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The classic picture of Ireland as a very religious and generally
quite conservative country does not bode well for the gay traveller.
But - actually there should be no major problem for you. As long as
you are as safety-conscious as you would be in any foreign city or
country. Generally the best advice would be "Don't flaunt it too
much!"
Gay Ireland - A Complicated Story
Despite the high esteem for the poet Oscar Wilde, the actor
Mícheál Mac Liammóir or the nationalist Roger Casement, homosexuals
and especially gay men were not really Ireland's favorite daughters
and sons. "Sodomy" was punishable by death until 1861 and the
"blackmailer's charter" of 1885 (officially known as the Labouchère
Amendment) criminalised all "indecency" between men without further
definition. These British laws were inherited by the Free State and
the Republic. Lesbianism was never the focus of the law. Both male
and female homosexuality were, however, strictly condemned by the
church.
In the mid-1970s both the Irish Gay Rights Movement and the
Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association started their fight against
discrimination and for law reform. The Hirschfeld Centre, a
community center for gays in Dublin's Fownes Street, became the
focus of activities after its official opening on
Saint Patrick's Day 1979. All sorts of activities - concrete
blocks and home-made bombs were thrown at the Hirschfeld Centre
during homophobic attacks, in 1988 it was burned down. Legal
struggles were initiated by David Norris, a Joyce expert, gay rights
campaigner an Senator. But only in 1993 was homosexuality finally
de-criminalized in Ireland.
On a curious note - historians have noted that quite a number of
Irish nationalist icons possibly not only harbored a burning passion
for Ireland's freedom, but for their fellow revolutionaries as well.
The mere suggestion of (latent) homosexuality in these circles,
however, is regarded as a sacrilege. Even Roger Casement's
well-documented sexual antics are still widely dismissed as "British
propaganda".
Attitudes Towards Homosexuality in Ireland
Ireland today prides itself in being an inclusive,
non-discriminatory society. Which essentially means that being gay
is not a crime in itself anymore and that you may openly follow your
sexual orientation. Which does not imply acceptance by all or even
most Irish citizens. Homosexuality is still widely regarded as
sinful and/or an aberration - with the still powerful Catholic
Church not actively trying to promote a different picture. And in
public debate (male) homosexuality still is equated with pedophilia
on many occasions. You are entering a backwater here!
On the other hand the gay community has established itself and
feels no need to live in hiding anymore - for more on Ireland's gay
scene see below. But note that this is a fairly recent development
and that most openly gay Irish are young. The older generation
preferring to stay in the closet they are used to.
While discrimination against gays is officially frowned upon it
still exists. Open displays of homosexual affection will raise
eyebrows at least, vociferous alarms at worst - and even the Gardai
might be confused whether two men kissing are trespassing beyond the
boundaries of decency. "Indecent behavior", a catch-all phrase if
ever there was one, is a matter for the courts after all. And gay
men enquiring about a double room may suddenly find the B&B
hopelessly overbooked. Openly gay couples may also attract snide,
rude, insulting or downright threatening remarks in pubs.
Fortunately most aggression stops at the verbal stage.
The churches play an interesting role in this matter. The Church
of Ireland, an Anglican church, seems to be in the middle of a move
towards not only acceptance but full embrace. Following in the
footsteps of the Church of England with a typical Irish hesitancy.
The Roman-Catholic Church in Ireland toes the party line and treats
homosexuality as an aberration and gay sex as straightforward sin.
Despite (or maybe because of) numerous scandals involving homosexual
pedophilia in its own ranks. The worst verbal aggressors against
homosexuals are, however, some Presbyterian Churches -
bible-thumping could quickly lead to gay-bashing here as
homosexuality is roundly demonized. Then again these churches also
tend to condemn line-dancing as sinful.
Aggression Against Homosexuals in Ireland
While verbal aggression can happen in almost any context,
physical aggression is much rarer and generally affects males. A
quick bout of gay-bashing is an accepted pastime in the lowest
social stratum, along with joy-riding and spousal abuse.
Add just enough alcohol and the boundaries between these mindless
thugs and "decent citizens" start to blur. Making attacks on
homosexuals most likely in urban areas in the early hours of any
Saturday and Sunday. There is absolutely nothing you can do to
prevent this apart from simply walking away from any confrontation
without breaking into full flight. Avoid any physical contact with
aggressors at all costs - fights in Ireland are notoriously violent.
The Gay Scene in Ireland
Today Ireland has a lively "gay scene", especially in Dublin and
Belfast. Some favorite hang-outs like the "George" in Dublin are
clearly identifiable by their use of the "rainbow flag", others are
far more discreet. The best bet for visitors who want to meet other
gay people is to obtain a copy of GCN, the
Gay
Community News, a monthly magazine with comprehensive listings.
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