised high and mighty and there’ll be an exceptional buzz as Pride 2012 gets nearer and nearer.

But as more and more political figure heads and celebrities come out in support of the LGBT community and gay marriage, should we focus less on gay pride and more on gay marriage?

Here in Dublin, after Pride, we have the March For Marriage each August, which in my opinion is more important. I’ve heard from quite a few people that Pride just isn’t their cup of Earl Gae and they think it hinders the community and the fight to be taken seriously. With this in mind, would we benefit more from just having a March For Marriage and focusing all our attention on that, promoting it and supporting it?

If, for one year, we could JUST have the March For Marriage and pull in the massive crowd that usually turns up for Pride, would we benefit more and get further along the path to full and equal marital rights?

At the risk of sounding like Carrie Bradshaw I’ll try not end anymore paragraphs with questions. It would be great if there was a “marriage week” where workshops, talks, debates and official interactions with politicians and LGBT families and couples took place, a chance for people to show their support and then ended with the march.

Am I being a bit simple here or do you agree? (Damn, eat your heart out Bradshaw).

Image: theblaze.com

5k Dublin Pride Run

tabula rasa — Sat, 26 May 2012 06:00:02 +0000

Attention all you people who like to run! Dublin Frontrunners need you!

The inaugural 5k Dublin Pride Run will take place on Friday 22nd June at 7:30pm in the Phoenix Park. The event is a summer fun run and open to all, whether you are a seasoned runner, or someone who just wants to head along for a jog.

The Frontrunners have also announced that Former World Cross Country Silver Medallist Catherina McKiernan will start the run. The run is in aid of Headstrong, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, which is an excellent organisation. Even if you don’t like running, I’d still encourage you to head along for support and donate what you can!

Headstrong is a non-profit organisation supporting young people’s mental health in Ireland. Headstrong works with communities and statutory services to empower young people to develop the skills, self-confidence and resilience to cope with mental health challenges- their vision is to give every young person in Ireland somewhere to turn to and someone to talk to.

Frontrunners are encouraging participants to raise sponsorship or donate money directly to Headstrong. Aidan Rodgers, Race Director said:

Headstrong are a natural fit for the run. They’re a dynamic organisation who do great work empowering communities to support young people in Ireland.

Just a bit about the group themselves: Dublin Front Runners AC is Ireland’s largest gay and lesbian sporting group. The club is part of a world-wide network of gay and lesbian “Front Runners” running and walking clubs. The name “Frontrunners” was inspired by Patricia Nell Warren’s novel The Front Runner.

Since it was set up in 2005, DFR has grown to over 120 members and is now a fully fledged athletic club affiliated to Athletics Ireland. Indeed, many of its members have become a regular presence in local club events in the Dublin area. DFR meet in The Phoenix Park two or three times a week and regard the park as their running home.

Regarding the Dublin Pride Run, Aidan Rodgers also said:

We are very excited at the prospect of the race. The club has been in existence for over 6 years and this is a natural progression for us. We hope that run will become an integral part of the annual running calendar. We expect the run will raise the profile of the club and get more people participating in sport and athletics.

The fun run will take place in the Phoenix Park on Friday 22nd June at 7:30pm. The run will start on the Acres Road, proceed down the Kyber Pass, along the S Bends, move along the Glen Road, turn onto Furze Road and then proceed down Chesterfield Ave to the finish near the car park at the Papal Cross.

The Dublin Frontrunners are trying to get people to sign up early, so if you’re interested, head over to www.dublinfrontrunners.ie and register today!

Run Location: Acres Road, Phoenix Park

When: Friday 22nd June 2012 at 7.30pm

Distance: 5km

Registration: online here

Fee: €20 plus registration

Please note:

Parking is available at the Papal Cross car park, the Phoenix Park Visitor’s Centre or, on Chesterfield Ave. An Garda Siochana have advised that parking is not permitted in the area around St Mary’s Hospital, Acres Road and the Chapelizod entrance to the park.

The post race party will take place in the Polo Club. Sign up today!

For more information, see the Front Runner site as well as the event on Facebook. Or click on the HeadStrong site.

Dublin Pride seeks volunteer Director of Finance

click here — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:48:46 +0000

This just in from Dublin Pride:

Dublin Pride LGBTQ Ltd
Director of Finance : Job Description

Position Description: Director of Finance (Volunteer Position)

Basic Function: The Director of Finance position is accountable for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the company, to include the development of a financial and operational strategy, metrics tied to that strategy, and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to preserve company assets and report accurate financial results to the company members at the AGM. Principal accountabilities are:

Planning

Assist in formulating the company’s future direction and supporting tactical initiatives
Monitor and direct the implementation of strategic business plans
Develop financial and tax strategies
Manage the capital request and budgeting processes
Develop performance measures that support the company’s strategic direction

Operations

Participate in key decisions as a member of the Board of Directors.
Maintain in-depth relations with all members of the Board of Directors.
Manage the Accounting, Internal Audit, Sales and Sponsorship Departments.
Oversees the application of Grants available on behalf of the company.
Manage any third parties to which functions have been outsourced
Oversee the company’s transaction processing systems
Implement operational best practices
Oversee Volunteer benefit plans, with particular emphasis on maximizing a cost-effective benefits package.
Supervise partnership due diligence and negotiate partnerships with third party companies.

Financial Information

Oversee the issuance of financial information
Personally review and approve all filling to government agencies in a timely fashion.
Report financial results to the board of directors on a regular basis.

Risk Management

Understand and mitigate key elements of the company’s risk profile
Monitor all open legal issues involving the company
Construct and monitor reliable control systems
Maintain appropriate insurance coverage
Ensure that the company complies with all legal and regulatory requirements
Ensure that record keeping meets the requirements of auditors and government agencies
Report risk issues to the audit committee of the board of directors
Maintain relations with external auditors and investigate their findings and recommendations

Funding

Monitor cash balances and cash forecasts
Arrange for debt and equity financing
Obtain funding through Grant Applications
Obtain funding through Sponsorship agreements with third party companies.

Third Parties

Participate in communication with the community
Maintain banking relationships
Represent the company with third party companies and investors.

Desired Qualifications: The candidate of chief financial officer should have a degree in accounting or business administration, or equivalent business experience and 3+ years of progressively responsible experience for a similar company or division of a larger company. Should have experience in partnering with an executive team, and have a high level of written and oral communication skills. Preference will be given to candidates with an MBA in Finance and the Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant designations.

Apply

Email your CV and cover letter to hr@dublinpride.ie

Check out the original job spec & info here.

Kelis in the George, June 23rd

tabula rasa — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:28:11 +0000

Kelis will be taking to the stage of the George on the 23rd of June as part of the pride celebrations being held by The George, which is the Official Pride Club of 2011.

Her performance will form part of Davina Devine’s 11 O’ Clock Show, and should be unmissable.

Kelis has won several awards and accolades over the past few years including a BRIT award, and Q and NME awards. She will take to the stage at midnight and the audience can expect to hear all of her biggest hits including Milkshake and Acapella.

Darragh Flynn, Manager at The George said:

Having an artist as renowned as Kelis perform on our stage is going to be amazing! We’re really excited about all the events we have lined up for the duration of Pride, with so many theme nights and performances, as well as the official opening and closing ceremonies, The George is the place to be during Pride 2011.

Kelis will perform a 40 minute session, and the event is ticket only. Tickets are priced at 15euro with only two tickets per person. Tickets are available directly from The George Bar.

The George

June 23rd

€15

Dublin Pride programme launch tonight!