Know Your Queer History

ShoutOut is proud to present a new video series to mark this year’s IDAHOBIT and Dublin Pride.  Know Your Queer History, launching today, May 17th at 12pm, features interviews with 12 individuals who were all involved in different ways with the progression of LGBTQ+ equality in Ireland. 

Domhnaill Harkin, a member of the ShoutOut steering committee, pitched the idea of the interview series to ShoutOut in late 2020. Domhnaill has been a school workshop volunteer with the charity since 2018. Domhnaill comments; 

“I grew up in rural Donegal and due to the homophobic attitudes I experienced, I didnt come out until I was 23 in 2017. I became involved with ShoutOut not long after this as I wanted to ensure young people like me didn't suffer the way I did. I became interested in the history of the Irish gay rights movement and I noticed a lot of young LGBTQ+ people didnt know the history of how our rights were achieved and this is where the idea for the series came from.” 

The series is directed, edited, and produced by Mary-Claire Fitzpatrick, a videographer and RTÉ TV presenter who worked closely with Domhnaill to build a series of interviews with a number of leading activists and allies in the Irish queer movement. 

These interviews are an attempt to pay tribute to some of the remarkable activists who helped make Ireland a safer place for LGBTQ+ people. As young LGBTQ+ people living more freely today, we owe a debt to their hard work striving for social and legal equality. We hope that this series will help viewers understand a part of Irish history usually forgotten from the curriculum.

The 12 episodes explore the events that shaped and created the early LGBTQ+ rights movement from the 1970s onwards. By speaking first-hand to people who were the instigators and leaders of the movement we get an in-depth, personal account of major milestones from the Fairview Park protest march in 1983 to the Marriage Equality Referendum in 2015.

Interviewed over the course of the series are former Uachtarán na hÉireann Mary McAleese, Senator David Norris, Katherine Zappone, gender recognition campaigner Dr Lydia Foy, GLEN member and former political director of Yes Equality Tiernan Brady, TENI Chair Sara Phillips, director and historian Edmund Lynch, archivist and activist Tonie Walsh, activist and academic Ailbhe Smyth, Kieran Rose, former GLEN chair, Cathal Kerrigan, former member of the Cork Gay Collective and Gay Health Action, and Suzy Byrne, former GLEN member and GCN journalist. 

The 12 interviews will be released two per week, running throughout the month of June to mark the month of Dublin Pride. In the first episode, Domhnaill will interview former President of Ireland Mary McAleese. 

The interviews will be available to watch on ShoutOut’s Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram channels. 

The first episode of the series will be released on the 17th  May to mark The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Interphobia, and Biphobia. 

Attitudes of Secondary School Students in Ireland towards Intersex Issues

Last week we were delighted to present a small piece of research at the Intersex 2021 Conference held by Dublin City University. On a panel hosted by Ailbhe Smyth we discussed the findings from surveying ShoutOut volunteers about their experiences discussing Intersex issues in classrooms across Ireland.

The research was presented by Clara Barry; a ShoutOut volunteer and a board member of Intersex Ireland, and Bella FitzPatrick; CEO at ShoutOut

Image Description: The logo of Intersex Ireland set on a yellow background with a purple and yellow gradient logo.

Firstly we wanted to clarify ShoutOut’s position around Intersex issues.

• Not every Intersex person wants to be included under the LGBTQ+ umbrella

• There are other human rights based approaches to advocating for Intersex rights which are not involved with LGBTQ+ rights

• Intersex people can have intersecting identities 

• When discussing themes around bodily autonomy, the right to self declaration, and bioessentialist gender norms it is important to recognise the existence of Intersex people

• Intersex marginalisation is perpretrated as part of a system of white supremacy and colonalisation. 

• The Irish curriculum does not address the existence of Intersex people and therefore our workshops may be the only opportunity to raise awareness

• All of our material is written and/or reviewed by Intersex people

Image Description: Two flags against a blue sky, one is the rainbow pride flag with the ShoutOut logo in the middle, the other is the Intersex flag which is a purple circle on a yellow background

Our research looked into the experiences of ShoutOut volunteers when discussing the Intersex Community within the context of ShoutOut workshops.

We asked 49 volunteers about their experiences. The volunteers self-reported their awareness of Intersex issues as an average of 4.5 out of 10 before volunteering with ShoutOut. This rose to an average of 7.7 after volunteering with ShoutOut due to the training we provided.

Of all the identities we discuss in ShoutOut workshops, Intersex was reported to be one of the most difficult to communicate, similar to explaining non binary identities.

ShoutOut volunteers reported that the reaction from students when learning about Intersex issues ranged from curious, confused, disbelieving and disrespectful. We concluded that contributing factors are lack of teachers’ knowledge, lack of representation on the curriculum, misconceptions, and a lack of positive visibility.

Furthermore, we noted a severe lack of resources for teachers who want to learn more and a lack of guidance from the Department of Education in this regard.

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“Our bodies are just another example that life is not so black and white. Much Beauty exists in the infinite shades of grey”

— Kimberly M. Zieselman, author of XOXY

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Want to learn more?

Follow

@IrelandIntersex

@IntersexMap

@DubTrans

@Pidgeon

Read

XOXY by Kimberly M. Zieselman

Sex Redefined in Nature

9 Young People on How They Found Out They Are Intersex in Teen Vogue

Our Blog on Intersex Allyship

Listen

Emily Quinn - The way we think about biological sex is wrong

Gonads - a podcast series by Radiolab

​B​​lag ShoutOut Seachtain na Gaeilge!

Lisa le baill eile de Tá Comhionannas, Siobhán Nic Gaoithín (clé) agus Emer Nic Dhiarmada

Comhphobal LADTA+ na Gaeilge – Fás, Forbairt, Pobal

le Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh

Chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge, breathnaíonn Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh ónár bhfoireann deonach ar an méid a bhíonn i bpáirt ag pobal na Gaeilge agus an pobal LADTA+, gníomhaíocht agus feachtasaíocht LADTA+ trí Ghaeilge agus na daoine atá ag obair ar chomhphobal Gaeilge LADTA+ a fhorbairt agus a chothú.

In alt ar ghíomhaithe óga mná le déanaí san Irish Times, luaigh mé gurbh í an Ghaeilge an chúis gur thosaigh mé ag feachtasaíocht agus le gníomhaíocht LADTA+. I rith an Reifrinn ar an gcomhionannas pósta i 2015 thug grúpa dínn faoi deara go raibh cainteoirí Níl chun tosaigh ar chainteoirí Tá ar na meáin chumarsáide Gaeilge - a mhalairt den rud a bhí ag tarlú ar na meáin Béarla. Thuigeamar go raibh gá le grúpa láidir cainteoirí ar son vóta Tá le Gaeilge. Bhunaíomar Tá Comhionannas agus ina dhiaidh sin bhíomar ag labhairt ar na meáin Gaeilge gach seachtain go dtí an Reifreann ansin.

Ó shin i leith, measaim go bhfuil níos mó infheictheachta de dhaoine LADTA+ le Gaeilge agus go bhfuil muid ag plé cúrsaí LADTA+ trí Ghaeilge níos mó ná riamh.

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Sheol Aontas Mac Léinn na hÉireann an Foclóir Aiteach sa bhliain 2018 - liosta téarmaí don phobal aiteach, agus don phobal araon, le labhairt faoina bhféiniúlachtaí, a ngnéaschlaonta agus iad féin ar iliomad bealaí trí Ghaeilge. Thug sé guth níos airde don phobal LADTA+ le Gaeilge a bhí anois in ann a saolta a phlé ar bhealach níos fearr agus níos soiléire trí Ghaeilge.

Rinneamar féin i ShoutOut focail Gaeilge LADTA+ a roinnt i rith na bliana seo caite mar chuid dár bhfeachtas ar líne "ShoutOut Focal a Day". Chuir an-chuid dár leantóirí spéis ann - iad siúd le beagán Gaeilge nó níos mó. Is minic a bhíonn an Ghaeilge, chomh maith lenár bhféiniúlachtaí mar dhaoine aiteacha, fite fuaite inár bhféiniúlachtaí mar Éireannaigh agus is mór ag go leor daoine na focail a bheith acu caint faoi bheith aiteach trí Ghaeilge.

Déanaimid ceardlanna Gaeilge ShoutOut i nGaelcholáistí timpeall na tíre go minic freisin. Ó mo thaithí féin á ndéanamh, faigheann na daltaí rud éagsúil astu ná na ceardlanna Béarla. Bíonn an plé éagsúil, úsáidtear focail éagsúla agus bíonn scoileanna an-sásta cainteoirí seachtracha le Gaeilge a bheith ar fáil dóibh. Ag labhairt faoi cheardlanna ShoutOut a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge, dúirt duine dár noibrithe deonacha Liam Breathnach, "Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeadh téarmaíocht maidir leis an bpobal aiteach san áireamh leis an eolas i gceardlanna ShoutOut do dhaoine óga. Tá an pobal aiteach mar chuid de phobal na Gaeilge agus ba mhór an buntáiste an t-ábhar a fhoghlaim ina dteanga féin. Is teanga bheo í an Ghaeilge agus taispeánann sé seo an dul chun cinn atá i gceist anseo." Má tá Gaeilge agat féin agus spéis leat ceardlanna a dhéanamh linn trí Ghaeilge ba bhreá linn cloisteáil uait. Seol rphost chuig director@shoutout.ie chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil.

Sa bhliain 2018 bhunaigh Don Ó Donnacháin an Queercal Comhrá, grúpa sóisialta do dhaoine LADTA+ a labhraíonn an Ghaeilge agus bhí lámh aige in eagrú Bhród na nGael gach samhradh ó shin i leith. Bhuailidís le chéile in Outhouse ar dtús agus ansin i Jack Nealons. Anois tá Eoin McEvoy i mbun an grúpa a stiúradh agus bhíodh sé de nós ag an ngrúpa bualadh le chéile i gClub Chonradh na Gaeilge agus Penny Lane. Anois dár ndóigh tagann siad le chéile ar Zoom agus bíonn suas go 20 ar na glaonna. Ag caint faoin Queercal dúirt Eoin, 

"Tá baill againn sa Bhruiséil, i gCeanada, in Éirinn, sa Ghearmáin, i Lucsamburg, i Sasana agus sna Stáit Aontaithe. Bhíodh an grúpa ag bualadh le chéile i mBaile Átha Cliath roimh an bpaindéim ach is grúpa idirnáisiúnta anois é a bhíonn ag bualadh le chéile ar líne. Is gréasán de chuid Oireachtas na Gaeilge é an Queercal. Tá cuntas gníomhach Instagram againn leis an bpobal a chur ar an eolas faoi imeachtaí i saol LADTA+ na Gaeilge agus tá 950 leantóir ag an ngrúpa sin ó áiteanna sa Ghaeltacht, san iar-Ghaeltacht agus ar fud an domhain."

Tá fáilte roimh chách le Gaeilge bheith mar chuid den ghrúpa agus bualadh ag an Queercal ar líne anois agus duine le duine arís ar ball nuair is féidir. Beidh tráth na gceist ar siúl ag an Queercal ar an 5 Márta ar Zoom do Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Léigh tuilleadh faoin ngrúpa nó bí i dteagmháil leo ar Instagram anseo nó trí rphost chuig QueercalComhra@gmail.com.

Tá breis is 12,000 leantóirí ar na meáin shóisialta ag duine dár noibrithe deonacha ShoutOut, Cian Ó Gríofa, faoin ainm Gaylgeoirí ar a roineann sé méimeanna Ghaeilge, atá, ina chuid focal féin, “éadrom go leor”.

Dúirt Cian, maidir lena chuid oibre, "Ní raibh eiseamláirí aiteacha agam agus mé ag fás aníos — seachas na carachtair a cuireadh ann de ghrá na cosúlachta, agus na steiréitíopaí ar fad acu. Is féidir le duine ar bith a bheith ina thionchaire sa lá atá inniu ann áfach, agus ardán a chruthú do dhaoine a bhfuil suim nó taithí choiteann acu ar fud an domhain. Mar sin féin, bíonn ábhair a bhaineann le bród, gníomhachas agus féinghrá á bplé freisin. Tá sé tábhachtach dom an t-ardán a úsáid le spotsolas a thabhairt do dhaoine nár léiríodh a gcineál ar na meáin i gcónaí, agus iad a cheiliúradh! Is deis é Gaylgeoirí an ionadaíocht seo a dhéanamh ar son daoine óga aiteacha sa tír seo nach bhfuil féinmhuinín ná féinghrá acu go fóill. Feiceann siad go bhfuil tacaíocht ann dóibh, go bhfuil grá ag daoine do chúrsaí LADTA+ agus go mbeidh gach rud ceart go leor! Ní raibh sé sin agam agus mé níos óige, agus mar sin, sílim go bhfuil sé riachtanach an scéal seo a insint dóibh siúd atá ag streachailt lena bhféiniúlacht féin." Is féidir Gaylgeoirí a leanúint ar Instagram anseo.

Bhunaigh Ciara Ní É agus Eoin McEvoy AerachAiteachGaelach (AAG) mí Feabhra na bliana seo caite - comharghrúpa LADTA+ ealaíne a bhfuil 50 ball LADTA+ ann, idir scríbhneoirí, cheoltóirí, dhrámadóirí, thaibheoirí draig agus ealaíontóirí a fheidhmíonn trí Ghaeilge. Is í sprioc AAG ná chun deiseanna forbartha, gréasán tacaíochta agus lucht éisteachta a chur ar fáil do na healaíontóirí le go gcoinneoidh siad orthu ag cumadh i nGaeilge agus le nach gcaillfear iad ar fad do shaol an Bhéarla. Cuireann an grúpa tacaíocht ar fáil do bhaill trí chruinnithe rialta a eagrú agus trí dheiseanna, comórtais, foilseacháin, glaonna oscailte agus nuacht na mball féin a roinnt leo. Ghnóthaigh an grúpa áit ar Scéim 5x5 de chuid Amharclann na Mainistreach i mí Feabhra 2020; fuarthas dhá choimisiún ar dhramaí ó Ceangal | Dolen (Ealaín na Gaeltachta); coimisiún ar dhráma ó Axis Ballymun; coimisiún ar dhráma raidió ó Fhíbín; duaiseanna ó chomórtas slamhfhilíochta Liú Lúnasa agus comórtas REIC; foilsíodh saothair in Comhar agus Green Carnations/Glas na Gile. Tá cuntas YouTube ag AerachAiteachGaelach, agus rinne siad físeán ealaíne do Bhród 2020.

Ag labhairt faoi AAG, dúirt Ciara í féin, “Threisigh AAG an nasc a bhraith mé leis an bpobal LADTA+. Tá éagsúlacht iontach sa ghrúpa, táimid leispiach, aerach, déghnéasach, tras, agus ní hamháin aiteach ach Gaelach! Tá an-luach ar an mbraithstint go bhfuil tú i measc do dhaoine, agus go bhfuil glacadh leat. Ón gcéad lá a tháinig grúpa AAG le chéile ba léir go raibh muid uilig sásta gurbh fhéidir linn dá thaobh mhionlaithe dínn féin a léiriú ag an am céanna. Le dhá bhliain anuas thug mé caint i nGaeilge ag Traenáil Bhándearg de chuid AMLÉ agus bhí mé an-sásta feiceáil go bhfuil glúin ag teacht in inmhe anois aiteach, Gaelach, agus mórtasach! Go maire siad!

Is léir go bhfuil comhphobal láidir LADTA+ Gaeilge ag fás, ag forbairt agus ag leathnú amach ar bhealaí éagsúla, nuálaíocha trí na tionscnaimh agus na feachtais seo, agus roinnt eile nach iad. Guímid Seachtain na Gaeilge shona ar ár n-oibrithe deonacha agus leantóirí le Gaeilge! 

Má tá tuilleadh eolais ag teastáil uait faoi obair ShoutOut trí Ghaeilge, féach an chuid Gaeilge dár suíomh ag https://www.shoutout.ie/gaeilge

Míle buíochas do Chian, d'Eoin, do Chiara agus do Liam as a gcuid cúnaimh leis an alt seo.

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ShoutOut Partners with Dr Gavin Murphy

ShoutOut in partnership with Dr Gavin Murphy from Trinity College Dublin, have been awarded a grant for an exciting new project. The project is entitled: Capacity Building for LGBTI+ Inclusion in Teacher & School Leaders’ Education. This grant came from the Department of Justice and Equality under the LGBTI+ Fund 2020.

The project will see the development and embedding of a professional education programme for two cohort of students: those in initial teacher training and those in the school leadership preparation programme.

Dr Murphy had this to say:

I am delighted to collaborate with ShoutOut on this project. Our aim is to design high-quality, developmental experiences for educators to empower them to make a positive difference in the lives of LGBTI+ school community members. Together, as teacher and school leader education providers, we are setting out to co-constructively design educative and inclusive approaches in teachers' and school leaders' education programmes. Informed by the most recent, international research, we will provide educators with a comprehensive understanding about LGBTI+ terminology; injustice/ inequity; and tools to enable educators to become more confident in being responsive to well-documented challenges connected to inclusivity and visibility LGBTI+ community members face in schools

Dr Gavin Murphy

ShoutOut has been delivering teacher training for several years. We work with current teachers within schools as well as student teachers carrying out their teaching qualification. We’re excited to LGBTQI+ education embedded into the training of both new teachers and those undergoing the leadership programme.

ShoutOut CEO, Bella FitzPatrick comments on the importance of the project:

LGBTQI+ people are a minority group who transcend many other social factors such as class, religion, and race. LGBTI+ youth have different experiences of familial and community acceptance but one common thread of life for young LGBTQI+ people is that they attend school. The experience of attending school for an LGBTQI+ young person can be either one of exclusion and bullying or it can be affirming and celebratory of their identities. We strive for the latter.

Follow ShoutOut on twitter for updates.

LGBTQ+ Reading List

Thinking of reading more LGBTQ+ books in 2021? Here’s some of our favourites to add to your To-Read list!

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In Amateur, author Thomas Page McBee tackles masculinity and violence through the lens of his own experience taking up boxing as a transgender man. An important read for all genders to better understand what it means to be a man.

his memoir is about a trans woman from the Philippines and her journey to womanhood. The author has Albinism and is often perceived as white, leading this book to explore the intersectionality between race and gender.

Redefining Realness is a memoir by Janet Mock, an American writer and transgender activist. This book became a New York Times Bestseller. Mock went on to work as a writer and producer. She writes, directs and produces Pose, a television series about the lives of five trans women in the New York Ballroom scene in the 80s.

In the Dream House is a memoir about a relationship between two women that includes toxic and abusive layers which are underrepresented in stories about queer relationships. The fragmented writing style allows the reader to experience the unease of this dynamic.

Alok Vaid-Menon is a non binary activist and author. In their book they discuss non binary identities and gender diversity. This book is published by Penguin Teens and is great for young adults, but adults will also find it illuminating.

This novel by noted queer writer Baldwin covers the tumultuous relationship between two men, an Italian and an American who are living in Paris in the 1950s. Regularly thought to be one of the most groundbreaking queer novels.

This is our first choice for an introduction to queer history. An activist and a cartoonist come together to illuminate the histories of queer thought and LGBTQ+ action in this groundbreaking book.

This book follows the stories of 12 people, and explores intersections of identity. From black lesbian playwrights to non-binary social media influencers. It won the Booker Prize in 2019

This nonfiction book details the fight for LGBTQ+ rights around the world and how a new global conversation about sexuality and gender is compelling us to think differently about love, family, rights, and the human condition.

This touching memoir tells the story of Kimberly, a mom and lawyer who finds out at 41 that she is intersex, and her journey to activism.

This is a collection of speeches, essays and poems by Audre Lorde from the height of her work in the 1970s. Her work looks at the struggle of women, Black people and LGBTQ+ people and how for her, a Black lesbian feminist, these all intersect.

Alison Bechdel is the cartoonist who founded the Bechdel Test: the media metric that looks at the representation of women by suggesting that, at a minimum, a piece of media should have two named female characters who should have a conversation together not about a male character. This is a graphic memoir about Bechdel’s home life, growing up with a closeted gay father and coming out herself.

Am I Blue? features a collection of short stories from a group of LGBTQ+ authors for young adults. This 1995 classic is a must-read for anyone seeking community, regardless of age.

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Don’t forget that many books can be found as eBooks and audiobooks from your local library, all done online!

When buying books, try to go to independent booksellers. You can find some of the best independent bookshops in Ireland here.

Happy Reading!

The Yogyakarta Principles

The 10th of December is Human Rights Day. On this day we reflect on human rights, how far we have come and far we have yet to go. It’s on the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in 1948.

LGBTQ+ people intersect with rights on many different fronts. Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights pertaining to privacy has be implemented in furthering the rights for LGBTQ+ people. For example, it has been argued that criminalizing homosexual is a violation of the right to privacy.

“Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”

— The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In the field of Human Rights, there are many documents and declarations. The Yogyakarta Principles is a document about human rights in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity. It was published in 2006 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

The document addresses many issues pertaining to the human rights of LGBTQ+ folks. For example, Principles 22 and 23 states that a person has the right to seek asylum from persecution based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

29 leaders in Human Rights signed the document, including our own Mary Robinson.

The Yogyakarta Principles were updated in 2017 and are now known as The Yogyakarta Principles plus 10 or YP+10. This document recognises the distinct and intersectional grounds of gender expression and sex characteristics. YP+10 also includes principles specific to intersex people.

Many laws around the world protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC for short), however, the UN has never accepted YP+10 and the attempt to make gender identity and sexual orientation new categories of non-discrimination have been rejected by the General Assembly.

Despite this, the YP+10 remains a powerful set of goals in terms of international LGBTQ+ human rights and is used by International Organisations as the gold standard. As well as this, when laws are changed in favour of LGBTQ+ rights they often mirror the language of YP+10, therefore it gives the framework for human-rights-based legalisation.

Find out about more about how the UN impacts an organisation like ShoutOut by clicking the photo

Human Rights pertaining specifically to LGBTQ+ people is an ongoing piece of work. The UN Human Rights Council created a mandate for an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This position is currently held by Victor Madrigal-Borloz.

He has done extensive work on LGBTQ+ human rights including examing “conversion therapy” and the impact of COVID 19 on the human rights of LGBTQ+ people.

We have come so far, and we have a long way still to go!

LGBTQ+ Films & TV for all ages!

We can’t really overstate how meaningful cultural representation is for young LGBTQ+ people. Here are some inclusive films suitable for the whole family. Check these out, and have a browse through LGBTQ+ sections on sites like Netflix, MUBI, Film4 and Volta for even more. We’re delighted to say that this list gets longer every year!

PG:

ParaNorman

Funny, spooky stop-motion romp from the makers of Coraline with a central queer character. Perfect for family Halloween viewing, we promise everyone will love this one, regardless of age.

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Kapaemahu

A short animated film exploring the history of Māhū in Native Hawaiian and Tahitian cultures - dual male and female spirits who brought their healing and caring powers to Hawaii. Find it on YouTube for a better understanding of third genders in indigenous cultures.

Onward (Disney+)

One you might have missed in cinemas before lockdown, Pixar’s latest was released in early March this year. Features out lesbian actor and advocate Lena Waithe in a small role as a gay character in a sweet story about brotherly adventures. 

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In a Heartbeat (YouTube, short)

This crowd-funded animated short has racked up over 43 million views on YouTube for its simple depiction of a youngster’s first crush. You’ll soon see why - though you might wish for an extended sequel.

Out (Disney+, short)

A young man rehearses a nerve-wracking conversation with his parents before they visit. This short from Pixar features Disney’s first ever main LGBTQ+ character.

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Steven Universe (Netflix) and Adventure Time

These two are TV shows, but they’re way ahead of the curve. Adventure Time gave us one of the best queer relationships in animation with the totally-besotted Marceline and Princess Bubblegum, a goth-fairy dynamic for the ages. Meanwhile, the Steven Universe crew features queer couples and genderqueer characters, presented joyfully and without fanfare. Two funny, original, endearing shows for the whole family to enjoy.

12A:

Love, Simon

Love, Simon is groundbreaking in its normality. In many ways it’s your standard teen movie with high school drama, clean-cut actors, and a chart-friendly soundtrack. It’s hard to believe that this was the first film from a major Hollywood studio to focus on a queer teen romance as its central storyline. In 2018! But here we are, and we’re glad it’s a total delight. 

A Secret Love (Netflix)

A poignant Netflix documentary which spans seven decades of a couple’s love, hidden from those around them their whole lives. This gentle, captivating film shines a light on the untold stories of older LGBTQ+ folks and their fight for acceptance. An educational watch.

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The Way He Looks

This tender Brazilian release teases out a love story between two classmates in an unassuming, heartwarming fashion. We love this one for its inclusive representation beyond LGBTQ+ visibility - more of that please. 

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15A

Tales of the City (Netflix)

A Netflix show based on a classic set of books by gay author Armistead Maupin, this San Francisco-set drama features a diverse cast of queer and trans actors. A representative writers’ room which included trans journalist and author Thomas Page McBee ensured that the story would be true to LGBTQ+ experiences.

Pride

A fun and joyful look at solidarity between London-based LGBTQ+ activists and Welsh miners at the height of the miners’ strike in the 1980s, this gorgeous film with a stellar cast shows how two very different communities can support each other in the face of oppression. An important lesson in unity and allyship.

Dating Amber (Amazon Prime)

This recent Irish release tells the story of two queer teens who fake a relationship in a bid to stem the bullying they face at school. A light-hearted coming-of-age tale laced with nostalgia and a very sweet friendship at its heart.

Moonlight

This 2017 Best Picture winner is an essential and timeless piece of art. Visually stunning and devastating, the tender film depicts black queer love and masculinity in the US in all its beauty and complexity.

Disclosure (Netflix)

The relentless, harmful transphobia faced by trans communities worldwide is hugely influenced by stigmatising media representations of their identity. This groundbreaking documentary draws important lines to show that ignorant screen portrayals of trans characters have had indelible effects on the lives of real trans people.

The 34th

Ireland is a changed country since we voted to approve marriage equality in 2015, but how did we get to that point? This documentary tells the personal stories of those who fought for this crucial progress and the hurdles they faced along the way.

Trans/Tras (TG4 player)

This recent TG4 documentary tells the story of a trans couple living in Cavan - their daily lives, their hopes for the future, and the reality of being a young trans person in Ireland today, as Gaeilge.

A Fantastic Woman

A beautiful Chilean film and Oscar-winner, this poignant character study follows a young transgender woman, Marina, as she tries to rebuild her life in the wake of her partner’s death.

Pose (Netflix)

This groundbreaking series, with a wealth of trans talent on- and off-screen, looks into the lives of trans women and queers of colour on the NYC ballroom scene in the 80s and 90s. The series covers the birth of drag, as well as addressing racism, transphobia, and the peak of the AIDS crisis.

A Date for Mad Mary

Another very welcome addition to the small but starry canon of Irish LGBTQ+ film, this is a classic Irish black comedy with a big heart at its centre. Seána Kerslake gives a ferocious performance as the eponymous Mad Mary.

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What are your favourite queer films?

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"Queer" as folk

By Domhnaill Harkin and Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh

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Queer, adj/n, a nuanced word which can refer to one's gender identity &/or sexual orientation. Often an umbrella term for the LGBTQ+ community. A term previously used to target the community, it was reclaimed as our differences are to be celebrated, not shamed.

Introduction – the reclaiming of Queer 

Queer. 

Even hearing the word makes some people flinch, even now. Queer was a word used to insult, segregate and target the LGBTQ+ community for a long time. More recently, however, the term has been reclaimed as a positive and inclusive word to describe anyone who identifies with a letter or letters of the LGBTQIAP+ acronym. It can be used as an umbrella term for the community as a whole e.g. John is bisexual and Sam is nonbinary, John and Sam are queer – that is if both John and Sam identify with the word queer and are happy for it to be used in referring to them. It can also be used in situations where people would prefer not to specify their identity, allowing them to use a more open and general term of queer rather than giving specific details about their sexual orientation, sexual characteristics or gender identity. We also see the word being used more and more widely in the community, for example, Queer theory and Queer Studies are taught in many third-level institutions. There are many definitions of the word queer – the above is ours, what we share in our workshops and with those we encounter. We feel it covers much of what the word means today but also appreciates that this definition may itself become outdated and be renewed or added to with time.

Origins of the word

The origins of the word queer can be found in the 16th century when it was used to describe something as “strange, eccentric or peculiar”. Most of us will know, from reading books from certain periods, that the word queer is often found, but with different connotations to how we use the word today. In Bram Stoker’s, Dracula we find, “He was in such a queer mood that morning”. 

The use of the word to describe men and women suspected of engaging in same-sex relationships, and those who exhibited non-normative gender expression, only began in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was a pejorative term and conveyed the word’s earlier meaning of strange or peculiar behaviour. One of the earliest records of the word queer been used in connection to same-sex relationships was in a letter in 1894 by John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensbury. He used the term in a letter to his son Alfred, blaming the death of his other son, Francis, on “Snob Queers like Rosebery.” His use of “Queers” referred to Archibald Primrose, who had allegedly been romantically involved with Francis before his death. Subsequently, his surviving son Alfred was in a relationship with Oscar Wilde and the following legal trial instigated by the enraged Marquess led to Wilde’s homosexual relationships becoming public knowledge and his exile from society.

From the 1900s onwards this new definition of the word queer came to be associated more so with men who engaged in same-sex relations. There was some use of the word queer as a self-identifying term by homosexual men but by the 1950s, describing oneself as gay became the more common term. Queer became a slur and it was not until the 1980s in the USA that the term was reclaimed. In 1990, Organisation Queer Nation was formed with the hope of a complete change of how the term was viewed, they wished it to be used as a more inclusive and encompassing term for all members of the LGBTQIA community.

Queer Nation activists march, NYC 1990

Some Personal Reflections

Domhnall: “From my own experience in an Irish context, the word queer was very much an insult until relatively recently. Growing up in rural Donegal in the late 2000s, queer was an insult often throw at me in the school corridors. This was years before I even came out and for me, queer was always a word of hurt and discrimination. When I first came out and became involved in LGBTQIA activism, I could not understand this desire to reclaim the word. I could only see the pain and isolation it had caused me, which contributed to me denying my sexuality until I was 23. Though now and it being three years since I came out, I can understand why this reclamation has happened and still is happening in some respects. The best way to take all the hurt of a word is to claim it yourself and use it positively. Using the LGBTQIA acronym can be slightly stiff at times, whereas Queer as a term is simple, easily understood and a perfect umbrella term. I still would say I am gay, but I’m a proud member of the Queer community.”

Lisa: “As an Irish speaker and a ShoutOut exec team member, people often ask me for the Irish forms of queer terms – how do I identify trí Ghaeilge? This makes me happy on many levels – because the queer and the Irish language communities (and indeed their intersection, see for example An Queercal Comhrá) are two I have found a home in and have a great love for, so I delight in seeing them come together. Equally, it brings me so much joy that Irish (like the word queer!) is being reclaimed and revived in its own way for queer people in Ireland, and indeed around the world, to identify through our beautiful native language. The Irish word for queer is ‘aiteach’ and incidentally, the best source for queer terminology in Irish is the USI’s An Foclóir Aiteach (‘The Queer Dictionary’ – well worth a read!). We also recently ran a social media campaign to share some of our definitions for queer terms, and their Irish language counterparts called #ShoutOutFocalaDay. You can find the pronunciation of aiteach, should you wish to identify as such, and many other queer terms in Irish in a video we shared at the end of the campaign. Is duine aiteach mé means I’m a queer person/ I’m queer.

“I love the freedom that the word queer offers us now. It saves the unfortunate but sometimes inevitable interrogations and debates us bisexual folk are sometimes drawn into by simply naming our sexuality. Sometimes I’m queer, sometimes I’m bisexual. I identify with both terms and like having the option to use the two words interchangeably. I love that many of us refer to LGBTQ+ bars and spaces as ‘queer bars’ instead of the traditional ‘gay bars’. These spaces are generally now for all under the rainbow rather than just those who identify as gay, and so queer, I feel is more inclusive and indeed, welcoming word for them. I’ve met young people who said they ‘chose the word queer while they figure out what kind of queer they are’ – which I think is great. We hear of many who identified as gay or lesbian in the earlier stages of their coming out process only to find all of the other wonderful letters of the acronym later, and find something more suited to their exact identity then and having to come out once again with this new identity. Perhaps queer can be a ‘starting point’ of sorts for young people now, to allow them time to grow into their identity and reflect before needing to come out with one specific identity. Where the word queer once, and admittedly still sometimes does, hurt our community, it now also offers freedom, inclusivity as an umbrella term and perhaps even brings us a bit closer together”.

Pronouns

What are pronouns?

Simply put, pronouns are a way of referring to someone in the third person. They are generally connected with a person’s gender, often a signifier of that crucial part of a person’s identity;

Example: he is my friend, she is nice, they are fun.

If we’re being technical, pronouns are a subcategory of nouns, which are used as substitutes for nouns where the noun is known due to the context.

Example: My sister Sarah is going to college. She will study music.

Here, the noun is Sarah, and the pronoun is “She”.

Why do you have your pronouns in your email signature?

It’s an easy way to make people aware of how to refer to me in the third person.

Example: I got an email from Ruadhán, he will call on Friday. Bella contacted us and said her schedule is free.

Isn’t it obvious what pronouns you use?

Nope. It’s not obvious.

People can have any pronouns, no matter how they present themselves. While you might be able to make a good guess, it’s better to just take the guess-work out of it by including your pronouns in your email signature, social profiles, or internal directory. Also, around the world, different names may sound feminine or masculine. If you have an Irish name someone from another country may not know if that is typically a male or female name, and vice versa!

Having your pronouns visible in your email signature is a way to show that you’re aware that people may use different pronouns such as they/them, and in sharing that awareness, you’re helping your students or colleagues to pause before they assume a person’s gender or pronouns. It’s a small, remarkably simple way to demonstrate that you care about inclusion.

Hold on, “they” is plural!

We’ve been using the singular They since the 14th century in English. We use it all the time when we don’t know someone’s gender.

Example: Somebody left their umbrella! I hope they don’t get wet.

Some, but not all, non-binary people, use they/them pronouns. This means you refer to them in the third person using they and them.

Example: Max is joining us for paintball on Saturday. They’ll be driving if you want a lift with them.

Some non-binary people may use “they/she” or “they/he” pronouns - indicating that they are comfortable with you referring to them using either of those sets of pronouns. Others may use neopronouns.

What are neopronouns?

Neopronouns are singular third-person pronouns that are usually new and created with the intent of being gender-neutral. They/them are the most widely used neutral pronoun set but some people prefer to use neopronouns. An example of a neopronoun set is Xe/Xem.

Example: Sam is buying snacks. Xe went to the store and I gave xem a tote bag to use.

Should I add pronouns to my email signature?

Yeah!

What else can I do to be inclusive?

• Add your pronouns to your Zoom name, social media profiles, or internal directories/communications like Slack.

• Introduce yourself with your pronouns when meeting new people.

• Add your pronouns to your lanyard, name badge, or desk area.

• Talk to your friends, students, and colleagues about the importance of pronouns and encourage them to add theirs where possible.

• Avoid assuming someone’s pronouns until you know what they are.

ShoutOut 2020 Annual Report!

We are delighted to publish our 2020 Annual Report.

The past 12 months have been unpredictable for ShoutOut, as it has been for everyone due to the pandemic. However, with the kind help of individuals and organisations, we were able to continue to provide LGBTQ+ acceptance training.

You can also read our 2019, 2018 and 2017 annual reports.