THE NEW IRISH QUEERNESS: VOICES FROM THE EDGES OF VISIBILITY
By Pradeep Mahadeshwar (he/they)
representation but through real, material support: funding, resources, infrastructure, and access. The barriers to inclusion and funding are often rooted in outdated systems that fail to account for the lived realities of immigrant and QPoC communities. IT IS TIME TO REASSESS THE MONOETHNIC TENDENCIES THAT STILL PERSIST WITHIN IRISH LGBTQIA+ ACTIVISM. A new wave of queer identity is emerging in Ireland—one that is shaped by migration, race, culture, and intersectionality. Many of us are just beginning to claim our New Irish Queer identities, and if these voices are not supported, then we risk replicating the very exclusions our movements seek to dismantle. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to Michael Nanci Barron, Jaime Nanci Barron, Tony Walsh, Collette O’Regan, GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, and Project Arts Centre for helping shape this little bubble of artivism that sustains me. I would also like to thank my colleagues Lee Isac and Anjana Murugan. Sometimes, I feel like I’m doing something absurd or futile — especially when we are left out of mainstream activism. But this is what it is: QAPI and QSFF will continue doing what we, as a group, know is necessary. People in Irish LGBTQIA+ activism love to use the word “intersectionality.” But on the ground, the picture is different. There is no real intersection if immigrant and QPoC lives continue to exist in isolation from the centre. Our experiences are not the same as our white counterparts. And I am here to underline that — with my art, with my voice, and with our collective action.
express ourselves freely, and be met with understanding and solidarity.
We must recognise that queer life is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Different people have different needs, shaped by cultural backgrounds, migration histories, and personal journeys. Topics like mental health, sexual well-being, monogamy, family structures, and expressions of love and desire vary widely across cultures. These differences deserve space within the broader narrative of queer identity in Ireland. This isn’t just a concern for the present — it’s a vision for the future. I call it New Irish Queerness — an ever-evolving visual art project that documents and explores how contemporary LGBTQIA+ identity in Ireland is slowly shifting from a historically monoethnic narrative to a multiethnic, intersectional, and dynamic experience. Initiatives like Queer Asian Pride Ireland (QAPI) and the Queer Spectrum Film Festival (QSFF) were born from this vision. They are expressions of my commitment — as both an artist and activist—to nurturing new narratives and building spaces where queer lives are defined by more than survival. Where visibility means pride, resistance, joy, and culture. The rainbow is not a fixed symbol; it’s a living archive of contradictions, celebrations, and collisions. QAPI and QSFF are still in their early stages, but the overwhelming response to our events — whether sold-out screenings or deeply resonant community gatherings — shows the high demand for the work we are doing. And yet, we face a clear disparity in access to funding and institutional support. We are not white. We are not affiliated with any established Irish queer icons. As a result, we exist outside traditional funding structures. Most of our work to date has been built through “beg, borrow, and self-fund”— often from my own pocket. While passion can ignite a project, it cannot sustain a movement. If publicly funded LGBTQIA+ organisations in Ireland are genuinely committed to inclusion, they must reflect that commitment in their actions. That means making space for us — not just through
Ireland has seen notable shifts in migration trends in recent years, with its population increasing by nearly 99,000 in the year leading up to April 2024 — driven mainly by net inward migration of over 79,000 people. Among these migrants, a growing number identify as LGBTQIA+, seeking refuge, legal protection, and opportunities for a better quality of life. Ireland’s progressive steps — such as the 2015 Marriage Equality Referendum, the Gender Recognition Act, and accessible HIV treatment through public healthcare — have positioned the country as a comparatively safer and more inclusive destination for queer individuals around the world. These advocacy milestones have contributed to a more visible, diverse, and vibrant queer migrant presence across Irish society. Yet within this progressive landscape, what I’ve found sorely lacking as an activist and immigrant queer person is the social infrastructure needed for LGBTQIA+ migrants to feel truly integrated and free to explore their self-identity. While Ireland celebrates freedom of sexuality and gender identity on paper, this freedom must also be lived—supported by accessible, inclusive, and culturally relevant spaces that foster real belonging within the Irish LGBTQIA+ community. Not all LGBTQIA+ individuals go to gay bars every weekend or seek connection through dating apps. That stereotype reduces queer culture to consumption and celebration while ignoring the need for emotional safety, community care, and intercultural engagement. For many immigrant queers — especially those navigating displacement, language barriers, or trauma — what’s truly missing are alternative spaces: spaces where we can gather without pressure,
Queer Asian Pride Ireland
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