POLITICAL ALLIES
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins Independent, NUI Panel
Holly Cairns T.D. Social Democrats, Cork South West
By Pádraig Rice
What inspired you to become an ally to the LGBTQ+ community? Growing up in Ireland I was aware of discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people in my life and in the news, it was appalling to see and anyone who believes in equality needs to do their bit as an ally. What do you admire the most about the LGBTQ+ community and the pride movement? There is incredible solidarity in the LGBTQ+ community which is an example and inspiration for others. The focus on intersectionality highlights issues of class, ethnicity, and disability alongside gender and sexuality. Also, there is real connections with LGBTQ+ groups in other parts of the world who are still suffering extreme discrimination.
What inspired you to become an ally to the LGBTQ+ community?
Pride is a protest. Pride is political. Pride is about progress. To sustain that political progress we need LGBTQ+ allies at all levels. Pádraig Rice spoke to politicians from across the political spectrum to ask them why they became active LGBTQ+ allies, what issues are important to them and what they admire about the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s a selection of what they had to say:
Growing up I learnt that love and family can take many different forms. As a teenager I was very involved in theatre and had a number of gay friends, some of whom were older than me and shared their experiences of unequal treatment from Irish society, including criminalisation and conversion therapy. I think this gave me an awareness of the issue and for me it has always been a core aspect of my wider commitment to equality.
What LGBTQ action, initiative, project or campaign are you most proud of?
Cllr Colette Finn Green Party, Cork City Council
I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Senator Fintan Warfield’s Bill to ban conversion therapy and as a member of the Council of Europe Committee on Equality I was glad to support an important report on Intersex recognition and rights, which is an aspect of our gender recognition laws which could be strengthened. I have also worked to secure more inclusive social protection policies and more open and transparent adoption policies.
What LGBTQ+ action, initiative, project or campaign are you most proud of?
Marriage equality stands out for me as not only a major victory in itself but also as something which was emblematic of the massive change in how LGBTQ+ issues were understood and treated by the Irish people. It was incredible to see the celebration of diversity and love when the referendum passed, it was one of the best moments in recent Irish history. I was delighted to be able to campaign to help achieve equality for my friends and family.
What inspired you to become an ally to the LGBTQ+ community?
What do you admire the most about the LGBTQ+ community and the pride movement? I admire the LGBTQ+ community for their resilience. I guess any group that experiences the level of discrimination that has been targeted at LGBTQ people needs to be able to bounce back. I think Pride shows how the LGBTQ+ community has been able to celebrate their difference and revel in it. What advice do you have for LGBTQ+ people interested in getting involved in politics or a political party? The political space is where the decisions are made. It is important that all groups are represented in a flourishing democracy. It does take a certain mental resilience to be an elected politician. However, with proper party support these can help candidates to be able to take the criticism that goes with being in politics. We need more women to put themselves forward as candidates. If you do not see yourself as a candidate, perhaps support someone else? It takes a lot of voluntary effort to get someone elected. The Green Party has always tried to embrace everyone who shares equality values coupled with ecological wisdom and a just transition. If you feel that you have what it takes, get in touch. The local elections are in 2024. Cork City and Cork County councils could certainly do with more Greens. The future of our ecosystem is at stake and we need all hands on deck to make the changes that need to happen. Be that change.
I was inspired to support the LGBTQ+ community when my friend’s son came out as being gay. As a feminist, I wanted to build a world that respects everyone’s sexual identity.
What advice do you have for LGBTQ+ people interested in getting involved in politics or a political party?
Both individual parliamentarians who bravely challenged laws and collective movements have shown us that change really is possible. Getting involved in politics is one important way to contribute to that and to the really important decisions we make about how we live together. As well as bringing forward positive ideas for the future, I think it’s also important to learn from the inequalities of the past in terms of listening to and amplifying diverse experiences and being willing to challenge or dismantle embedded inequalities in terms of power and systems. Politics is about participation and also transformation. Any other message for readers? I would emphasize the importance of solidarity and intersectionality. Solidarity, because there will always be attempts to divide and conquer and it is by respecting and standing alongside each other that we create stronger momentum for a more equal society. Intersectionality because it is important to embrace the diversity within the LGBTQI+ community while also recognising the additional obstacles that might be faced by individuals within that community who are women, who have a disability, who are from an ethnic minority.
What LGBTQ+ action, initiative, project or campaign are you most proud of?
What is your LGBTQ+ policy priority at the moment?
I am most proud of the part that I played in the marriage equality referendum. As Chair of the Board of the Gay Project, I saw first-hand the way the LGBTQ+ community and their family and friends came together to win the debate. The campaign was difficult because it was hard to gauge the extent of the opposition to the proposal. There was scaremongering about children, which unfortunately still exists today. Thankfully, the Irish electorate proved to be a very enlightened group of people. I was happy for LGBTQ+ friends that were now able to plan their weddings and all that goes with that. It also signalled that we need to embrace all families, not just those of heterosexual couples.
The first immediate issue I am working on is the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in direct provision, there is need for specialised support and special accommodations. While there is a plan to close the direct provision system, we are all aware of its inhumane impact and the reality is asylum seekers will still be spending years in the system. We need significant reform to happen concurrently with the wind down. Secondly, barriers still remain for same- sex parents to be fully recognised as the parents of their children. This issue cuts across several departments and needs the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to lead this change.
www.corkpride.com
#CorkPride2021
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