A MONTH AGO, for the 27th year in a row, Dublin’s LGBTQ+ community took to the streets for Pride.
The Pride march first began 35 years ago as a demonstration following the murder of Declan Flynn in Fairview park back in 1983, when roughly 200 people took to the streets to protest the levels of violence that Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community were regularly subjected to.
At the time, David Norris pointed out that the wider population essentially had a “license to kill” LGBTQ people, as it was extremely uncommon for people to face any serious repercussions for committing acts of violence against, or indeed taking the lives of, LGBTQ people (or those who were assumed to be LGBTQ).
In the decades since Ireland’s first Pride march, it has become increasingly distanced from its political roots.
There’s an overwhelming presence of corporations taking over the parade each year, alongside groups who sincerely believe that marriage equality was the last big fight to be won by LGBTQ people.
This is a source of frustration for many members of the LGBTQ community who are aware that although we have come so far in the last few decades, we still have a long way to go.
For instance, the fact that people still feel emboldened enough to throw rocks that say “Fairies out of Ireland” through the window of Pantibar is evidence that homophobia is still fairly rife in Ireland.
As Irish journalist Matthew Mulligan discovered, the culprit behind the attack was seemingly found to be bragging online before throwing the rock. A report by The Times detailed the responses to the culprit’s initial post. One person wrote “Should’ve thrown a Molotov cocktail more like.”
Trans people are feeling increasingly alienated by the new corporate, sanitised version of Pride that is taking place annually in Dublin.
Many groups involved in Dublin’s Pride Parade completely overlook issues that trans people are facing in Ireland, so a group of activists have are launching their own march this weekend.
The first Pride was a protest, Stonewall was a riot led by trans women and we will not forget our history. There will be no corporations, no business, no Rainbow Capitalism. This is a protest for trans people, organised by trans people. Allies are welcome to march in solidarity with us. This is a protest for all of us, not just some.
On their Facebook page, the organisers outline what they are marching for.
All our posters are up around Dublin City! Thank you so much to the volunteers who put them up! #DublinTransPride #TakeBackPride pic.twitter.com/9UsYKZAhnx
— Trans Pride Dublin (@DubTrans) July 26, 2018
These demands include:
- Free trans healthcare.
- An end to IGM (Intersex genital mutilation).
- Legislation for non-binary people.
- An end to violence against trans people.
- Funding for trans-inclusive mental health services.
- An end to direct provision.
- Funding for social housing.
- A reformed justice system that treats victims of hate crimes, transphobic violence and sexual assault with respect and dignity.
- Free access to PrEP.
- A ban on conversion therapy.
- An end to the blood ban.
- Decriminalisation of sex work.
- Free, safe and legal access to abortion.
They also call for the separation of church and state, the introduction of inclusive sex education, an end to gender segregated schools and school uniforms.
The march is being backed by numerous organisations, including Bi+ Ireland, Radical Queers Resist, Outhouse, Disabled People Together For Yes and several university LGBTQ+ societies.
We stand in solidarity with lesbians because we all suffer under the same system! LGBTQ+ United, will never be defeated! #DublinTransPride #TakeBackPride #LWithTheT #TerfsOut pic.twitter.com/5uzvMh79Jg
— Trans Pride Dublin (@DubTrans) July 25, 2018
After London Pride was invaded by a transphobic protest at the start of this month, it’s more important than ever to show solidarity with trans people.
We stand in solidarity against racism and fascism! #DublinTransPride pic.twitter.com/gBZZrDu2Wf
— Trans Pride Dublin (@DubTrans) July 14, 2018
Tomorrow’s march begins at 2pm and will be separated into two parts. Half of the speakers will address the crowd at Custom House Quay, before the march continues to Fairview Park, where the first ever pride march was held after Declan Flynn’s murder.
You can find all of the details here.
