EILE Magazine – August 2015 (Vol.3, Issue 3)

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EILE

Magazine V3 Issue 3 – August 2015

Galway Pride More Tiger Dublin Fringe The Matador

City Jam

Pat Coldrick California Dispatch

The New Normal

Inside:

Tourism

Gay Guide To NI

Fashion | Film | Music |Health | Interviews

.

EILE Magazine | Who’s Who

Contributors

Jon Beaupré Jon is a professor of TV, Film& Media Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

M. Butler M. Butler is a writer and editor, with a keen interest in human rights, and has studied philosophy and psychology.

Scott De Buitléir Scott is founder and Editor-in-Chief of EILE Magazine. He is also a writer and broadcaster, based between Dublin and Nottingham.

Brian Merriman Brian is founder of International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, and founder of Mr Gay Ireland Lisa Reynolds Originally from County Meath, Lisa is a fashion industry student living in Bray, County Wicklow.

Brian Rochford Brian has studied health and nutrition, with a special interest in controlling pain in rheumatism and arthritis.

Conleth Teevan Special thanks to Conleth Teevan for writing on the Tiger Dublin Fringe festival.

Frances Winston Frances Winston is EILE’s resident film buff, and has contributed to many publications such as The Irish Independent and Irish Tatler.

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EILE Magazine | Welcome

Highlights August 2015 Tiger Dublin Fringe – P. 20

Volume 3, Issue 3

Tiger Dublin Fringe release advance highlights of the September festival’s 21st birthday edition!

Editor-in-Chief: Scott De Buitléir

California Dispatch – P. 46 Jon Beaupré writes about the rise of the Latino LGBT community in California

Galway Pride – P. 16 Galway Pride have some exciting events lined up for the LGBT community to enjoy!

Editor: MKB Contributors: Jon Beaupré, MKB, Scott De Buitléir, Brian Merriman, Lisa Reynolds, Brian Rochford, Frances Winston Photographers: Ed Ziehm NB: All images in this publication are either under Creative Commons licence, or used with permission. Image credits, where necessary, are printed on the corresponding page(s). Any queries can be made to hello@eile.ie Special Thanks to MKB for all her hard work, dedication and support.

Web: http://eile.ie

Music – Ps. 6,10, and 12 Post Paradise, Pat Coldrick and Concrete Soup give us our musical enjoyment this month!

Contact: hello@eile.ie Twitter: @EILEMagazine Facebook: http://fb.com/eilemagazine Note: All opinions expressed in this issue are the writers’ own.

Fashion – Ps. 24 This month, in our Fashion Spotlight, Lisa Reynolds writes on Gothic fashions!

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…plus film and music reviews and much more!

EILE Magazine

EILE Magazine | Editor’s Letter

Contents

When a Smile is the Prize Welcome to the August ‘15 edition of EILE Magazine!

6-

Post Paradise

10 -

Concrete Soup

12 -

Pat Coldrick

14 -

Kilkenny Arts Festival

16 -

Galway Pride

20 -

Tiger Dublin Fringe

24 -

Gothic Fashion

28 -

Charl Van Den Berg

30 -

Gay Guide To NI

34 -

Keep Moving

40 -

Frances On Movies

44 -

CPs In Russia?

46 -

California Dispatch

56 -

GFEST

64 -

Maspalomas Pride

68 -

News & Views

One evening during the all-too-brief Irish summer, I decided to walk into Dublin’s city centre from Donnybrook. The sun was shining and there was warmth in the air, something we just don’t get enough of. People were relaxing in Stephen’s Green park, from kids running around the playground, to tourists taking photos of the flowerbeds, to couples finding romance in the sunshine.

One particular couple made me burst into a good mood and a big smile upon noticing them. They were a middleaged gay couple, with one man having his arm around the shoulders of his partner. They weren’t doing much more than sitting on the park bench, cuddling up to one another, and enjoying the good weather like everyone else in the park.

It’s that last fact, however, at made it so special. They were acting just like everyone else, and they were treated just like everyone else.

There was a time when that gay couple, regardless of how long they have been together, would not have had the confidence to be affectionate with each other in public. There was a time, when if such a couple did try to be affectionate (or, should I say, as affectionate as straight couples are) in public, they would’ve been ridiculed.

Not now. Not that evening, when this sight was unusual, probably, but not a bad thing. They were just like any other couple in the park.

Homophobia has not been driven from our shores, but advances have certainly been made lately. And, just like when the Irish get the rare chance to enjoy some sunshine, we should also take the opportunity to be thankful for the progress in which our society has made over recent years.

Sometimes, it’s good to just smile.

Scott De Buitléir Founder / Editor-at-Large

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Post Paradise We recently featured this great band on our daily magazine at eile.ie, and wanted to give you a run-down on what this indierock band have been up to since they got together!

Their unique sound comes from several different genres and sources EILE Magazine

Photo: Ed Ziehm

of inspiration, and this means that Post Paradise delivers an alternative, indie-rock sound that is distinct and memorable. With the classical flair of Amy Morgan’s work on the cello and Nick

Duarte’s signature vocals and edgy riffs, the two become the cornerstone of the quartet, further enhanced by Mark Roshon on drums and percussion, and Chris Santolla on

bass guitar. Together, the foursome creates a fresh and unique sound that is unparalleled.

Post Paradise has made quite a reputation for themselves, especially EILE Magazine

around the Colorado music scene. Nick’s work on the board of local music organization, SpokesBUZZ, as well as being named a Musical Ambassador, alongside Amy, for the Colorado Board of Tourism, has made them a prominent name. The band even has a local beer named after them, the Post Paradise RPA (Rye Pale Ale)!

Known for their spectacular live performance with an elaborate light show, they bring a theatrical edge to their alternative rock music.

This has allowed Post Paradise to open for acts such as Murder By Death, Twenty-One Pilots, Walk The Moon and Panic at the Disco.

With two full-length albums and one EP release under their belt, Post Paradise is currently wrapping up a new EP set to release in the fall of 2015.

Check them out at PostParadiseRock. com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ PostParadise.

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Cover art for their great single “Ordinary”

“things have been very busy in our world lately as we get the masters done for our new Ep, take photos for the album cover, film a new video, plan the release and get some tour plans in motion… Trust us, all of this is worth the wait, we’ve got lots in store for you as summer winds down... you’ll be seeing a lot of info about our record release soon” EILE Magazine

Concrete Soup: Acclaimed Irish Saxophonist Cathal Roche to join pianist Izumi Kimura Concrete Soup Improv Residency Izumi Kimura, Cathal Roche + ¡NO! Arthur’s, 28 Thomas Street, Dublin, 8.

Saturday August 15th Doors 8:00 pm.

Admission 5 euro.

Acclaimed saxophonist Cathal Roche has been confirmed to feature in a duo performance with pianist Izumi Kimura at this month’s Concrete Soup Improv Music Residency at Arthur’s on Thomas Street, Dublin. The night will open with a preliminary set by perennial hosts ¡NO!, followed by a duo set with Izumi and Cathal, and finishing with a collaborative Izumi/Roche/¡NO! performance. A heady mix of dronetastic tunes will also be delivered before, between, and after sets

by Neilio Iglesias (Power FM).

Japanese born Irish resident pianist Izumi has 10 EILE Magazine

performed extensively throughout Ireland as a solo, orchestral and chamber musician. Her musical interests span both the classical and improvised music fields and she has performed with some of the leading performers and ensembles from both disciplines.Izumi has collaborated with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, Crash Ensemble, Music 21, Michael D’arcy, Ioana Petcu-Colan, Ken Edge, Cora Venus Lunny, William Butt, Joachim Roewer, Julian Arguelles, Tommy Halferty, Ed Neumeister, Stéphane Payen, Ronan Guilfoyle and Sarah Buechi among others.

She is a specialist in the performance of contemporary music and has given many premiere performances including pieces especially written for her. She is also working on a project introducing Japanese contemporary music to

Europe, and her solo album of Japanese and Irish contemporary pieces – mostly all premiere recordings – was released in 2010 on Diatribe Records.

Cathal Roche lives in Co. Sligo, Ireland and works as a composer-performer specialising in solo saxophone improvisation.

As collaborator and improviser, Cathal has performed and recorded with many leading Irish ensembles such as the Fuzzy Logic and ICC Ensembles, Kai Big Band, Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, Awkward Silence, the Rise Saxophone Quartet and Common Tongue.

Since 2007 Cathal has collaborated with Ian Wilson on a number of improvisational works including ‘replay’ and ‘Book of Ways’ with the RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet, ‘Double Trio’ with UK drummer Stu Ritchie and bassist Daniel Bodwell and ‘Common Tongue’ with traditional sean

Izumi Kimura

Cathal Roche

nós singer Lorcan Mac Mathuna. As a composer and video artist, Cathal has produced a body of solo work which he has performed across Ireland including ‘The Messenger’ (tenor saxophone and DVD); Guidance (multitracked saxophones, DVD, performed at the TRADE Visual Arts Seminar, Co. Leitrim, 2009) and ‘The Map Task’, (quartertone tubular bells, soprano saxophone and CD). Cathal is a founder

member of the RISE Saxophone Quartet.

so-underground acts such as Can, Theoretical Girls/Sonic Youth, and the Tom Tom Club. The ¡NO! is Fergus Cullen band currently curates (guitar, sax, clarinet, the only free-form music woodwinds), LRC residency in Dublin, where (bass), Jamie Davis they host and collaborate (drums), and Graham with local, national and Montgomery (guitar, international acts. They Roland Handsonic, have just released their keyboards). Specializing in eponomously titled debut free-form improvisational album on Last of Our Kind music, various members Records. have collaborated with personalities from underground and notEILE Magazine 11

Pat Coldrick at the Abbey Tavern A wonderful guitarist and an amazing composer, Pat Coldrick entertained and delighted the crowd at the Abbey Tavern in Howth - by M. Butler

The Abbey Tavern in Howth, Dublin, was the setting for an extraordinary evening of classical guitar with a twist, on Saturday 25th July last, as guitarist and song-writer, Pat Coldrick, wove his magical spell on those in attendance.

All pieces, from classical to modern, and with some of his own works interwoven, were instrumentals, but this was one of those few and rarified occasions when there was no need for words. In fact, words, to his particular style of note-rich and melodic artistry, would probably have broken the spell.

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In between pieces, Pat entertained the crowd with stories of his other life, that of a carpenter, his appearance on the Late Late Show, and his early attempts to play guitar to an audience when busking, with mixed results!

He opened with a unique and beautiful version of Down By The Sally Gardens, and moved on with a complete change of pace, to Spanish Dance No. 5, Andaluza,

by Enrique Granados, before delighting further with his next piece, an intermingling of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven with Scarborough Fair!

His playing of Stanley Myers’ Cavatina, which was brought to popular attention by John Williams’ in The Deerhunter, was fresher, more soulful and more

soothing than I have ever heard it played, with no disrespect to John Williams. Pat’s own opinion on Cavatina was that it was “one of the greatest pieces ever written for guitar” and I would argue that his own piece “Antarctica” would rival many in that class, for its beautiful melody, timing, and ability to evoke feelings of being among whales in the icy waters, while floating and swimming as the music rose and fell. This is a piece future guitarists should be proud to add into their repertoire. Elena, which he wrote in St. Petersburg, is another beautiful piece which I can see being covered in the future by those with an already established reputation.

Some of Pat’s other compositions, which he played on the night, are

Pat Coldrick

already being played on Youtube by other musicians, including his Wake Unto Me played by Koshira Murashima, and his Serenade played by Günter Geurts, who has also covered Pat’s piece, Lament. I could go on and include every piece that Pat played on the night, but I would be writing until next week.

Suffice to say, they would all delight in different ways, for example, O’Carolan’s Sí Beag Si Mór, The Eagles’ Desperado, Handel’s Passacaglia, Classical Gas, his own CityJam which is also the title of his present tour, Tranquilo, and the Christopher/James/Carson song Always On My Mind, made famous by Willie Nelson.

for the past number of years, but originally hails from Navan in County Westmeath. If you were told that Pat Coldrick had spent all his life studying music, you would believe it. Instead, although starting his musical studies at the age of twelve, he is mostly selftaught. Teaching himself how to read and write music has probably been a saving grace, as it has led to a freshness and originality in his songwriting and playing of classical guitar that leaves you wanting more.

Pat Coldrick has been invited to international guitar festivals, and has performed in Russia, France, Germany and Austria, among other places. He has been living in Howth in Dublin

For more information, or to download CityJam or Cayendo, you can visit Pat’s website at

If you get a chance to hear him play on his CityJam Tour, which is running till the 9th October, don’t miss it!

http://www.patcoldrick.com/ EILE Magazine 13

Kilkenny Arts Festival 2015 7th – 16th August 2015 Since its foundation in 1974, Kilkenny Arts Festival has gathered many of the world’s finest musicians, performers, writers and artists in Ireland’s medieval city each August.

For ten days, the city’s historic churches, castle, courtyards, townhouses and gardens offer a magical setting for unique collaborations and intimate encounters between audiences and artists.

From the beginning, classical music has been at the core of the programme, featuring 14 EILE Magazine

globally acclaimed artists such as Victoria de los Angeles, Alfred Brendel, Jordi Savall, Steven Isserlis, Dawn Upshaw, Nigel Kennedy and Joshua Bell among many others. Last year, the Festival presented its most ambitious musical project to date: Beethoven’s complete string quartets and piano concertos in 12 concerts across ten days.

The Festival has also frequently showcased Kilkenny’s exceptional local tradition of baroque performance, not least through the performances of Camerata Kilkenny (which was founded at the Festival in 1999) and its co-founders, violinist Maya Homburger and organist/harpsichordist Malcolm Proud. True to their vision of championing excellence without regard for musical genres, 2014 also saw the

Irish debuts of the Basiani Ensemble (Georgia), the Early Opera Company (UK), Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italy) and La Chiva Gantiva (Colombia).

Over the decades the Festival has staged major open-air productions of Shakespeare, and has recently built on this tradition, hosting from 2012-14 annual residencies

by Shakespeare’s Globe in the historic Castle Yard, Ireland’s finest open-air theatrical space. Other theatre artists presenting work at the Festival in recent years have included the legendary Peter Brook and a residency by the Free Theatre of Belarus.

Under the artistic direction of Eugene Downes from its 2014 edition onwards, the Festival has further enriched its music

programme with major series focussing on a single composer, and also through The Marble City Sessions, a new cross-genre series of unique musical collaborations featuring a range of artists-in-residence, hosted and cocurated by the great Irish traditional musician Martin Hayes. In residence last year were – among others – extraordinary new Irish-music group The Gloaming, jazz master Bill Frisell and cult folk singer Sam Amidon.

Festival Director Eugene Downes said: “The full programme of events is now on sale for our 42nd Festival, which runs from 7-16 August 2015. Come and experience DruidShakespeare, an epic theatrical event which the Guardian has called “exhilarating… extraordinary… a staggering venture”; Eternal Harmony: The Music of JS Bach, a unique series of 18 concerts exploring the great composer’s timeless music; the Marble City Sessions, a series of musical meetings and unique collaborations hosted and co-curated by the great Martin Hayes; legendary performers such as Sir András Schiff, Jordi Savall, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Toumani Diabaté and Amjad Ali Khan; one of the world’s finest writers, Robert Pinsky, as poet in residence; visual artist in residence Mick O’Dea painting and sketching [..] and much more…”

Jordi Savall, Martin Hayes & Friends

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Galway Community Pride 2015, 13th – 17th August Galway Community Pride kicks off this year on 13th August, with a wealth of fun and entertainment for all, listed below. We start off though with a welcoming message from the Chairman of Galway Pride, Eamonn Cuniss: CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE A very warm weclome to you all at this year’s Galway Community Pride. l am looking forward to seeing you all this year and I hope you dress up, get out and enjoy what we have in store for you.This year is a special year: Yes that‘s right.

WE ARE ALL EQUAL. Times are changing, 16 EILE Magazine

rightly so. I am so proud and humble to be a part of the Festival this year along with our strong Committee team who all have worked so hard for the last few months pulling this weekend together. I want to wish you a safe, happy and healthy pride and enjoy enjoy enjoy.

Thank you so much for coming to our fest…

See you over the weekend Eamonn Cunniss

Events Listing (Two Sets) – Galway Community Pride 2015 Pride Youth Day/Fun Day Thursday 13th August, Father Burke Park, All under 18’s Welcome!

Friday 14th August, Seven Bar, 1 pm, Series of Lunchtime Lectures Friday 14th August, Remembrance Park, rear Town Hall, Transgender Day of Remembrance

Friday 14th August, 8 pm, The Cube, NUIG GenderFabulosity Fashion Show, with Ivan Fahy, €10/7 concession Saturday 15th August, 3-6 pm Father Burke Park, Family Fun Day, Free Admission, All Welcome Sunday 16th August, Club Aras Na nGael, 1-4 pm, Pride Crepe Picnic, €5 adm, Children Free Sunday 16th August, Secret Garden, 7 pm, T and Wind-down, All Welcome!

————————Thursday 13th Pride Launch, Cheese and Wine Reception, Monroe’s Live, 8 pm, with The Cosy Cartel Friday 14th, 9 pm, Monroe’s Live, The Clandestinos Band, followed by Filthy/ Gorgeous with DJ Ruth, Theme Express Yourself!

Pride & Equality Parade Saturday 15th Pride & Equality Parade, Eyre Square, Assemble at The

Fountain, 1.30 pm, Parade to leave at 2 pm, finishing at Spanish Arch, Grand Marshal, Former Minister Pat Carey Then 3 – 5 pm at the Spanish Arch, Galway’s award-winning band Oddity Then 5.30 – 9 pm, Pride Beer Garden, Oaken Band, Kiki and Baby Drags, Sara O’Kane, DJ Jonny, and local DJs

Monroe’s Live, 9 pm DJ John Monday 17th, Old Forge Bar, William Street, 12-3 pm Hangover Session Trad DON’T BE SHY, SHOW THEM HOW FABULOUS YOU ARE!

See following pages for BIG GAY PRIDE GIG details!!

Then 9 pm till close, Róisín Dubh, Dublin’s Victoria Secret and her male dancers, followed by Dublin’s Euphoria Club Night with Mr Gay Ireland.

In Upstairs Bar – Stephen Sharpe and guests Also 9 pm till close, Seven Bar, Bridge Street, Mr Bear Nite followed by club night Sunday 16th Monroe’s Tavern, back bar, John Nolan playing the Rat Pack, followed by Sara O’Kane 3-5 pm Annual Corrib Princess Boat Cruise 5.30 pm assemble at side of Monroe’s for bus to boat, bus returns to Monroe’s at 9 pm Wood Quay, 6.30 – 8.30 pm, with DJ Vinnie and DJ Tanya, with special guest Miss Dixie Normous ( winner of Drag Race) EILE Magazine 17

Galway Community Pride (13th to 16th August) are delighted to have the amazing Steven Sharpe and Katie O’ Connor in the BIG GAY PRIDE GIG 9 pm upstairs in the Roisin Dubh on Saturday 15th!

You can visit Galway Community Pride 2015 on facebook here https://www. facebook.com/GalwayPrideFestival

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Tiger Dublin Fringe: Exciting New Shows To Spiegeltent Programme Sep 7 -20 Tiger Dublin Fringe ensures its twenty first birthday celebrations will be like no other as the festival announces an extended, jampacked Spiegeltent line up and a new senior supporter, AXA Insurance – The Spiegeltent will be bursting at the seams on Wolfe Tone Square this September with more amazing acts taking centre stage at the 14 day festival, which runs city-wide from September 7-20.

The additional Spiegel line-up includes: In a major coup Irish promoters u:mack (coincidentally also celebrating their 21st birthday) present one of the world’s biggest rising electronic music stars, 20 EILE Magazine

Holly Herndon, in her debut Irish performance with a one-night only marvel on September 17th.

Truly an iconoclast artist, audiences can expect lush vocals, incredible beats and stunning visuals.

Herndon’s known for making tech-driven music; her personal browser history, messages and tweets have been transformed into beats, lyrics and sweeping soundscapes. At the vanguard of pop music, Holly Herndon is the perfect Fringe artist. This unique Fringe show is presented by u:mack, in association with Science Gallery Dublin and their SECRET Show.

Electronic music mavericks are truly firing up this year’s festival and Christian Löffler is another exciting addition to the Spiegeltent programme on September 19th. Presented by upcoming independent promoter Homebeat, Löffler’s mesmerizing electronica combines melancholic undertones with intense euphoria to get the perfect balance of amazing at his gigs.

Löffler’s music has gained respect in both House and Techno fields where he blends polished German electronica with visuals to form a stunning live experience, gaining comparisons to such luminaries as Pantha Du Prince. Support on a night rich with grooves comes from local all-star Lasertom.

Turning Pirate Mix Tape is now in RSVP mode for this year’s Tiger Dublin Fringe after its invitations are confirmed with some of the brightest Irish musical talents who will share one stage for the 2015 Spiegletent on September 12th. This year expect top hits performed by top singers and musicians in an evening of songs and collaborations that include Wallis Bird, Niamh Farrell (HamsandwicH), Mama Kin, Pete Pamf, Adam Matthews, The Young Folk, Gavin Glass. Plus keep an eagle eye out for more very special guests to be announced closer to the night. This is a not to be missed night of spectacular live music where the lines between stage and audiences

Holly Herndon

become as mixed as the tape line up itself.

The 2015 Spiegeltent events juggle the best in cabaret, circus, music, comedy and much more; Australian circus legends Company 2 premiere their brand new circus extravaganza set to take Dublin by storm Scotch

& Soda which runs for the entire two weeks of the festival; “TransAtlantic Cabaret Messiah” and Tony-nominated Mx Justin Vivian Bond, with music direction by Thomas Bartlett (The Gloaming) creates a onenight-only spectacular in her show ...And Things of THAT Nature!; Bourgeois

& Maurice and David Hoylebring their ripper of a music and comedy night Middle of the Road.

The never-ending roll call for this year’s special Spiegeltent programme also includes Fringe’s first ever pro-wrestling show, Over the Top Wrestling, with breathtaking acrobatic moves in a EILE Magazine 21

Christian Löffler festival-first spectacle.

Comedian Al Porter Swings with Luke Thomas and the Swing Cats and conjures a hilarious night of music, dance and comedy; Booka Brass Band will have Wolfe Tone Square screaming for more. Sounds Alive offers a beautiful night out of stories through sound, featuring multi-award winning radio producer and composer, Nina Perry, a live score from Crash Ensemble.

TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE runs from September 7 – 20. Book now online at www.fringefest.com or 1850 FRINGE (1850 374 643) from August 26.

Facebook - https:// www.facebook.com/ dublinfringefestival Twitter - @tigerdubfringe / #tigerdubfringe

The Matador by Shane O’Reilly

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Grounded by George Brant

Grounded by George Brant She’s a hot-rod F16 fighter pilot. She’s pregnant. She’s grounded. Her career in the sky is over. Now she flies remote-controlled drones over the Middle East. She struggles through surreal twelve-hour shifts far from the battlefield, hunting terrorists by day and returning to her family at night. As the pressure mounts, the boundaries begin to blur.

Clare Dunne stars in this grippingly compulsive play directed by Selina Cartmell.

About The Matador, by Shane O’Reilly (Show In A Bag) A picture hangs in the hall of a tiny cottage on the side of a mountain. A matador waving red at a beast. In the kitchen is a grandmother. There, also, is her grandson. Outside the cottage, tied by his nose ring to a peg in the soil, is a bull. His fate lies in the balance. Best performer nominee (Fringe 2011) Shane O’Reilly (Follow, Farm) presents this awkward Irish story, a messy fight between man and beast.

“Shane O’Reilly is that one man with seemingly endless talent.” entertainment.ie on Follow The sixth edition of Show in a Bag is full of plays which will make you marvel. Catch four brand new works from seven extraordinary Irish performers. Though scaled small, these shows are overflowing with big ideas, huge heart and enormous potential. Don’t miss the 2015 edition, brought to you by Tiger Dublin Fringe, Irish Theatre Institute, Fishamble: The New Play Company and a group of unforgettable artists.

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Spotlight On ... Gothic Fashion Lisa Reynolds looks at the varied elements that make up Gothic fashion “Tenue tragique noire absolument obligatoire” (Black tragic dress required) was the memo from German fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, when he hosted his Soirée Moratoire Noir Party in 1977. The guests at the party also incorporated elements of the leatherman style, but essentially the dress code was the style of the mysterious, dark, supernatural and exotic gothic fashion.

It isn’t the only time fashion designers have been associated with gothic style. Many big name designers over the years have put their own spin on it, including Alexander McQueen, Ann Demeulemeester, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix, Yohji Yamamoto and John Galliano. But like all fashion trends, the gothic style was made 24 EILE Magazine

popular by people, just like you and I, looking for an alternative way of dressing, and a way to express their inner selves.

It was the antidote to the colourful, glossy, style of disco clothing, and the brightness and pastels of 1980s fashion. In their place, goths looked to medieval and punk fashions for inspiration, and took the main colour in gothic dress - the understated black - and made it look utterly spellbinding.

takes so much inspiration from medieval styles, such as those from the Victorian and Elizabethan periods with all the clothing constraints these eras had, it may seem surprising that contemporary gothic fashion incorporates these styles without the pain. Instead there are comfortable and soft fabric versions.

Popular pieces in this look include dark, flowing capes, long coats, corsets, lace pieces, gloves, fishnets, light shirts with Cintra Wilson stated that ruffles, and frilly pirate shirts with dropped “the origins of shoulders, paired with a contemporary goth style huge black hat and black are found in the Victorian trousers. Jewellery is cult of mourning” silver, and represents occult or religious which explains the choice themes, while footwear of black as the symbol of ranges from stilettoes colour for gothic style. to curved, knee-high or However, other colours bucket-topped boots. like purple and scarlet are also strong features of the Make-up is also a huge style. element of the overall gothic look. The pale Comfort is also a huge complexion in gothic consideration in gothic make-up is iconic, but fashion. Considering it black or purple shades

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Aristocrat annd Lolita Goth

Harajuku

Siouxsie Sioux

Lolita Goth 26 EILE Magazine

of lip colour are also part of the gothic make-up routine, as well as dark eyeshadow. Goths also often paint their nails in a black shade, while their coloured black hair matches, to complete the ultimate gothic look.

Many have championed the look over the years, and some even before the image had a name.

1910s femme fatale, Theda Barra, was well-known for her gothic look, especially her dark eyeshadow, and other stars have embraced the look too, such as Siouxsie Sioux, David Bowie, Bettie Page, Robert Smith, Morticia Addams, Vibeke Stene, The Damned, Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy, The Shroud, London After Midnight, Joy Division, The Cure, Rosetta Stone and Bela Lugosi. The gothic look is also a major feature in the costumes of many films, including The Picture of Dorian Gray, Snow White and the Huntsman, Dracula, Frankenstein, and the aptly-named Gothic.

There are different types of gothic style. There is the gothic lolita look, which as the name suggests mixes together both gothic and lolita elements.

Originating in the late 1990s in Harajuku, this look is all about darker make-up and clothing, with red lipstick, smokey

or defined eyes, and black eyeliner. Fashion brands such as Atelier Boz, Atelier Pierrot, H. Naoto Blood, Peace Now and MoiMême-Moitié have taken inspiration from this style for their pieces.

Another gothic style is aristocrat, which is a Japanese streetstyle. Visual Kei rocker musician, Mana, has been a huge supporter of this particular gothic style, as well as the gothic lolita look, with his label the aforementioned MoiMême-Moitié. This style is inspired by gothic and neo-Victorian elements.

As previously mentioned, the fashion world has been enchanted by the gothic look over the years, which brings us nicely onto the third style of gothic dress haute goth. This gothic style has featured time and time again on the runways, for instance, in Spring 2004, when Raf Simons, Riccardo Tisci, John Paul Gaultier and Stefano Pilati sent gothic looks down the runway. In

addition, Hanna Horstedt and jewellery designer Hanna Hedman have also championed the gothic image in their work.

The gothic style is alive and well to this day, and forms part of the style of many celebrities, such as Adam Lambert, Lorde, Zola Jesus, Almora and The Eden House, proving that we are still embracing the fun of the dark side.

Long may it continue.

Haute Goth

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Former Mr Gay World, Charl Van Den Berg, Dies Brian Merriman, Director of Mr Gay Ireland, writes of the passing of his friend and former Mr Gay World, Charl Van Den Berg It is with deep sadness and shock that I learned of the sudden passing of my dear friend Charl Van Den Berg aged 33 in hospital in South Africa today (August 7th).

I first met Charl when I chaired the judges panel and he was crowned Mr Gay South Africa 2009. I was founding African director of the Mr Gay World competition and he was our first winner. He joined me in Oslo for the finals and became a part of the Irish family.

I was not surprised at all when he went on to succeed Mr Gay Ireland as the 2nd Mr Gay World in 2010. He was the epitome of charm, with an easy warm confidence that made him represent SA and the LGBT community so well. Always a smile and never a blame for his tough times, Charl’s generous personality touched a lot of lives for the better.

He kept his illness from all but his loving partner, so this has come as a severe shock to many - but it was typical of his selflessness. To his partner and his Mother and brother my sincere sympathies - in Ireland we say in the Irish language “Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann” we will not see his like again and we are the poorer for that.

Sleep well my handsome friend RIP

Brian Merriman

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Former Mr Gay World, Charl Van Den Berg, RIP

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A Gay Guide To Northern Ireland Scott De Buitléir gives us a run-down on what NI has to offer the LGBT tourist Northern Ireland is not exactly well-known for being the most gay-friendly region of the British Isles, especially as it is now the only part of the UK that does not enjoy marriage equality.

Why, then, would an LGBT tourist want to visit such a place?

Despite some dim-witted and backwards politicians holding back Northern Ireland’s official stance on LGBT rights and equality, the situation on the street for LGBT people is quite different. The towns and cities of “NI” — in this example Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, and Newry – enjoy a healthy gay scene, which provides a typica (Northern) Irish welcome for LGBT tourists from near and far.

For those more into the outdoors, there are some wonderful beaches for swimming and surfing, or just to take in the view. For instance, you could visit the beautiful Portstewart beach in Derry, Magilligan Benone which is 7 miles long and a nature reserve, Cranfield Bay in Co Down, Ballycastle in Antrim, or Portrush beach on the Antrim/Derry coast. According to Discover Northern Ireland: “Northern Ireland has over 200 kilometers of diverse coastline and beachfront in care of the National Trust, making it an ideal destination for that perfect beach, fishing or water sports holiday”. contd. overleaf --->

Portrush Beach

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Belfast at night

The Giant’s Causeway Co. Antrim

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Odyssey Arena, Belfast

Belfast Belfast is Northern Ireland’s regional capital, the second largest city on the island of Ireland, and home to the Odyssey Arena. I was once told by a former NI policeman, that gay bars in Belfast were “one of the few places where your colors [i.e. your political and religious background] were left at the door, and all were welcome”.

The same can be said for today, as Catholic, Protestant, Nationalist, and Unionist – and indeed, native and tourist – mix together for a good night. The majority of Belfast’s gay scene is based in the Cathedral Quarter in the northern part of the city.

With five different venues, the city punches above its weight, and it also competes with Dublin for claiming to have the largest Pride festival on the island of Ireland.

Public displays of affection between gay & lesbian couples are – slowly – becoming more visible downtown, however, verbal expressions of homophobia do still occur from time to time.

Townhall, Newry

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Derry / Londonderry The North-eastern city of Derry (officially, but rarely, Londonderry) is an incredibly romantic place, built on the banks of the River Foyle between counties Donegal and Derry. Known as The Walled City, Derry is one of the very few cities in the British Isles with its medieval walls still intact, a feature that makes the locals understandably proud. The city’s only gay club, Envy (64 Strand Road) is situated a little outside the city center, and has a good atmosphere, although you may feel its decor needs to be updated. Still, with the right company, and adequate amounts of alcohol, a good time is almost guaranteed.

Derry’s other bars, however, are equally welcoming, and some of the central pubs are a must-see, like Peadar O’Donnell’s pub on Waterloo Street, or the Gweedore Bar next door. These bars are amongst the most popular in Derry, known for their traditional Irish and rock music gigs.

Newry The border town of Newry in County Down is a surprisingly decent place to stay for an overnight or weekend stay, acting as a halfway travel point between Belfast and Dublin. The local pride festival is a chance for the town to celebrate its LGBT community, although it doesn’t have any gay bars, only a drop-in community center run by the Newry Rainbow Community. Although having a smaller Pride festival and gay scene than Belfast or Derry, Newry is certainly a friendly and welcoming town for a weekend or overnight stay.

Overall, Northern Ireland is a wonderful place to visit for tourists, including LGBT visitors. Even smaller towns, such as Strabane in County Derry, have gay-friendly areas, but depending on where you visit, you should experience a warm Ulster welcome.

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Keep Moving - Stay Healthy!

Brian Rochford tells you how to stay healthy just by using what you have around you Exercise is not just about keeping in shape and staying in good health.

Exercise is important to the body, as cartilage relies on the joints being kept moving in order to remove waste and absorb nutrition.

Sustaining a healthy body weight is another benefit of regular exercise, and this, in turn, can help with the management of arthritis and joint pain.

A little regular exercise can result in a wide range of health benefits, for example: Helps to lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure Better posture and improved muscle tone Energy and strength to keep going throughout the busy day Maintenance of balanced body weight Better sleep patterns Healthy heart and lungs Reduction of body weight, which some researchers say can significantly reduce pressure on your joints You can start with low impact exercise sessions like walking, swimming, cycling, tai chi, and even dancing.

There can be significant mental health benefits derived from a regular exercise programme, as physical exercise can reduce stress and tension, and can result in feeling more confident and relaxed. We all know the

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damage long-term exposure to stress and tension can have on our minds and bodies. Regular exercise releases the body’s natural stress reducing chemicals (endorphins). A balanced exercise programme should combine aerobic (use oxygen and generate energy) and strengthening with range of movement.

You should always consult your GP before starting out on an exercise programme, as the wrong type of exercise can put

unnecessary strain on your joints, which could result in further damage.

However, things you do naturally, like walking, can give you health benefits just by walking for a little longer, out in the fresh air, increasing your oxygen intake, and helping clear your mind or lift depression. If you’re a regular traveller by bus, you could get off the bus a stop early, and walk the extra five minutes to your home.

your body weight as you excercise, so no joint damage can occur, and you can burn up calories too!

Remember, whatever you do, to improve your health Keep Moving!

And don’t forget, swimming supports EILE Magazine 35

Don’t Miss: Dublin Bears Freddie Mercury Tribute!

Another great Dublin Bears Event!

The Freddie Mercury Tribute, with the amazing DJ AGGIE, happens at 9pm on Saturday 29th August in Oscars Bar, Christchurch, Dublin Admission is FREE, so don’t miss it!

For more on Dublin Bears, just visit: www.dublinbears.ie 36 EILE Magazine

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Film Preview: Spotlight The Boston Globe’s Investigation of Church Child Abuse Directed by Thomas McCarthy – Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schrieber, Brian D’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city, and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions.

When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delve into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston’s religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world.

Directed by Academy Award-nominee Thomas McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT is a tense investigative thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest crime stories in modern times.

Selected to be shown in the Out of Competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival and in the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, the film is scheduled to be released on November 6, 2015, by Open Road Films.

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Film Preview: A Walk In The Woods Directed by Ken Kwapis – Starring Robert Reford, Emma Thompson, Nick Nolte Legendary actor Robert Redford sets off for a Walk In The Woods, as Bill Bryson, based on the travel writer’s best-selling memoir.

Upon his arrival back in the United States following two decades in the UK, Bryson wants to find a way to reconnect with his homeland.

Impulsively, he decides to hike a section of the longest continuous footpath in the world, The Appalachian Trail, 2180

arduous miles stretching from Maine to Georgia, an expedition men half his age struggle to complete.

offers to accompany him, Bryson gets more than he bargained for. Thus begins an adventure, as they encounter wonderful and Fearing for his life, his wife wacky characters, and face Cathy (Emma Thompson) the highs and lows that the refuses to allow him trail has to offer. to do a solo trek, but is unsuccessful in persuading Coming Soon! any of his friends to accompany him. When his old buddy Katz (Nick Nolte) a crude, overweight, recovering alcoholic, calls him out of the blue and

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Hot Pursuit 40 EILE Magazine

Frances Winston on Movies Directed by: Anne Fletcher - Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Sofía Vergara, Robert Kazinsky, John Carroll Lynch Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara have both proved their comedy credentials. Reese with her hilarious turns in the Legally Blonde films, and Sofia in her ongoing role in hit sitcom Modern Family. They are also polar opposites, with Vergara’s fiery Latino persona being in sharp contrast to Witherspoon’s oft portrayed WASPish personality. I’m sure many people have thought this would surely be a genius idea in a contemporary female Odd Couple kind of way.

Well, at last someone has, and this is the result.

Witherspoon plays Rose Cooper, an uptight police officer, whose strong sense of duty has hindered her personal life and given her an intensity that many can’t deal with. She is tasked with transporting Vergaras’s Daniella Riva, a drug-lord’s wife, who is entering the witness protection programme, to Dallas alongside her husband, who is set to testify against a major

player. However, before they even leave the Riva’s lavish mansion, there is a shootout, and Daniella’s husband is killed as is Rose’s partner. Thrust together with the whole state of Texas thinking they are fugitives, the pair must try and get to the bottom of the killing, as Rose does her utmost to fulfil her duty and get the feisty and reluctant Daniella to her destination.

With a plot that is a pretty standard opposites attract buddy story, these kind of movies rely on the chemistry and comic timing of their stars to elevate them from standard fare. Unfortunately here neither Witherspoon nor Vergara seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Both look supremely uncomfortable throughout, and it isn’t helped by some extremely clunky dialogue. Despite having a female director, there are a couple of truly gratuitous scenes that have no impact whatsoever. At one point the pair pretend to be lesbians to get themselves out of a tight spot, and in another they have a “cat fight” that seems to be more the stuff of male fantasy. Neither scene

really works, and feels shoehorned in for effect.

The plot also becomes incredibly contrived as it progresses, as if they are trying to make it deeper than it is.

The trailer for this makes it look hilarious, but that really is all the best bits chopped together.

I wanted to love this, and done properly, it could have paved the way for far more femaleled movies of the same ilk. As it is though it is a confused mess that even its stars can’t save.

Without leading ladies of this calibre, it would have been a straight to DVD/online subscription offering. That said, it’s done decent enough box office for its budget Stateside, and it does have an odd kind of appeal in a sympathy vote kind of way. Forgettable and run of the mill, the highlight of this film is actually seeing former EastEnder, Robert Kazinsky, doing his best American drawl as a love interest for Witherspoon’s character. Need I say more?

In Cinemas Now!

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Directed by: Christopher McQuarry

looking for his nemesis, who is knocking off world leaders, and killing innocent people.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin

However, these films have never been about the complex stories. They are all about the action, and from the very opening scene which sees Cruise hanging off the exterior of a plane, this is all go. The set pieces are spectacular, the fight scenes are well thought out, and there is a motorcycle chase scene that will have you gripped.

Unlike many action films which rely on CGI the stunts, here are all real and it shows. You really do notice the difference and it makes them even more thrilling.

Back for a fifth instalment, the juggernaut that is the Mission Impossible series shows no signs of slowing down.

While many franchises have run out of steam or lost leading players by outing number five, this somehow manages to retain the excitement that the first couple had. This of course is helped in no small part by leading man Mr Tom Cruise, who far belies his 53 years in this full-throttle action flick.

As usual the plot isn’t exactly deep. Short version: IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) finds himself at the mercy of a band of rogue agents called “The Syndicate”.

Upon escaping, he vows to track down their leader, but with the IMF disbanded, he himself is a fugitive, and he must rely on his former team to take their chances with him. He zig-zags the world

There is also a bit of girlpower in the form of Ilsa Faust (Ferguson) an enigma who isn’t quite what she seems. Far from being a token simpering female, she really gets to hold her own with the guys, and it’s great to see.

All of the cast have a really good chemistry, and while these may not be the most dramatically challenging of roles, they all do a great job and have a tongue in cheek quality to their performances, which is refreshing. Harris especially brings a pantoesque quality to bad-guy Solomon Lane.

bonkers plot reaches its conclusion, but it remains great fun and given what has gone before, as a viewer you are perfectly willing to accept it. These films don’t claim to be high art. They are pure escapism and adventure, and this does what it says on the tin.

Tons of fun and hugely thrilling, this is the kind of action flick that makes your palms sweat as you engage with the daredevil stunts. A real popcorn movie, it needs to be seen on the big screen to truly appreciate the scale of some of the sequences.

Bold and brash, MI Rogue Nation is not pretending to be anything it’s not, and is highly entertaining.

In Cinemas Now!

Yes, it all gets a bit silly near the end, as the EILE Magazine 43

Opinion: Could We See Civil Partnerships in Russia?

Stephen Donnan ponders the recent ECHR

ruling that Italy is in violation of human rights by not having a mechanism to recognise same-sex relationships The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in the case of Oliari vs Italy that the Italian Government has violated the human rights of same-sex couples, by not providing a mechanism to recognise their relationships. Whilst the ruling does not mention the word marriage, it is massively significant nonetheless. Signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights include nations with successive anti-gay governments, such as Russia, Poland, Armenia and Moldova, and would be counted amongst some of the worst places in Europe to be gay, so does this ruling change anything?

Well yes and no. The current Italian PM promised that Italy would enable samesex partnerships of some degree (unlikely to be full marriage equality) by the end of 2015, and it’s probable that the Court’s ruling will light a fire under their ass to get it done before October. Some of the signatories to the Convention, such as the UK, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Ireland amongst others, have already legalised or are in the final stages of legalising marriage equality, but many of the signatories have no legal recognition of same-sex relationships, offer them no protection, and in some instances have banned marriage equality through constitutional amendments.

The ruling stated that under Article 8, the Right to Private Life was violated by the Italian Government’s inability to provide Civil Unions to same-sex couples. In my honest opinion, the ruling doesn’t go far enough in accepting that same-sex marriage is what needs to be legislated for throughout the ECHR’s jurisdiction, but it’s a start.

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For many, particularly in the UK and Ireland, Civil Partnership laws in 2005 and 2010 respectively changed the landscape of gay rights irrevocably, and furthered the debate to the point that both states have legalised equal marriage (except Northern Ireland). Civil Partnerships opened the door for a public debate on what it meant to be in a committed same-sex relationship.

To a wider public, it helped to ‘normalise’ our relationships to a point that Civil Partnerships became seen as a welcome and positive step in 2005 in the UK, but had become obsolete by 2013, as the campaign for marriage equality gathered momentum. In countries

where civil unions have been legalised, such as Germany, Austria and Hungary, there is a growing movement within civil society and political opposition groups, calling for marriage equality to be legalised.

In all likelihood, the likes of Russia and its neighbours will ignore the court’s ruling in favour of Civil Unions/ Partnerships, but nations such as Poland, Lithuania and Romania may take some legislative action to appear moderate and in touch with their Western neighbours.

Their governments will probably pay a price, as public opinion is mostly against any recognition of registered partnerships

for same-sex couples, but they could easily blame it on the ECHR, and claim their hands are tied.

It’s also likely any form of civil union will be a far cry from being close to marriage (no adoption rights, pension, inheritance, tax breaks, name change, trans people banned from entering into them for example). Attitudes will change, however, slowly and surely, and that’s what we must celebrate.

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Califor

The New No

Latinos will dominate politics and society for years to come - By Jon Beaupré This past June, at some point determined by statistics, California became the largest state in the U.S. to have a larger plurality of Latinos than any other group. The new figures show that as of July 1, 2014, about 14.99 million Latinos live in California, edging out the 14.92 million whites living 46 EILE Magazine

here. While this is really just an official acknowledgement of a long-awaited milestone, it does have implications for life as a majority minority state.

decade, more than a third of the residents of the nation’s second largest city were foreignborn. The number of Angelenos who had been born in Asia, Lain America and the Middle East increased more than sixfold between 1960 and 1990. The Los Angeles Swelled by an influx of immigrants from Mexico, region had become home Central America, Asia and to almost a quarter of the nation’s immigrants. other parts of the world, Los Angeles emerged in Using the un-proved, the 1980s as the nation’s but oft-cited statistic most multicultural of sexual minorities city. By the end of the

rnia Dispatch:

ormal

counting for 10% of the population, this means that Latinos (and Latinas) total somewhere around a million and a half LGBT people in the Golden State, more than the total population of California’s second largest city, San Diego.

After WWII, the act of forming a group for Gay people of color became valuable because it helped members not only define their identity but also to think of themselves as a community and inspire others to think of them in the same way. Simply by its existence, the activist Mario Ceballos insists, “Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (the most influential Latino LGBT group in the last two decades of the millenium) began to change the tone of how gay politics was conceived in LA.” Because of its vast immigrant populations, especially among Latino communities, it became possible to form groups supporting very specific constituencies and social agendas.

A typical pattern was for men to form a Gay group,

in which Lesbians were invited to participate, even though the women’s issues weren’t necessarily high on the men’s agenda. Eventually, a sufficient quorum of women in general or Latina Lesbians in particular, would become empowered to form their own group. In general, this was a natural evolution, but many of the Latino/a groups found that while they could overcome homophobia, the blatant racism which Latinos faced was harder to shake.

Organizations that started ostensibly as social groups came to realize that they were necessarily political because their members belonged to a dual minority. Award winning media producer and much-decorated volunteer Rita Gonzalez is quoted in ‘Gay LA’ (Faderman & Timmons, Basic Books © 2006), as saying when she was invited to her first Lesbianas Unidas retreat, “It’s good to be with other Latinas, but I’m not very political.” The president of the group, Lydia Otero, shouted, “You are a Lesbian? You are Latina?

You are political!”

(Disclosure: Gonzales cohosted with the author the local LGBT radio program IMRU in Los Angeles in the late 1990s) For the most part, Latinos/as participated in the incredible and unprecedented growth of LGBT organizations, alongside, and sometimes leading their Anglo colleagues here in Southern California, during the decade following Stonewall.

However, in many cities, LGBT Latinas/ os formed separate organizations not only to deal with homophobia and sexism in their own communities, but also to address discrimination and prejudice exhibited by predominantly white Gay bars, businesses, and organizations.

Some milestones:

- Tony Reyes, one of the founders of the early Gay journal ‘ONE Magazine’, in 1953, was the earliest Latino to play an important role in the American Gay movement for which there is a EILE Magazine 47

public record. Reyes designed several covers for the magazine and had been associated with the Homosexual Information Center, also in Los Angeles.

- In 1968, the Reverend Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church and his Latino companion were arrested in August at The Patch bar in Wilmington, just south of L.A., setting off a period of militancy in Southern California that pre-dates Stonewall by almost a year - Latin influences dominated the first Gay center in southern California, located in the farm and petroleum city of Bakersfield, 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Some of those organizers, transplanted to Los Angeles, formed the core of the radical Liberated Chicanos in 1970-71.

- Also in the early 1970’s, the organization Greater Liberated Chicanos (GLC) was founded in Los Angeles to address the discontent of Chicanos who were afraid to openly link their Gay oppression with the oppression of other people.

The definition of 48 EILE Magazine

‘Chicano’, while essential to this history, is complicated, and outside the scope of this report.

In general, the term Chicano refers to people of Mexican descent whose lives have been lived entirely, or in large part, in the southwest of the U.S., especially in Southern California, some for many generations. Many do not speak Spanish, and yet are not accepted into either the white ‘mainstream’ nor the immigrant communities recently arrived from Latin America.

Finding oneself in the ‘Chicano’ construct adds yet another layer of alienation and complication that has to be overcome in order to survive.

For the most part, Chicanos are assumed to be traditional, and homophobic, although this has changed dramatically over the years. To be Chicana and Lesbian, for example, means that you have to deal with your identity as a Chicana, a Latina, a woman, and in no particular order, as a Lesbian too.

The GLC’s closed and by invitation only meetings were held at the International Institute, in Boyle Heights. Their ideological stands reflected the atmosphere of the late 60s. The

group was organized around a Chicano perspective. Anglos were distrusted, by default, unless they were romantically involved with a member of the group. The GLC lasted many years and dissolved through a series of personality conflicts. The group’s disappearance in the early 1980s left a void in the leadership of mainstream Gay Latino/ Chicano movements.

Nonetheless, the impulse to organize and form affinity groups was unstoppable.

- Latinos had been active in such local groups as Lesbians of Color, which played a heavy role in defeating the 1976 anti gay Briggs Initiative in California, Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos, the East Side Latino Association, and the national group LLEGO. - Don Amador, Latino by adoption, helped to mobilize Latino Gays in LA’s Silverlake neighborhood, during his runs for public office and his service as Mayor Tom Bradley’s liaison to LGBT communities.

Bradley was mayor from 1973-1993.

- An early alliance was

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thiswayout.org | Twitter: @TWORadio Overnight Productions (Inc.)/”This Way Out” Post Office Box 1065 Los Angeles, CA 90078 U.S.A. EILE Magazine 49

made between the United Farm Workers and Gay groups, especially Latino LGBT cohorts in Southern California. Two Latino Gay men from San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico joined Mattachine society founder Harry Hay and John Burnside in a successful ‘fairy’ action to stop a corrupt water scheme in the upper Rio Grande valley at about this time.

- Support for Gay rights was championed by Latino and labor civil rights icons Cesar Chavez and UFW cofounder, Dolores Huerta.

UFW contingents often showed their support for equality by marching in Gay rights parades alongside their promotion for safe working conditions and the right to organize. Iconic Latina activist Laura Esquivel discussed the challenge of identity and activism with Chavez, asking why it felt like she “had to pick between being Gay or being Latina,” and the lack of a home in either community. “He held my hand and said, ‘You have a right to be heard and be seen as both Latina and as Gay people.’”

The void that was left after the closing of GLC was ultimately filled by a number of other groups, which were more broadly based than the GLC; groups like Latinos Unidos, Latina Lesbian 50 EILE Magazine

Alliance, and ultimately the two most important Latino LGBT organizations in Southern California, LLEGO and GLLU.

Latinos Unidos – later changed to Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU) – became perhaps the most powerful and influential LGBT group to be formed in Los Angeles, and which - LLEGO was born of the ultimately became the earlier group, Lesbian parent of second and & Gay Latino Caucus. third generation groups LLEGO, acronym for that continue to this day.

National Latino/a Lesbian GLLU was founded in and Gay Organization, 1981 essentially to fill a operated from its founding void left by the closing of in 1987 at an international the earlier GLC group.

Lesbian and Gay conference in Los Angeles, Over time, GLLU spawned until it ran out of funding Lesbianas Unidas, the in the third quarter of AIDS/Social Services 2004. Although it was support agency Bienestar, founded in California, it and the arts agency quickly became a national VIVA as well as other umbrella organization groups either founded which attempted to around a single issue coordinate the efforts or formed to address of Latino LGBT groups a specific short-term across the country. In need. VIVA alone, raised this sense, LLEGO, which considerable funding from can trace its roots to the the National Conference west coast, had a powerful of Mayors and sponsored national influence and artists who produced went further than any exhibitions, performances group before to extend and publications for the visibility and agenda nearly a decade, as well of Latino and Latina as providing material Lesbians and Gay men. support for men with In the 1980s, figures such AIDS. as Rolando Palencia (son of a Uruguayan Tupamaro Bienestar is now one of the guerrilla leader) helped largest AIDS and general to push the Gay and social services providers Lesbian movement to in the country, with four reflect Latino’s racial and full-featured medical cultural diversity, and to facilities across the L.A. link diverse constituencies basin alone. As in many around a common cause.

LGBT communities, the With activists José Mejica, AIDS epidemic inspired and later David Gonzalez, moving and effective Eduardo Archuleta, the efforts to support people aforementioned Rita affected by HIV/AIDS, Gonzales and Mario and Bienestar became Ceballos, the group Gay widely known, in white

communities as well as in communities of color, as a real leader in this area.

To bring matters up to date, Dr. Robert Garcia is an educator, former city council member and current Mayor of Long Beach, CA. The openly Gay Garcia was born in Peru, and moved with his mother to the U.S. at the age of five. By the time Garcia ran for Mayor of Long Beach at age 35, the fact that he is Gay and foreign born was hardly mentioned, and were not issues in the race. He is by no means the only Gay leader to hold such a prominent position, but at 37, he is the youngest mayor of that city, and more notable perhaps for his ambition, commitment to education, and willingness to take on a leadership position in the state’s seventh largest city. His success is only one of the latest achievements for Latino LGBT groups, which are becoming a reliable and honored part of our social and political landscape.

Longbeach Mayor Robert Garcia (left) with President Obama

UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta surface of those groups in Southern California. As we come to embrace our new Latino plurality, perhaps those histories will be written and shared. jbeaupr@calstatela.edu @jnbeaupre Thanks to staff of: -USC Libraries -ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives

Jon BeauprĂŠ is a professor of TV, Film& Media Studies at California State University, Los Angeles

With all that I was able to find, it remains nonetheless surprising that there are not more detailed accounts of the history of Latino and Latina LGBT history published and available to the public.

This report is a cursory summary, and barely scratches the EILE Magazine 51

HRC Praises Obama and Stands with Kenyan LGBT Activists Yesterday (July 25th) the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the US’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, commended US President Obama for his comments about the need to respect human rights for all people.

At a press conference yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya, President Obama said countries should not discriminate based on sexual orientation, while Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta referred to gay rights as a “non-issue” for Kenyans.

Responding to a question

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from the media, Obama said: “I’m not equivocal on this. If somebody is a lawabiding citizen who’s going about their business or working in a job … and not harming anybody, the idea that they’re going to be abused because of who they love is just wrong.”

Global. “We sincerely hope that President Kenyatta and other African leaders listen to the voices of their own citizens who feel excluded from society, and live in daily fear of violence and discrimination.”

In response to the press conference, Eric Gitari, head of a leading Kenyan LGBT organization, the He went on to say: National Lesbian and Gay Association spoke “When you start treating to the Washington Blade people differently, not saying, “We feel excluded: because of any harm they That’s what Kenyatta is are doing to anybody but sending as a message.” In a because they are different, statement the organization that’s the path whereby also said, “We encourage freedoms begin to erode.”

Mr. Kenyatta to endeavor to appreciate the stigma, “President Obama violence and violations continues to show experienced by Kenyan tremendous leadership gays and lesbians and on this issue and we how these degrading acts commend him for speaking reduce the contribution by out on the importance of Kenyan gays and lesbians treating all people with to the development of this dignity and respect, no resilient nation.” matter who they are or whom they love, or what The situation for LGBT country they live in,” said people around the world Ty Cobb, Director of HRC varies widely. As some

US President Obama Speaking In Nairobi

“When you start treating people differently, not because of any harm they are doing to anybody but because they are different, that’s the path whereby freedoms begin to erode.”

countries embrace equality, in others, LGBT people continue to suffer from discrimination, persecution, and violence. · 25 countries and territories now have marriage equality. · In 10 countries, same sex activity is punishable by

death, and 75 countries criminalize same-sex relationships. Hundreds of transgender individuals have been brutally murdered in the last year.

called “anti-propaganda” laws and legislation. (eile.ie 25th July 2015)

· In a growing number of countries, governments have sought to silence equality advocates and organizations with so-

EILE Magazine 53

Magayzine, the New Spanish LGBT Television Channel For a few weeks now, Magayzine has been trial-broadcasting.

At the moment broadcasting is intermittent; several stories, a special on Spanish activist Pedro Zerolo (responsible for marriage equality in Spain), some contests, and full coverage of the Pride in Madrid. It will soon begin its regular programming, which will include talk shows, and especially self-produced shows.

This channel was created by Looping Media, the company which manages the popular social network and news portal Universo Gay (www.universogay. com) and the LGBT literature-focused Stonewall publisher (www.stonewall. es). With the launch of the online television channel, Looping Media widens its range of content offer for the LGBT community, thinking of a future in which contents are multimedia and accessed from mobile devices.

Magayzine aims to offer a varied and constant self-produced programming, with special focus on the LGBT community and culture. Without leaving out the fun, this TV channel was created with a goal of making culture and activism more visible and bringing them closer to the public.

The set from where most of the programs will be shot is almost ready. It is a multifunctional studio where different sets can be used depending on the type of program. The set is located in Madrid, and it will be visited by all sorts of characters from the entertainment scene, politics and LGBT culture who will participate in the shows. In fact, on the web there are several celebrities from the entertainment and culture scene greeting this new TV channel.

Programs can be watched in Full HD on the website www.magayzine.tv, as well as on the app for iOS and Android. It can also be accessed from any podcast platform, Youtube and Facebook.

For more information visit www.magayzine.tv

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GFEST 2015

London LGBTQI cross-arts festival GFEST announces 2015 dates GFEST – Gaywise FESTival, recognised as London LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) cross-arts annual event in November has announced 2015 dates: Monday 9th to Friday the 20 November.

GFEST 2015 theme is ‘(Complacent Present) …Fragile Future?’ GFEST 2015 visual arts exhibition will explore Asian identities under the theme: Asian Future. The films are planned under the theme ‘Cinema Futura’, while the performance events will be falling under ‘Tonal Future’.

The festival event in London’s LGBT calendar consists of visual arts exhibition, film screenings, performances and talks and debate focusing on the works of young and established artists and practitioners. The festival is organised by arts charity Wise Thoughts and is now in its 8th year.

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Catherine West, the MP for Hornsey & Wood Green where Wise Thoughts is based, said in her message of support: “I am delighted to offer my support to this year’s GFEST, celebrating some of the brightest and best talent in the LGBTQI community here and abroad. I am looking forward to coming along to one of the events in my constituency and send my best wishes to everyone taking part

this year and to Wise Thoughts for organising such a fantastic diverse programme” GFEST artistic director Niranjan Kamatkar said: “we are very pleased to receive the support of our local MP and we continue to profile LGBT art works due to the support of eminent people, artists and audiences. Irrespective of significant funding challenges, we are confident that we can

deliver the full festival programme this year.”

GFEST 2015 programme advisors include Anna McNay, Gulliver Ralston, Michael Petry, Simon Tarrant, Subodh Rathod and Lois Keidan and the artistic director is Niranjan Kamatkar.

GFEST 2015 programme advisors names are also announced on the festival’s website: http:// www.gaywisefestival.org. uk/

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Jerusalem: Six LGBT Activists Stabbed At Pride Parade By Previous Stabber

An ultra-orthodox Jew, who had just been released from prison for a previous stabbing incident at the 2005 Pride Parade, stabbed six people at this year’s Jerusalem Pride Parade, leaving two in a serious condition.

Yishai Shlissel was arrested at the scene, and was the same person responsible for stabbing three people at the 2005 Pride march, having been released from prison some weeks ago. Unlike Tel Aviv’s Pride march, which 58 EILE Magazine

usually passes without incident, Jerusalem’s Pride march has always been a touchy subject, due to Jerusalem being regarded as religiously significant for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

According to reports “Several thousand participants at the 13th annual Jerusalem Pride Parade were marching along Keren Hayesod Street when the knifeman apparently broke through a police cordon to attack them”.

Yishai Shlissel is said to be a member of the Haredi

group of Orthodox jews, who reject modern secular culture, segregating themselves from modern society. ‘Haredi’ is an adjective from from the noun ‘Hared’ meaning “one who trembles at the word of God”. Although protestors have been present at all Jerusalem parades over the years, more recently Haredi leaders have urged their followers to stay away from the marches.

– MKB (eile.ie 31st July 2015)

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LITTlE GEM RECOrDS 5, CAVENDISH ROW, AT THE TOP OF O’CONNEll STrEET, DUBlIN, IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK. SPECIAlISINg IN INDEPENDENT ArTISTS AND lABElS, STOCKINg VINYl, CASSETTE, COMPACT DISC, AND lITTlE gEM PlAYErS

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Tourism chiefs seek ideas for measuring tourist behaviour in 22,000€ Aug 31st competition!

Tourism chiefs are calling on the LGBT community for ideas of how to discover what people get up to on their holidays.

In a competition with prizes worth 22,000€, the Gay European Tourism Association has teamed up with the Lisbon MBA and the Portuguese Tourism Board to find new ideas and technologies for measuring the behaviour of holidaymakers when they visit countries and cities.

scholarship for the Lisbon MBA. Two runners up will receive 2,000€ cash.

All three will be invited to present their ideas at a conference in Lisbon in September.

[According to the 2015 Financial Times Top 100 Global MBA Rankings, The Lisbon MBA International is the 36th best MBA program in the world (http://rankings.ft.com/ businessschoolrankings/global-mbaranking-2015) (and the 13th in Europe), the 2nd in “International Course Experience” and the 3rd in the “Value For Money” category.]

“LGBT tourists are a hugely important part of the $1.5 trillion tourist economy, The competition is seeking to create new spending over $200 billion annually” said Carlos Kytka, GETA’s Executive tools that allow measurement of tourist Director. “If we are going to enhance behaviour, such as where they go, what their experience and improve the they do and how much they spend. The competition is also looking for innovative facilities and services offered to them we mechanisms for collecting and analysing need to have good data so that companies and destinations can make evidencedata, such as crowd sourcing and data based improvements”. mining of social networks.

The winning entry will receive 10,000€ cash or an 18,000€ 62 EILE Magazine

The competition is part of GETA’s “Promoting Innovation in LGBT

Tourism” programme which has already seen initiatives such as the launch of Europe’s first LGBT language school holidays and partnering with the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office to provide official safety guidance to LGBT travellers.

Anyone wanting to enter the competition can find details at www. thelisbonmba.com/news/tourism-innovation-competition. Closing date for entry is August 31st 2015.

The Gay European Tourism Association exists both to help businesses and organisations involved in gay tourism to prosper and to help gay tourists have the best possible holiday in Europe. GETA has over 4,200 business members worldwide. Membership of GETA is free to businesses and organisations involved in European tourism who agree to the GETA Pledge to welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual and transexual customers and treat them with the same respect that they treat all their customers.

GETA’s consumer website www.gaywelcome.com (http://www.gaywelcome. com/) is the most comprehensive guide for gay travellers in Europe.

You can see more about GETA at www.geta-euope.org (http://www.geta-euope. org/) EILE Magazine 63

Winter Pride Maspalomas presents

The Three Degrees at the Yumbo Centrum in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, known for their hits “When Will I See You Again” and ” Dirty Ol´Man” for a 45 minute show on Saturday 14th of November, 2015 Admission Free!

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Maspalomas Winter Pride 2015 - 9 to 15 November The second edition of Winter Pride Maspalomas expects 25.000 visitors to the event which distinguishes itself by offering high quality entertainment. The programme for 2015 will be:

Wed 11: Pride Walk and Schlager Fest (German Carnaval) Thu 12: Gran Canaria Big Band Swing Night Fri 13: Hi-NRG Night (with the all star artists of the 80s) Sat 14: Dream Night /with international artists) Sun 15: Closing Event

The detailed programme at winterpridemaspalomas.com website.

The professional and flawless organisation of the first edition resulted in a 100% positive feedback from local governments, sponsors and above all the public. Maspalomas is proud to add another great event to their calendar and offer an entertaining programme to the thousands of visitors that visit the tropical island during the “German Carnaval� on the 11th of November.

It is the mission of ProGay to promote Maspalomas as a gay friendly destination and has committed itself to support local charity organisations like ACES, the local AIDS foundation.

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La Voix – Live on Stage at Winter Pride Maspalomas 2015!

LA VOIX – Live on stage Thursday, 12 November, 2015 La Voix is a woman with one mission: to bring back glamour, class and sophistication, not to mention humour, to the stage and screen!

La Voix was semi-Finalist of Britain’s Got Talent and second place in Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK! She has won many prestigious awards, which include Best drag act at the London Cabaret awards, Winner of Drag Idol, and most recently the Gold award winner for Best drag act at the Boys Scene Awards.

La Voix is live on stage at Winter Pride Maspalomas with the Gran Canaria Big Band!

http://www.winterpridemaspalomas.com/

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Square In Spain To Be Renamed After Gay Rights Activist A square in Madrid is to renamed after a gay rights activist.

The square, presently called Plaza Vasquez de Mella, is to be renamed after a townhall vote which approved the proposal.

Pedro González Zerolo is the gay rights activist after whom the square is to be renamed. He had supported the National Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals as both a lawyer and politician.

Zerolo was born in 1960 in Caracas in Venezuela, studied law in Tenerife, and then completed further studies in Spain. He was on the town council for Madrid, joined the board of ILGA (the International Lesbian and Gay Association) in 2004, and married his partner of 10 years, Jesús Santos, in 2005. He died of pancreatic cancer on 9th June of this year.

A change.org petition, which gathered over 84,000 signatures was the impetus for the change in name for the square, which is in the middle of Madrid’s gay district.

– MKB (eile.ie 28th July 2015)

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Pedro Gonzรกlez Zerolo in 2013 Photo: Jaime Lissavetzky

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Jamaica: First Pride Celebrations and Coming Out Symposium for LGBT People & Allies Yesterday, August 4, there was a Coming Out symposium held in Kingston, Jamaica, for LGBT people and their alllies, as part of PRIDEJA 2015, running from 1st to 8th August.

This is the first Pride celebration in the nation’s history, and is sponsored by JFLAG, Jamaica’s main LGBT group, with the title: The Pride of a People- Breaking the Rules of Oppression.

Today, August 5th, they are due to be having a big Prideja 2015 party, starting at 6 pm (EST), to celebrate what appears to be the emerging freedom of LGBT people in a largely anti-gay society.

The LGBT community also took part in a flash mob, dancing and singing at Emancipation Park in Kingston, on Saturday last, as part of their week’s Pride celebrations.

In a changing climate, the Mayor of Kingston & St Andrew, Dr Angela Brown Burke, has added her support to the Pride celebrations.

Jamaica’s Minister of Justice, the Honourable Mark Golding also added his support stating: “…as the LGBT community embarks on a week of activities to build awareness of the rights and needs of their members, I urge all Jamaicans to respect their right to do so in peace, and hope that the week’s activities will further the goal of making Jamaica a place where ‘Out of Many, One People’ is a fundamental guiding principle by which we all abide.”

The Canadian actress, Ellen Paige, who was in Jamaica, joined in the flashmob, and shared images on instagram, as J-FLAG shared an image of Ellen (right).

– MKB (eile.ie 5th August 2015)

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St James’s Hospital, Dublin, announce routine HIV and Hepatitis Testing for all Emergency Department Patients On World Hepatitis Day, Tuesday 28th, St James’ Hospital, the largest University teaching hospital in Dublin, announced the commencement of routine HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing for all patients attending the Emergency Department in the hospital.

In line with international best practice, St James’s Hospital will conduct routine testing for all 3 infections in order to diagnose new cases and link disengaged patients back to care. Recent studies* show that at least 2 per 1000 people in the Dublin area have been diagnosed with HIV infection. The reported prevalence of hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) in Ireland is between 0.5 and 1.2%, while the numbers of those with hepatitis B viral infection (HBV) is 72 EILE Magazine

unknown.

The hospital, which treats over 45,000 patients within the Emergency Department annually, conducted an opt-out pilot screening programme in March 2014, for patients who were having blood tests taken in the Emergency Department.

During that pilot phase 10,000 samples were obtained over a 44 week testing period. Results identified 97 HIV, 44 Hepatitis B and 447 Hepatitis C cases. Of those identified just over 7% were new HIV cases, 45% were new hepatitis B cases and nearly 13% were new hepatitis C cases. At the time of the pilot, almost 30% of people already diagnosed with hepatitis C were not receiving care.

Speaking about the commencement of routine testing for all 3 infections, Professor Patrick Plunkett, Medical Director of the Emergency Department at St James’s Hospital said: “The pilot project we conducted in March of last year clearly demonstrated

high prevalence rates for all 3 infections in attendees of our Emergency Department and it was alarming to see the high numbers of new diagnoses.

The commencement of routine testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C has provided us with the opportunity to both diagnose those with no perceived infection risk and to link those disengaged patients back to care” “It is critically important for those diagnosed with any of these 3 blood-borne viral infections to receive continual care, some 84% of the previously disengaged patients from the pilot project are now successfully linked back to care”, Professor Plunkett concluded.

The extension to routine testing in St James’s Hospital Emergency Department for 3 bloodborne viral infections is supported by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division, and the Population Health and Wellbeing Directorate.

Implementation of the

programme is the result of a successful collaboration between the Departments of GU Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Emergency Medicine, Hepatology and Microbiology, the Irish Hepatitis C Outcomes research Network (ICORN), the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland (IDSI), HSE Social inclusion unit and pharmaceutical partners who helped fund the pilot study. *H Tuite et al. Patients Accessing Ambulatory Care for HIVInfection: Epidemiology and Prevalence Assessment. Irish Medical Journal July/August 2015 Volume 108 Number 7 p199-201 (eile.ie 4th August 2015)

“The commencement of routine testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C has provided us with the opportunity to both diagnose those with no perceived infection risk and to link those disengaged patients back to care�

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US: Obama Administration Releases Revised National HIV and AIDS Strategy On Thursday last (30th July) the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) released the administration’s revised National HIV and AIDS Strategy for the United States.

This update to the initial strategy, released in 2010, provides a framework for the federal government to dramatically reduce HIV transmission and better support people living with HIV and their families through 2020. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the Administration for updating its roadmap addressing the multidecade epidemic, and urged Congress to provide sustained funding for the life of the strategy.

“The revisions to this 74 EILE Magazine

critical national strategy come at a crucial time in the fight to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic,” said David Stacy, HRC Government Affairs Director. “While HIV affects Americans from all walks of life, gay and bisexual men, transgender women, youth, and communities of color are disproportionately affected, particularly in the South. Achieving an AIDS-free generation is within our grasp, and Congress must ensure the Obama Administration has the vital resources it needs to meet the strategy’s achievable goals.”

Oakland, California. HRC submitted comments and recommendations to update the strategy.

The revised strategy was released at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and was updated based on input from diverse communities, including LGBT people and allies at town hall meetings in Boston, Massachusetts; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; and

The top priorities through 2020 include:

The updated strategy emphasizes the need for HIV awareness and education to be incorporated into all educational settings, as well as health and wellness initiatives. It also highlights the need for health and wellness practitioners to be educated about HIV, a critical step in reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Such efforts should incorporate culturallyappropriate information inclusive of LGBT people.

Widespread HIV testing and linkage to care, enabling people living with HIV to access treatment early.

Broad support for people living with HIV to remain engaged in comprehensive care,

including support for treatment adherence.

Universal viral suppression among people living with HIV, since it benefits their health and reduces transmission of the virus to others.

Full access to comprehensive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services for those whom it is appropriate and desired, with support for medication adherence for those using PrEP. As one of the tools in the HIV-prevention toolkit, PrEP is a way for people who don’t have HIV to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day.

ONAP will work in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a Federal Action Plan with detailed steps to implement the updated priorities. HRC will continue to engage the Administration during this critical process.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. (eile.ie 3rd August 2015) EILE Magazine 75

IHREC Publication Seeks to Advance Human Rights for LGBT Iranians The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has released a collection of eight articles that offer innovative and provocative approaches to advance acceptance and improve understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community of Iran.

human rights for LGBT Iranians from legal, religious and sociopolitical perspectives, analyses and interpretations.

With contributions from prominent international activists, lawyers and scholars from IGLHRC’s second conference held in Düsseldorf, Germany in 2014, the collection, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in Iran: Analysis from Religious, Social, Legal and Cultural Perspectives,” examines

“We believe the wealth of information provided will raise new possibilities for Iranian LGBT activists and allies and provide a better understanding of the ongoing struggles of the community for those working in international solidarity.”

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The publication includes a selection of the proceedings from the 2014 conference and is available in bothEnglish and Persian.

“This publication demonstrates the incredibly dynamic and layered approach of LGBT rights defenders in Iran” said Jessica Stern, IGLHRC’s executive director.

Among those who contributed to the

publication are attorneys Mehrangiz Kar, Hossein Raeesi, and Mehri Jafari, who wrote legal papers about LGBT rights in Iran.

Drs. Arash Naraghi and Mehrdad Alipour, both scholars, provided indepth analyses of Islam and homosexuality. Rights activist Zeynab Alsadat Peyghambarzadeh and attorney Mani Mostofi presented papers that address the socio-political conditions for the Iranian LGBT community.

Mehrangiz Kar, a prominent Iranian lawyer and a human rights activist who attended the conference, said: “In the Dusseldorf gathering, we explored different aspects of sexual nonconformity. Through exchanging ideas from philosophical, religious, cultural, and human rights perspectives, we demonstrated that samesex relationships existed as long as history can remember, although in recent years this subject has entered into policymaking and the theoretical sphere.”

Since 2012, IGLHRC’s Iran program has developed resources in Persian to help the LGBT community in Iran and their allies to advocate for basic rights and to promote greater understanding about sexual orientation and gender identity.

“IGLHRC’s latest publication is a great addition to the growing number of Iranrelated resources that we have developed over the past few years both in Persian and English,” said Hossein Alizadeh, IGLHRC’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, “IGLHRC’s publications in Persian are meant to counter the widespread censorship by the Iranian government on sexual orientation and samesex relations. Our resources in Persian cover a wide variety of issues, from media training on LGBT rights for Iranian broadcasters to legal analysis for lawyers defending clients charged with same-sex activities.”

IGLHRC’s conference in Germany was hailed by participants as a significant opportunity to advance rights in Iran. “It has been a wonderful and very beneficial conference for me,” said Mehri Jafari, an IranianBritish lawyer and a long-time advocate for LGBT rights in Iran. “The chance to expose different ideas and research directions among experts was unique and highly valuable.” (eile.ie 31st July 2015)

“We believe the wealth of information provided will raise new possibilities for Iranian LGBT activists and allies and provide a better understanding of the ongoing struggles of the community for those working in international solidarity.”

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‘BeLonG To’ Announces 2015 National Network Grant Round BeLonG To, the national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) young people, has announced the commencement of the 2015 National Network Fund for LGBT youth groups.

The grant, which is open to organisations working towards the recently launched National Quality Standard in LGBT youth work, has been generously provided to BeLonG To through the National Office for Suicide Prevention (HSE). The grant will enable local youth groups and services to sustain or increase the number of hours that LGBT young people have access to supports within their local communities.

At the announcement, BeLonG To’s National Network Manager, John Duffy said: “The continuation of financial and experiential support that we provide to the many LGBT youth groups across the country is a vital component in our mission to ensure that there are safe and supportive services to LGBT young people nationwide.”

BeLonG To’s national development programme began in 2007 as a result of the demand and need to support LGBT young people across the country. The network now boasts 22 groups in 14 counties.

Speaking yesterday David Carroll, Executive Director with BeLonG To said: “When we first opened our doors in 2003, it was clear that there was a major gap in supports for LGBT young people outside of Dublin from the sheer number of people who travelled from far and wide to get to our service”.

BeLonG To provides direct youth work services to LGBT young people in Dublin, as well as supporting the development of LGBT youth groups throughout the country.

BeLonG To is also very active in the education and youth sectors in promoting a

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climate of inclusiveness and quality for LGBT young people through its annual Stand Up! Campaign.

Eligible organisations can find the application guidelines and apply for a grant under the National Network Fund online here: http://www.belongto.org/pro/page.aspx?subsectionid=13470 For more information, visit BeLonGTo at: www.belongto.org (eile.ie 28th July 2015)

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Australia: Labor increases pressure on Abbott to allow free vote on Marriage Equality In Australia, marriage equality advocates say marriage equality can be achieved through a cross-party conscience vote during this term of government, following yesterday’s decision by the Labor National Conference not to bind its members to vote for the reform.

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Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said, “By deciding not to bind Labor MPs to vote for marriage equality, the Labor Party has increased pressure on Tony Abbott to ensure Coalition MPs are not bound to vote against it.”

“We believe marriage equality is achievable in this term of government through a cross-party conscience vote so our campaign will continue to be directed towards the Coalition allowing a free vote and getting the numbers on the floor of parliament.”

“We urge supporters of marriage equality in the Coalition to carry the issue forward in their party room and we urge the Prime Minister to stick to his pre-election commitment of allowing the party room to debate a free vote.”

The Labor Party national conference has decided to retain its current policy

of a conscience vote for this term of government and the next one, with a binding vote not possible until at least 2019.

This were tweets from the ALP conference about marriage equality like the one below: “6.53pm: Bill Shorten has promised to legalise gay marriage in the first 100 days of an ALP government, and to put as much pressure as possible on the Abbott government on the issue in the meantime”.

He stated that marriage equality was a simple overdue change that would send a powerful message, and he asked Prime Minister Tony Abbott to allow Liberal MPs a free vote on the matter: “please give your members of parliament a free vote so we can make marriage equality a reality now.” (eile.ie 27th July 2015)

“We believe marriage equality is achievable in this term of government through a cross-party conscience vote so our campaign will continue to be directed towards the Coalition allowing a free vote and getting the numbers on the floor of parliament.�

- Rodney Croome AME

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Australian Musicians Album In Support Of Marriage Equality #SayYesToLove Australian musicians have come together to support marriage equality with the innovative #SayYesToLove Project, a diverse yet harmonious celebration of love and respect. #SayYesToLove Volume 1 is now available to purchase here.

Ivan Hinton-Teoh, Campaign Deputy Director for Australian Marriage Equality, said, “Every day Australians are finding new and innovative ways to get behind the marriage equality campaign. I am delighted to be part of #SayYesToLove and I hope it inspires more to find their voice to champion for equality.”

The album’s executive producer Michael McGlynn said, “Everyone should have the right under the law to marry the one they love.

Australian musicians, bands and artists stand together with Australian Marriage Equality to #SayYesToLove.”

Contributing artist Jimmy Barnes said, “This is about basic human rights. No

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one has the right to tell someone who they can love, or how they can express their love. Love is about caring for, and sharing your life with the one you love, and if the act of marriage helps to make that connection stronger in the eyes of the people sharing that life or in the eyes of the law then they should be encouraged, it should not be made more difficult.” #SayYesToLove Vol 1 is now available for download via iTunes and the complete track listing is: – Josh Pyke – Make You Happy [Video below] – The Basics – What Do You See In Me? (Alternate mix) – John Butler Trio – Losing You – All Our Exes Live In Texas – Our Love Won’t Die – Katie Noonan’s Vanguard – Peace Is My Drug – C Major and Veneno – Por Tu Amor (acoustic version) (New version recorded for this project) – The Cat Empire – Still Young – The Black Sorrows – A Fool And The Moon – Jimmy Barnes – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Darren Percival – Lovelife – Playwrite – Whittaker – Wes Carr – People Of Peace – L-FRESH THE LION feat. Mirrah – The

World Is Ours – Woodes x Elkkle – Muddy – Khanz – Deerhunter (Recorded for this project) – Michael McGlynn – Diamond (First release) – Hannah Robinson – Realistically (First release) – Holden Brothers Travelling Circus feat. Dallas Holden & Katie Holden – Flying – The Blackbird Collective – No Other Plan (Recorded for this project) – Bronte – My Word – Fiona Joy – Grace (Chill Version) (First Release) All tracks have been kindly donated by the Artists with proceeds going towards the Australian Marriage Equality campaign.

Due to the volume of support for the #SayYesToLove Project, Vol 2 is already underway. Artists interested in contributing should go to sayyestolove.org.au for further details.

Coordinated by Janine Middleton and Ivan Hinton-Teoh from Australian Marriage Equality, the album has been executively produced by Michael McGlynn at Vienna People and amalgamated by Mark Bolton and Beth Deady at MGM Distribution. (eile.ie 20th July 2015)

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Information and support for women who need someone to talk to

DLL – Phone: (01) 872 9911 (Callback facility available) EILE Magazine 85

Kentucky: Governor Beshear Says County Clerks Should Resign If Unable To Issue Marriage Licences The Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, spoke out against those county clerks who had refused to issue licences to samesex couples, citing religious beliefs. He held a meeting with one of the clerks, Casey Davis, and told him that if he felt that he could not do his job, he should resign.

The Governor stated: “[…] I advised Mr. Davis that I respect his right to his own personal beliefs regarding samesex marriages. However, when he was elected, he took a constitutional oath to uphold the United States Constitution.

According to the United States Supreme Court, the Constitution now requires that governmental officials in Kentucky and elsewhere 86 EILE Magazine

must recognize samesex marriages as valid and allow them to take place. One of Mr. Davis’ duties as county court clerk is to issue marriage licenses, and the Supreme Court now says that the United States Constitution requires those marriage licenses to be issued regardless of gender.

Mr. Davis’ own county attorney has advised him that his oath requires him to do so.

While there are two or three county court clerks still refusing to perform their duties, the rest of the county court clerks are complying with the law regardless of their personal beliefs. The courts and the voters will deal appropriately with the rest.

I will not be calling any special session on this topic and costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars doing so. Any proposal about the process of issuing marriage licenses

that meets the standards of the Supreme Court ruling should be carefully thought out and could be considered in the regular session in 2016.”

The governor has also said that the job could then be given to someone who feels that they can discharge the duties of county clerk, comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court, and issue marriage licences to samesex couples.

The ACLU [American Civil Liberties Union] are already involved in a case against Rowan County clerk, Kim Davis, who has also refused to issue marriage licences to samesex couples, and thereby also refused to issue a licence to any couple gay or straight. Casey Davis may also testify at this case.

According to the ACLU: U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning heard additional testimony

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear by Gage Skidmore

today in the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky’s lawsuit against Rowan County and Clerk Kim Davis for refusing to issue marriage licenses to any eligible couple, in an attempt to keep same-gender couples from obtaining them.

The ACLU of Kentucky is representing four couples, two gay and two straight.

Bunning will agree that while Ms. Davis has a right to religious freedom, that freedom does not authorize her to withhold essential government services because of those beliefs.”

William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky had this comment:

“Gay and lesbian people are our friends, neighbors, family and co-workers. When it comes to being served by a government office, they should be treated like anyone else and not be discriminated against.

The majority of county clerks in Kentucky are treating everyone fairly and equally under the

“Today’s hearing confirmed what we already knew; Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis is refusing to issue marriage licenses because of her personal religious beliefs.

We are hopeful Judge

Michael Aldridge, executive director of the ACLU of Kentucky had this comment:

law. What is happening in Rowan County is one in a small handful of unfortunate exceptions.”

Judge Bunning is expected to issue a ruling in this phase of the case in early August.

ACLU of Kentucky Cooperating Attorneys Dan Canon, Laura Landenwich, and Joe Dunman of Clay Daniel Walton & Adams PLC of Louisville are also representing the couples.

– MKB (eile.ie 23rd July 2015)

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BeLonGTo Creates Its First International Friends Network In The UK Following its central role in securing marriage equality in Ireland, BeLonG To, the national organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual & trans young people, has launched its first Friends of BeLonG To organisation in the UK. Friends of BeLonG To is an international network of individuals committed to supporting LGBT young people reach their full potential in Ireland and internationally. The network helps BeLonG To tackle homophobia and transphobia in schools and the wider community. The creation of the first international friends network will also help BeLonG To share its experience, expertise and know-how with other 88 EILE Magazine

organisations outside of Ireland.

Two month’s ago Ireland became the first country in the world to introduce marriage equality for gay and lesbian people by an overwhelming popular vote. BeLonG To played a central role in achieving this ground breaking result by coordinating a coalition of children’s rights organisations, by reaching out to reassure those with deeply held religious beliefs that it was right to vote for equality and by heading up Ireland’s largest ever youth voter campaign.

Speaking at an event at the Irish Embassy in London to celebrate the work of BeLonG To, its Founding Director Michael Barron said: “We have come a long way in Ireland when it comes to LGBT rights.

When we began in 2003 young people’s sexuality and gender identity were still taboo issues and

there was widespread opposition to what we were doing. Our first antihomophobia bullying campaign was greeted with the newspaper headline “Church anger as gay campaign targets schools” and it was next to impossible to work with some state institutions.

Today we now have support across state bodies, encompassing all political parties and Ireland is becoming one of the most progressive countries in the world for LGBT young people to grow up in. We are very grateful to the Ambassador, HE Mr Daniel Mulhall and the Irish Embassy in London for their support and for hosting this event” It’s taken us many years of chipping away at what former President Mary McAleese described as ‘the architecture of homophobia’, often in challenging and difficult circumstances. The experience and knowhow we have developed

(L – R) Dan Mulhall – Irish Ambassador in London; Michael Barron – Founding Director, BeLonG To; Tony Davis – UK Patron Friends of BeLonG To & Ferry van Dijk – Friend of BeLonG To. Pictured at the launch of ‘Friends of BeLonG To’ at the Irish Embassy in London Wed 16th July. Photo: Andrew Wiard

over more than 10 years makes us uniquely placed to work with organisations in other countries who are facing similar challenges. We are now starting the process of sharing this learning and we are sure that the creation of our international friends network will make an enormous contribution to this work. Having so many friends in the UK and with such a well established Irish community, London was a natural launch pad for our international supporters network.”

Speaking of the referendum, Michael commented; “Two of the keys elements to achieving marriage equality in Ireland were driven by BeLonG To. They were – making the debate about the kind of generous and open country people wanted this and future generations in Ireland to grow up in, and

empowering young people to see this as the opportunity for their generation to change the country for the better.

The youth vote proved to be key to the outcome.

In the end the number of young and first-time voters who participated was enough [to] secure equality for everyone.

We are very proud that BeLonG To was able to make such an important contribution to this ground breaking result” Also speaking this week, Friends of BeLonG To UK Patron Tony Davis said: “As someone with business interests in Dublin, I have been able to see for myself the amazing results that BeLonG To has managed to achieve in Ireland.

Over the past 13 years the team at BeLonG To have amassed a massive amount of experience in advancing social change for LGBT young people and I have very much

enjoyed being an active supporter of this work.

As the recent referendum in Ireland has shown, it is possible to achieve social change by uniting society and building on a positive message of inclusion. There are still too many places in the world where growing up as a LGBT person is a scary and sometimes dangerous experience.

It’s really important that BeLonG To’s extensive experience and knowhow can now be shared with other organisations outside of Ireland to help hasten the pace of change in places where it’s most needed. I and the Friends network that we are launching here in the UK are dedicated to helping BeLonG To in bringing this exciting and important vision into reality.”

For information on BeLonGTo visit http:// www.belongto.org (eile.ie 22nd July 2015) EILE Magazine 89

Finland: Equal Marriage Law To Be Re-Debated Finnish President Sauli Niinistö

In a country where rgistered partnerships were legal since 2002, homosexuality was decriminalised in 1971, and legislation banning discrimination on the basis of sexual 90 EILE Magazine

orientation has been in effect since 1995, the country seemed set to have equal marriage in place by March 2017.

The President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, a lawyer in his previous profession, had signed the bill into law in February of this year.

However, now it appears that a group, calling itself The Association for Real Marriage, has collected

50,000 signatures to have the Finnish government re-open the debate on equal marriage. The debate is set to start in the Autumn of this year.

The original bill for marriage equality, which was due to come into effect in March 2017, was submitted as a citizen’s initiative after collecting 160,ooo signatures, and was approved by the parliament in 2014.

– MKB (eile.ie 21st July 2015)

Founder of the European Forum Emile Letertre

European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups: In memory of Emile Letertre

A man, whose actions led to what is today an LGBT forum of over forty Christian member groups, from over twenty countries, has died this month.

The Communications Coordinator of the European Forum for LGBT Christian Groups, Linda Ivarsson, has paid tribute to Emile Letertre, the founder of the forum: “The founder of the European Forum, Emile

Letertre, passed away in peace on July 5th, 2015.

He was 91 years old. Emile Letertre was a Catholic priest from the French group David & Jonathan who invited groups from all over Europe to the first gathering of LGBT Christians that took place in Paris 1982. He realized how important it was that we get to know each other and support one another.

The European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups grew out of this initiative.

Emile´s courage and his crucial role in the founding of the European Forum. With faith and hope we continue to work together for victory of love and equality with the same spirit Emile had for LGBT Christians. We pray for Father Emile and we give thanks for his life and work. May Emile rest in peace”. (eile.ie 21st July 2015)

The board and the members of the European Forum are grateful for

EILE Magazine 91

Churches “hypocritical” about free vote on same sex marriage in Northern Ireland Following the call yesterday (5th August) by the Catholic and Presbyterian Churches for politicians in Northern Ireland to be allowed a free vote on same sex marriage, there has been a critical response from the Faith in Marriage Equality group.

Representatives from Presbyterian and Catholic churches have said today that party whips should be removed on the issue of same sex marriage when it is next debated in the Northern Ireland assembly. The Rev Norman Hamilton former moderator of the Presbyterian church said: “We would be very supportive of a vote based on conscience, because conscience matters in a democratic and pluralist society”. He added “There has to be a place for dissenting and minority voices.” His comments were echoed by Fr Tim Bartlett, spokesperson for the Catholic Church (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northernireland-33793787).

However, Dr Richard O’Leary of the campaign group Faith in Marriage Equality (FiME) responded: “It is hypocritical for the Catholic and the Presbyterian Churches to ask political parties to tolerate dissenting politician voices opposed to same-sex marriage when their own Churches don’t tolerate dissenting Christian voices supportive of same sex marriage”.

Dr O’Leary added that “the Churches should acknowledge that many of their members in good conscience support civil marriage for same sex couples”.

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, met with Faith in Marriage Equality last month in the aftermath of the vote on marriage equality in the Republic of Ireland.

We reported on this meeting in EILE (eile.ie) on 25th July.

You can read the article entitled: “Pro Gay Faith Groups Meet Cathollic Archbisop” on the opposite page.

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Pro-Gay Faith Groups Meet Catholic Archbishop Pro-Gay Faith groups have met Dr Eamon Martin, the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. The meeting with the Archbishop was requested by Faith in Marriage Equality (FiME) during the recent referendum campaign on same sex marriage.

This the first time such a meeting has taken place and it happened at the Archbishop’s residence in Armagh on Wednesday (22nd July).

Dr Richard O’Leary of Faith in Marriage Equality said: “We believe it is a positive step to open dialogue with the Catholic Church as a contribution to the “reality check” signalled by the Church after the vote for civil marriage equality. We were positively received by Archbishop Martin who said he was committed to continuing dialogue and that he was particularly concerned about the pastoral care of gay persons”.

Jim O’Crowley, a gay Catholic, shared with Archbishop Martin the experiences and views of gay Catholics and their families. The delegation had sent in advance to the Archbishop a copy of “To have and to Hold”: stories and reflections of LGBT people their families and friends” (edited by Patricia Devlin and Brian Glennon).

Archbishop Martin said that he found it helpful to read this book and also to listen to accounts by gay Catholics. Dr O’Leary impressed on the Archbishop that the absence of affirmation of gay

persons by the Churches contributes to the raised rate of suicide.

Brendan Butler of We are Church Ireland referred to the forthcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome in October, at which Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will represent the Irish Bishops. Mr Butler highlighted paragraph 130 of the agenda of the Synod titled ‘Pastoral Attention towards Persons with Homosexual Tendencies’ Mr Butler explained to the Archbishop: “if the Catholic Church is to regain credibility not only with the gay and lesbian community but also with the wider Catholic community then existing Catholic teaching needs to change”.

He drew attention to Paragraph 3 of the ‘ Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the pastoral care of homosexual persons’ (CDF,1986) as morally offensive as it describes ‘homosexual orientation as an objective disorder and ordered towards an intrinsic moral evil’.

The pro-gay faith delegation requested Archbishop Martin to consider this issue during his discussions at the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Archbishops Martin said that he was open to receiving additional material from We Are Church Ireland on this subject.

Visit Faith in Marriage Equality at: http://www.fime.ie (eile.ie 25th July 2015) EILE Magazine 93

Design: Anthony Zagariko, exclusively for EILE Magazine

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EILE Magazine

Photo by Ed Ziehm

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