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I AM TIRED.
I am tired of people thinking that hiding homophobia under the flag of humour is acceptable.
I’m tired of logging onto Facebook and seeing the latest joke about a ‘fag’. I’m tired of people finding this funny. I’m tired of my friends telling me to lighten up and that it’s just a joke. That word is never a joke.
That word is said to LGBT people to hurt them, to make them feel like they are lesser people, and I resent that. It’s easy when you have never suffered homophobia to think that it’s just a word but when a teenager walks into school and sees it scrawled across their locker or when someone hears people shouting it at them as they embrace their partner in a public place, then that is when it is no longer just a word.
Imagine being afraid to embrace the person you love, or hold their hand in a public place. In a free and decent society this is something we should all be able to do without fear.
According to a survey of second level teachers conducted by Dublin City University (DCU), 79 per cent said they were aware of homophobic bullying at their school. 30 per cent of these had encountered this type of bullying on more than ten occasions during the last term in which the survey was carried out. What is most frightening about the findings of this survey is that 16 per cent of the respondents also stated that they were aware of physical bullying based on pupils perceptions of homosexuality.
So the next time you use the word ‘fag’ as a joke, remember that there is probably some kid in a school getting his or her head kicked in simply for being different. Is it still just a joke?
At the same time, I’m tired of politicians being too afraid to come out for fear of a media backlash against them. Being gay should not be an obstacle to entering politics. Sadly, it was the last election, in 2011; before we actually elected any openly gay TDs. How exactly do we live in a free society if someone cannot be open about his or her sexual orientation?
I’m tired of listening to the arguments against gay marriage and gay adoption. In fact it is bizarre that in 2012 we are still having the same arguments. Society should have moved on by now. It’s depressing that it has not.
Most of all though, I’m tired of the fact that people are not more angry about the institutionalised homophobia in our society and that they are not motivated to do something to make it cease.
Last week, in an interview with the New Statesman magazine in the UK, the Labour candidate for Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was caught in a controversy when he claimed that the British Conservative Party was ‘riddled’ with gay men and women. In the succeeding days it emerged that this quote was taken out of context and was actually part of a commentary on how difficult it can be for gay people in politics.
As the media ploughed through this storm with snow boots and ski polls, I was reminded that if one politician has not tired of the fight for LGBT rights, it is Ken Livingstone.
In fact, Livingstone has been one of the most important straight allies of the LGBT community in recent decades. As Mayor, he took on discriminatory holiday company Sandals by banning their adverts on the London Underground, London buses & taxis, forcing them abandon their ban on LGBT people.
Furthermore, it was Livingstone who launched the first ever Partnerships Register in the UK, a step followed by many other local authorities, which helped create the environment that led to the UK’s Civil Partnership Act and a massive advancement of rights for gay people.
Here in Ireland we have some excellent politicians promoting gay rights too. Senator Katherine Zappone, for example, has battled through the legal system to gain recognition for her and her partner’s same sex marriage. In this struggle she has been supported by her colleague Senator Ivana Bacik who too has dedicated much of her political career to fight for the right for LGBT couples to gain the right to marry. Of course, it would be wrong of me not to mention Senator David Norris, who too, made significant contributions to gay rights in Ireland.
If even half the politicians, or indeed ordinary people, in the UK or Ireland had this attitude and this bravery then we would be significantly closer to achieving full equality for the LGBT community. Gay people alone cannot advance the cause of equality. We need as many straight allies as possible!
It’s time we all stopped yawning and rubbing our eyes as homophobia scurries across the floor in front of us. If, as Mayor of London, Livingstone can take on a major holiday retailer and force them to end their homophobic policies, then we can force our friends to stop using the word ‘fag’ as a ‘joke’. If David Norris, as ‘A. Citizen’ can force the Irish government to decriminalise homosexuality, then we can support our gay politicians if they want to be open about their sexual orientation.
It’s time to fight the stigma and stand up for gay rights. It’s time to stand up against homophobic bullying and it’s time to end the casual use of homophobic language as a regular day to day occurrence. It’s not funny, it’s not pleasant and it’s holding us back from genuine equality.
Rory Geraghty is a former Chair of Labour Youth and works full time in politics having spent the last year studying at the London School of Economics. He tweets at twitter.com/MaybeRory.
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Boycott
@Joe Soap: I fully agree with u. But I’m afraid no country has the balls to stand up to him
@Joe Soap: Not as easy as would think. Sure can cut out their fast food places, but those are almost all franchises ran here with a lot of employees.
Not so easy to avoid the big conglomerates who’s many many brands make much of what would go into food cupboard, cleaning closet or bathroom. If factor in others that have significant USA ownership, then are talking about hundreds of common brands names.
@John Flanagan: They already have and will, the spent the intervening time coordinating their plans!
They are not going to let him take over the world.
You know what. How have we left this dictator get to where he can decide I’ll send a letter to a total sovereign independent nation to say I’ve decided this is how much your country is going to have to pay in tariffs. Are we that weak a continent and a world that we let this low low life dictate. Thank god I will not be around to see the outcome all this has on the USA and the world. Because it will be devisitating.
@John Flanagan: The EU has already outlined likely reciprocal tariffs. Tariffs are a two way street
@Mick Duvanny: it’s not the tariffs my friend. It’s the idea that USA and law breaker Trump thinks he can do what he likes. And the world let’s him.
@John Flanagan: It’s not about the world letting him,they as an equal sovereign state can impose tariffs if they wish to do so but are stupid enough not to understand that it will hurt them as much as the rest of us.
@John Flanagan: the world shouldn’t permit a sovereign state to set their own trading terms with others because other countries are also sovereign states. Would that be a fair summary of the nonsense you’re spouting?
@George Bowling: no it would not be. And your solution is.
@John Flanagan: my solution to a sovereign country exercising its own sovereignty? I didn’t think that needed a solution myself tbh, but historically the only practical solution to such inconveniences has been invasion. Should we invade the US John, would that be a reasonable solution to the issue of a country’s sovereignty that’s clearly concerning you so much?
@John Flanagan: Tariffs are paid by the American consumer, not by the exporting country.
@John Flanagan: Whatever he claims, it is not our country that will be paying the tariff but the (mostly) American importers of the products. That will mean fewer exports but we don’t pay 1c of his tariffs.
@George Bowling: The way he is using tariffs is completely wrong, it is a weapon to attack other countries and penguins!
Tariffs are supposed to protect your country from unfair tactics used by other countries.
He things VAT is a tariff.
They are supposed to be used with precision not like he uses it, a wrecking ball.
@John Flanagan:
When will Europe and other countries be sending their letters to him informing him of their tariff changes ?
we need to get out of EU set our own deals as Ireland is now dumping ground for illegal immigrants from EU via UK , Ireland is a mess under fffg an general election now
@jn: ahhhh bit too late now my friend. We voted this government in. Because we believed there propaganda. And we are stuck with it for 5 long long years. We reep what we sow. Same as USA.
@jn: off you go then pal. Get out of eu
@jn: All political parties(except for the hard right)are on the same hymn sheet in regards to immigration,What would a general election change.Also u.k. left the eu and their immigration has gone up.
@John Paul: why would you even try to explain anything to the russian bot?
@jn: @jn: You’ll find that you will receive little to no actual support for that nonsense in the real world. Maybe online, from the bots and cave trolls but not by actual humans. We’re not Americans, who are clearly easily manipulated. Off you go now, ya little scamp :)
@jn: What will a general election achieve? Tell us what is the alternative to a coalition between two of the larger parties?
@jn: The entire EU is under similar pressures over illegal immigrants.
@John Paul: Illegal immigration is a problem in the entire first and second world country’s, trying to blame it on a party or a political belief is sad to see.
The guardian reporting that the EU will happily agree to a ten percent blanket tariff, so long as the 25% tariff on cars drop as that is hurting the German car industry.
That is the EU in a nutshell. If anyone thinks we’re stronger together, they’re deluded.
The EU is a cheap shell game, where Germany, France and to a lesser extent Italy call the shots.
Trade deals revolve around getting cheap beef etc into Europe (harming Ireland) while getting tariff free access for cars and wine into other countries. Don’t know about any of you but don’t see either of those industries flourishing here.
We’ve been told all our lives how great the EU is to us.
We’ve lost more on fishing rights in the last 52 years that we have ever come close to in grants the other direction.
The EU singled us and out during the recession, making us take on the debt of irresponsible gamblers from mainland Europe. This went against even what the hawkish IMF would do.
This trade deal will screw us more than mainland Europe. Again.
@James Groden: A larger share of the catch in Irish waters goes to Irish fishers now that it did before we joined the EU. Anyway, fishing is a small industry here and in the UK, and largely symbolic.
The Guardian report does not use the word ‘happily’. Trade deals are a two-way thing, and only so much can be achieved when dealing with a loose cannon like Trump.
If you think we’d be stronger and more economically secure outside the EU, you are deluded. But then, if I remember correctly, you’re a supporter of Putin. Say no more.
@Brendan O’Brien: supporter of Putin? I don’t particularly care for the lad to be honest.
Even if I did, it makes no difference to my argument here. Sure sign you’ve already lost the argument when you have to go there.
Landlocked countries in Europe have a greater total allowable catch in our fishing grounds than we do.
The reason fishing wasn’t developed properly here is because of the EU. It should be a massive industry but it was sold out in the hope that agriculture would develop more.
We have well over 20% of EU waters with less than 1% of the TAC. That’s a reality Brendan.
And you failed to address the shafting of Ireland by the EU during the banking crisis.
I grew up believing hugely in the European project. In the last few years, I’ve seen what they’re about. Warmongers supporting israel and destroying small farms.
But hey, I guess that makes me a Putin bot?
@James Groden: Funny you go on about fish, as pointing out all you mistakes would be like “shooting fish in a barrel”.
I will leave you in your state of bliss.
I am sure others will tell you where you are completely and utterly wrong in what you posed, even more than already have!
No matter what way this ends up, Chump will claim a victory and belittle any country that strikes a deal with him
Is there one photo of him where he doesn’t look like a gurning ignoramus?
@Setanta O’Toole: The choice of photos is highly political.
@thomas molloy: is his industrial combover and diving into a vat of fake tan every morning political too?
@Setanta O’Toole: Ahahahahaha…good one! “Industrial combover”…brilliant!
@thomas molloy: Actually all his photos are terrible!
@Setanta O’Toole:
No. He is more than a bit touched.
Be realistic the same Irish based political class waste will back the EU over Irish peoples needs as we have seen in the 2008 financial crash and the arrival of the Troika.
@Ailbhe MacThomais: What was the alternative during the financial crisis? Allowing the banks to fail would have been worse for the country.
@Vincent Alexander: not paying junior note holders would not have resulted in any banks failing, but the ECB forced the state to adopt unsecured, private debts.
@Vincent Alexander: Banks fail would have annoyed the political class only. Iceland let its banks fail
@Ailbhe MacThomais: And paid the price, but they are a much smaller country with smaller problems. Our problems would have been catastrophic for all the country!
Trump, the American president who has blood on his hands in supporting Israel and failed in his support for Ukraine
Trump Always Chicken Out.
Do you worst, Donald. And by ‘worst’ I mean the combination of witlessness and belligerence that you have trademarked.
Ooo it’s exciting. Drumpf…when you see what he’s willing to do to his own people (big ugly bill), concentration camps for undesirables and his own ss (ICE), and betraying Ukraine / Palestine it’s starting to look like the States needs breaking into pieces…it’s a murderous monster. Blue
@ProtectKyiv:
100%.
I’ll set a timer for this time next week when he pussys out of this threat as usual.
We have VAT in Europe on any goods we purchase so something similar in the States would nake sense.
If he were to impose something similar and use this money for free health care he would have the backing of most Americans.
@martin lawlor: most states have sales taxes up to 16 percent
@John Lyons: No John, the ceiling is 16%, very misleading quote.
Louisiana has the highest at 10.25%.
Most are between 2.5% and 7.5%
Has anyone in the EU got any cajones to tell him what he can do with these tariffs
Governments don’t export goods and don’t pay tariffs. Importers pay tariffs and usually pass them on the consumers. Trump couldn’t be left in charge of an abacus be cause he might hurt himself.
Cajones mean box
Cojones mean balls
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