By Pádraig Rice TD (he/him)
I was elected Chairperson in 2011/12 and that year we were named the Best Student Society in UCC and went on to be named the National Student Society of the Year by the Board of Irish College Societies. My experience in leading the Society, and seeing first-hand how our campaigns and activism worked, taught me that through hard work and dedication you can create change. Together with thousands of others we helped to win the marriage equality referendum, secure gender recognition and end the discriminatory blood donation ban. Despite this progress, we are not there yet. Last year Ireland was ranked 14th in Europe in terms of LGBTQ+ human rights and policy protections. From trans healthcare to robust protections from hate crimes, there is much to be
the time he retired in 2024, he was the longest serving Senator in the history of the State. Through his actions, David Norris taught me the importance of visibility and representation. Being out and proud in public life can offer hope to others. It tells those that are struggling that a full life is possible. While we have made huge progress since David was first elected in the 1980s, LGBTQ+ people are still underrepresented across most aspects of Irish public life. In the last Dáil just 2.5% of TDs were openly gay. All men and all from Dublin. This didn’t reflect the full diversity of our community. I have been involved in politics one way or another most of my life. I ran in my first election when I was 12 and I haven’t stopped since. In UCC, I
done to enhance the lives of LGBTQ+ people on the island of Ireland.
was elected as the Welfare Officer of the Students’ Union and later as the President of the UCC Societies Guild. However, it was my involvement with the LGBTQ+ community in Cork that really motivated me to get involved in politics and to try to change the world around me. I joined the UCC LGBT Society on one of my first weeks in UCC back in 2008. The Society at the time was made up of a fantastic bunch of campaigners and activists. We organised protests and demonstrations on a range of issues including the blood donation ban, gender recognition and marriage equality. Every year we organised a mock wedding on campus and marched for marriage equality.
Aaron O’Sullivan, I was delighted to be elected as a TD for Cork South Central.
I know from my time working as the Manager of the Gay Project and subsequently as the Policy & Research Manager with LGBT Ireland how important vocal political allies are. This is one of the reasons why I ran in the local elections last May. I was very proud to be the first Social Democrat to be elected to Cork City Council. I was also the youngest Councillor elected. During my time as a Councillor, one of the motions I proposed was to tackle mis- and disinformation as part of the Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Services #CheckTheFacts campaign. Within a few short months a general election was called, and thanks to my great team, in particular my husband and campaign manager
Since my election I have been proud to raise a number of LGBTQ+ issues on the floor of the Dáil. This included a speech on the regressive step of the Hungarian Government to ban pride and the need for the Government here to progress the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. I have also met with a number of LGBTQ+ community groups and advocates. Just like Senator David Norris, I’m determined to be a visible champion for the LGBTQ+ community in the Oireachtas. I fundamentally believe in a republic of equals – a state that cherishes everyone, upholds universal human rights and ensures human dignity. Over the coming years I will continue to be your voice in the Dáil for a fairer, freer and more equal Ireland for all.
Growing up in rural Ireland in the 1990s, I didn’t know anyone who was gay. No one in my family, village or wider life was openly LGBTQ+. The only gay person I knew of was Senator David Norris. David Norris was a beacon of hope. He would grace our TV screens with his full flamboyant self. He was unapologetic. A queer icon. A trailblazer. David was first elected to the Seanad in 1987. The first openly LGBTQ+ person to be elected to public office in Ireland. By
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