Senator Fiona O’Loughlin
Paul Murphy T.D. People Before Profit, Dublin South-West
Fianna Fáil, Admin Panel
What inspired you to become an ally to the LGBTQ+ community?
What inspired you to become an ally to the LGBTQ+ community?
There’s no one event in particular to be honest, it is just a very elementary principle of equality and opposition to oppression which is part and parcel of what drove me to become a socialist.
I was fortunate to have been brought up in a home that valued inclusion, social justice and equality. I remember as a young person being inspired by Minister Maire Geoghegan Quinn’s mission to decriminalise homosexuality, and probably only fully realising then how difficult life was for those within the LGBTQ+ community who had endured discrimination and bigotry all their lives. That made me very angry. What do you admire the most about the LGBTQ+ community and the pride movement? That much needed sense of solidarity; the celebration of diversity and individuality engendering respect and awareness.
What is your LGBTQ+ policy priority at the moment?
I think that in Ireland there is a big job ahead when it comes to achieving trans rights. I truly believe that trans rights is one of the next big campaigns for the movement. We need to make sure that there is provision made in legislation for gender recognition for 16 -18 year olds.
Proud partners of Cork Pride.
What advice do you have for LGBTQ+ people interested in getting involved in politics or a political party?
What is your LGBTQ+ policy priority at the moment?
I would say to people that ‘people power’ and mass movements work. If we look at any time in history when equality or rights have been won, it is usually through a mass movement. Our own marriage equality referendum is a good example of the culmination of pressure from below over a sustained period of time. If people want to be part of genuine change and make Ireland a more equal place for LGBTQ+ people, then they should get involved in movements and campaigns to achieve these things.
I think a new Relationship and Sexuality Programme in schools is essential and that is my own political priority, along with supporting the passage of hate crime legislation through the Oireachtas. While this legislation is important and necessary, it is the hearts and minds of people that we need to change. What advice do you have for LGBTQ+ people who are interested in getting involved in politics or a political party? My own party Fianna Fail is a very inclusive one that embraces diversity. My advice to anyone interested in running for political office is to find your message and use your voice. Being authentic, and true to your values is hugely important, and not always easy (but possible) within any political party. As Oscar Wilde said “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” We need people active in public life that will actively promote the values of tolerance and respect for diversity. BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN” “
Any other message for our readers?
Over the last Dáil term myself and my colleagues in Solidarity - People Before Profit brought forward a Bill to legislate for objective sex education in schools, free from religious influence. I think that it is possible that we could win this in the next number of years as the movement to separate church and state is building momentum. I would encourage people to get involved in the campaign to separate church and state so that we can provide things like healthcare and sex education without religious influence.
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