EILE Magazine – November 2014 (Vol.2, Issue 6)

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Magazine V2 Issue 6 – November 2014

Introducing

Jayne Ava

Lydia Foy

Trans Equality?

Murder Mystery!

Kiss Me, Kill Me Inside:

Fashion | Film | Music | Health | Travel | Interviews

EILE Magazine | Who’s Who

Contributors Mark Anthony Mark is from Port Laoise and is an event producer, having worked on several fashion shows in Ireland. He is EILE’s resident style writer.

Nick Bassett Originally from England but now based in Auckland, New Zealand, Nick is the creator of Chart Shaker, his daily music blog. He is EILE’s own music guru.

Jon Beaupré Jon is a professor of TV, Film & Media Studies at California State University in Los Angeles. He is also a contributor to the LGBT radio show, This Way Out. Rob Buchanan Rob is a writer and blogger based in Blanchardstown in north Dublin, writing for numerous LGBT media in Ireland.

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 the creator of EILE Magazine and is a writer and broadcaster from Dublin.

He also hosts The Cosmo, RTÉ’s LGBT radio show, every Wednesday at 10pm.

Richardt Heers Richardt is International Spokesperson for LGBT Danmark. He lives with his husband in Copenhagen.

Alan Lambert Alan is a writer, reviewer and blogger based in Dublin.

Lisa Reynolds Originally from County Meath, Lisa is a fashion industry student living in Bray, County Wicklow.

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 November 2014 Jayne Ava – P.6 We chat with the Los Angeles-based Canadian singer/songwriter about her music, her upbringing and LGBT rights

Kiss Me, Kill Me – P.12 We chat to David Michael Barrett about his brand new film project with Casper Andreas

NYE @ Las Vegas – P.20 We take a look at the great holiday package available to gay men to ring in 2015 in Las Vegas

Dr. Lydia Foy – P.42 Rob Buchanan writes about the impact of the Foy case against the Irish State, a case for trans equality that lasted 21 years

Film & Music Reviews – P.52 Frances Winston pops along to the cinema to see Nightcrawler and The Homesman, while Nick Bassett reviews some of the hottest new music.

Volume 2, Issue 06 Editor-in-Chief: Scott De Buitléir Features Editor: MKB Contributors: Mark Anthony, Nick Bassett, Jon Beaupré, Rob Buchanan, M. Butler, Richardt Heers, Alan Lambert, Lisa Reynolds, Frances Winston NB: All images in this publication are either under Creative Commons licence, or used with permission. 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 Contact: hello@eile.ie Twitter: @EileMagazine Facebook: http://fb.com/eilemagazine Note: All opinions expressed in this issue are the writers’ own.

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…and much more!

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EILE Magazine | Editor’s Letter

Contents 6-

Jayne Ava

10 -

LGBT News Round-Up

12 - Kiss Me Kill Me 16 -

Menswear

20 -

NYE @ Las Vegas

24 -

21st Century Life

28 -

Coming Out in Business

30 - Michael Sam 34 -

California Dispatch

42 -

Trans Equality?

46 -

Copenhagen

48 -

GFest London

52 -

Films

54 -

Music

56 -

Travel: Manchester

58 -

LGBT Health

We Cannot Forget Those in Need Last month, I had the honour of co-hosting the 10th Annual Mr Gay Ireland Grand Final in Dublin, where I met the 15 talented and charming finalists at the Gibson Hotel. While I was expecting a fun night – which it was – I was also shocked at something.

Some of the younger guys – early to mid twenties – spoke about the severe and traumatic homophobic bullying they had experienced growing up. While I won’t go into specific detail, one contestant had his life put in severe danger by the bullies in his school, simply because he was gay. This happened to quite a few of the guys, and yet we’re not talking about events that took place years ago. This happened in the 21st Century.

Homophobic (and transphobic) bullying is still happening.

That was, to me, an all-too-important reason why the LGBT community needs to rally round more often to support our LGBT charities, whether it’s Mr Gay Ireland, BeLonG To, Gay Switchboard Ireland, Marriage Equality, TENI or any of the many other not-for-profit groups.

We cannot call ourselves a community if we do not support each other in times of need, and as those young men showed the crowd at Mr Gay Ireland, there are still many LGBT people in need of support.

Scott De Buitléir Founder / Editor-in-Chief

EILE Magazine

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Register to Vote.

YesEquality YesEquality.ie

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Jayne

Interview | Jayne Ava

No Plain

Scott De BuitlĂŠir chats to Jayne Ava, the dynamic Canadian singer/songwriter and LGBT ally

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Interview | Jayne Ava

Some people have a confidence that is instantly infectious.

You know the kind; you say hello, and next thing you know, you’re bursting with giddy excitement.

Jayne Ava has that exact confidence, and with the talent to boot.

Originally from a small town in Alberta, Canada, Jayne’s love for the stage led to her acceptance into a prestigious musical theatre program in Toronto. After graduation, Jayne moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of writing and performing alternative-pop music. She

calls Los Angeles “the hardest place” to pursue a music career, but as she says herself; “I had to try it, I had to get out [to LA] for the weather alone!”

“I have a really strong musical theatre background,” Jayne explains. “I grew up doing musical theatre, I thought that’s what I was going to do forever. So, when I started becoming more of a contemporary singer/ songwriter, that still stuck with me. I would describe it as electronic pop, but with theatre influences, so it’s really emotional; there’s a storyline dynamic... not your average ‘bubblegum’ pop.”

Jayne Ava’s eclectic sound

can be described as soulful, electronic pop fueled by a large range of emotions.

Raised by music-loving parents, she has always been in awe of artists, on a broad spectrum ranging from Patti LaBelle to Prince to Queen, and Cheap Trick. She also cites Gwen Stefani, Pink, The Scissor Sisters, The Spice Girls, Alanis Morissette, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Gossip as immense musical influences.

Jayne Ava was given the opportunity to work with esteemed producer, Prince Saheb, on her upcoming EP, ‘March’. Saheb has worked with influential artists such as, Lil Kim, Jay Sean and Brandy to name but a few.

“…there’s a storyline dynamic... not your average ‘bubblegum’ pop”

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Interview | Matthias Freihof

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“

Interview | Jayne Ava

It seems ridiculous that certain people can say whom you should love...

”

‘March’ is set for release soon.

Not just musically gifted, Jayne also has a strong sense of justice and equality, and is a strong supporter of LGBT rights. Jayne proudly boasts “tons of friends” in the LGBT community, as well as in the arts, and that is was “a natural thing” for her to be supportive of gay rights.

“I grew up in a very open family,” Jayne explains, “where it wasn’t talked about, because it didn’t need to be. It seems ridiculous that certain people can say whom you should love... [but] I just grew up in a very open environment.”

That open environment is almost typical of the reputation given to Canada, which has had equal marriage since 2005, the

first country outside Europe.

With that in mind, is Jayne’s Albertan upbringing the source of her strong support for equality?

“I’m gonna say yes”, she admits, “because, where I grew up – and I went to school in Toronto, where the [LGBT] community is huge there – it’s everywhere, it is a bit more open than the States. ...

I wasn’t surrounded by hate from anyone about anyone.

Race, sexuality, anything.”

With the title track of her upcoming EP, ‘March’, being such a catchy tune, don’t be surprised if you see Jayne marching and singing in a city near you.

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News | Round-Up

LGBT Monthly News Roun Egypt: Eight Men Jailed For Three Years For Gay Wedding Video

Eight men,who attended an alleged gay wedding on a boat on the Nile last April (with the video subsequently going viral on YouTube last August) have been jailed for three years, for broadcasting images “violating public decency”.

The men were also sentenced to three years probation, which is to follow their jail terms.

Their relatives and friends went into uproar as the verdict was announced, as they had been protesting outside the court in Cairo, and were moved on by police.

It appears that the charges are about broadcasting the video, which showed two 10 EILE Magazine

men exchanging rings, being applauded and cheered by friends, and cutting a cake with their pictures on it.

One of those charged last September had told a television talk-show that it was a birthday party that had been videotaped.

As Egypt, a mainly Islamic country, has no direct laws against homosexuality, the men were charged with broadcasting images that “Violated Public Decency”.

The Chief Prosecutor last September stated that the video was “shameful to God” and “offensive to public morals”.

The men made no comment when the verdict was announced, while one of them held the Koran (Qur’an) regarded as the word of God by Muslims.

According to the Aljazeera news-site, a defence lawyer, Emad Sobhi, had said the court “had succumbed to public opinion”.

MKB

NI: Equality Commission Threaten Legal Action Against Bakery In an ongoing saga that saw a bakery in Northern Ireland refuse to cater to a gay rights activist, the Equality Commission has now threatened legal action.

The activist, Gareth Lee, from Omagh, requested a cake to be baked with the words “Support Gay Marriage” on it, above a picture of Bert & Ernie, of Sesame Street fame, and the logo of Queerspace. bert and ernie cakeThe bakery, Asher’s Baking Company of Newtownabbey, refused, and have cited religious beliefs as

News | Round-Up

nd-Up the reason, saying they believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

orientation, freedom of identity, ethical funding and accessibility.

The Equality Commission found that the bakery was in breach of anti-discrimination legislation, and asked them to apologise, which they continue to refuse to do. In a 16 page letter dated 27th October, the Equality Commission stated that the bakery must offer compensation to Mr Lee or face litigation, according to the Christian Institute, to which the bakery owners went for legal support.

MKB

Daniel McArthur, (24) the bakery’s general manager, says he sees it as biblical, and that the order for the cake was “at odds with our beliefs”. He has compared the situation to David and Goliath, with the bakery being David, and The Equality Commission in the role of Goliath.

QueerSpace is a volunteerled organization based on collective planning and action, set up in 1998, which serves the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Community of Belfast and Northern Ireland by raising its visibility, supporting its activities, providing it with resources and facilitating communication while adhering to the principles of community

Selfies For Equality – UN Human Rights’ Free & Equal Campaign In September 2014, more than 160 Presidents and Prime Ministers- and thousands of political advisers, activists and journalists – descended on United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the opening of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly.

This year, the UN Human Rights Office, together with diplomats from a dozen countries and human rights activists set up a photo booth near the entrance to the iconic General Assembly Hall. Visitors were invited to stop by and have their photo taken while holding up a sign affirming their support for the rights of LGBT people around the world.

American Marine Suspected in Filipino Transgender Murder Case An American Marine is being questioned in the Philippines regarding the suspicious death of a transgender Filipino woman recently, while local LGBT activists are calling for the murder to be deemed a hate crime.

According to Col. Brad Bartelt, a spokesman for the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, the unnamed Marine, from the North Carolina-based 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, is being held aboard the amphibious assault ship Peleliu as an investigation into the death of Jennifer Laude, a Philippine national.

In an act of solidarity with the Filipino transgender community, LGBT activists in the U.S. are also reacting to the death. The Bayan Queer Caucus plans to protest outside the Philippine consulate in New York City later today. (eile.ie / October 15)

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Feature | Kiss Me Kill Me

David Michael Barrett

As a gay ‘whodunnit’ film gets funded for the big screen, Scott De Buitléir chats to David Michael Barrett, screenwriter of Kiss Me, Kill Me While confronting his unfaithful boyfriend, Dusty blacks-out. When he comes to, his boyfriend has been murdered and he’s the prime suspect.

The premise behind the movie, “Kiss Me, Kill Me”, is bound to make some want to book their cinema tickets in advance, but we’ll have to be patient for just a little longer. David Michael Barrett is excited, though.

Excited, yet focused.

Barrett – alongside his creative partner, director Casper Andreas – is right to be focused. The film has a great team behind it already, 12 EILE Magazine

including an impressive cast of actors and performers, from Queer as Folk to RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“It’s a very traditional murder mystery,” Barrett explains excitedly about the film, set in West Hollywood. “It’s like one of those great Alfred Hitchcock-style movies, or Agatha Christie murder mysteries.”

“I wrote the script”, continues Barrett, “and I gave it to [Andreas]. He read it and he just went nuts for it. He was like, ‘this has to be my next movie’. So, we developed the script for a while, and it turns out we both love the old murder mysteries. We thought, there’s never been a contemporary, modern, gay

take on [the genre].”

Casper Andreas, who would be best known for his other gay-themed film, Going Down In La-La Land, isn’t the only one to have been impressed by the project. Gale Harold, star of the American version of Queer As Folk and more recently known from his role in Desperate Housewives, is among the cast who have signed up to the project, and his involvement hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans of the actor.

Also signed up to join the cast is Van Hansis, the first openly-gay Hollywood actor to play a gay role in a film, as well as Willam Belli, the internationally-renowned star of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

One of the project’s strengths,

Feature | Kiss Me Kill Me though, is that being gay isn’t exactly central to the movie’s storyline, as Barrett points out.

Gale Harold

“The fact that the characters are gay is totally irrevelant to the whole movie. It’s like a traditional murder mystery, except it’s just with gay characters.”

The picture boasts some powerhouse indie talent: Brianna Brown of Homelands, Devious Maids; Willam Belli (RuPaul’s Drag Race) Kit Williamson (Eastsiders, Mad Men) Independent Spirit nominee, Yolonda Ross (Treme) Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Jonathan Lisecki (Gayby) Michael Maize (True Blood) Craig Robert Young (NCIS: Los Angeles) Jackie Monahan (Foxy Merkins, Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same) as well as Matthew Ludwinski and Allison Lane (Going Down in LA LA Land).

Van Hansis

David, Casper, their wonderful cast, and the equally talented team behind the camera needed $100,000 (€78,600) to get the movie going.

At the time of producing this magazine, however, the fantastic news was announced, that over $116,000 (€92,500) was raised for the movie, much to the delight of Barrett, Andreas and the rest of the project’s team.

To entice as many to contribute as much as

possible, there were many perks being offered to potential donors, including the chance to have a speaking role in the film. A German lady has taken up the team’s offer of this perk, David tells me, astounded and grateful that someone from ‘across the pond’ is willing to travel to Los Angeles to be part of the movie. Still, the lady – and indeed, anyone else who makes the appropriate donation – will get her own IMDB movie credit, so who knows where it could lead.

“The really sad truth about LGBT cinema these days,” Barrett says, “is that there’s EILE Magazine 13

Feature | Kiss Me Kill Me

(L-R) Matthew Ludwinski, Casper Andreas and Allison Lane

not a lot of money out there, but there is a lot of desire for people to see gay stories – more than ever, in fact. So, what that means is we, as the gay community, have to really rally around our creative people, and I, as a member of the creative community in

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Hollywood and Los Angeles, and the gay community, I have always supported all my friends that are trying to put these movies together, and it’s just a real challenge, but it’s also just really kind of amazing to see these people donating from all over the world…”

If its support is anything to go by, the future looks bright for ‘Kiss Me Kill Me’, and now the team can show us who the killer is...

For more information on Kiss Me, Kill Me, visit their Facebook page.

(L-R) Brianna Browne and Willam Belli

News | Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook Comes Out As Gay And Proud In a statement which finally confirmed to the world what many in his private life already knew, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple has come out as gay. In the written statement yesterday (30th) he said: “….I’ve come to realize that my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important. That’s what has led me to today.”

He continued: “While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”

In the editorial in Bloomberg Businessweek, he admits it wasn’t an easy decision for him, as he values his privacy, and would like to hold on to a small amount of it.He also says that although being gay has been tough at times, it has made him more empathetic: “Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into

the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day.

It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life.

It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple”.

Cook says he doesn’t consider himself and activist, but realises how much he has benefited from the sacrifices of others, and so his coming out may also help others in turn.

“So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, [....]

or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy.”

He has photos of Dr Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy in his office, he says, and now he can look at those photos and know that he is doing his part, however small, to help others: “We pave the sunlit path towards justice together, brick by brick…”

You can read the full editorial HERE MKB EILE Magazine 15

Style | Menswear

Does Branding Really Matter?

Mark Anthony takes a closer look at the industrial side to fashion Brands are everywhere.

Everything you buy, drink, eat, watch or look at is, in some way, a branded item.

When you buy the ‘own brand’ goods from your local supermarket, you might well think that you’re sticking two fingers up at that hateful consumerist, marketing machine, when in actual fact, you are still investing in some kind of brand, it’s just not so well recognised.

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It doesn’t matter if you buy your soy milk, chai tea latte with cinnamon on top from Starbucks, or your local independent coffee shop – you’re still buying into a brand, and somewhere along the line, a marketing executive will have had his sticky little branding paws all over it.

However, this would suggest that all brands are exactly the same – yet nothing could be further from the truth. Brands are far from equal in almost every sense, and there can

be stratospheric differences between one brand and the next. From size to quality, intensity to purpose, brands are about as different from one another as we are from giraffes.

Clothes, of course, are all about the brand. Marketing strategies are what make a company successful, and when it comes to looking good and dressing well; it’s all about the image.

In the last couple of years, there has been a huge shift in

Style | Menswear the way brands are marketed, and the way they create their image. Styles and tastes have also changed, and a shop’s focus must change with it.

As the consumer moves on to something new, the brand must follow.

With this in mind, it seems the brands we all might have traditionally ignored have begun to drop off the radar.

For the most part, the garish branding and big logos that appalled us previously have started to disappear. The brash signature pieces from the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, and Jack Wills are seen less and less, whilst other youth-targeted brands like Superdry, Diesel, and G-Star are taking a much more grown-up approach to

their collections – ditching the lurid designs plastered on the back of their jeans and clothes in favour of timeless, classic pieces.

At the same time, many forgotten brands have returned to mainstream fashion’s consciousness, and regained their position at the forefront of the industry – the likes of Ben Sherman and Dr. Martens immediately spring to mind.

Budget retailers are also on the up, with Next, New Look, Matalan and Penneys all pushing strong collections, and offering some excellent pieces at a much lower price point.

No longer are we confined to a limited number of stores, there is now a wealth of brands and retailers to shop at, and it looks like things will only get better.

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Style | Menswear However, more worrying is the loss of good brands, and changes wrought in previously respected companies, which are now fighting for survival.

In the case of Aubin & Wills, which ceased trading at the end of 2012, the issue was a parent company wishing to promote another side of

The brand game has definitely changed. There is a push towards a more mature, classic style across the board, whilst still retaining an appreciation of alternative looks and fashion-forward thinking.

Think Urban Outfitters advocating streetwear, and Topman and Topshop

As regular EILE Magazine readers will be aware, our house style places emphasis on unbranded, clean and simple clothes that are designed to help you build the perfect capsule wardrobe, with minimal fuss and maximum impact. We will typically steer clear of heavily branded

the business. Yet with other brands there has been a marked reduction in quality, quantity and design; perhaps a symptom of a poor economy, and an example of the shift in styles and attitudes towards menswear, that we have seen in the last couple of years.

continuing to push boundaries in the search for the next big thing. To use an often overused moniker, the shape of the ‘Topman Mannequin’ has developed into something completely new – but how does this affect the way we dress?

clothes and garish logos, and avoid trademark styles.

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But should we discount companies, just because of their choice of branding? No, certainly not. Jack Wills are a prime example. Get past the tracksuits, the hoodies, and

Style | Menswear you will find a selection of excellent knitwear, on-trend chinos/trousers, and fantastic outerwear, all made to a high standard and at a reasonable price point.

I would also like to highlight the importance of not discarding a brand just because you don’t like it, or it doesn’t fit your unique style. Every brand has its purpose, and its intended market, and I think we are often guilty of believing every single brand should cater specifically to our own personal needs.

Furthermore, your opinion on a particular brand shouldn’t be influenced by the people that wear it, or the occasional mistakes they make.

For example, consider the stigma attached to Burberry during the early to mid-2000s, after the media linked a small minority of football hooligans with the brand’s signature check pattern.

Fast-forward to today, and Burberry are considered by the entire industry as one of Britain’s finest fashion exports.

They are always one of the most anticipated shows at global fashion weeks, models/ celebrities clamour to be part of their ad campaigns, and the signature Burberry check is now considered a status symbol, rather than a mark of the unfashionable.

down on the replica/knock-off market, re-positioned itself, and altered public perception, with the help of the genius that is Christopher Bailey.

With all this in mind, how you wear your clothes is much more important than what you wear.

Companies will have a signature style, that epitomises their desired image far more than their branding, so we should all try to look past the logos and stereotypes, and open ourselves up to the possibility of trying labels you may have previously dismissed instantly.

Brands are an unavoidable part of our lives; they are everywhere, and in everything.

Many household names have undergone huge changes in the past couple of years, and transformed themselves into real contenders for our attention.

Mark Anthony is a menswear and fashion blogger, whose blog can be found at http:// markmystyle.com/

“ …how you wear your clothes is much more important than what you wear ”

What’s worse is that in terms of quality, nothing has changed.

The brand simply clamped

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Interview | Matthias Freihof

Spend NYE at Las Vegas New Year’s Eve extravaganza especially for gay men at Las Vegas Las Vegas, recently voted Favorite American Destination

by OutTraveler, is the host city for an exciting new event, Evolve Vegas NYE (New Year’s Eve). #EvolveVegas is a 3day gay New Year’s Eve experience that will bring men from more than 30 countries, across six continents, to the city that provides non-stop fun, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Hosted at the world famous, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Evolve Vegas NYE takes place December 30, 2014 – January 1, 2015 and offers shows, receptions, parties, dining, shopping, tours and more. And for those who want to continue the fun, a weekend in West Hollywood, California, one of the hottest gay meccas in the U.S., runs from January 2-4, 2015.

“I am so excited, as this will be the first time in my 30 year Las Vegas career that I will be performing for an all gay audience. Finally, I can

do pop-culture jokes that everyone will get! This night is going to be one Big Party!” says Frank Marino, headliner of the Divas Las Vegas. Celebrating the 25,000th show this year, Frank Marino’s Divas is one of the most spectacular production shows in the city, and is just one of the many events included in the Evolve Vegas NYE experience.

The event will kick off with a private VIP reception, featuring Zumanity performers and champagne, followed by Cirque du Soleil.

Travel | Las Vegas After the show, guests will party at the official opening reception at Liaison Nightclub at Bally’s Hotel & Casino. With unrivalled décor, a top-tier sound system and impeccable service, Liaison, the first gay nightclub in a Las Vegas Strip resort, offers guests an elegant experience with two club rooms, two DJ’s, multiple bars, stage and plenty of space for surprise performances.

Day Two is a free day

to shop, explore the city or experience the beautiful landscapes of Southern Nevada, including the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Red Rock, Valley of Fire, even Mt. Charleston which features snow skiing… yes, snow in Las Vegas!

New Year’s Eve will kick off with another VIP party, before opening up to the main celebration at the Havana Nightclub on the Las Vegas Strip, with DJs, complimentary cocktails and a private VIP fireworks-viewing from the patio of the club.

If that’s not enough, Day Three offers the Mob Museum in Old Vegas, The High Roller at the

Linq, the VooDoo Zipline at The Rio, or Madame Tussauds at The Venetian. There are many more to choose from and the activity of choice is included in the package. That evening history will be made with the private showing of Divas Las Vegas, only available to Evolve Vegas NYE guests. This energetic show starring Las Vegas’ longest running headliner, Frank Marino, features an all-star cast of superstar female impersonators of stars ranging from Liza Minnelli to Britney Spears. After the show, the festivities will continue at Share Nightclub, a gay ultra lounge with a hip nightclub downstairs and a private Ultra Lounge and bar on the second floor.

Continue the party in

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Travel | Las Vegas

WeHo! For those who would like to extend their stay, a limited number of tickets are available for a weekend in West Hollywood, California.

Transportation will be provided on luxury motor coaches for the short 4½ hour ride through the Mojave Desert, and luxury accommodations have been booked at the Sofitel Hotel at Beverly Hills, a stunning property offering elegant European accommodations and dramatic décor. On Friday night, guests will have the opportunity to sample all of West Hollywood’s gay nightlife and festivities with special offers for Evolve Vegas NYE participants.

Shop along Rodeo Drive, visit the Santa Monica Pier, experience the West Hollywood scene or relax in your room on Saturday afternoon and enjoy a blowout party at the Here Lounge at night. After a tasty brunch on the patio of the Sofitel, guests will head back to Las Vegas

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on Sunday afternoon for one last fling, or fly home from Los Angeles and start the New Year pumped up from an amazing week on the West Coast of the USA! According to Evolve Vegas NYE President and CEO Mya Reyes, “Evolve Vegas NYE has been very carefully designed to provide a unique experience for our guests […] from Amsterdam to Australia and everywhere in between. There has never been a New Year’s Eve event like Evolve Vegas NYE in North America, and we are excited to bring this firstof-its-kind experience to Las Vegas.” Reyes has dedicated more than 14 years marketing to the LGBT consumer, and is considered among the nation’s leading gay travel specialists,.

Evolve Vegas NYE packages are inclusive of hotel, land transportation and all events..

Remaining availability is limited, packages may be booked by visiting http://www.

EvolveVegasNYE.com,

Travel | Las Vegas

Above: Share Nightclub

Left: Bedroom at the MGM Grand Hotel

Right: Divas the Show

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Feature | 21st Century Life

21st Century Life: Bryony Lisa Reynolds continues her series, in which LGBT people talk about coming out and their experiences in the modern world Name: Bryony Location: Wolverhampton Age: 18 At what age did you first realise that you were gay?

I think I always knew from a young age, as there are moments I look back on that implicate my feelings towards females and not males. But I didn’t quite know how to identify what I was feeling until 14/15.

Have your family and friends always been supportive?

There was lack of support throughout my experience of “coming-out”. The first to know were my friends, which soon spread like wildfire around the school I was attending. I didn’t get bullied, most boys high-fived me haha.

Some of my female friends felt uncomfortable though... Which 24 EILE Magazine

made me question myself.

But my best friend was so so supportive and had my back on everything and anything.

Although, when it came to my family. I told my mom when I was 16 and she brushed it off as a “phase”. I’ve never spoken seriously about it to my dad as he seems fine with it. My extended family are totally cool with it. I am now 18 and my mom is also fine with it.

I suppose it’s all in time for somebody against it to get their heads round it and to accept it.

Are you involved in any political activism?

If so, what have your experiences in the activism vein been like?

I am not currently involved in any political activism involving the LGBT area. Although I do wish to be, as I feel it is important to help others experiencing the ‘realisation’, as it can be a scary process.

Do you think that the world has become more accepting and welcoming to gay people in modern times, or do you feel that there is still a long way to go?

I will have to go with both.

With “gay” marriage becoming more accepted in areas in America and now France and the UK, it has become more visible to people what discrimination lesbians, gays, and trans have to put up with.

However, with the inhumane discrimination against gay rights happening in Russia and still other ‘strict’ parts of the world, we are still scrutinised by others feeling ‘uncomfortable’ with seeing a same-sex couple walk down the street holding hands. I really can’t understand why people feel that way and then pass it off as ‘I’m not homophobic, I just don’t want it shoved in my face’. No, that’s homophobic; wake up.

Feature | 21st Century Life Something heterosexual humans don’t encounter.

How do/would you deal with a situation in which you are facing discrimination?

Also, you can’t walk round holding hands with somebody the same-sex as you without fear, or at least a couple of comments from passers-by - fact.

Have you ever experienced discrimination in your life because of your sexuality?

I can’t say I’ve suffered severe discrimination, such as things affecting my job or educational life. But every gay, lesbian and trans suffers from discrimination everyday, if they feel even a slight hint of fear before walking out the house, worrying about what they are wearing, whether it’s too ‘gay’. Or again, if they’re to walk out in public holding hands or being affectionate with somebody of the samesex, you hardly see it, because of the fear we experience against homophobic judgments, comments, abuse.

Take the high road. If it’s a comment in the street then if I’m that quick on my feet then I’ll say a witty line. But if not, I’ll just walk off and avoid even more confrontation of my sexuality, which shouldn’t be relevant to them anyway.

But say if it’s with my place of work, then I would make a formal complaint, see what happens, and then if nothing has been dealt with, then strong, confident confrontation is what I’d go with. And if it’s discrimination as in to do with my pay-roll, I’d collect evidence of these wrong-doings and so by the time I confront whoever is discriminating against me, I’d have enough evidence and content to perhaps take them to court if needed.

What would you say to someone out there who is struggling with their own sexuality or coming out, or who is being bullied or discriminated against because of who they are?

My advice would be to take the hard road. Don’t cower

away or lock yourself away, because that’ll just make things worse. If you’re being bullied then it won’t just ‘blow over’.

I read in a proven observation recently that if you stand up for yourself against bullies, there’s more of a chance that they will leave you alone. Bullies bully you to feel a sense of pride or strength. When really, they haven’t got a leg to stand on. I would seek help from parents, school teachers, authoritative figures. And if nothing is being done, then defend yourself.

Obviously everybody’s case scenarios differ from each other but confrontation will catch them off-guard as they are only picking on you because they’ve found your ‘weakness’. When really, they’re weakness is themselves.

And to anyone coming out, then embrace it! It deserves to be celebrated and enjoyed as much as heterosexuality.

It’s not a bad thing to be gay, which is what most of us are brought up to believe through parents or society.

But there are support groups around near you so if you are struggling, do seek them out and you will be welcomed with open arms and feel safe with the company you’re in.

Are you religious? What do you think of the Church’s attitude towards gay people?

I’m baptised but I wouldn’t say I’m religious. If I’m honest, I’ve seen more and more Christians say that they have no problem with gay people.

And that they welcome

g

EILE Magazine 25

Feature | 21st Century Life them with open arms. It’s the extremists who are giving religion a bad name. And I often see a single-handed man preach how homosexuality is wrong in the street and most people disagree and everyone walks past. Nobody says anything to them or challenges them because it’s usually not worth their time (like me for example). With other religions, it can be so much more extreme and can even result in death. Why? Because their “God” said so, god knows how long ago.

Have you ever been in love?

Yes, I believe I have.

someday?

Are you married? If so, what was your wedding day like? If not would you like to get married someday?

I am not a mother. I don’t think I’ll have kids if I’m honest. I’m too selfish with money and time.

I am not married and I’m not sure if I would want to either. Not because I don’t like weddings or that it isn’t an option for me. But just because of who I am/my attitude towards relationships in general.

–

Are you a mother? If so, what does motherhood mean to you? If not would you like to be a mother

Lisa would like to thank each of the participants for their insight and time in taking part in this series.

St. Peter’s Collegiate Church, in Bryony’s hometown of Wolverhampton, England

26 EILE Magazine

News | Kenya

Kenya: Rights Groups Should Be Allowed To Register As NGOs Human rights groups, including LGBT rights groups, should be able to register and carry out their work in Kenya, Human Rights Watch said last Tuesday (2nd).

The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission’s (NGLHRC) application to register was denied in 2013 because the NonGovernmental Organizations Coordination Board deemed the group’s name “unacceptable.”

No legal provision forbids people to be lesbian, gay or transgender or to associate in pursuit of common interests in Kenya. The NGLHRC challenged the refusal in court.

The case is scheduled to be heard by the constitutional and judicial review division of the High Court of Kenya on October 9.

“The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission seeks to carry out basic human rights work, such as standing

up for LGBT people who have been victims of violence.

To deny the NGLHRC the right to register is to deny them the chance to carry out this important work and violates the rights to freedom of association and nondiscrimination enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution” said Eric Gitari, executive director of NGLHRC. The group applied to reserve its name to the NonGovernmental Organizations Coordination Board in April 2012, in accordance with the provisions of the NonGovernmental Organizations Coordination Board Act. In denying the application, the board said that the name of the organization was “unacceptable,” and that it could not register it because Kenya’s penal code “criminalizes gay and lesbian liaisons.”

Last July, the High Court stated that the board’s actions contravened Article

27(4) of the Constitution, which prohibits direct or indirect discrimination by the government, and ordered the Coordination Board to register a transgender organization, Transgender Education and Advocacy (TEA). In Transgender Education and Advocacy and Others vs. NGO Coordination Board, the court rules that, “to discriminate persons and deny them freedom of association on the basis of gender or sex is clearly unconstitutional,” Monica Tabengwa, from Botswana, LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated: “The refusal to grant legal status to an organization, on arbitrary and discriminatory grounds, violates Kenya’s international obligations.

Kenyan authorities should stop fighting this case and register the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.”

Watch the Human Rights Watch video here.

EILE Magazine 27

Business | Coming Out

Why Coming Out Is Good For Business – Inaugural Event by InterTech Ireland Alan Lambert gives us a rundown on InterTech Ireland’s inaugural event: Why Coming Out Is Good For Business

InterTech Ireland is a new LGBT professional network, set up by Tomas Sator (Google) and Jan Hofmann (Facebook) in July 2014.

The network, whose members include AirBnB, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Twitter, encourages diversity and inclusion in the Irish technology sector. Last night they hosted their inaugural event at Google’s Barrow Street Office.

‘Why Coming Out is Good for Business’ was a fireside chat between InterTech hosts Conor Kavanagh & Sivan Kaniel and guests Senator Katherine Zappone, Amnesty International Ireland’s Colm O’Gorman & International Director of gTech Partner Solutions at Google Kelly 56 EILE Magazine 28

Allison talking about the challenges and opportunities associated with being LGBT in business, and in wider society.

After our hosts introduced and outed themselves to the audience we were treated to an evening of banter between the group which at points felt like we were listening in on a first date as the people on stage got to know each other sharing coming out stories, anecdotes and tales of lessons learned rather than the stilted panel discussion this could have been.

From three very different guests the commonalities between their experiences were surprising, all three told us of hiding their sexuality in certain circumstances from the taxi drivers who asked Senator Zappone if she was married

to an Irish man “Occasionally I would say yes”, to Colm using gender neutral language when describing his partner and Kelly seemingly (and understandably) coming in and out of the closet more often than the kids from Narnia depending on his employers and co-workers attitudes to homosexuality.

We also had the opportunity to hear about Senator Zappones work on Trans rights and the Gender Recognition bill and Eoin Murphy of ShoutOut (www.shoutout.ie) joined the group to talk about his organisations work with secondary schools, being there as a role model for teenagers, educating them, breaking down inherited prejudices and dispelling myths such as Lady Gaga’s mystery genitalia to the fact that all LGBT people

don’t die from AIDS. Eoin’s work sounded difficult but at the same time extremely rewarding.

While Colm pointed out that not everyone in Ireland has that luxury to be out in the workplace, as the law forces our teachers to hide who they are or face the sack, the overwhelming theme of the evening was that coming out is obviously good for business because if your staff don’t have to spend so much time focussing on hiding who they are, they can focus their time and energy on your real job making them more productive and having higher levels of morale.

Overall the answers to questions were from the heart and probably covered similar experiences to many members of the audience, the hosts were extremely personable and finally put to bed the question we’ve all wanted to know the answer to, who is better at throwing a ball, lesbians or gays? (Hint – It wasn’t Sivan) and if InterTech’s next event is half as good as their first, it will still be excellent.

I’ll leave the final word to Google’s Kelly Allison “Use your energy to do the things you love rather than hide away.”

For more information on InterTech Ireland you can sign up for their newsletter on Facebook, Twitter (@ InterTechIRL) or by email (info@intertechirl.com)

Music | Adrian Crowley

Music: Adrian Crowley With Special Guests at The Workman’s Club

Singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist, Adrian Crowley, will be performing at the Workman’s Club on Friday 12th December, with special guests. Tickets for the gig are €12, and are on sale now, at the outlets below.

Crowley was born in Malta and brought up in Galway, and has spent most of his time in Dublin since the 1990s. His latest album, Some Blue Morning will be out on 10th November this year.

“Crowley is a man literally haunted by music. His ability to capture these dreams in such a disciplined manner is astoundingly rare. And this album almost feels like an exposition of that process.

“The Wild Boar”, essentially a short story grammatically set to music shows huge

confidence, so explicit in its execution you can hear the hum of the engine, you can smell Crowley’s nervous breath in the cold air. “The Stranger” is practically Hitchcockian, a beautifully mysterious question of identity. “The Angel”, stark, baroque, menacing, could be Cale and Reed writing your nightmares. “Follow If You Must” is one of Crowley’s greatest lyrics, the music almost gothic in tone, the prose etched to perfection as he plays the “interloper from some forgotten dream.”LO’T Tickets to see Adrian Crowley at the Workman’s Club on 12th December are €12, and are on sale now from www.theworkmansclub. com / www.tickets.ie & Ticketmaster outlets nationwide EILE Magazine 29

Sport | Michael Sam

30 EILE Magazine

Sport | Michael Sam

Michael Sam Cut From Dallas Cowboys Michael Sam, the first openlygay player to be taken on by an NFL team, has been dropped from the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. Sam joined the Cowboys on September 3rd, after being cut by the St Louis Rams.

The Cowboys have now decided to cut Sam, and take on Troy Davis, linebacker.

According to Ed Werder on ESPN, at the time the Dallas Cowboys signed Sam, they didn’t have enough defensive linemen even to run practices, so they signed him to the defensive squad. Werder said Sam’s window of opportunity closed when Anthony Spencer returned at defensive end after surgery: ” it was just a matter of numbers, the Cowboys had rebuilt some of their strength” and gotten some of their players back whom “they perceived to be significantly better than Michael Sam”.

Michael Sam seems to have taken the news with good grace, even though he is feeling disappointed. He tweeted in three tweets yesterday (21st): “I want to thank the Jones family and the entire Cowboys organization for this opportunity, as well as my friends, family, teammates, and fans for their support. While this is disappointing, I will take the lessons I learned here in Dallas and continue to fight for an opportunity to prove that I can play every Sunday”. (eile.ie / 22 October. Written by MKB)

EILE Magazine 31

Travel | New York

26 EILE Magazine

Organized by ProGay, this inaugural edition of Maspalomas Winter Pride will take place over three days from the 13-15 November 2014, in the iconic Yumbo Centrum

Amongst the confirmed live acts are: Baccara “Yes Sir, I can Boogie”, Magnus Carlsson, formerly from Alcazar “Dancing at the Discotheque” and Redd known from the #1 Hits with Pitbull / Snoop Dogg / Akon, Drags Shows and many more.

offering a range of internationally-known artists, events and entertainment, especially designed to appeal to the demographic of the island’s gay winter visitors.

EILE Magazine 27

California Dispatch

Californi

Queer Holly

Jon Beaupré on lessons to be learnt from those who have lived to fight another day A former boyfriend once complained that because he was a journalist from Colombia, he was stuck reporting on the drugs trade, even though he lived in America.

I suppose the same can be said of reporting from New York or London, you are sort of stuck reporting on international commerce (and art, culture, architecture - but you get the point).

34 EILE Magazine

If you live in Washington DC, you might report on literature and music, but really, your bread and butter would be writing stories about American government and diplomacy.

Well, along with nearly four million other people, I live and work in Los Angeles, which also encompasses Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and perhaps most famously, Hollywood. I’ve never been much for the red carpets, the air-kisses, and the celebrity scandals that seem to make up the majority of reporting (I can’t bring myself to call it journalism) on ‘The Industry’ as it is referred to

in these parts, but I guess queer Hollywood falls into my territory.

In any given month, there may actually be more film and TV productions taking place, in New York and elsewhere, than in our beloved Tinsel Town, but this is a city that is so thoroughly and completely associated with moving pictures, it seems inevitable that there should be a LesBiGayTrans connection.

Is there ever. It goes back to the very beginnings of this company town, and continues to this day. For many Americans, their introduction

California Dispatch

ia Dispatch:

ywood: Making the American Image to LGBT life - in both its proudest moments and its most ignominious - can be traced to flashing images that come from Hollywood.

The very first great silent star was a handsome kid from Louisville, named Jack Kerrigan, who lived most of his adult life with his mother and his male ‘secretary’, in the hills, near where the Hollywood Bowl sits today. Studio heads realized very quickly that they needed to keep Kerrigan happy, as his image sold millions of tickets. This meant that no questions were asked about Kerrigan’s handsome secretary, who lived on the lower level, and was widely known to be his lover.

What really characterized those earliest years of Hollywood, even before WWI, was the laissez-faire attitude that had developed around homosexuals in the Industry. The big studio heads realized that the actors,

actresses, directors, set designers and especially the costume design community were their bread and butter. As long as the ‘queers’ didn’t make a public spectacle, they could carry on pretty much as they wished.

Times would change, and by the late forties and early fifties, a much more repressive, judgmental and moralistic attitude would take hold, but even then, lesbians and gay men pretty much insisted that they be allowed to live as they pleased, though they found themselves under greater scrutiny.

“

For many Americans, their introduction to LGBT life - in both its proudest moments and its most ignominious - can be traced to flashing images that come from Hollywood.

There are three indispensable volumes on this topic, each with a slightly different and nuanced take on the subject.

Vito Russo’s masterful 1987 ‘Celluloid Closet’ focused on

” gay portrayals in films of the first three-quarters of the 20th Century, and as such, does not focus so much on Hollywood, as on the product of all moving picture makers, and the queering of their images.

Next, Angeleno David Ehrenstein’s 2000 masterpiece, ‘Open Secret: Gay Hollywood--1928-2000’, details in a witty and incisive way LGBT culture, from the depression to the new EILE Magazine 35

g

California Dispatch millenium, and includes not only the secretive homosexual ‘clubs’ of the early years, but also the devastation brought by AIDS, and how Gay Hollywood responded to the crisis.

Somewhat more scholarly, but written with rich observation and detail, is William J. Mann’s exhaustive chronicle ‘Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood, 1910-1969’.

It’s impossible to choose between these volumes, as each complements the other.

Russo’s tome grew out of his work as an activist, taking his one-man show about LGBT portrayals in the movies around the country (he was one of the founders of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the premier media organization that monitors media portrayals of LGBT people).

Because of his openly activist stance, and the fact that he succumbed to AIDS in 1990, he is often placed in the great gay pantheon of heroes and heroines, living and dead, like Oscar Wilde, James Baldwin, and Audre Lorde, but he didn’t really belong to Hollywood per se.

Ehrenstein’s book is a rich and engaging read, a tale that is as notable for its anecdotes and personal accounts, as it is for the exhaustive nature of his narrative. Even though he grew up in New York, Ehrenstein has been in Hollywood long enough to have absorbed it in his veins, 36 EILE Magazine

and as a mixed-race African American, he brings a certain honesty, even brashness to his writing. The book is a delicious read; I was only sorry that it ran out in the year 2000. Fortunately, we get our share of Eisenstein’s film criticism in local press to keep us almost satisfied.

It was Mann’s book that surprised me however.

While he tends to wander a bit, following side stories and related anecdotes, his volume is rich, thoughtful, and impressive. In a sense, his scholarship doesn’t have to come with an asterisk explaining that this is not just scholarship, but rather GAY scholarship, sitting comfortably beside great books on social analysis.

very queer, Irish actor named Eugene O’Brien exemplified the industry’s attitude toward gays: They were not just tolerated, they were actually integrated into the the booming new industry. He lived in comfort with his lover until his death in 1966.

Especially in wardrobe departments, the freedom and tolerance granted to gay men was open and obvious; costume designers were supposed to be gay, and while many of the most powerful costume department heads were gay men, there also existed a prominent and notable coterie of lesbians making production decisions as well.

Mann writes early on in ‘Behind the Screen’: (Jack) Kerrigan wasn’t alone. From Kerrigan to Tyrone Power to Rock Hudson, a large percentage of screen actors have always been homosexual. The actual number, of course, is impossible to determine, but even from the great evidence that exists, the number is disproportionate, far greater than the general population estimate of 10 percent. From the very start of the studio era, there seems to have existed an unspoken queer fraternity, the embryonic beginnings of the gay subculture that would blossom in the 1920s and flourish through the 1960s.

In the 1920s, a very butch, but

Marlene Dietrich Some were tantalizingly ambivalent, like Marlene Dietrich, with a penchant for well-tailored men’s wear, who partied with an endless parade of gal-pals, to Lilyan Tashman, who was about as open a lesbian as the director, Dorothy Arzner, who got her start working for the Stanislavsky-trained Nazimova (just ‘Nazimova’) one of the most powerful characters of early Hollywood. Nazimova herself, while married for a

Quality LGBT News and Features – Produced from Los Angeles Available via podcast on our website (thiswayout.org) or on iTunes, and on 200+ Radio Stations Worldwide!

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

California Dispatch while, was connected with a long list of lesbian romances, including with the actress Eva Le Gallienne, writer Mercedes de Acosta, and even with Oscar Wilde’s niece Dolly Wilde!

Nazimova was earning the unheard of salary of $13,000 a week, and seemed to have an insatiable appetite for beautiful young women.

Dorothy Arzner worked her way to the top ranks of Hollywood directors, and never made an attempt to hide her lesbian life, nor her romantic partners. Over the course of over four dozen films on which she worked, she gradually moved into the position of director, at a time when that was more or less unheard of. But because Arzner had worked her way up from production assistant to script writer, and skilled editor, when she threatened to leave Paramount for Columbia, she was given her first directorial assignment in 1927, and continued working as a director for another decade.

Dressed in slacks and neckties, hair cut like a teen-aged boy, she was seen as a tough and able innovator, not too fond of sentiment, but very skillful in telling a story on celluloid.

Arzner earned, through her

single-handed efforts, the respect and admiration of the entire industry.

For many lesbians, the ambiguity of their sexuality made them irresistible. Not only Dietrich and Garbo, but Tallulah Bankhead, ‘The Vamp’ Theda Bara, later stars like Barbara Stanwyck, and even Billie Burke, better known as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, could pass effortlessly from their public lives, as film sweethearts, to private, but comfortable, lives as lesbians.

While Hollywood’s acceptance of lesbians and gay men did not end with the moral codes of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, much of that gay life had to become much more circumspect; not exactly hidden, but not quite so visible either. It’s hard to remember now, but people were shocked in 1985, when Rock Hudson’s homosexuality became inseparable from his death from AIDS complications. It may have been Hudson’s most honorable legacy; for the first time, the general public confronted the reality that not only was Hollywood more queer than they had guessed, it was also more accepting, humane, and tolerant. Within

days of Hudson’s death, the first of millions of dollars were raised for AIDS research, and for the first time, many straight audiences grieved for the death of a gay man.

The influence of lesbians and gay men in Hollywood, in front of and behind the camera, is hard to measure, but clearly essential. It is an industry, a craft, and an art, that is as inseparable from LGBT reality as it is from life itself, and perhaps even a little more indispensable than in the world at large.

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

Listen to This Way Out on thiswayout.org 38 EILE Magazine

News | Mr Gay Ireland

Marcos Vinicius Wins Mr Gay Ireland; Neil McGrath Wins Mr Gay NI Marcos Vinicius (left) & Neil McGrath (right)

Mr Euphoria’s Marcos Vinicius, a personal trainer originally from Brazil and now based in Dublin, won the title of Mr Gay Ireland 2015, while the title of Mr Gay Northern Ireland was awarded to Mr Newry, Neil McGrath.

Speaking ahead of the event, MGI Founder Brian Merriman told EILE Magazine that the nationwide competition had done a lot to raise awareness and visibility of the LGBT community in rural towns and villages in Ireland, highlighting the posters put up around the small town of Bagenalstown, County Carlow.

The 10th Annual Mr Gay Ireland & Mr Gay Northern Ireland competition took place last Sunday evening in the stylish Gibson Hotel in Dublin’s docklands, where over €5,000 was raised for a HIV charity in Ireland.

Each of the contestants had organised and hosted fundraising events as part of their journey, taking place in various pubs and clubs across the nation. All funds raised go towards the New Fill Project at St. James’ Hospital in Dublin,

which cares for people living with HIV in Ireland. This year’s total of over €5,000 brings the grand total raised for the New Fill Project by Mr Gay Ireland to over €150,000.

The Grand Final event, hosted

by Robbie Kane of ClassicHits 4fm and NEARfm, alongside EILE Magazine’s Scott De Buitléir, saw 15 contestants take part from across the island of Ireland. Entertainment included the talented Lady K & Ruby Noir; Slap & Tickle, Mark Power, Rian Corrigan and boyband Back For Good.

The judging panel, who judged the contestants alongside the public webvote, included current Mr Gay World, Stuart Hatton; Bairbre Power of the Irish Independent; former Mr Gay Ireland & Mr Gay World, Max Krzyzanowski, and Michael Doyle, Creative Director at Peter Mark.

Many other guests and speakers came to Dublin, from as far away as Austria and Estonia, especially for the event.

EILE Magazine 39

Opinion | Month in Review

An Evening with Dublin’s Lesbian and Gay Choir Civic Theatre, Tallaght 8.00 pm – 10.00 pm Sunday 23rd November 2014 in support of

Admission €10 Tickets available at the Civic Theatre, Box Office Tel: 01 462 7477 Or book on line www.civictheatre.ie www.gloria.ie www.marriagequality.ie Visit our website at www.sdcc.ie sdublincoco SouthDublinCountyCouncil

MC FOR EVENINTHE Mayor G Fintan W arfield

Special | Glória Concert

Glória Concert in Support of Marriage Equality South Dublin County Council are excited to introduce An Evening with Glória, Dublin’s Lesbian and Gay Choir.

This event will take place on Sunday 23rd November in the Civic Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24, at 8pm. The event is a fundraiser for Marriage Equality.

Glória has a wide ranging repertoire; from musicals to madrigals and from classical to camp. The songs are chosen sometimes to surprise, sometimes to challenge, and always to entertain! The choir is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

They were established in 1995 to provide a safe

and comfortable space for gays and lesbians to meet and sing together, and to promote a positive image of gay and lesbian life in Ireland.

“As Mayor of South Dublin County, I see the concert as a highlight in the Council’s programme of events for Social Inclusion Week 2014, and an opportunity to encourage as many Today, the choir has people as possible over 60 members, to register to vote and a wide-ranging and support the ‘Yes’ performance programme campaign’”. throughout the year, which includes a Moninne Griffith of Christmas concert in St. Marriage Equality said: Patrick’s Cathedral and singing for good causes. “We hope that everyone in South Fintan Warfield, Mayor Dublin remembers to of South Dublin, said register to vote before that he is delighted to the November 25th welcome and MC the deadline, because if you upcoming event, in are not registered to support of Marriage vote, you won’t be able Equality and the to vote for marriage upcoming referendum in equality in next year’s 2015: referendum and be part of history!”

EILE Magazine 41

Opinion | Lydia Foy

Dr Lydia Foy’s Victory & The Gender Recognition Bill – Trans Equality At Last?

Rob Buchanan considers the implications of Dr Lydia Foy’s recent victory, and the upcoming new gender recognition legislation, for both transgender people and the Irish community as a whole.

Dr Lydia Foy has fought tirelessly at the vanguard of transgender recognition in Ireland for 21 years.

She has finally reached a settlement on her action to have Female acknowledged as her gender on her birth certificate. The High Court has sworn to bring its archaic gender recognition laws in line, following huge pressure, both from within Ireland and globally.

It seems somewhat ridiculous that a state would seek to meddle in the personal lives of its citizens, to the point where it even wants to control whether they are officially male or female. Being trans 42 EILE Magazine

is certainly not a choice , neither is it an easy hand dealt by nature. Yet, rather than assisting and nurturing the trans community as the equal citizens they are , the law actively intervened to blight lives, by undermining people’s identities. And for what purpose? What is in the public interest in telling a teenager or an adult that they will only have the equality they are guaranteed by the constitution, if they pretend to be something they are not?.

The Department of Social Protection’s long-awaited Gender Recognition Bill should be published by the end of 2014, and it will include Dr Foy’s case in the January 2015 High Court draft legislation. The Republic of Ireland is the last EU country

without adequate legislation for trans people, to allow for equal recognition of their preferred gender on birth certs. Dr Foy, now in her late sixties, has been battling since the 1990s for trans equality and recognition. If the public perception of trans people can be described as lukewarm ignorance, to barefaced mockery and intolerance even in 21st century Ireland, one can only imagine the hostile environment trans folk faced when Dr Foy first took the courageous steps against the state.

Even now, in an environment of spiraling suicide rates, and mental health issues among the LGBT community as a whole , the struggles trans people face are seldom highlighted.

The media spotlight, when

Opinion | Lydia Foy it does fall, is often focused solely on the biology rather than the person. The media is hungry for salacious details of “procedures” and “sex changes”. Stories about dramatic operations on genitalia pathologizes trans folk. This further robs the identity of the person, and makes it even hard to get to the core of their needs. The state, in its own way, has been complicit with this, due to its continuous procrastination on providing recognition for trans individuals. When offers had been made in previous draft legislation, the sheer amount of strings made it equally unjust and unhelpful.

The danger of forcing trans teenagers to wait until they are 18, in order to register their true gender, has massive implications for the psychological and physical health of individuals , as well as their status in the eyes of the state.

Another huge boundary to equality and justice is the ridiculous and sadistic provision forcing married trans people to divorce their spouses, as a precondition to having their true identity recognized.

This would be laughable were it not so barbaric – a state actively breaking apart families , wilfully wrecking marriages, to somehow “normalise” a gender binary. Not only is this dangerous and offensive to trans people and their loved ones, but to the entire LGBT community, reinforcing as it does that only male/female relationship dynamics are valid.

The European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 pointed out that the Irish government’s lack of gender recognition had gone beyond bureaucracy, and was entering the realms of human rights violation. Clearly the fight is not over, but definitely another battle has been won. And all Irish people, whether LGBT or straight, have much to thank the courageous Dr Foy for.

It is difficult for most people, unfamiliar with the prejudice and injustice which trans people and their loved ones face daily, to understand how something so “simple” as having your gender changed on a passport, could cause a decades-long legal battle. mostly because having their own gender recognised is taken for granted.

The cause of gender recognition is not simply about having an F instead of an M, or vice-versa, on a piece of paper.

That is a gross underestimation of the implications for people in their day-to-day lives.

Everything, from availing of medical and social services, to getting a job, or registering to vote, is made incalculably more difficult and distressing – the constant, tedious, and humiliating confrontations with members of the public and authorities, when trans folk must both assert the reality of their gender, whilst being cross-examined as if they were criminals, or fraudsters attempting to deceive. Especially for younger trans people, and those going through transition, this can be a harrowing experience.

The state’s recognition of the reality of people’s lives will simultaneously validate and protect everyone’s rights, whilst also taking the emphasis on the biology away from the equation, and focusing on what’s truly important, the happiness of people allowed to live authentic lives.

EILE Magazine 43

Dublin | Events

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Dublin | Events

The Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas Concerts –

Under The Mistletoe ‘Tis (almost) the season to be jolly, and what better way to kick off your Christmas celebrations than to join Ireland’s fresh, exciting and only all-male gay choir, the Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus, for its “Under the Mistletoe” Christmas Concerts.

The concerts will take place on Sunday December7, with performances at 3pm and 7pm, in the seasonal surroundings of Dublin’s Pepper Canister Church (aka St Stephen’s Church) 2 Mount Street Crescent, Dublin 2. Admission is free, but to secure your seat – under the mistletoe – early arrival is advised.

Barry Joyce, director of the Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus, is vowing two Christmas concerts to remember.

“This year marks our third ‘annual Christmas concerts’ and a return to the fabulous

Pepper Canister church after our acclaimed Summer Serenade concerts. We will be heralding in the Yuletide season with all the usual favourites including O’ Holy Night, Fairytale of New York and White Christmas, while also delving into some Christmas movies for some extra magic and sparkle.“ David O’Shea, musical director of the Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus, is leaving no stone unturned in assuring stand-out Christmas performances with all the musical trimmings: “We’ve been busy working hard on our Christmas programme since September and the sound of the chorus has reached new heights. We intend to show off the wide variety of sounds and colours that the chorus is capable of, with the programme combining a mixture of sacred and secular music from throughout the ages. With something to suit every taste, audiences will not be disappointed.”

The Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus is Ireland’s only all-male gay choir and brings a fresh and fun approach to choral singing, offering a wide variety of music with popular songs, jazz standards, classical pieces, film music and all sorts in between.

It has a diverse repertoire which ranges from Negro Spiritual and Renaissance, to musical and popular hits.

Formed in 2012, the chorus numbers almost 40 members, and rehearsals for the concerts take place each week in Dublin’s Liberty Hall, Ireland’s tallest building.

To keep up to date on the Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus, follow on Twitter @dublingaychorus and on Facebook at / dublingaymenschorus EILE Magazine 45

Photo: Poul Laursen / LGBT Danmark

News | Denmark

Lonely Planet Names Copenhagen World’s Most Gay Friendly Place to Visit According to Lonely Planet, Copenhagen is the Number 1 Gay-Friendly Place to visit. As the travel experts themselves say: Copenhagen is home to Europe’s oldest openly gay bar, Centralhjørnet, whose origins date back to the 1950s; as well as the hip and supercool district of Vesterbro, which also happens to be the city’s red-light district.

One of the most tolerant and open communities in Europe, Copenhagen’s functional yet edgy fashion scene, brilliant array of cocktail bars, excellent range of gay-friendly boutique accommodation and packed calendar of events make it the gay-friendliest place on Earth.

As we reported previously in EILE, this year marked 25 years of marriage equality for the Danish LGBT community 46 EILE Magazine

(see here).

Richardt Heers, international spokesperson for LGBT Danmark, writes below that the anniversary was commemorated in royal style, with Crown Princess Mary in attendance for the exhibition launch at Copenhagen City Hall:

National Organisation of Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender Persons. A few years later he also founded similar organisations in Norway and Sweden. Axel Axgil died in 2011, at the age of 96. Eigil Axgil had died in 1995. The couple lived together for more than 45 years.

“On 1st October, 2014, the exhibition, Equal Love Silver Anniversary, was officially opened at Copenhagen City Hall where exactly 25 years ago the first same-sex couples in the world could say yes to each other, and be lawfully married in accordance with the Danish registered partnership law.

In an interview just before the ceremony in the City Hall, the couple said - “We just never could have dreamed we would get this far”, and urged campaigners in other countries to – “Be open. Come out. Keep fighting. This is the only way to move anything. If everybody comes out of the closet this will happen everywhere”.

The very first couple to be registered in 1989 were Axel and Eigil Axgil. In 1948, inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Axel Axgil had been co-founder of LGBT Denmark, the Danish

The registered partnership law has been a front-runner for LGBT rights, giving inspiration and motivation to introduce and pass similar partnership and civil union laws – and eventually same-sex marriage

Photo: Poul Laursen / LGBT Danmark

Princess Mary of Denmark with Copenhagen Mayor, Frank Jensen

laws - granting some or full and equal rights to more than one billion citizens in countries, states and districts all over the world, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Birgitte & Lenette

The exhibition was opened

by Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Søren Laursen, Chair Person of LGBT Denmark, and Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, who, 25 years ago, as a member of the Danish Parliament and later Minister of Justice, voted yes to the partnership law.

Among the guests at the reception were couples celebrating their own silveranniversary on that day or in the near future, as well as representatives from civil rights organisations and movements.”

As Heers concludes:

Fadil & Henri

“It was not the end of the world when the first same-sex couples were lawfully married 25 years ago. Life goes on. For better, for worse – and for all.”

Lenna & Malene Kasper & Kaj EILE Magazine 47

London | Events

London Gay Art Festival GFEST 2014 Explores Myths & Mythologies London’s LGBT cross-art annual event GFEST 2014 will showcase new visual and performance art works and films from Monday the 10th to Saturday the 22nd November.

Breathtaking works that explore this year’s festival theme ‘Myths & Mythology’ include thought provoking feature and short films, paintings, video installation and photographic works along with cabaret acts as well as South Asian dance works.

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, NIRANJAN KAMATKAR said, “GFEST 2014 brings together an inspirational line-up of film-makers, artists, and 48 EILE Magazine

performance dancers, each united in their aim to dispel the modern myths and stereotypes surrounding LGBTQI cultures.

Integral to the GFEST 2014 programme is that all the participants are chosen on the strength and quality of their creative endeavour, not simply their orientation or identity. The platform for expression demonstrates that arts can be used to build bridges between gay and straight communities for generations to come. Working with the commissioned artists to showcase their work at this year’s festival has been truly inspirational. “ Headliners include: the

critically acclaimed ‘STAND’ a Russian feature film directed

by Jonathan Taieb, while British filmmakers Jake Graf and Richard Mansfield present ‘Brace’ a queer short film,

London | Events

and the feature ‘The Secret Path’ respectively. Daniel Ribeiro’s gay teen drama ‘The Way He Looks’ along with Erin Davies’ ‘Fagbug Nation’ a popular follow up to the original ‘Fagbug’ are to be screened. Filmmakers Casper Andreas and David Färdmar whose films have been a part of previous GFESTs screenings, will premier a short film ‘A Last Farewell’.

GFEST 2014 filmmakers and the stars are expected to participate in the Q&A sessions, after each film screening, at Rich Mix in East London from 15 to 18 November.

Quoted as being ‘Queer Pearly Queen’ and ‘Haute Couture Fishwife’ Bird la Bird will present a cabaret evening line up that includes 2011 BOYZ award winner for best cabaret act Mzz Kimberley.

New Commissions, New Direction: British Asian dancer Kali Chandrasegaram will present a new performance work ‘S(He)dom’ while Justin McCarthy, an established ‘Indian’ Bharatanatyam dance guru from the prestigious Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra will complete the double bill

with his new work on myths, ‘Mohini: God Becomes Enchantress’.

The dance event will take place on the evening of Thursday 20 November at RADA studio. A debate on gay identity and practice within the conventional South Asian dance sphere is planned at Roehampton University with both the dancers and other panel members.

New works are also the key feature at GFEST 2014 visual

art exhibition that will run from 10 to 22 November at Menier Gallery near Tower Bridge. Challenging art works from established artists like Sadie Lee and Matthew Stradling will lead the showcase. Enzo Marra will show his Francis Bacon series along with art works of Berlin and London based artist Mathias Vef and Joao Trindade’s promising new digital images. The exhibition will also include ‘mythical’ interpretations from younger artists like Gökhan Tanriöver and Jenny Welton.

Unique and Free entry debates and panel discussions will take place as a part of GFEST 2014 programme.

GFEST – Gaywise FESTival 2014 full programme details are now announced on GFEST 2014 website: http:// gaywisefestival.org.uk/

Regi to Vo

ister ote.

YesEquality YesEquality.ie

Reviews | Frances Winston

Nightcrawler Director: Dan Gilroy Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, Bill Paxton, Kevin Rahm Although the title of this, and it’s Halloween release date, may suggest a horror film, a Nightcrawler is actually the term used to describe freelance camera crews, who trawl the streets looking for accidents and carnage, in order to film it, and sell it to news channels.

Gyllenhaal plays Louis Bloom, a small-time thief, who hasn’t found his calling in life. When he stumbles upon an accident one night and sees a freelance news crew, headed by Joe Loder (Paxton) filming it, he is enthralled, and resolves to get into the game himself.

Purchasing a camcorder and a police scanner, he starts monitoring accident calls, and rushing to the sites of crimes, in order to get footage. His brusque manner and lack of propriety soon mean that he has recorded some truly gruesome scenes, and he manages to sell it to hardbitten news editor Nina (Russo) who realises that this graphic footage could be just the thing to 52 EILE Magazine

put her ratings through the roof.

With several big stories under his belt, he is able to expand the business, and begins to take more and more chances in order to get suitably graphic video. His matter-of-fact anal attitude to his work soon affects everything and everyone else in his life.

Gyllenhaal is almost unrecognisable here, having lost 20lbs for the role. Louis has definite sociopathic tendencies, and he plays him in a very understated way, with his Machiavellian sinisterness always just bubbling under the surface. There are shades of Anthony Perkins’ Norman Bates about him, and the character is far from a likeable sort. What he sees as blunt ambition, is actually an arrogant obnoxiousness. The supporting cast are all excellent also, with Riz Ahmed especially doing a subtle but wonderful job as Louis’ downtrodden driver, and colleague, Rick. It is also wonderful to see Russo back on screen after what seems like an age.

This is atmospheric from the off, and the cinematography really gives the sense of claustrophobia

and seediness that must surely accompany this job. Tension is built beautifully, and just when you think there is nowhere else for the story to go, they hit you with yet another whammy.

This doesn’t rely on lots of CGI and effects, but rather lets the characters tell the story, and when we do see the accidents and murder scenes, they are merely conduits to push the tale along rather than gratuitous shots.

While this has a gripping story and is highly engaging, there is a slight problem in the fact that the protagonist, Louis, is extremely unlikeable. This makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable for engaging with the movie – almost as if you are enabling his sleazy actions. That aside, this is a great example of independent cinema done well. If you like your thrillers dark and dingy, and your leading men somewhat psychotic, then you’ll love this, but be warned, it isn’t always an easy watch.

In Cinemas now

Reviews | Frances Winston

Frances Winston on Movies Directed by: Tommy Lee Jones - Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep, James Spader, John Lithgow Based on Glendon Swarthout’s 1988 novel of the same name, which was voted the Best Western novel of that year, this adaptation sees Tommy Lee Jones take on the dual role of director and star, and he also co-produced and co-wrote the film. In short, he is all over this. He plays George Briggs, a claim jumper, who is hired by local spinster Mary Bee Cuddy (Swank) to help her transport three insane women from Nebraska back home to Iowa.

As the mismatched pair make their way across country with the three unfortunate women, they get to know each other better, and Cuddy eventually makes an advance to Briggs which ends in tragedy. Despite this, there is still a job to be done, and the women must be delivered safely and soundly to the home of Minister Carter and his wife Altha (Streep).

This sports a fine cast, and it is clearly relying on the strength of their talents to keep the audience engaged, as there is not a huge amount of plot.

It is basically a western road trip, with a shock twist thrown in halfway through, to ensure you are paying attention.

Unfortunately, many of the cast appear lost with the very wordy script and thin premise, and at times the movie is a bit of a muddle.

the women of the West, or how uprooting from established towns to the harsh frontiers really affected them (in this case driving three of them mad) but once Lee enters the picture, the story becomes more about him than the ladies. Although Swank initially turns in a good performance as the strong and dignified Bee, once they hit the road it is as if she undergoes a seismic shift, and her character loses a lot of gravitas.

The real star here is actually the vast and unrelenting Nebraska landscape that they must traverse on their journey, and the cinematography is stunning.

This doesn’t detract from the fact that there are serious pacing issues with this though. It is as if Jones has decided to mosey through the story rather than canter, but it remains in mosey mode throughout, never really picking up, and it is difficult to maintain interest and engagement with it.

This is a serious film, with serious actors, and on paper it should be excellent, but it never quite hits the mark. It has moments of genius, but all in all, it feels like a bit of a mishmash. Western’s have struggled to find audiences in recent years – hence there are so few of them being made – and this definitely isn’t going to buck the trend.

While the story is indeed a thin premise, it had the potential to be an interesting one. After all, we rarely see stories about

Watchable, but the two hour running time feels a lot longer, and it is definitely only a onetime viewing.

In cinemas November 21

The Homesman 53

Music | Nick’s Picks

Nick’s Picks Music Reviews by Nick Bassett Shipped directly from New Zealand, EILE’s music reviewer Nick Bassett (also of ChartShaker) has got the latest high-quality music from artists you should be listening to – right now. Click on any of the art work to take you straight to the sound!

Susanne Sundfør - Fade Away

Gloriana – Trouble

The past eighteen months have seen their fair share of Susanne Sundfør collaborations; the Norwegian singer has teamed up with Röyksopp,M83 and Kleerup on their recent releases, which have subsequently given the enchanting Scandinavian songstress a long overdue push in to the international music arena.

It’s been a few years since Nashville trio Gloriana impressed with the whiling country ballads (Kissed You) Good Night and Can’t Shake You, from their impressive second LP, A Thousand Miles Left Behind.

Now gearing up for the 15 February 2015 release of her own sixth studio album 10 Love Songs, the follow up to 2012’s The Silicone Veil, Sundfør has premiered a brand new song online, and Fade Away finds the 28 year-old from Haugesund plotting her exquisite vocals over buzzing electronics and bursting synths, and the result is an evocative 80s-channeling pop ballad of the highest order.

54 EILE Magazine

The three piece, made up of brothers Mike and Tom Gossin and Rachel Reinert, have now returned with the first new material from their upcoming, as-yet-untitled third studio album, and Trouble, the track in question, is an immediate hit-in-waiting, with all the ingredients to blow their contemporaries out of the water, and secure themselves another major US chart hit whilst at it.

Loaded with attitude from the get-go, via both its guns-a-blazing lyrics and Reinert’s fierce, nononsense delivery, Trouble is bolstered further by an anthemic, singalong chorus, a mid-song ‘Woah Woah Woah’ break, and its gloriously faithful country arrangement.

Music | Nick’s Picks Tei Shi - Bassically It’s been less than a year since Valerie Teicher, aka Tei Shi, put out her plaudit-winning Saudade EP, grabbing the attention of Rolling Stone, FADER and Stereogum whilst at it.

Now, nearly twelve months on, we have the first track from the Argentina-born singer songwriter’s follow up set, and Tei Shi continues to impress with another effortlessly executed exercise in elegant and enchanting electronica. A stunning sprawl of unravelling, spacey beats and floating melodies, Bassically is another inebriating dose of swirling future pop from the Brooklyn based artist, who is signed to the same management as fellow New Yorker VÉRITÉ.

Field Division - Faultlines Field Division are Nashville-based duo Evelyn Taylor and Nicholas Frampton, and Faultlines is the lead single from their recently-released debut EP, Reverie State.

The folk song was the first track that the pair worked on together, before embarking on the collaborative project and, written by Taylor, it’s an intoxicating barrage of ethereal vocals, wistful lyrics and dreamy melodies that draws upon the pair’s experiences of growing up in Des Moines, Iowa.

Bleachers - Rollercoaster Bleachers is the side-project of songwriter and sometime-fun. drummer Jack Antonoff, who formed the band whilst he was on tour with Nate Ruess and co., last year.

In February, the New York-based outfit released their first single, I Wanna Get Better, via RCA as a precursor to the July Stateside release of their debut album, Strange Desire. The record, issued via RCA, went on to peak at #11 on America’s Billboard 200 album chart countdown, and now they’re back with its second cut, Rollercoaster.

Set against a bursting backdrop of spirited drums and guitars, and subtly springing synths that explode in to an anthemic summer sing-along chorus, the song’s lyrics recapture the story of a flash-in-a-pan summer romance, that leaves a lasting memory on the frontman. The tale though is far from cloying or cliché, and the snapshot-indicative sentiment that they evoke goes some way to explaining why Mr Antonoff has become a good song-writing pal of pop connoisseur du jour, Taylor Swift – he co-penned the blinding buzz single Out of the Woods and I Wish You Would from Tay’s new album 1989.

EILE Magazine 55

Travel | Manchester

Wanderlust Leads to Weatherfield!

Alan Lambert took a trip across the Irish Sea to Manchester for an

attraction-packed short stay, which included the Coronation Street set tour The Coronation Street set tour was due to end completely on 4th October 2014, and I thought I’d never get to see it, when my best mate bought tickets to the tour for my birthday this year. We were due to head over for a day trip, to a city that we didn’t know too much about with the exception of Corrie, Canal Street and the Trafford Centre.

In 13 hours, we managed to cram in more sights and social life than we’d normally see in a long weekend in Dublin.

Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly, we went straight to the Police Museum* exhibits 56 EILE Magazine

including Victorian cells and the 1895 Magistrates Courts, the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art and the Buddhist Centre, where you can try a meditation class. From here we walked around the huge Arndale Shopping Centre, passing the Royal Exchange Theatre and St Anne’s Church, before heading on to the Manchester Cathedral.

The Cathedral, which looks quite modern due to refurbishment both inside and out, has a rich history dating back to the early 1200s, including almost being destroyed in the 17th Century

Civil War, and the second World War, and was further damaged by an IRA bomb in 1996. The fact that it’s still standing is a miracle in itself.

While it was too early to enjoy many of the delights of The Printworks, a centre including restaurants, bars, live music venues and a cinema, we did manage a cheeky pint in Lloyds No.1, a JD Wetherspoons pub, before heading to the National Football Museum.

This museum is one of the most interactive I’ve been in to date. It is free to enter, and is not just for ardent football fans, introducing all visitors

Travel | Manchester brief closure in November, the tour has been extended to 2015.

to the history and culture of the game. It’s hard not to feel passionate about the sport by the time you leave.

Moving down towards the Deansgate area, we stopped

by St. Mary’s Church, known as the Hidden Gem, which could never be accused of false advertising, Manchester Town Hall, the Manchester Gallery, featuring works by Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud, and the Museum of Science and Industry. This wasn’t as interactive as I’d hoped, but can still be enjoyed by any age group.

Finally, it was time to head to the Street. Seeing inside the studios of this legendary show offers a unique insight into the production of Britain’s longest running soap opera, offering back stage secrets, fascinating facts, and the history of over 50 years of the Weatherfield drama. Visitors get a chance to see inside some of the famous homes, take a seat in the Rovers Return, and eventually get to walk on the world’s most famous cobbled street.

A must for fans of the show, it was announced today that, apart from a

To wind down after the tour, we took a stroll to Canal Street.

Having seen it on Channel 4’s Queer as Folk, it was surprising to see how small the street actually is (it made Corrie look big) with a couple of hours to kill before we went back to the airport. Despite the early hour, the bars were busy enough, locals and staff alike were all friendly, and drink wasn’t too expensive.

Overall I’d love more of an extended stay in Manchester, particularly to experience it’s famous night life, but as you can see there’s a huge amount to be done in a day. *The Police Museum is only open on Tuesdays but you can contact them to arrange visits on other days.

Taking a breather before heading to the day’s main attraction, we stopped by Cloud 23, on the 23rd Floor of Beetham Tower. This luxury bar offers amazing views of the city, and is a perfect location for a classy night out. Drink prices were slightly higher than anywhere else we went on the day, but that was to be expected, given the surroundings. Also, make sure to check the dress code before you go.

EILE Magazine 57

Health | Older LGBT

Report Reveals Worries of Older LGBT People M Butler looks at a recent report on issues affecting the ageing LGBT population In a recent poll, commissioned by SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) in the US, and carried out by Harris Poll, the fears and concerns of older LGBT people were highlighted.

Some of these concerns were about whether they would have enough money saved for retirement, and some were concerned that they would face discrimination if they revealed their orientation to their healthcare provider or housing provider, especially if in a shared home for the elderly.

58 EILE Magazine

The report, released in October, is titled “Out and Visible: The Experiences and Attitudes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Older Adults, Ages 45-75� and is based on a survey of 1,857 LGBT people, and 519 non-LGBT people. It examines five key areas - healthcare, finance & retirement, support systems, housing, and sources of information.

Those surveyed showed they had anxieties about how they would fare out as their support systems and financial resources diminished as they got older, and about lonliness and the possibility of discrimination or disapproval from healthcare

providers.

In the survey, 51% of LGBT older people say they are very concerned about not having enough money to live on (or outliving the money they have saved for their retirement) compared to 36% of nonLGBT older people, and one in three (32%) are concerned about being lonely and growing old alone, as compared to 19% of non-LGBT people.

Approximately one in three (34%) LGBT people live alone, compared to 21% non-LGBT. The report also shows that, regarding healthcare, 43% of LGBT people who are single, and 40% of LGBT people in their 60s and 70s have

Health | Older LGBT not revealed their sexual orientation to their healthcare providers. 65% of transgenders fear that they will have less access to healthcare providers as they get older.

Many have experienced discrimination in regard to housing also, with one in eight (13%) of LGB, and one in four (25%) of transgenders citing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity respectively.

This would explain the 44% of LGBT people who would like to live in LGBT-friendly accommodation at some time in the future.

Many rely on the internet as an important source of information, while others cite government sources, or going to family and friends when they need information. This means that both government sources and internet websites that contain such health or housing related information must be kept up-to-date.

“Given the tremendous aging of the population, the report highlights many critical aging related needs of LGBT adults that must be a priority as we move forward serving these diverse communities. It is a must-read for service providers and policy makers, alike”, said Karen Fredriksen Goldsen, PhD, of the University of Washington.

“…the report highlights many critical aging related needs of LGBT adults that must be a priority as we move forward serving these diverse communities. It is a must-read for service providers and policy makers, alike”

You can read the full report HERE.

EILE Magazine 59

News | IGLYO

BeLonG To Host 30th General Assembly of IGLYO BeLonG To Youth Services, the national organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual & trans young people in Ireland, is hosting the 30th General Assembly of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO) this November.

60 EILE Magazine

The General Assembly of IGLYO will bring together delegates representing 52 countries in the Council of Europe region, to debate the key issues affecting LGBT young people across the continent.

The pace of change in Ireland since we last hosted the IGLYO General Assembly has moved at lightning speed.

The presence of the 1994

conference was strongly criticised and condemned by public representatives.

IGLYO was founded in 1984, in response to a need for greater international cooperation between organisations that work with and represent LGBTQ youth and students.

It is an organisation for, and led by, young people, and focuses on advocacy, capacity building, empowerment,

News | IGLYO

and knowledge-sharing at the European and international level.

Speaking today, Patrick Dempsey, Co-Chair of IGLYO said: “IGLYO is delighted to be in Dublin to mark 30 years since the founding of our organisation. In the 20 years since IGLYO was last in Ireland, remarkable progress has been made in the inclusion and visibility of LGBTQ youth and students. We hope our member organisations and activists will be inspired by the rapid progress in Ireland, and that it will encourage the great and difficult work they do in hostile environments for LGBTQ youth and students.”

Patrick Dempsey

The General Assembly will bring together activists who’ve worked under IGLYO’s banner for the last 30 years, as well as the current leaders of LGBT youth movements and organisations, to debate the progress we’ve witnessed over the last 30 years and plan for the next 30.

David Carroll, BeLonG To: “We’re delighted to be hosting the IGLYO General Assembly and 30th birthday celebrations this November in Dublin. BeLonG To’s International work in supporting our brother and sister organisations around the globe has been growing, and it is pivotal now more than ever that we redouble our efforts to support the work of other LGBTQ organisations”, said David Carroll, Executive Director of BeLonG To. David Carroll For more information on BeLonG To Youth Services, visit their website HERE.

EILE Magazine 61

News | GLAAD

GLAAD Releases TV Reports Rating LGBT Representation Stephen Friedman, President of MTV & LogoTV

The reports map the quantity, quality, and diversity of LGBT representation on television.

While GLAAD’s NRI looks backward at the previous season and rates networks on LGBT-inclusive content that aired between June 2013 and May 2014, the Where We Are on TV report is a charactercount and analysis of scripted characters in the upcoming 2014-2015 season.

For the first time in its 62 EILE Magazine

GLAAD, the US LGBT media advocacy organization, released its two annual television reports – the 8th annual Network Responsibility Index (NRI) and the 19th annual Where We Are on TV report, on Wednesday last (1st).

Network Responsibility Index, which rates LGBT content on networks during the 20132014 TV season that wrapped earlier this year, three different networks earned “Excellent” grades in the same year: ABC Family, HBO, and MTV. The grades of Excellent, Good, Adequate, or Failing are awarded based on the quality, diversity, and relative quantity of LGBT representations in each network’s original programming.

characters, an increase from 3.3% last year. In addition, GLAAD counted 33 recurring lesbian, gay or bisexual characters on broadcast scripted series, though none of the broadcast characters counted are transgender.

GLAAD also counted 64 regular and 41 recurring LGBT characters on primetime scripted cable series.

In its Where We Are on TV report, which counts the number of LGBT characters in the 2014-2015 television season, GLAAD found that 3.9% of primetime broadcast scripted series regulars will be lesbian, gay or bisexual

“Television networks are playing a key role in promoting cultural understanding of LGBT lives around the world, and are now producing some of the best LGBT-inclusive

Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, stated:

News | GLAAD programming we’ve yet seen. As they move forward with new programs and storylines, networks must also keep an eye towards diversity and strive to include significant transgender content comparable to those efforts being made by their online competitors, such as Netflix’s Orange is the New Black and Amazon’s Transparent.”

GLAAD has also officially announced that, in the future, networks must feature significant transgender content in their original programming in order to receive a grade of Excellent in the NRI. For the first time, three networks earned a grade of “Excellent” in the same year: ABC Family, HBO, and MTV. This is the second Excellent grade for both MTV and ABC Family.

Stephen Friedman, President of MTV & Logo TV, stated: “For MTV to fully connect with young people, we have to represent our entire audience in all its brilliant diversity, which includes people of

every sexual orientation and gender identity.

We’re honored to receive GLAAD’s recognition, and are committed to airing the stories of LGBTQ young people – to provide our audience characters they can relate to, and to bring new voices from the LGBTQ community into living rooms across the country.”

The Where We Are on TV report analyzes the diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks and looks at the number of LGBT characters on cable networks.

Out of 813 primetime broadcast scripted series regulars, 32 will be LGBT this year, or 3.9%.

This is up from 3.3% last year but still down from the record high of 2012 when 4.4% of primetime broadcast scripted regular characters were LGBT. In addition, GLAAD found 33 recurring LGBT characters on primetime broadcast series.

The next NRI and Where We Are on TV will be released in 2015.

To download the full reports, go HERE

“Television networks are playing a key role in promoting cultural understanding of LGBT lives around the world” – Kate Ellis, GLAAD EILE Magazine 63

Nigeria | LGBT Rights

Nigeria: Anti-LGBT Law Challenge Dismissed By Court Teriah Joseph Ebah, a 42 year-old Nigerian based in the UK, brought a case against Nigeria’s anti-gay law, not because he was LGBT himself, but because he decided he “wasn’t going to accept a Nigeria that was discriminatory”.

Ebah is married to a woman, and has a child, but sued on the basis that the antigay marriage law violated fundamental human rights protections, according to Buzzfeed.

Ebah asked that the law be declared unconstitutional, null and void, as it violated parts of section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, and parts of the 64 EILE Magazine

African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, infringing on the rights of Nigerian citizens, criminalising those who perform gay marriages as well as those who advocate for LGBT rights.

Ebah’s lawyer held that anyone can bring a suit if fundamental human rights are at stake.

The judge, Abdul Kafarati, disagreed, and threw out the case, stating that as Ebah himself was not affected by the law, he was not in a position to bring a case against it.

on which their own pending cases may be successful.

If the question is one of standing, it may mean that if one is affected by the law, the case may have a better chance of being heard or even succeeding. According to Bisi Alimi, a Nigerian activist based in the UK, it may open “a better door for us to challenge the law” According to NAIJ, since the act was signed into law, “no fewer than 32 persons have been arrested and arraigned in different parts of the country”.

Ebah is living in the UK for the last 14 years, yet did not consult with LGBT Nigerians in MKB the UK before he brought the case, nor did he contact rights (eile.ie / October 23) activists in Nigeria. However, Nigerian LGBT activists do not see the case as a setback, they see it as clarifying the grounds

News | Business

OUTstanding Top 100 LGBT Business People Includes Two Irish In the Top 100 OUTstanding out LGBT business people listing, two Irish names appeared alongside the notables, one in fifth place, Stephen Clarke, Chief Executive of WHSmith, and one in 50th place, Margot Slattery, Sodexo’s Managing Director, Corporate Services, Ireland & Northern Ireland.

a FTSE 100 company, when he took up the position of Chief Executive this year.

According to the Financial Times, Bailey has increased Burberry’s revenues fourfold since becoming Creative Director in 2001.

On the Straight Allies listing, Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, came first, while Mark Zuckerberg , Chairman of Facebook Inc, came fourth.

OUTstanding was founded

by Suki Sandhu, and the first LGBT listing was compiled last Stephen Clarke, 47, from year. 2014 is only the second, Belfast, was appointed Chief which, according to Suki, has Executive of WHS in July 2013, doubled in length since last having joined the company year. in August 2004 as Marketing Director for High Street Retail. For the full 100 LGBT Margot Slattery, from Limerick, was previously a chef, and joined Sodexo, a catering company, twenty years ago, becoming the first female Managing Director of Sodexo Ireland, in 2012.

No. 1 on the list was Christopher Bailey, Burberry, Chief Creative and Chief Executive. Bailey became the first openly-gay person to lead Stephen Clarke

Stephen Clarke

OUTstanding List 2014, go HERE

Margot Slattery

MKB

Christopher Bailey EILE Magazine 65

Business | GLEN

GLEN Launches Ireland’s LGBT Recruitment Guide 2014/15 GLEN’s Diversity Champions programme, Ireland’s network for LGBT-inclusive employers, launches the LGBT Graduate Guide 2014/15 today Wednesday October 8th at the gradireland recruitment fair, RDS, Dublin.

The Diversity Champions Graduate Guide highlights career opportunities with employers who are committed to supporting diversity at work, especially for prospective LGBT employees. The Guide includes information for LGBT jobseekers on preparing for interviews, LGBT inclusive companies and current developments for transgender employees.

Research has found that lesbian, gay and bisexual employees report higher levels of commitment to companies with inclusive policies and culture. Lesbian, gay and bisexual employees who are with their employer for less than one year are 4 times less likely to disclose their sexual orientation than employees who have been with their employer for 5 years or more.

Davin Roche 66 EILE Magazine

‘Young jobseekers, including LGBT jobseekers, want to join companies that clearly demonstrate that they are progressive and inclusive.

LGBT employees in particular want to know that the companies they join will be workplaces where they can be themselves, where they can thrive and succeed, and where their sexual orientation or gender identity will be fully respected and welcomed as part of a diverse organisation” said Davin Roche, Director of Workplace Diversity, GLEN. He continued: “There is an opportunity cost to both employees and employers if employees cannot bring their whole selves to work. The LGBT Recruitment Guide is a great opportunity for good employers to communicate how they value talented job seekers whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity”.

Patrick Reynolds, National Sales Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car said: “When I started at Enterprise it wasn’t as an ‘out’ employee, but as time went on I realised the level of support there was

in the business for me. Since then, I have gone on to mentor and support other LGBT employees in the business. It has been so fulfilling to see how being themselves in the workplace has helped LGBT colleagues progress their careers in Enterprise too.”

The Guide is available at the Diversity Champions exhibit at the gradireland recruitment fair where Diversity Champions members Accenture, Deutsche Bank, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, EY, IBM, Irish Prison Service and Microsoft will be present to talk to LGBT graduates about current jobs opportunities and their companies’ commitment to diversity and inclusion at work.

Diversity Champions is Ireland’s first and only not-for profit workplace programme designed specifically to assist Irish employers benefit from the inclusion of LGBT employees. Diversity Champions is an initiative of GLEN – the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network.

For more information, see www.diversitychampions.ie

Rights | UN

UN Commissioner for Human Rights – All LGBTI Children Have The Right To Safety & Equality In a human rights comment note published on October 2nd, the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, Nils Muižnieks, highlighted rights abuses faced by LGBTI young people and declared that all LGBTI children have the right to “safety and equality”.

According to the Commissioner: “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) children are often victims of bullying and violence in schools, at home and via social media.

This has a serious effect on their well-being and prevents openness about their personal identity. Like all children, LGBTI children are entitled to enjoy human rights and require a safe environment in order to participate fully in society”.

BeLonG To Youth Services welcomed the statement.

Speaking yesterday, David Carroll, Executive Director of BeLong To, said: “We warmly welcome Commissioner Muižnieks comments on the rights of

LGBTI children & young people and for specifically addressing some of the least talked about challenges LGBT young people face. The issues articulated by Commissioner Muižnieks reflect the needs we see on the ground on a daily basis with the young people and families we support.”

Commissioner Muižnieks, highlighted the Irish situation, where over half of LGBT respondents aged 25 or younger had given serious consideration to ending their lives. He also highlighted the ongoing work in Ireland to eliminate homophobic & transphobic bullying through the Dept. of Education & Skills ‘Action Plan on Bullying’. The Action Plan names ‘Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week’ run

by BeLonG To as one of the key actions schools should take to address homophobia and transphobia in their classrooms, corridors and school yards.

Mr. Carroll continued: “Support from the Dept. of Education & Skills towards Stand Up! & BeLonG To has been vital in ensuring continuous and focused responsibility of schools in

confronting homophobic and transphobic bullying.

The Action Plan on Bullying is a robust roadmap to address all forms of bullying. Stand Up! LGBT Awareness week was included in the plan as one of the key actions schools can take to address homophobia and transphobia specifically.

Since the inception of the Action Plan in January 2013 we’re already starting to see the positive impact it is delivering on the ground in changing for the better the experiences all young people have while in school.”

The next Action Plan is due to take place in Spring 2015.

BeLonG To is the national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) young people, aged between 14 and 23.

You can find out more about BeLong To by visiting their website: www.belongto.org The Commissioner, Nils Muizieks’ full comment note can be read HERE

EILE Magazine 67

Ireland | Human Rights

President Higgins Appoints GLEN Chair to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission President Higgins yesterday appointed Kieran Rose, GLEN Chair, as one of the members of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin.

Kieran Rose is a long-time civil rights activist, trade union activist, was the co-founder of GLEN 25 years ago, and is currently GLEN Chair.

appointed to the interim board of the IHREC in 2013.

He has played pivotal roles in securing decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993; in the campaign which resulted in the nine-ground (including sexual orientation) Equality legislation in 1998 and 2000; in the campaign for Civil Partnership and in the campaign for marriage and full Constitutional equality for lesbian and gay people and families.

“His appointment to the IHREC by the President underscores the importance of the promotion of equality and the protection of the human rights of LGBT people, and the importance of nurturing a culture of respect for the rights of each person in Ireland” said Sheehan.

“We are delighted that GLEN co-founder and Chair, Kieran Rose, has been appointed to the IHREC. He has been a champion of human rights and equality over very many years, in particular for lesbian, gay and bisexual people” said GLEN Director Brian Sheehan.

Kieran was a member of the Board of the Equality Authority from 2007 to 2012, and was 68 EILE Magazine

“GLEN offers its congratulations to the Chief Commissioner, Emily Logan, and to all those appointed to the IHREC today.

Together they can map out and lead on implementing a

new future for human rights and equality for all people in Ireland. We wish the new Commission well in their work.” concluded Sheehan.

For more information on GLEN, go to http://www.glen.ie

Information and support for women who need someone to talk to

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

News | Vatican City

A majority of Bishops at the Synod of Bishops in Rome, voting against the lead of Pope Francis, rolled back on the positive and inclusive approaches towards gay people in the voting on the final document of the Synod.

The final document, published last night, excludes the more open and positive approach used in the version published by the Pope earlier in the week.

“This Synod of Bishops has missed the opportunity to reflect and embrace the very positive changes in attitude towards lesbian and gay people that have come about over the

Bishops Vote Against Pope’s Move to Include LGBT People in Catholic Church

last 20 years” said Kieran Rose, constitutional equality for GLEN Chair. lesbian and gay people” said Rose.

“Most gay and lesbian people and their loving relationships “However, the discussion and are fully included within their the votes supporting change at wider family and community the Synod show that there is circles in Ireland. It is an appetite within the Catholic disappointing that the majority Church to move away from of the Synod chose not to the harsh approach towards reflect that reality, and that lesbian and gay people. We elements within the Catholic hope that ongoing discussions Church continue to say to will lead to change within the lesbian and gay people, and Church, building on the nonto their parents and families, judgmental approach and that they are not welcome” said leadership of Pope Francis.”

Rose. concluded Rose.

“Irish people, the majority of whom are Catholic, are very welcoming of lesbian and gay people, their relationships and families. We see this in the very warm support by families and communities for civil partnerships and in the very widespread support for access to civil marriage and

(eile.ie / October 20)

News | Alaska

Alaska Victory for Equal Marriage – Supreme Court Denies State Stay

“(ORDER LIST: 574 U.S.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 ORDER IN PENDING CASE, 14A413 PARNELL, GOV. OF AK, ET AL. V. HAMBY, MATTHEW, ET AL. The application for stay presented to Justice Kennedy and by him referred to the Court is denied”.

These few lines from the US Supreme Court have put an end to unequal marriage in the state of Alaska. From now on, LGBT people living in that state can obtain marriages licences, and within approximately three days of obtaining the licence, can be legally married.

The above decision in Parnell v Hanby et al. has ended discrimination against same-sex couples, overturning an LGBT marriage ban which was enacted in 1998, called Ballot Measure 2, which changed the previously gender non-specific marriage legislation, to incorporate the lines:

To be valid or recognized in this State, a marriage may exist only between one man and one woman.

On Friday last, 17th October, the Supreme Court denied the stay requested by the Governor of Alaska, to stop same-sex marriages going ahead after Judge Timothy Burgess’ ruling that the marriage ban was unconstitutional.

According to the Human Rights Campaign’ legal director, Sarah Walbelow: “Requesting a stay in Alaska was nothing more than a petty, last-ditch effort to stop equality.

Continued delay would have only prolonged harm to Americans who simply want to protect and provide for their families. Court after court has affirmed that the U.S. Constitution does not allow states to discriminate against committed and loving gay and lesbian couples, and this decline to extend the stay suggests the Supreme Court clearly agrees.”

MBK EILE Magazine 71

USA | Equal Marriage

US: Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeals Against Gay Marriage Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Virgina, Utah, and Indiana can proceed with samesex marriages now, as nine judges of the Supreme Court have refused to hear appeals from those states against gay marriage.

This allows the circuit court decisions, which had struck down the bans in those states, to stand.

This also means that the majority of states now allow equal marriage, although the court did not go on to make it a nationwide ruling, and so the question will still have to be decided on a state by state basis. As this latest Supreme Court decision increases the number of states in which gay marriage is legal, the day when it becomes nationwide doesn’s seem so far away.

LGBT groups were delighted with the decision, and many couples can now go ahead and get married, whose nuptials were 72 EILE Magazine

previously in limbo.

“Any time same-sex couples are extended marriage equality is something to celebrate, and today is a joyous day for thousands of couples across America who will immediately feel the impact of today’s Supreme Court action.

But let me be clear, the complex and discriminatory patchwork of marriage laws that was prolonged today by the Supreme Court is unsustainable. The only acceptable solution is nationwide marriage equality and we recommit to ourselves to securing that ultimate victory as soon as possible”, said Chad Griffin, President of Human Rights Campaign.

Some equal marriage statistics from HRC: As of today, same-sex couples can legally marry in 24 states, plus Washington, DC. (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont,

Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin).

Today 52 percent of Americans live in a state with marriage equality. One year ago only 30 percent could. If the other states within the federal appeals court jurisdictions impacted by today’s ruling grant marriage equality, that number will rise to 60 percent.

Ten years ago only 42 percent of Americans supported marriage rights for same-sex couples, according to Gallup. Today, support is at 55 percent – with some polls putting support even higher at upwards of 59 percent.

Cases from seven other states are pending before two federal appeals courts – the Sixth Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee) and the Ninth Circuit (Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada).

Rulings and appeals from those courts could reach the Supreme Court this term, although it is likely they would be on the docket during the next term.

MKB - 7 October

Ireland | Politics

Irish Embassy & BeLonG To Support Lithuanian Gay League Initiative To Fight Homophobic/ Transphobic Bullying The Irish Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, has lent its weight to the country’s first anti-homophobic and transphobic bullying conference.

Irish Ambassador Noonan here in Lithuania is showing its support for LGBT young people – by both participating in the conference and by hosting its international reception”.

The event, which features BeLonG To’s Michael Barron as a speaker, has been organized by the Lithuanian Gay League in response to very high levels of homophobic bullying in schools in the country.

“It demonstrates a commitment from the Irish government to promoting LGBT rights internationally, inline with our stated Human Rights Council priorities, and to tackling homophobic and transphobic bullying, inline with our own Action Plan on Bullying. In many countries around the world LGBT people, and LGBT young people in particular, face growing hostility and violence. The Irish Department for Foreign Affairs, including through its embassies, has an ongoing and vital role to play”.

Speaking at the conference, BeLonG To’s Michael Barron said: “The Lithuanian Gay League have been doing inspirational work since 1993 to promote the rights of the LGBT community here. They do this in often very difficult circumstances, particularly when it comes to supporting LGBT young people. It is really significant that the Irish Embassy and

He continued:

Also speaking at the conference, the Lithuanian Gay League’s Chairperson, Vladimir Simonko, said:

“We really appreciate the support of the Irish Ambassador Noonan and BeLonG To. This was the first major discussion in our country on homophobic and transphobic bullying and the support from Ireland in this area was really significant.

Lithuania and Ireland share so much in com[mon] in our culture and history. We call on our politicians and education stakeholders to follow Ireland and other European country’s example and to pioritise[prioritise] actions to ensure that LGBT young people are safe and included in our schools. We believe that our country needs a comprehensive action plan on bullying and that teachers need to be trained to protect LGBT young people in their care. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with BeLonG To and the Irish Embassy” eile.ie - 3 October EILE Magazine 73

Feature | Dublin Lesbian Line

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EILE Magazine

Jayne Ava

Courtesy Lafamos