Comments on: We need more Helens and Conors

By: Sons and Daughters « Stuckinthemilli.eu

Sons and Daughters « Stuckinthemilli.eu — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:30:50 +0000

[...] past week and Damien’s post got me thinking – we need a louder voice of children of LGBT couples in Ireland. So, here [...]

By: glitzfrau

glitzfrau — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:05:36 +0000

Matt, thanks for linking to those two brilliant and brave blog posts. You are very right in saying that Helen and Conor’s personal stories will find a way to people’s hearts, perhaps a way that Pride can’t find.

But with Rod and Daddy or Chips?, I’d like to disagree with the idea that, in some way, we the gay community are to blame for the discrimination against us, because we have in some way failed to find a strategy to melt the hearts of the country. For one thing, Rod is right, Pride does achieve a lot. For another, being out is a scary and dangerous thing to do in many circumstances. For every vocal Conor Prendergast, there’s three or four bullied and scared gay people, terrified that they may lose their families, their friends or their safety if they come out.

Yes, visibility is important. Yes, we should all be as out as possible in the workplace and the street IF we decide it’s safe for us to be out – but it’s not safe for a lot of people. The onus is on the rest of the country to think about how they can make Ireland a gay-friendly place day to day, not just on us to put our safety on the line campaigning day in day out for our basic rights.

By: lisadom

lisadom — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:48:40 +0000

Have to agree with you Mulley. but as a medja savvy fellow you must realise that Pride is only the beginning (and didn’t they P.R.. it beautifully with a pretty Lesbian in shorts holding the flag for the trad media)
The follow through is what is important and how you make it possible for folks to be out and proud year round ACROSS the island of Ireland is what will make the difference.
Helen Doody’s letter and story is relate-able media. It is the hook that will get the Mams and Da’s to listen and think and imagine how they would feel if it was their son or daughter being ignored and discounted by the state.
You have an aural tradition in this country and an educated populace. Tell the stories. Tell The Stories.
xx

By: Damien Mulley

Damien Mulley — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:19:21 +0000

Rod, Helen Doody is where she is today because of Pride? Lovely logical leap. Check out irony in the dictionary, it’ll be worth your time I promise, you’re abusing it as much as the exclamation marks. If gay people were visible for more than once a year when they go to pride and friends, family and colleagues knew them for who they were, then those rights would reappear.

By: Rod

Rod — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:11:27 +0000

Sorry! Have to just add that your blog tag-line, “invisible people have invisible rights”, is incredibly ironic considering your dismissive attitude to Pride!!

By: Rod

Rod — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:08:23 +0000

Magnificant letter.
But I would point out that it is because of the “self-serving, cliqey, rainbow waving gay groups and ‘pride’ parades” that both Helen and Declan are where they are today.

By: JK

JK — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:50:40 +0000

A very moving letter, a very loving mother. Ahern is probably the more intelligent out of an extremely bad lot and he must be moved by this.

By: MJ

MJ — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:30:44 +0000

Crikey. I’m welling up! Print out that letter and pin it to every noticeboard in every workplace and in every shop. Suberb.

By: Gareth

Gareth — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:13:47 +0000

What a beautiful letter – its only as you become an adult that you see the full extent of what your parents do for you.

By: Daddy or Chips?

Daddy or Chips? — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:48:26 +0000

Stray ‘like’ in the second paragraph. Typo (not coming over all Corkonian or anything)