Campaigners: Australian PM should represent the 71% of her supporters who want gay marriage

Australian campaigners have “demanded” the Prime Minister act in accordance with public opinion on gay marriage, after a poll which shows 71% of the Prime Minister’s Labor Party voters are in favour of the move.
The statement comes after the Prime Minister re-affirmed her opposition to marriage equality and proposed a conscience vote on the matter.

From Australia to Brazil and the ctpost reports

Brazil grants residency based on same-sex marriage

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s government for the first time has granted a foreign citizen the right to live permanently in the country based on a same-sex relationship with a Brazilian citizen, according to a notice published Monday in the country’s Federal Register.
Spanish man, Antonio Vega Herrera, and his Brazilian partner live in the town of Aracatuba in Sao Paulo state.

In Massachusetts ,Transgender Rights Bill Headed for Vote

The bill would amend the state’s non-discrimination statute and existing hate crime laws to include gender identity and expression. Thirteen other states and Washington, D.C., have passed similar bills.

Iowa Baker Refuses To Bake Lesbian Couple’s Wedding Cake

In Iowa, bakeries aren’t among businesses that are impervious to the tumultuous effects of the downturn economy. Still, one Iowa bakery owner had no hesitations about refusing to bake a wedding cake for one lesbian couple.

“I said, ‘I’ll tell you I’m a Christian, and I do have convictions.’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry to tell you, but I’m not going to be able to do the cake because of my convictions for their lifestyle. It is my right, and it’s not to discriminated against them. It’s not so much to do with them, it’s to do with me and my walk with God and what I will answer [to] Him for.”

Barbara Grier, Publisher of Lesbian Books, Dies at 78

Those scientists are at it again Female orgasm captured in series of brain scans

Scientists have used brain scan images to create the world’s first movie of the female brain as it approaches, experiences and recovers from an orgasm. The animation reveals the steady buildup of activity in the brain as disparate regions flicker into life and then come together in a crescendo of activity before gently settling back down again.

For gay, lesbian workers, Canadian workplaces pulse with change

Donna Renn began her career in the military — and in the closet. But today, the 50-year-old IT business analyst for TD is the poster girl for coming out in the workplace.

Over to Ontop Magazine where Chaz Bono is featured.

Chaz Bono has said he was terrified at transitioning in public.
The 42-year-old Bono was honored Saturday at the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center’s 40th Anniversary Gala and Auction with the group’s Board of Directors Award for his transgender activism.

And in case you missed it at the weekend on our Facebook page,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkOQw96cfyE

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The more people who march, the stronger and louder the message will be to the government as, let’s be honest, all they care about are votes. Well, we vote. And so do your friends and family. So bring as many people as you can.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Gj9infrqM

The March will begin at 3pm by city hall at the top of Parliament Street.

If you’re wondering about what to wear on the day Reads Print, Design & Photocopying Bureau have been kind enough to offer all equality supporters a special offer on t-shirt printing for the March for Marriage 2011. The logo on the t-shirt will be the logo that appeared on buses recently.

Read More on LGBT Noise’s Website

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1. LGBT Noise March for Marriage held in Dublin
2. LGBT Noise Table Quiz Dec 1st
3. Making some NOISE

The programme for government has been agreed by Fine Gael and Labour.  Same-sex marriage is one of a number of issues to be reviewed by a committee which will report back in 12 months. With no clear commitment to marriage equality, Noise and their supporters took to the streets in protest again, on Saturday 12 March, to remind the new government that equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will no longer be put on hold.

Noise highlights the incoming government’s promise to amend the Civil Partnership Act 2010 to ‘address any anomalies or omissions, including those relating to children’.  Noise organiser Fionnagh Nally says

While we recognise that the passing of the Civil Partnership Act has granted essential rights in areas such as pensions, taxation and social welfare, it shamefully omits any recognition, rights or protection for same-sex parents and their children, and makes children strangers in law to their non-biological parent. In the tragic event of a biological parent dying, for example, a child could be taken away from its other mum or dad.

Noise asserts that these glaring omissions in the Civil Partnership Act could be amended immediately by allowing access to Civil Marriage to all citizens and residents of Ireland.  Louise Fitzgerald of Noise says

The choice of Civil Marriage must be opened up to every Irish resident, if our new FG/Labour government is truly committed to a society built on egalitarian principles.

Toward that end Noise organised a flash demo at the GPO in Dublin earlier this month, the demo was attended by 100/120 people with some short speeches about the current state of play with the two new parties and a call to everyone to keep fighting for full equality.  You can see some photos on Facebook here.

Noise plans future mini protests as well as their big march to keep the momentum up and the message alive that Civil Marriage is the only equality option. While the Civil Partnership Act is progress they are pushing the message that this is not good enough, as we are still denied many essential rights and protections.

Noise also announced their next March for Marriage which will be on Sunday 14th of August.  As many people as possible are needed to come out and support this march, Noise are again asking us to bring family and friends to show the new government that LGBT people will only be satisfied when true equality is achieved.

Related posts:

1. LGBT Noise – March for Marriage 2011
2. Making some NOISE
3. Help Marriage Equality share Rory’s story

Would you look at that gorgeous pair

Reproduced with permission from and thanks to the Irish Times

Civil partnership is available to all from next month, and couples, photographers and wedding planners are busy preparing celebrations, writes FIONOLA MEREDITH

AS FAR as most couples planning a same-sex civil partnership are concerned, it’s a wedding in all but name – as much about romance as it is about rights. “Yes, we call it a wedding. We say we’re getting married. For us, it’s a chance to call each other ‘wife’,” says Rachel Armstrong. Since the law changed on January 1st, 2011, allowing same-sex partnerships to take place, Rachel and her partner Shelley Farrell, both 37 and living in Dublin, have been planning a special ceremony – 11 years to the day since their first commitment ceremony.

“We’ve been together for 12 years, and after one year we had our own ceremony. I never thought in my wildest dreams that we’d have the chance to do it officially in Ireland in our lifetimes. But we always thought – if it happens, then we will. It’s like renewing our vows.”

Both Armstrong and Farrell acknowledge that for many lesbian and gay people, the legislation doesn’t go far enough. For example, while civil partnerships share many of the responsibilities and rights of marriage, when it comes to children, parental rights do not extend to the non-biological parent.

“The legislation is a stepping stone, we know that,” says Farrell. “But let’s just take what we’ve got at the moment. Quite a few of our friends want to wait until we have full rights, but they didn’t make us feel anything less for going ahead. Everyone should take the opportunity to celebrate their relationship, whether they’re gay, straight or in-between.” Since three months notice is required for couples registering for a civil union, the first ceremonies are expected in early April.

Poignantly, however, two couples’ ceremonies have already taken place; it’s understood that at least one partner in each couple is seriously ill, and since there was a risk that they would die before the three-month period elapsed, they received special dispensation to go ahead with the ceremonies.

Armstrong and Farrell’s big day is planned for the August 26th, the anniversary of their first declaration of love and commitment to each other. They will do the formalities at Lombard Street registry office, then it’s off to a reception for family and friends at the Schoolhouse Hotel in Ballsbridge. Armstrong says at first, they were thinking of keeping the whole thing small and simple: after all, they did “the flowers, the big cake, the fab party, the works” last time around. But they’ve decided to make it a big celebration for a second time.

“Life’s too short not to,” says Armstrong. “And besides, I grew up in a straight world, and I have the same dreams. So Dad will give me away – again. And it will all be quite traditional: dinner, embarrassing speeches, champagne.”

The couple has engaged the string quartet Appassionata, to arrange a song for the couple – but it won’t all be tasteful Bach, Vivaldi or Handel. Farrell says that she has asked for Abba’s I do, I do, I do to be part of the proceedings, and she’s both surprised and delighted that Armstrong has agreed. In return, Farrell, who’s not a big fan of flying, has agreed to go to the United States for their honeymoon.

As for the outfits, they agree neither is a natural dress wearer, but Farrell has decided to go for the traditional white wedding gown, while Armstrong is still deliberating. “We’re both that little bit older now, so we’re more relaxed about it all, and we’re really enjoying it,” says Armstrong. “From booking the venue to arranging the registration, everything is another excuse to open a bottle of Prosecco!”

HAVING ENTERED INTO a civil union last August in Northern Ireland, Glenn Cunningham-Vilar (43) and Adriano Cunningham-Vilar (29) – the first same-sex couple to be recognised as civil partners under Irish law – are well-qualified to offer some advice to couples contemplating a ceremony.

“It really was the best day we ever had,” says Glenn. “But there were some negatives. For instance, we spent the night before together, because we love each other and we didn’t want to be apart. But we ended up stressing each other out. So I’d suggest not doing that. If we were to do it again, I’d spend it miles apart.”

More seriously, Glenn says he recommends a civil union to “anyone who’s committed and in it for the long haul. Marriage is much more than a ring on your finger – it gives a feeling of security, of moving into the future together. It’s helped us to evolve. I liken it to the difference between renting a house and buying a property. If you’re renting, you don’t care if there’s a crack in the wall. But if you own the house, you sort the problem out immediately. It’s all about looking after the relationship.”

Glenn and Adriano (known to his friends as Vilar) also suggest that couples personalise the ceremony.

“If you don’t add anything, it’s all over in five minutes. You should plan to add three pieces of music, and perhaps some non-religious readings or poems. Of course, you can also write your own vows if you wish. We finished each vow with the question to each other: ‘do you want this too?’ It was important to us that we could say the symbolic ‘I do’.”

The couple also made sure Glenn’s six-year-old daughter Molly was involved. “She was a flower girl, and when we were exchanging our rings, the best man put a sparkly ring on her finger too.”

WITH THE PREPARATIONS for civil partnership ceremonies well under way, it’s not surprising that the wedding industry has rushed to accommodate the needs of same-sex couples – some more imaginatively than others. Dublin jeweller Carol Clarke has long been making and selling customised rings to same-sex couples planning a commitment ceremony. Now that the law has changed, she’s noticed a big increase in inquiries for her creations, which include rings with interlocking gender symbols and Celtic love knots.

Meanwhile, photographer Shawna Scott is offering free photography services to gay and lesbian couples planning a ceremony; she aims to use the images from her Big Gay Wedding Project in a travelling exhibition, with all proceeds going to the Marriage Equality Campaign.

Many wedding venues have started to advertise their suitability for civil partnership ceremonies too. Springfield Hotel in Leixlip, the D Hotel in Drogheda and Ballinacurra House in Kinsale are among several establishments to have taken out targeted advertisements in the gay press.

Des McGahan of Ballinacurra House says the privacy, style and exclusivity of his property – it’s located on a 40-acre estate, and was for a while the late Michael Jackson’s Irish bolthole – affords couples “a wonderful platform for celebrating the long-awaited granting of their rights”.

Gay or straight, nuptials are notoriously costly, and Dave Farrelly, director of Heart 2 Heart wedding co-ordinators, which offers a specialised service for couples planning a civil partnership ceremony, urges caution, advising couples not to get too carried away: “You may want the wedding of your dreams, but don’t overspend.”

Belfast-based Anthony Miller – one half of wedding planners Ant and Dick – organised some of the first civil partnership ceremonies in London. He says that there are three first steps that every couple should take: decide on the date, confirm the venue and set the budget.

It all sounds very sensible, but Miller says that while most same-sex ceremonies have all the elements of a straight wedding, “the ones I have been involved with are that bit madder. There have been some eccentricity involved, and there’s a lot of fun to be had with them.”

Lynne Hyland, of Daisy Flower Creations – who is planning her own civil partnership with her girlfriend next year – thinks that some gay men may well want to “go all out” and have a real extravaganza, while female couples may prefer something a little more understated.

One last detail of their big day has got Rachel Armstrong and Shelley Farrell perplexed. They are on a hunt for tasteful same-sex cake toppers – the little figurines that sit on the top of the wedding cake – but so far their search has been fruitless. One friend suggested buying two sets of straight cake toppers and breaking off the grooms, but the couple aren’t keen on that option.

It seems there’s at least one gap in the burgeoning same-sex wedding market that’s crying out to be filled.

Related posts:

1. Civil Partnership seminar in Wicklow (25th Nov)
2. Review: The Wedding Song
3. What a Corker

Usually, I’m the sort who goes for comfort over class – hey! I’m a lesbian, it’s my right. Getting done up usually means a clean shirt and trousers. I’ve always been a tomboy, you see, and I’m wracking my tiny mind to remember the last time I wore a dress. I think it was as bridesmaid for my sister 18 years ago.

“So wear a suit,” I hear you grumble wondering when I’ll get to a point that will hopefully arrive soon. The problem, is that my wife-to-be is wearing a dress. A wedding dress. She has it purchased and, apparently, looks a million dollars in it. So I have to look like someone who deserves her.

I don’t want to wear a suit for a reason that shocks and shames me. I don’t want to look like the man in the relationship. I know!

a) who cares what people think

b) what’s wrong with looking like or being butch

You’re right! Absolutely spot on correctomundo, but I can’t help it. I really am ashamed of it.

I’m a woman marrying a woman, people will talk behind my back but it’s only this issue that gives me pause. Why do I care what we look like?

As I’ve said, I’m not a dress/skirt wearer and people joke about it in jest, but I couldn’t give a monkey’s, so why now? Is it because I’ll be the centre of attention, a place I’ve never been comfortable, and wearing a dress will just make me more uncomfortable? Sure I can talk myself into any acceptable explanation, but bare-faced honestly, I don’t want to look like the groom, I want to be the bride too.

“So wear a bloody dress, you butch-phobe,” I hear you cry. But see, I don’t want to. Look I’m a woman, contradiction is part of my DNA. Because, to continue with my soul bearing, I am kinda butch. A soft butch if you will; trousers, hoodies, no make up ever, can change a tyre, you get the picture.

So what do you think? Do you know of anything I can wear that will make me look like the bride but spare my blushes?

Related posts:

1. Formalwear fear
2. You’re the tops
3. Represent!

Lets start with what has to be a shocker. The Indo with a postive gay article!

The day I realised I was in love with another woman

But is it possible for a heterosexual woman to suddenly wake up gay?

This made me giggle, I wake up gay every morning Then again I’m not a hetrosexual.

Good news from Meixco

Mexico’s supreme court has ruled that same-sex marriages in Mexico City must be recognised throughout the country.

However, the law drew strong opposition from the Catholic Church and conservative groups, including the governing PAN party, and federal prosecutors challenged it on constitutional grounds.

Of course it did.

Those of you with iphones can avail of a new app to find other gays in your neighbourhood

The iPhone application – Grindr – uses the iPhone’s GPS system to let its users see a list of other gay men in the vicinity, and also provides vital statistics such as height, weight, age, ethnic background, and even a photo, New Zealand Herald reported.

A similar version for lesbians will be out by the end of the year, Simkhai said.

Lets hope it has the vital statistic of Psycho: Yes/No option

Interesting article over on jezebel Why Queer Women Cannot, By Definition, Be Sluts

Presumably, queer women who are cool with calling themselves a “slut” base their queer-sluthood on number of partners -– such is the case in Jaclyn Friedman’s recent heat-scoring piece “My Sluthood, Myself,” in which Friedman assesses her straight-slutting on the same terms she does her casual sex with women -– in her estimation, it all adds up to one big slutty statistic. But I’d argue that when it comes to gauging one’s overall sluttiness, volume of sex is secondary to what those partners are packing.

Nepal’s first transgender politician out to challenge roles – Feature

Bhumika Shrestha, 23, became the first transgender person to be elected to the General Convention of the Nepali Congress Party, beating more than 50 other candidates, many of whom had been in politics much longer than she had.

Pinknews reports Hong Kong trans woman launches fight to marry

A trans woman in Hong King has begun a legal fight for the right to marry her boyfriend.

Portia de Rossi to take Ellen’s name, sources say

I LOVE Porti and Ellen, they are just so cute!

She has applied to change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres, citing the reason “petitioner is taking the last name of her spouse.”

Milk is on this weekend! Our social Editor Tabula Rasa will be out and about at it and will have a report for us next week. Bananarama, * sigh *, and to think I thought I was interested in only their music. In my defence, their music was good. So was their look

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Evan Wolfson, from US organisation Freedom to Marry made the point of the journey Argentina has taken, both religiously and politically:

Today’s historic vote shows how far Catholic Argentina has come, from dictatorship to true democratic values, and how far the freedom to marry movement has come as twelve countries on four continents now embrace marriage equality.

Despite a protest organised by evangelical Christians and right wing Catholic groups that drew a whopping 60,000 protestors to a march on Congress the night before the vote, marriage was opened up to same sex couples by a Senate majority of 33-27 this morning.

Same-sex civil unions have been legalised in Uruguay, Buenos Aires and some states in Mexico and Brazil. Mexico City has legalised gay marriage. Colombia’s Constitutional Court granted same-sex couples inheritance rights and allowed them to add their partners to health insurance plans.

Argentina however – firmly supported by its president – has lead the way for the fight for full marriage rights for same-sex couples in South America. The new law broadly declares that “marriage provides for the same requisites and effects independent of whether the contracting parties are of the same or different sex.”

Well done Argentina – I hope our politicians here in Ireland are taking note!

Related posts:

1. Irish support same-sex marriage

The posters depict real couples, some with children, some without, showing that these families exist in Ireland and calling on members of the public to help us secure equal rights for them.

We Are Family illustrates that lesbian and gay families are already part of the diverse family fabric of Ireland.

Forty years after the death of Harvey Milk and we’re still following his idea that, if every straight person knew an out LGBT person, there would be no discrimination. Most straight people have no idea that there is discrimination in Ireland; they go about their business oblivious. It’s campaigns like We Are Family, that will, hopefully, show the unfairness within their midst.

It’s easy to thank MarriagEquality, GLEN and LGBT Noise and leave the campaigning up to them. But it’s not enough, we have to take part. Leave it to MarriagEquality to make that as easy as possible for us lazy armchair human rights lovers.

MarriagEquality simply ask that if you believe in equal rights, that if you want your family, or indeed your future family, to have equal rights, then visit your TD or Senator to directly ask for change.

You don’t even have to buy paper, an envelope or a stamp. Just call them, ask for 50 postcards (minimum) and get your family, friends, colleagues and passers-by to send them to their TDs and/or Senators. Or you can joing MarriagEquality at your local Pride march and walk behind a banner showing your support for full same-sex marriage rights.

Be the change that you want to see in the world.

If Ghandi doesn’t force you into action, no one will.

For more information on any of the MarriagEquality campaigns, or to get involved, go to their website.

Our Lives Out Loud: In Pursuit of Justice and Equality

Diverse Communities: Evolution of Gay and Lesbian Politics in Ireland (Undercurrents)

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When I was a student in UCD, and was the LGBT Right’s Officer for their students’ union in 06/07 and 08/09, the responsibility fell to me to organise the week. Most colleges have their weeks in the second semester, and ours was in February. Events normally run can range from talks on sexual health to workshops on queer theory, to talks on the history of the student LGBT movement, to guest speakers, to pride marches through campus, to coming out workshops and back again. Many colleges have a mock gay wedding, usually in conjunction with NOISE or MarriagEquality, to highlight the fact that, in this country, gay people cannot get married. Oftentimes the heterosexual students in colleges may not be aware of this fact, what with the civil partnership debate going on, so this is a valuable event to raise awareness of this.

For my second Rainbow Week, I was lucky enough to get Drs Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan (above) out to the college to give a talk. DIT this year have Ivana Bacik, UCC had their week launched by Anna Nolan and Trinity had Toni Walsh and Ivana Bacik to participate in a comedy debate, with motion being “Gay People Should Burn in Hell”. It was honestly the funniest hour of my life, with Tonie Walsh and two gay students speaking in favour, and Ivana and a Church of Ireland minister speaking against. David Norris makes an appearance at many of the weeks around the country too.

Coffee mornings and movie nights are also commonplace during these weeks, as this can be a great opportunity to meet other LGBT people in a quiet and safe space, and it is a fantastic chance to make new friends. Nights out also form an integral part of the weeks, as it can be some student’s first times to experience a social scene with other gay people.

For any students reading this, get in touch with your college’s LGBT Society or your Students Union and find out when this week or day is happening in your college. If you do not have one scheduled, email lgbt@usi.ie and the LGBT RO there should be able to help your college run one.

No related posts.

Perhaps I should have a red-top/tabloid disclaimer along the lines of “Read any further then this link and you may want to gouge out your eyes” type thing? It might work.

Onwards we go with the big story on all the sites : We do: Mexico City blazes trail with legalization of same-sex marriage

The Guardian reported

Gay rights activists across the world consider same-sex marriage one of their toughest goals. Only seven countries permit it: Belgium, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Sweden. A handful of US states also allow it.

Mexico’s leftist Democratic Revolution party (PRD) pushed the bill through the capital’s assembly 39-20, changing the city’s civil code definition of marriage from the union of a man and a woman to the “free uniting of two people”.

The change will permit same-sex couples to adopt children, apply for joint bank loans, inherit wealth and share insurance policies.

Go Mexico!

Pink News reports from Uganda following up on this post from Gooner with this

The Ugandan minister for ethics and integrity has suggested that the country will ditch its plans to execute gays in favour of life imprisonment.

Well what a relief they have finally seen their error of their ways and life imprisonment is such a step forward from execution don’t you think?

James Nsaba Buturo said this would allow authorities to rehabilitate gays

Rehab for gays. ‘Cause its never been tried.

Moving swiftly on, and in keeping the theme with ridiculously oppressive laws against our brothers and sisters, Pink News also reports Lithuanian parliament revises ‘gay ban’ law

According to Amnesty, punishable offences would include campaigning on human rights issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, providing sexual health information to lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans people or the organisation of gay film festivals and Pride events.

Instead, lawmakers yesterday approved changes which would ban the “encouraging the sexual abuse of minors, sexual relations between minors and other sexual relations”.

I’m sorry but I actually laughed at this part of the statement

The legislation also prohibited the mention of bisexuality, polygamy, images of straight sex, death and severe injury, the paranormal, foul language and bad eating habits.

Bad eating habits? Put down that Mars bar and start eating that museli right away! Not another takeway, you’re going straight to prison for that as soon as I find out how to report you.

Crazy Lithuanian parliament.

However, gay rights activists in Lithuania have said that events such as Pride marches could still be banned under the revised law, which also bars the promotion of “any concept of the family other than that set down in the constitution”.

Thanks to my colleague CanuckJacq to pointing out this cute story: Lesbian Teens Named School’s Best Couple

Votes cast in the senior superlative contest at a South Bronx high school were cast in favor of acceptance this month. The title for best couple at the Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School has gone to a set of lesbian teen.

Victoria Cruz and Deoine Scott have been together for two and a half years and both graduated from high school on Friday.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww…bless their wee cottons.

Heading over to celebrity news and was anyone really surprised to see this headline ‘Family Ties’ star Baxter: ‘I’m a lesbian’

Those of you who are reading this and thinking “Meredith who?”, have obviously never seen a true-life movie in their life, because Meredith is a true-life movie queen. Staring in such classics Bump in the Night, A Mother’s Justice , A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story and Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter . Betty just kept on going, a woman scorned eh?

Tabloid Alert! Tabloid Alert! Avoid if you are sensitive to these kinds of things.
Newly Engaged Lesbian Tila Tequila Pregnant to Her Brother! It really doesn’t need any more elaboration does it?

And finally because I am obsessed with it, and thank god it looks like I am not the only one, Glee mania has reached Italy:

Gaelick will be doing an in depth post later in the new year on Glee so watch this space. Not this exact space cause obviously it will get a new post…but, oh you know what I mean.

No related posts.

As part of all this, one of the duties of the LGBT RO is to organise an annual event called “Pink Training”. This is a weekend event for LGBT students from all over Ireland consisting of talks, workshops and a night out or two. The aim is to educate LGBT students on the issues they will face, how to deal with them, to learn about sexual health and to learn about LGBT history. It is also a fantastic opportunity for LGBT students to meet other LGBT students from all over and to build links and networks with one another.

This year’s Pink Training was held in the University of Ulster in UU Belfast from November 6 to 8.

Pink Training moves from city to city every year. Since I started college in 2006, I have attended Pink Trainings in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast. This is in order to facilitate all colleges, get people involved and to let people see the “scene” in other areas outside Cork and Dublin.

At Pink Training this year, most colleges in Ireland had students attend. There were delegates from UCD, Trinity, DCU, DIT, IADT, Waterford IT, UCC, CIT, IT Tralee, LIT, Letterkenny IT, IT Sligo, NUIG, NUIM, Athlone IT, Dundalk IT, UL, Queens University and the University of Ulster. It was great to see so many places represented, and was a fantastic opportunity to hear about the LGBT student experience in other colleges.

The weekend kicked off on the Friday evening with all delegates packed into a lecture theatre in UU, with the weekend being opened with a few words from the current LGBT RO, Laura Finlay, and a speech from the current president of USI, Peter Mannion. His speech was absolutely inspiring, as he is a man who truly believes that ALL students should be involved in the LGBT Right’s Movement and isn’t merely paying lip service to the campaign.

Icebreakers came next, presented by Jono, the USI Southern Area Officer. The game was “Stand Up, Sit Down” with questions ranging from “Stand up if you’ve been to Pink Training before” to “Stand up if you’ve kissed someone in the room” which lead to much hilarity and mortification for all!!

When that was finished, there was a table quiz with prizes for first and second as well as one for the best team name, which went to the team who called themselves “The Flaming Clits”.

The night then kicked off in earnest when we all headed to the Kremlin for a lots of dancing, bonding and getting to know each other (some more than others!!). A brilliant night was had by all – they know how to party in Belfast. Speaking as the Gaelick social editor, get up there for a night, seriously.

We were lucky enough to have Drs Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan as the keynotes speakers this year. The opened the conference part of the proceedings on the Saturday morning with their story and it’s safe to say the audience of almost 200 students were hanging on their every word. When they had finished speaking, they were swamped with book signing requests. Later in the day, they also held a workshop on instigating social change.

Other speakers for the weekend included Tonie Walsh (Irish Queer Archives), Ailbhe Smith (NLGF), Anna McCarthy (LGBT NOISE), Lisa Connell and Will St. Ledger (EQUALS), Cat McIlroy (TENI), Billie (Red Ribbon Project), Nicola Carr (Co-author LGBT Lives Survey), Orla Egan and Gillian Brien (BeLonG To), Richie Keane (IFPA), Laura Finlay (USI LGBT RO) and Ross Higgins.

They gave a vast range of workshops over the weekend. The first modules of Pink Training are always the coming out workshops, which are safe spaces in which to share your coming out stories, or your fears about coming out, or support each other through the whole process. Ten of these ran simultaneously this year, while Orla Egan made a presentation to Student’s Union representatives on how to support students coming out.

Cat McIlroy from TENI then gave a Trans*101 talk to all the delegates present. This module aimed to educate people on what Trans* is, and about how to be a Trans* ally.

There was a break for lunch, after which all the workshops started in earnest. There were 4-5 workshops running simultaneously every hour, so there was plenty of choice for the delegates.

These included LGBT Mental health (Nicola Carr and Gillian Brien), “Revolting Homosexuals” (a workshop by Tonie Walsh on the evolution of stereotyping), “Sexual Empowerment” (Billie’s workshop on being confident about your approach to sex), EQUALS “Direct Action Protesting” (Lisa Connell and Will St. Ledger), Campaigning on LGBT Issues (USI Equality Officer Linda Kelly), “LGBT NOISE and MarriagEquality” (Anna McCarthy), “Stereotypes” (USI LGBT RO Laura Finlay), “LGBT Drugs and Alcohol” (Gillian Brien BeLonG To), “Trans* Closed Space” (safe space for Trans* delegates to talk to Cat McIlroy), “Lesbian Visibility” (Ailbhe Smyth), “How to be an LGBT Ally” for SU Officers (Orla Egan), Sexual Health workshops (Billie, Richie Keane and others), “Pride and Protest” (Tonie Walsh on the history of pride), “Queer Theory” (Ross Higgins), and Bisexuality Awareness (Sam Whelan Curtin and Sinead Wright).

There was then a debate about Civil Partnership vs. Civil Marriage. The speakers on this were Anna McCarthy of NOISE and Brian Sheehan from GLEN. It was a very interesting discussion, as it was opened to the floor after they spoke, and there were some excellent questions and comments from the floor, not least the point raised by Katherine Zappone.

Then it was back to the hostel to change in the Pink Tie t-shirts (or to get all dressed up) and into taxis to Queen’s Student Union bar for the Pink Tie Dinner. There was a joke awards ceremony held as this for Best Delegation (joint LIT and UCD) the criteria for which were attendance, contributions and general participation. There was Pink Training King and Queen (students from UU and NUIG), Funniest moment (a girl in IADT being forced to point out the girl she fancied during “Stand Up, Sit Down”…while her girlfriend was sitting right beside her…), Quote of the Weekend (NUIG delegate) and Best Participation (this went to an LIT student who demonstrated the correct use of a dental dam!).

We then headed off to Decoy; a club that we were told was THE place to be in Belfast on a Saturday night. It was an experience – there is a cage made of pole dancing poles, which lead to many hilarious dance moves and people thinking they were the hottest thing since P!nk flinging themselves around the cage. There were after parties in the basement of the hostel after both nights out, but I couldn’t possibly be revealing the madness that went on there…what happens at Pink Training stays at Pink Training!

Sunday morning is usually kept quite light, as people tend to by DYING after the two nights out (which I will come to in a little bit). The day started out with safe spaces (discussion groups) for each group under the LGBT bracket. I attended the lesbian space (chaired by Anna McCarthy) and the discussions were very interesting, centring on lesbian representation in the media, e.g. ER, Buffy, Skins, Sugar Rush etc.

There was then a module on “How to run an effective LGBT society” by Laura Finlay (USI LGBT RO, also former Auditor UCD LGBT). Workshops on “Gay Liberation” (Ross Higgins) and “10% is Not Enough” (history of the LGBT student movement by Tonie Walsh) ran simultaneously. The weekend was then wrapped up with each delegate being asked to share his or her favourite memory from the weekend. I could share some of them, but then I’d have to kill you.

I’m looking forward to next year’s one already!

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To the news and its mostly good news for a change. I say “mostly” because if I say its all good, I just know somewhere someone will do something and it will end the good newsweek or 2 for lesbians. Lets start with babies.

“But webmaster I hardly know you!” I hear you cry. Not us having babies ya eejit, but lesbians in general and more specifically in the UK. Lesbians given equal birth rights and no we’re not talking about how both lesbians are allowed to give birth. I do believe that right already exists.

Women in same-sex relationships can now register both their names on the birth certificate of a child conceived as a result of fertility treatment.

Can I get a wahoo! Now that’s progress!

However critics say the change would be detrimental to family values.

Yup, it would be as detrimental as a child being brought up in a loving family environment with two parents stands no chance.
* rolls eyes * Back to wahooing. From lesbians and babies to the highlands of Scotland where we heard from the news that the BBC3 commissions lesbian drama

Six-part BBC3 series to offer ‘sexy, funny and irreverent’ take on sex lives of young gay women in Glasgow

Let me just break this down for you. ‘Sexy, funny and irreverent’, yip am all for that and thanks be to jeebus no mention of terminal illness.

But wait there’s more. ‘Young gay women in Glasgow’. Now, I don’t know about you gals but there is something about a Scottish accent which makes one all weak of knee. Throw in the fact that they are lesbians, and, well, I may just have to sit down. Keep watching this space whilst we await the cast. Can I make some suggestions on the off chance BBC3 needs a hand picking actresses for the role?

Okay I need to calm down, hyperventilating in work when I am supposed to be debugging code looks like I enjoying myself waaaaay too much. You get the idea.

Staying with lesbians on the small box, * snigger *, word is filtering through from the US that

SHOWTIME is gearing up to do a real-life version of “The L Word.” “The Real L Word: Los Angeles” will follow six honest-to-goodness lesbians leading their everyday lives, according to Variety.

What on earth is an honest-to-goodness lesbian? She makes brown bread and volunteers for the local children’s charity? Answers on a postcard please

Whilst we are in the US we might as well pop over to Vermont where we heard that Vermont’s gay and lesbian couples exchange vows as state begins recognition of same-sex marriage Here’s a lovely post on one such wedding over at lezgetreal

It is 1 September and across Vermont couples are getting married on the first day that many of them have the right to get married. For A and J, this was a day of hope.

I love straying into the entertainment websites and tabloids just for some of the headlines, they really are hilarious. Here is a  brief summary of some of the ‘lesbian’ stories doing the rounds at the moment.  It has to be a talent how they can build a story around one sentence:

Kourtney Kardashian: Is She Bisexual?
I’M SHOCKED BY HER LESBIAN LUST

Note: If the headline is in block capitals – avoid.

Megan Fox Chats Up her On-Screen Lesbian Kiss in ‘Jennifer’s Body’
Famously Out Lesbian Rachel Maddow Battled Swine Flu!

and my personal favourite:
Jessica Simpson’s pet dog is lesbian

She posted on Twitter about her maltipoo: “Daisy and her best friend Bella back together again.”

Here’s to Jessica’s bitch doing her thing for lesbian visibility.

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Watch it here and mail it to your mates:

Related posts:

1. Irish support same-sex marriage
2. Looking for lesbians

Our friends at MarriagEquality are hosting a gig in Dublin’s Vicar Street on October 1st at 8pm.  This is a way to raise money for a great campaign but also sounds like a fun event, it includes the likes of Michele Ann Kelly and The Spikes.  MarriagEquality director Moninne Griffith is quoted as saying,

Today’s announcement is thrilling and really brings the issue of civil marriage rights for same-sex couples to a new audience. Having the support of the music industry is no small feat and really sends a strong message out there, this issue is not going away and will grow stronger until lesbians and gay men can marry in a civil ceremony.

If you’re interested in going along you can get tickets at ticketmaster for €27.50, it’s for a worthy cause.

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Further studies by the US Census Bureau  discovered that two-thirds of Irish-born same-sex partners in the US are women and 15% are raising children.

The huge majority of these emigrants are highly educated and, according to Garry Gates from UCLA Law School, “since Ireland does not permit foreign-born partners of Irish people to work there [in Ireland], for most same-sex couples it is not an option to move back. In consequence, Ireland is missing out on highly educated college graduates, the kind of talent that Ireland hopes to attract, due to legislation that won’t permit them to move home with their US born partners.

“Irish policymakers should look beyond their own shores when they consider the possible effects of civil-partnership legislation, some of which might be very good for the Irish economy.”

So Biffo, they’re gay, have money, have kids and wanna come home. What are the chances?

With thanks to Irish Central

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Our ole pal Tony Blair accross the water spoke to Attitude and had this to say

He added: “When people quote the passages in Leviticus condemning homosexuality, I say to them – if you read the whole of the Old Testament and took everything that was there in a literal way, as being what God and religion is about, you’d have some pretty tough policies across the whole of the piece.”

Go Tony!

Hardly surprising but still So-called ‘Christian’ family fighting adoption of children by gay couple

and I quote from gaynewsblog.net

The grandfather of the children said, “The boys thought they were getting a new mummy and daddy, not a daddy and daddy. We are not homophobic, but we feel strongly this adoption is against our family’s Christian values,” reports The Daily Mail. Right, and Hitler wasn’t a homophobe either. Or an anti-Semite.

Vermont joins Iowa!
The vote was 100 to 49, meaning the same-sex marriage legislation just squeaked through. Fabulous.

For those of you in Iowa wanting to tie the knot as quickly as possible, get shopping for outfits. Iowa – Gay marriage date set: April 27 I’d recommend Gay Weddings.com. You can even get your own wedding page. If you really really want to.

Staying with the gay marriage theme Poll: 41 Percent Of New Yorkers Support Gay Marriage. Only Two in five New Yorkers support same-sex marriage, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

That’s good news. If you live in New York that is. I can’t remember the last poll we had here in our lovely country and what the percentage was. If anyone can remind me, please post it in the comments.

In other survey-related stories, how’s about this for a mouthful-and-a-half of a headline?

New National Survey Indicates Subaru is Considered Most Gay-Friendly but Not Most Purchased and Identifies Brands Most Likely to Be Owned by Gays and Lesbians

The survey reveals that Gay Men are 18 times more likely than the general population to own a Saab, five times more likely to own an Audi and four times more likely to own a MINI, VW or Jaguar. Lesbians are 11 times more likely than the general population to own a Saab, five times more likely to own a Scion and three times more likely to own a Jeep, Subaru or Saturn.

We own an Astra, what does that make us?

So let me get this straight, oh my sides, we don’t necessarily buy cars from brands that are gay friendly. It took a survey to find this out?

The Poles are gearing up for EuroPride 2010, Syndey’s Star Observer talks to gay activist Szymon Niemiec.

And we suppose we will have to mention the media’s favourite gal pals appear to have finally broken up. For real this time. Lindsay Lohan Breakdown Is a Tabloid Feeding Frenzy gives a round-up of all the tabloid’s take on the whole thing. According to Grrlplanet, Sam cheated on Lindsay

And we simply have to come (cough) to an and with – It’s OK to orgasm before 11pm, rules advertising watchdog

Women may orgasm on television before 11pm, or at least appear to do so, without causing widespread offence, according to a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority.

The case concerned an ad for a Durex female “pleasure gel”, which featured a montage of women seemingly reaching climax to the Queen of the Night Aria from Mozart’s Magic Flute.

I have to admit, I giggled at Mozart’s Magic Flute.

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We shall try to do our bit in bringing you up to date with the goings on out there from an LGBT perspective.

Let’s kick off with the two biggest stories of last week from a gay marriage perspective. Whilst we all know the Swedes are quite liberal this was great news for the Swedish gay community.

Sweden now joins the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway and parts of the United States in allowing its gay and lesbian citizens full marriage equality.

Hmmmm…wonder when Ireland will join that list?

Then on Friday we were amazed (well I was amazed) to read Iowa Supreme Court legalizes gay marriage. Read more on the judgment here

One usually tries to ignore any comments that are submitted when these stories are posted on social networking sites, but a comment on this thread was too good to pass on.

P Smith – Taipei, Taiwan
The only “fear” I have of gay couples is that they might better afford a house that I wanted to buy because they have two incomes, while I’m single with one.

Well at least we’re not forcing our ‘agenda’ on them. Or recruiting their children. P is just jealous we’re getting more money than him? * rolls eyes *

Good news in the UK. As well, gosh, it’s been a while since the headlines have been positive for us so yay!

New rules allowing same-sex couples undergoing fertility treatment to name both partners on the child’s birth certificate came into force on Monday.
More at the torygraph, sorry Telegraph here

Coronation Street is hopping on the old let’s have a lesbian storyline bandwagon

The 16-year-old, played by actress Brooke Vincent, recently shocked her on-screen parents, Sally and Kevin, by becoming a born-again Christian. However, she is poised to shatter her wholesome image by turning gay.

From Christian to gay in 12 easy steps. Only in Soapville.

Speaking of soaps, we see the Home and Away goes gay storyline is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Typing ‘Home and Away’ and ‘gay’ into google news gets you this listing:

http://news.google.ie/news?um=1&ned=en_ie&cf=all&ncl=1322304328

with some very inventive headlines i have to say.. my personal faves:

On Top Magazine – Aussie Soap Washes Out Lesbian Smooch

Same Same – Home And Away Sets The Record Straight

Oh and the kiss that is causing parents to wring their hands in dispair and vow to never let their children turn on the telly and watch this evil-homosexual-agenda-pushing tv show? Brace yourself folks, this is going to get steamy.

* fans self * Wow. Hot stuff. Gaelick will be doing a more in depth article about the Home and Away controversy. Even typing those words together gives me a giggle.

Self-indulgent moment: We got picked by The Lesbian Lifestyle as blog of the month
http://thelesbianlifestyle.com/

And to finish up, not gay at all but if you are having trouble working out how much you stand to lose in tomorrow’s budget fear not, chocolate is here to save the day

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At the beginning of December 2008, Ann Louise Gilligan and Katherine Zappone welcomed three lowly Gaelickers for a conversation in Ann Louise’s office at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. Despite a hectic schedule for the day, spouse and spouse kingly offered us comfy seats in the warm and softly lit room. I tell ya, it was a far cry from the offices of any faculty staff I’ve had to visit – it was the cosiest Dean’s office I know.

Annie Aura, Click Here and Orange began by discussing the outcome of their legal challenge to have their Canadian marriage recognised by Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners.

click here: Maybe we’ll start with the case, I suppose, because that was the last thing people would have heard about. I don’t know how much you can talk about it, but is that still ongoing, or are you waiting to find out?

Katherine Zappone: Yeah. Well, as you’d know, we lost in the High Court in December 2006, so it’s two years, now. In February of 2007, we put the papers in for an appeal that started that process and I think at the time we were told we would probably have been heard by now at the very latest. But there is a backlog in the hearings for Supreme Court cases because it’s the only appellate court – so it’s the only place you can go for an appeal, whether it’s a Constitutional matter or not. So, the last time we heard from our solicitor, he effectively said in checking with the Supreme Court office, that it could be perhaps anywhere maybe by the end of next year, or even into the end of 2010.

So, it appears over the time, it’s a little bit like a moveable feast during the waiting time, you know?! But we’re not unusual in that regard – I think it’s just a difficulty with the number of cases that are going to that level. So, we just have to wait.

CH: Yeah, it’s a waiting game. It’s almost two years to the day when the court handed down the decision.

KZ: Yeah, you’re right!

CH: I remember being in the court room, and everyone just filed in – there was a lot of kind of anticipation as Judge Dunne sat up on the bench, and everyone waiting to see what she’d say.

KZ: Exactly.

CH: And when she gave her decision, what was your initial reaction? Obviously, it wouldn’t have been good, but how did you respond, and later that day reflect on things?

Ann Louise Gilligan: What we said when we came out of the Four Courts would I think have been an accurate reflection of what we thought – which was that it was deeply, deeply disappointing to hear. And it’s not just about Katherine and I, because obviously we are taking the case so that there would be a recognition in this State of full rights to gay and lesbians to participate in all the institutions of this State. I mean, what other group of adults are told that there is an institution in the State, which is blocked to them?

I mean you do feel a sense of absolute exclusion as a citizen – an adult citizen – from an institution that is open to all other adults, except this minority category. And it’s a bit like – you know, we think back, and we try to imagine when they, up to the ‘50s in the United States, for example, wouldn’t permit a black person to marry a white person. Now, we think back, those forty, fifty years, and we say, “How did they ever work that out, and how did that happen?” And what did those people feel like, if they loved each other, wanted to marry each other? To have, for example, the United States saying, “No, legally you can’t.”

So, my own feelings – and I’m sure Katherine’s feelings – would be no different than a black person or a white person who wanted to marry each other, and couldn’t.

The fact of the matter is that we are married, and so there are states in the western world, thankfully, who recognise and understand that all adults should have the right to choose to participate in all institutions of any given state. And so, we are married – we’re married in Canada. So, one of the things the judge was saying was that the 1937 constitution articulated, although it doesn’t name men and women, the traditional understanding of what is intended as marriage – that was part of her reflection.

So, that would be something of what I would have thought and felt.

Whatever about not being over-hopeful or optimistic about the general ruling on the day, I must say I was utterly taken aback when she ruled that we wouldn’t get costs. And because I think in any democracy, a democracy is advanced by ordinary citizens such as ourselves taking cases to test the constitutionality of a certain provision in light of changing history, in light of changing times. A democracy depends on citizens of the state going and testing whether something is – remains – viable in current history. And there had been huge interest in the case – huge engagement, which hadn’t been there before, in gay and lesbian reflection – both in society in general and between gay and lesbians in particular.

So, it was an issue of public importance, in my book; but, in ruling that we would not get our costs, she, the judge – and it’s in her ruling – said that this is not a matter of public importance. And so, you know, that kind of was a double issue. And, of course, it would also render ordinary people almost paralysed of taking a case to court – that no matter how much public discussion happens around it, that such a person will say, “Jesus,” you know: if you’re not going to get your costs, you’re looking at a quarter of a million bill, and rising. And so, what normal, ordinary person is going to stand down in any court and attempt this? So, those were two thoughts I had at the time.

KZ: Yeah, I suppose it was extremely distressing then, on a personal level, and I think we tried to describe some of that, especially in the last chapter of Our Lives Out Loud. That whole notion, as Ann Louise was describing there. And I am an Irish citizen and both an American citizen. ..Though most people think I’m Canadian – they say, “Oh, Canada!”… [laughter]

ALG: As one leading member of the current government said to me one night, “Why don’t the two of you just go back to Canada?” I said, “What would we do that for?” I said, “Neither of us is Canadian, we’re both Irish citizens.”

KZ: Yeah, exactly. It’s a common misunderstanding. So, as Ann Louise was saying there that, as Irish citizens, we have the right to take the case. And obviously as it is a Constitutional matter, and constitutions can be re-interpreted, as long as people go forward, to maybe look for that.

But I think it was distressing enough the first time when we actually lost the case, we did feel it’s important to consider it, et cetera; but then going back into the courts and losing again on the costs was very distressing and we did actually go on radio that evening ‘cause we were so upset! But we tried to talk about the human experience, that it was one of incredible exclusion – we weren’t trying to reflect on the arguments being put forward at the time.

And I remember saying, you know, it was coming up to Christmas, which is often the time when young people get engaged, even sometimes it’s a time of getting married; and wanting to put out to young people in the country, and also to their parents, what would you feel like if you were told you couldn’t do that, this most extraordinary, wonderful thing? A decision that often for a lot of people, it’s one of the most important decisions that they make?

So, that’s really how we felt. Now, since that time, what’s very heartening for us is that there have been a number of legal changes in other jurisdictions in really the short period of two years, and I think Norway has recently come on board; South Africa did – there had been a judgement in a case in South Africa, for two women, agreeing that to close the institution of marriage to lesbians was discriminatory, but they were still looking to their law-makers to say, “Well now, figure out how to do this.” So, South Africa; and then, of course, California; and then the state of Connecticut most recently. But even in the state of California, what’s so interesting now is, as you’re probably watching it is, is they won in the courts, lost with the people, and now the court has said they’d hear whether or not it was actually, that it should have been allowable to run a potentially discriminatory referendum.

So I think all that’s fascinating, especially what’s going on in California, because a lot of people have the view that perhaps Ireland will need a referendum, as well. But I remember when we met some of the people who were all very active in the state of Massachusetts, and they ran a campaign on the whole method of, “It’s wrong for people to vote on other’s rights.” It’s wrong to vote on rights. Meaning, if you go for a referendum, you are asking the people to judge on my rights.

So here we are, two years later, waiting.

CH: It’s interesting with the changes in constitutions and so on abroad, and also, I think you were mentioning a court case recently, here in Ireland, which might affect things.

orange: Just back into the Irish context, I think there seems perhaps to have been a very small, incremental change in another High Court decision, where a lesbian couple with a child were recognised as a de facto family. I just was wondering – I don’t know if you’re familiar with that decision, I know that context of the challenge was very different, but – it was very interesting that the same court handed out a very different decision, in terms of one court recognising one relationship, and the court in another instance doesn’t. In a very short amount of time, really, no more than eighteen months, I think. And I’m just wondering what your view on that was, or does it carry any water to say that a same-sex couple would form a de facto family.

KZ: I think any of that kind of judgement is helpful because, you know, we are in the larger territory of what does it mean to be family, what families are protected in light of the Constitution. So I think any movement like that to create more space for the consideration of perhaps something – what a lot of people might view as quite radical change of the Constitution, what we’re looking for, although we don’t think it’s that radical. So, it does, and that’s good, and is helpful. I actually have to say that I haven’t read that judgement, but I know that a lot of people are – like yourself, studying or practicing law – reading the judgement and looking at, as you know, not just the outcome, but the reasoning that’s used to get there.

ALG: Well, of course, all case law, building on what Katherine says, builds a foundation towards the next case so there’s no going back. So, if a High Court makes a ruling such as that, when you take a case from the High Court to the Supreme Court, in my understanding, you can’t start into new evidence, or start re-trying the case. But you are permitted to bring in, as you present to them, and we won’t speak in the Supreme Court, but the lawyers who present to the Supreme Court are permitted to bring in any cases that have happened in the interval, that might actually render a more positive or a changing interpretation of law. So, I would see that, yes, it is building.

The second thing that, in Supreme Court level, is vital is what in theology we would call census fidelium – the sense of the people. Now, the Supreme Court, in my understanding, will never make a ruling unless they have a sense that the people are ready; that there has been a shift in readiness among the people for making this change.

And, again, Judge Dunne wouldn’t have thought that there was that readiness. But each of these cases – and that’s where civil society is hugely important, in my book – in the interval between a court case going from the High Court to the Supreme Court – obviously we can’t be out there, trying to try the case on the pavements of Ireland – but if there are people out there, who are, in their own consciousness presuming that the time has come and are doing a lot of work to enable that raising of consciousness, of course that impacts judgments. So, I think that that’s a fairly important point that has happened here.

KZ: Especially that it has happened here. If there is any change in Europe, it is definitely very positive (for us). They look to there, I think, before the United States.

CH: In terms of a generation support within communities and civil society as well, do you think the role of family and friends of gay people or people who are trying to advance their rights is more important than gay people—not so much ghettoised—but on their own trying to fight their battles and it might be, not better, but helpful to bring in the support of friends and family who might not be the “usual suspects”?

KZ: Definitely. I think what we’ve found having published the book is that we’ll get a couple of different reactions, especially from lesbian and gay people. It’s always very positive and also just from people we don’t even know who may not be lesbian or gay, it has been a very positive response to our memoirs.

In terms of lesbian and gay people, sometimes the kinds of the communiqué that we’ve gotten are fantastic and “we’re really so happy that you’re out there” and “what can we do?” And gosh, now, we were just having something to eat with a friends ours yesterday in a restaurant and these two women—beautiful women—and one of them had just had a child. [To AL] What was he? 8 months old? So thrilled. They came up to us because they recognised us and we were chatting. And they asked “Well, what can we do now? It’s a time when we want to go tell our story too!”

We get other responses, like an email AL got. I don’t know if you want to share that? From a young woman studying to be a teacher.

AL G: Yes, I think this is after one of the interviews after Our Lives, Out Loud and she was writing really about her distress coming to the awareness that she is a lesbian, she is training to be a teacher in Limerick and, you know, she is really full of fear. And hasn’t come out—only barely come out to herself but wonders how negatively this will impact her life as a teacher because of course the Catholic Church controls 95% of primary schools and what would happen if she voiced her life out loud.

think that is a very—well, it’s a very poignant story—but it’s a very important story to hear because, I think, prejudice and lack of tolerance in Ireland in relation to gay and lesbian sexual identity issues is alive and well and I think we really need to analyze especially among people who are gay and lesbian. Where are we at by way of continuing to assume an older, discriminatory sense of one’s self?

In other words, to assume and to live out of the prejudices that society hold. I really do wonder what would happen absolutely everyone who is gay and lesbian, in the morning, in Ireland, just stood onto the pavement, gave an interview, just shouted. There would be an absolute diversity.

KZ: A roar!

ALG: What has anybody to be afraid of? I mean I work in a college which is managed by the Archbishop of Dublin. According to every rule in the book, I should have been dismissed years ago. I can tell you this much, nobody is going to dismiss me. And so, I’m in a situation where actually my employer is the Archbishop of Dublin. Now most people aren’t in that situation. Now I know I’m an older person and you might say “Well, you know, you’ve had a job over the years” but on the other hand it is just pulling the plug on this fear. Because I really do feel that those who continue to uphold the power and make people feel fearful actually have no power. There is no power.

KZ: I would say there are two things going on here. On the one hand, we really have empathy for and understand people feeling as if they still need to cover their identity for all sorts of reasons. So we’re absolutely not offering any judgment.

On the other hand, we’re also trying to say: Consider it. Will the sky fall in? Will you lose your job? Will you lose the opportunity for a job?

I can think of just recently I was coming home from New York and one of the flight stewards grabbed me while I was getting a glass of water and he said “Are you who I think you are? The Canadian!” [All laugh] You speak for us! I can’t say anything!” And I was like “Well, yes you can.” But I understand. He felt that way as a flight steward. And then just recently at one of the most well-known hotels in Dublin, one of the head concierges said “Thank you so much. Well done. You speak for us. You know, I’ve to be careful.” And I suppose having lived through that myself, I think what I would say now is, probably there is a lot of fear for financial security or “what my parents will think” and maybe my parents could have said, “We’re turning our backs on you.”

As it happens they don’t and there’s a fantastic exchange of our letters between myself and my parents and Ann Louise in the book as well. There are all those other issues with financial security. And I think as it happens, it probably—whereas there is that great fear—a lot of it I would admit is probably my own lack of or coming to terms with accepting and loving who I am as a lesbian. And so that’s really the challenge and the more I grew into that, and [to Gaelick interviewers] you may experience this yourself or know others, but at this point it is so fantastic to be so free and out and everybody knows.

ALG: Would you all be out in your own lives, may I ask?

Annie Aura: Partly. But I do agree with what you say that it is more the fear of how you think people are going to react and then when you do it and they don’t react the way you expected at all and you realise it was your own fear. You were projecting that on them.

KZ: That’s beautifully put. Well said.

ALG: I think a lot more has to be written and reflected on this. [To orange and click here] Sorry, I didn’t give you time to answer.

Orange: Oh, I’m pretty much out, yeah.

CH: I mean, I wouldn’t make a secret of it, let’s say, but if someone asks me I wouldn’t cover up or I’d acknowledge my sexuality if it arose at any stage but otherwise I’d just treat it like in my workplace so if the others are talking about their boyfriend at the weekend, I’d do more or less the same thing.

ALG: Okay, well done.

KZ: I suppose that’s what we wrote in the book and what we’re also saying and hopefully it’s encouraging people too—as Annie’s saying—that if everyone in the morning who is lesbian or gay was completely open about that it would be a whole lot easier to change the institutions that are closed to us or the lack of security or the laws that are there.

ALG: It just would! They would have to! See, I think there are distinctions between what people think about homosexuality and what people feel about it homosexuality.

In other words, I think that there are huge numbers now who know in their head that sexuality is a continuum. This is known by medical science. It has been known since the classical Greek period. Plato wrote about it extensively. People are who they are: a minority is homosexual, the majority heterosexual. But there has always been this continuum and there are people bisexual. So most people know that and then the kind of fears of teachings and all the rest of it, of the Catholic church, some of which persist, most people think that’s for the birds.

Rationally, I think people have advanced in their consciousness but it’s the affect of—the feeling—that we need to think about, especially among people who are heterosexual. Because I think that discomfort—the failure to change what they feel about homosexuality—allows them to either fail to support in a very active way full equality because there is something in them which continues to feel, “There’s something in this that I’m not comfortable with.”

But maybe that’s their problem that they need to get over. That’s not that there’s something with people being homosexual.

KZ: What helps the transformation of that feeling is being with others, having an engagement or some sort of intimate relationship with people, knowing that those people are gay and lesbian. I’m convinced that’s the only thing that can transform that because the head can’t do it by itself.

ALG: That’s right.

Annie Aura: So unless more people come out, we’re just going to hold ourselves back?

ALG: I think so. The more gay and lesbian people, in relationship with the wider community, well then that affective piece of resistance, of feeling of discomfort around of homosexuality because, of course people’s minds were held in a mind-clamp for a very long time about this.

They really did believe if you were part of the Catholic Church that this was all very wrong. Now, intellectually, they’ve moved beyond that but I think the affective bit has to change.

What Katherine says is absolutely accurate, the more ordinary, everyday people they meet who happen to be just different on the scale of sexual identity. Who cares? Really, who cares?

But I do think, yes, it is about people just saying “I’m not hiding it. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m an ordinary human being.” We all are different. In our court case, what was argued—and [click here] was there—was just like the difference of hair colour: you’re redhead, you’re fair. It’s as simple as that

KZ: Or you’re right-handed, you’re left-handed.

ALG: So what are we saying? I’m going to hide myself away if I’m red-headed or left-handed because I couldn’t tell anybody about that. So it is about that. Of course, that will happen but it’s how you fast-forward this so that generations or lives, like my young teacher in Limerick, aren’t going to spend the next ten years in trauma. It’s dreadful.

Annie Aura: Would you get a lot of correspondence from people around the world?

KZ: A fair amount.

Annie Aura: Or mostly Ireland?

KZ: Mostly Ireland. We got some around the world when this case first broke. We do get a fair amount from people we haven’t met before and it has all been positive. And thank you so much for that. And then they tell us their story. Some of them are still closed. Others aren’t, you know? Um, yeah. There’s definitely a story after the story. So many people are telling us their stories which is wonderful. You could just put a piece together on a collection. They’re beautiful stories, tough stories.

ALG: I was saying the other night, we were chatting with somebody, I, if I was out there trying to do something, and we can’t be out there, and we can’t engage in every kind of advocacy, but I think it would be a wonderful piece of work to so address, what I call, the last acceptable prejudice, the last acceptable intolerance, which is the intolerance and lack of acceptance of homosexuality in this society.

To so address that that people and there are very sophisticated people, especially white, middle-class men, who continue to be persisting in their homophobia. Now it would be wonderful to so address this that they would suddenly get it and say “Jesus, I’m not going to be down there making racial comments. I’m not going to be down there making these comments either.” But there are still people who feel “Well it’s okay if you’re gay but don’t demonstrate that you’re gay. Keep that all away” And why? You know?

So it would wonderful if people, especially young people, could really address that question: how can we make people utterly uncomfortable if they’re homophobic? And push them to feel “I really have to address this.” It’s a bit like if you or I or any of the rest of us felt racial intolerance today, you would be addressing it. You’d be saying to yourself “I can’t mouth off about people. That’s completely inappropriate.”

KZ: I think that if a few Africans walk across O’Connell Street, you wouldn’t hear “Get out of here, n–g-rs!” You just wouldn’t do that. Even if there are still a few people who would think that.

ALG: And yet young people, heterosexuals say [derisively] “Oh, that’s very gay!” It’s appalling. They still do that. And it is time they were told to stop. Who gives them that permission? I would feel very, very strongly about that.

That happens in schools, especially among young boys who are gay. They suffer absolute intolerance. Schools should lead and say: “That is a form of bullying, get out. When you understand that we’re all human, that we’re all different, come back. Talk to your parents. I don’t know where you get these attitudes from but they are not tolerated in here and you need to address the fact that it is not he who’s gay who has the problem, it’s you.” So I feel there’s still a lot of work in Ireland to be done.

CH: It seems there are two attitudes at the same time in Ireland: there are people who like their cappuccinos and their nice lives and they’re very liberal in one sense but maybe, if faced with a question like that, they’ll revert back to their learned ways of their Catholic upbringing or their prejudices of their own or family members.

Annie Aura: Do you think there need to be more role models? Irish role models?

KZ: Role models as in people visible in the mainstream acknowledging their sexual identity?

AA: Yes.

KZ: [laughing] I think we could use a few more!

[laughter]

KZ: And also there are many people in various sectors or industries who we all know are and who aren’t claiming that. I think that must be just-I find that very frustrating.

AA: Do you think when you’re in that position and that people can hear your voice, do you think that people should use that position?

KZ: Well, I guess you could conclude that maybe from what we are saying. At the same, I really, I personally wouldn’t want to sit here offering a judgment on anyone. I don’t know absolutely every or all aspects of their circumstances and why they do or they don’t.

But I certainly think if somebody’s ready and feel themselves moving in that direction, we would want to encourage that. Because what does it do? It normalises. It normalises who we are. We are not so different and freaky because I mean, I’m an absolute firm believer of this 10% figure which, do you women know where that comes from? The Kinsey Report on sexuality.

ALG: 1976.

KZ: The late seventies. It was 50 years ago and it was a guess. It was a guess! They didn’t have people ticking the boxes as you can imagine then [laughter] so I actually think it is much higher than 10% and that someday, maybe in another, I don’t know, even 5 years, probably if they did another survey you’d have a whole lot more because the freer people feel freer to say “Yes, this is who I am”. It’s going to go up. It’s not that we don’t have them—people like us. It’s just that they’re not willing to claim that.

ALG: I think that what Katherine says is correct. I think one would have to be very careful not to be very prescriptive because once you get into prescription, you’re into judgment. But I think it would be helpful if more and more people were informative on the point. Both young people and older people saying, “if more people who are gay and hold more positions in life where they can speak up and speak out. If they do that, it will help the rest of us.”

To put it in a general way like that, I think one is entitled to do that. But I also feel it is kind of chicken and egg. You know, if people who hold important positions in society and who don’t speak out, they may be converted if actually there was a groundswell of absolute naturalness. And I think more and more young people are saying “To hell with this, I’m not denying any bit of myself to anybody. Get over yourself. If you have a difficulty, just start dealing with it.”

If they then were leading a trade union, or whatever they may be leading, and the whole base of the union are quite natural and talking as you are. Well, I think they may be saying to themselves, “Well I’m being a complete hypocrite here. I think I better stand up and use my power in a way that is supportive of all human identity.”

KL [to Gaelick interviewers]: Have you been to any [LGBT] Noise events? Do you know Noise? Have you heard of them?

All: Yes.

CH: I’ve been to one I think this year, at the top of Grafton Street opposing civil partnership—the proposed bill—and saying that equality and marriage is the only way to go. They’re quite good.

KZ: Yeah, they’re a group of young intellectuals. Actually they, and other groups who formed, actually we’ve met several of them are still PhD students in Trinity. But they’re super creative and very aerticulate and they’re only new. In fact, one of our colleagues is looking at what is going on in the civic sector and the mobilising of any advocacy. As you know there’s KAL, which stays close to our case. There’s MarriagEquality which is probably more serious in terms of policy and negotiation and this kind of thing. And then Noise, which can do things very creatively with a lot of boldness or brashness that MarriagEquality can’t because they would have to hold back, perhaps be more sophisticated. So it’s great that there are all different types of characteristics of actors, I think. I just think they are so much fun.

ALG: I think the power of fun and irony and humour is hugely important in changing people’s awareness around anything.

CH: I think they are undermining those attitudes and poking fun to demonstrate the flawed logic or the flawed arguments of some people.

ALG: They did another one where they stood at the top of Grafton Street and they went up to somebody and they asked “Are you married? Were you allowed marry that person?” And you know people were completely startled. So it’s that kind of raising of consciousness.

I think, is very important across the whole of society that we don’t set up oppositional camps around things that are utterly different. I mean, there are heterosexuals in our society who wish to live in partnership, and have some legal recognitions related to their arrangements; and, I think, homosexual people who don’t wish to marry should have that right also to have partnership rights.

Where the problem arises is that heterosexuals can choose marriage whereas same sex couples can’t. So, they’re actually completely separate issues. I think it’s a kind of classic among people who are oppressed, that you’ll start setting up opposition – they want marriage, they want partnership – they’re completely different. Look at the heterosexual community: there are heterosexuals who don’t wish to choose marriage. They could in the morning if they wished. We actually are married, and we want that recognised in the Irish State.

So, we’re not confrontative: those who wish to choose partnership, choose it; but don’t say well, that’s enough: if you get partnership, goodnight. I mean, that’s a South African apartheid system, which will lead to further negative understandings of what it means to be gay and lesbian. Because people will say, “What’s wrong with them, that they can’t enter this institution?”

CH: So, would you think that the civil partnership proposals wouldn’t be sufficient, say, good enough just to stop at that level..?

KZ: I suppose we would – and actually we’ve said this to the Green Party convention there, last year – that we believe that if the government establishes civil partnership only for same-sex couples, while not at the same time opening marriage to same-sex couples, they are creating, you know, effectively a discriminatory institution.

ALG: It’s nothing to do with marriage, and people need to be very clear about that.

O: Just look at the experience of the United Kingdom and France, where this other category was established. In France, it was the PACS for same-sex couples, but it was a completely limited, stripped down version of recognition, and the cap on the head is that that’s as far as you get.

ALG: And that’s dangerous.

KZ: As we move into 2009, this is where the incremental argument – I’m not sure if I would agree with it, but let’s say we agree it was needed at some point, and it happened. It is still the case in France, it happened in Canada, it happened in California, it happened in Massachusetts, so they established civil partnership first, and then they moved to marriage.

Why do we need to do that now? We’re a global community. We don’t need to do the same steps, and argue for incremental changes ‘cause people aren’t ready for it. It’s ridiculous!

ALG: Who isn’t ready for it?

KZ: We’re married now for five years. That’s like – I mean, we’ve been married for five years. Like, that’s a long time! It’s not as long as we’ve been life partners – we’ve been life partners for twenty-seven years – but, it’s amazing, isn’t it? I mean, time is just passing.

ALG: Exactly, we have to keep on the vitamin C! [laughter] I often think of a good way to look at a lot of these things is, you know there will come a time, and whenever the time comes, where people will look back and say, “Jees, how did they? How did they segregate people like that?” You know?

KZ: And if then, why not now?

ALG: Yeah! Why do we have to suffer discrimination in the interval, while these heterosexuals figure this out? [laughter] I mean, this is unbelievable. You know, it just really is unbelievable how people use their power.

There is no harm to society in opening up the institution of marriage which is an institution of love. There can be absolutely no harm to society. Canada has marriage now, over five years. Nothing has impacted the common good. In fact, they would say they’ve a much more peaceful, more tolerant, better society – for couples, but also for the children that are in the marriages where people have chosen marriage. One can keep going.

What do they think will happen here? Nothing. So, what are we holding on to? This is about love. It’s choosing to marry the person you love and be with them. What are they holding on to?

Every time homosexuals are told, “That’s enough,” just say, “Well, now, you’re heterosexual. If I am the majority here – say, suddenly, I am the majority, and I said to you, ‘No, no. No marriage for you, pal,’ you know, ‘We’re homosexuals, we’re keeping that to ourselves. But I’m sorry – here, we’ll give you something..’” I mean, it’s unbelievable. I mean, I don’t know whether you think – I just think this is outrageous. It’s utterly outrageous.

CH: It’s absurd, yeah. For example, like, my sister got engaged, I think, this year, with a view to getting married the following year. But, there are two of us, raised by the same parents, in the same house –

ALG: Yeah!

KZ: Exactly.

CH: We’re only a few years apart. And yet, she can have that option, legally. Whereas, legally, I don’t have that option. You know, and she can go – he’s from abroad – so, she can go to that country, or to this country, or to any country in the world to marry.

ALG: Yeah. It’s heterosexual privilege.

KZ: That’s a good way of talking about it, your sister.

ALG: And, I think there should be more and more of that, because I think with that kind of narrative, you touch into people’s empathy. You know, you really have to try, and it’s that affective bit, where people think, God, yes this is not right.

O: I’ve one final question – I’ve always wanted to know, where did you go on your honeymoon?!

[laughter]

KZ: I guess we could say we had a few days in Canada! And Seattle, we went back to Seattle. I don’t think, did we really have one, did we?

ALG: I don’t think so..!

KZ: I think that we might be due one!

[laughter]

ALG: I think that’s a good idea.

KZ: My parents came up with us. They actually drove up with us, to Canada, for the event, and stayed in the same hotel. And then, they were there that evening, and they went off. We had one more night at that hotel and I think that was it!

ALG: This is the other thing, you know. It’s kind of expensive. If you really believe, and you are entitled to get married – you see, this is not possible in Spain or Belgium or the Netherlands, because you need to be both a resident and a citizen of those countries.

KZ: And that’s why people are going off to Canada, because you don’t need to be a resident or a citizen.

ALG: You have to conjure up the four grand, to get there and to stay somewhere, and to get your notary, and have a legal marriage.

KZ: There actually are a growing number of people in Ireland who were married in Canada, but there are also people obviously who have been married in Spain, or Belgium, or the Netherlands, and who now live in Ireland. We have no idea how many couples are married in other jurisdictions, and are living in Ireland. We’ve met different numbers along the way, and it is growing, too. Tell somebody to do a poll on that one..!

CH: It’s inevitable something must happen, though, because, you know – not to put a downer on things – but relationships don’t always last, and there’s a law in the EU, where basically European marriage separation agreements have to be recognised, irrelevant of where you are.

So, a Spanish marriage, if that separates or breaks down, that should be recognised by an Irish court. So, if a court is obliged to do that, and they do recognise it – so, they recognise maybe a separation, but not the marriage – well, that again is an absurdity.

ALG: And this PACS thing in France is causing endless problems, because people are working just over the border, and they have a house this side of the border – it is fraught. And while this, in relation to separations – I’m interested to hear that – but in relation to marriage and civil partnership recognitions, it’s absolutely bounded by each country. And so, with inter-country, European country allegiances, it’s utterly fraught!

You know, the only way to go here is to say, “Look, all the institutions are open. You know what marriage is.” And we’re not talking patriarchal marriage!

Related posts:

1. Preliminary hearing in Zappone & Gilligan appeal tomorrow!
2. My marriage is equal
3. Setback in fight for marriage equality in Ireland

Saturday 27th September 2008

Are the relentless bouts of rain causing your mind to wander afar to far-off destinations? But, hold up—are you caught between the temptation to experience a completely unknown culture, and the reticence of rambling anywhere that would require ‘playing it straight’ for the duration? Well, the Irish Times has piqued our interest in an unexpected and extraordinary place: Tel Aviv, Israel. It seems the Gaze LGBT Film Festival 2007’s festival favourite, The Bubble (Ha Buah), has given rise to a gaggle of gay globetrotters shoring up in Tel Aviv. And what’s more, 2009 sees the centennial of Tel Aviv’s founding which will see oodles of cultural events celebrating the anniversary across the city. What better time to be tempted by Tel Aviv!

Sunday 28th September 2008

Professional soccer has never been known for being accepting of its gay participants, which is probably why there are no out footballers in the English Premier League at present. And when the notion of ‘gay’ and ‘soccer’ do coincide, they connote the tragic story of Justin Fashanu. On Sunday, this issue came to the fore once more when former Spurs captain, Sol Campbell, was subjected to a torrent of abuse from the Tottenham terraces, which made cruel references to his mental state and HIV status. The upshot of this incident is that the event may trigger an official FA probe into the incident, and it gave a platform to the Gay Football Supporters’ Network.

Monday 29th September 2008

Hundereds of gays and lesbians voiced their disgust on the steps of parliament in the Greek capital, Athens. The protest was in response to the government petitioning a Greek court to declare the nation’s first same-sex marriages invalid.

Tuesday 30th September 2008

Beefcake turned Burgermeister, Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a proposal which would have made slain gay politician, Harvey Milk’s birthday a day of statewide significance. It appears Shcwarzennegger succumbed to pressure from conservative groups who urged him to veto the initiative brought forward by San Francisco Assemblyman, Mark Leno.

Wednesday 1st October 2008

A survey of Bulgarian people found that 80% have negative attitudes towards gay and bisexual people. The survey also found that 70% would not allow their child to be taught by a gay teacher and 50% would not work with a gay person. The findings were presented at a roundtable in Sofia which examined sexuality issues, particularly AIDS and HIV prevention. Overall, 59% were found to be “extremely homophobic”. I think I’ll strike Sofia off my holiday destination wishlist.

Thursday 2nd October 2008

Melissa Etherdige and Tammy Lynn Michaels announced they are to marry. Or more accurately, they are getting remarried. The lesbian poster couple first tied-the-knot on September 22^nd 2003. The marriage was not legally recognisable at the time but California Governor, Gray Davis, opened the doors to the registry office to gay couples the following year. Unfortunately, the state Supreme Court later annulled thousands of same-sex nuptials. However, in May of this year the Supreme Court held that there was nothing in California state law which prohibited same-sex marriage. Here’s hoping the November 4th vote on Proposition 8 doesn’t get in the way Melissa and Tammy’s “happily ever after” this time. Congratulations, ladies!

A Canadian political hopeful in Ontario won a term in jail instead of in parliament after telling a high school of voters, “A young man asked me what I think of homosexual marriages and I said I think homosexuals should be executed…My whole reason for running is the Bible, and the Bible couldn’t be more clear on that point.” Meanwhile, In Pennsylvania, Rev. Janet Edwards was found not guilty of violating the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Rev. Edwards was facing the charges for performing a wedding ceremony for two women, Nancy McConn and Brenda Cole, in 2005.

The folks at Diva magazine took a shot at answering the burning question among ladies-seeking-ladies, “where are all the girls?”. On Thursday, Diva published the most comprehensive study to date which identified where in the British isles the estimated 2.4 million UK lesbians were most commonly located. The top 10 lesbian hotspots are: 1.London, 2.Glasgow, 3.Redhill, 4.Manchester, 5.Birmingham, 6.Northern Ireland, 7.Gloucester, 8.Cardiff, 9.Newcastle, 10.Chelmsford. Another Diva-related update is that the lesbian glossy published its 150th issue this month—that amounts to 15 years of producing the periodical. Congratulations, Diva!

Friday 3^rd October 2008

British PM, Gordan Brown’s cabinet reshuffle saw not one but two gay appointees to the cabinet. Nick Brown has been tasked with the position of Chief Whip and Peter Mandelson returns from exile in the EU Commission to take the post of Business Secretary and takes a seat in the House of Lords. I guess that makes him a ‘gay-lord’. F’narr!

Thursday saw President McAleese sign emergency legislation guaranteeing Irish bank accounts up to €420 billion. Then on Friday, the US Congress finally got around to allocating 800 jillion trillion dollars to save the global economy (Cheers, America, we owe you a pint!). Now while this news it relevant, how is it relevant to all of us good folks in gay-land? Oh, well the global economic recession is all our fault, dear! Or hadn’t you heard? That’s right, the right-wing anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-evolution, anti-pasto fanaticists issued yet another baseless bigoted generalization of gargantuan proportions: Apparently, the economy being in the toilet is nothing to do with careless credit approval and the naughty lending and investment practices of powerful financial institutions over the past few years. No, no, it’s the gays. It’s the gay’s being accepted into western societies, to be more precise. So when ailing bank, Washington Mutual, got bought out by JP Morgan Chase in a rescue bid last week, WaMu’s predicament was less to do with its unfortunate reliance on the souring US housing market as much as it was its accepting diversity programme among employees. Hmm, flawless logic, I’m sure.

To these propagandists of gratuitous lies and hatred, I say ‘Feck them, and the ape they descended from!’

As always, all images are used in good faith and without any implying any infringement. if they need to be removed, just let me know and it’ll be done.

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