Gay politicans?

Filan

Did I hear that Ireland recently elected it's first gay (lesbian) mayor? Somewhere like Tullamore?. Strange how just one member of our 226 Oireachtas members are homosexual. Is it that no gay's are allergic to politics or are there more in the closet?.

KeyLimePie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Norris_(politician)

Time Magazine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmet_Stagg

Donnaghm

As a member of FG, I can honestly say I know loads of our public representatives who are gay. They aren't really outwardly so and are not single issue candidates like Norris.

kumate_champ07

Donnaghm wrote: »

As a member of FG, I can honestly say I know loads of our public representatives who are gay. They aren't really outwardly so and are not single issue candidates like Norris.

Norris is for human rights, not just gay rights.

Donnaghm

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

Norris is for human rights, not just gay rights.

You're quite right.

Aard

Dominic Hannigan is a Labour Senator, who is openly gay. As for your question about no gays being in politics, or are they just closeted: I think it's the latter. I'm sure there are many gay FF TDs who are closeted for fear that all the Dublin grannies would stop voting for them were they to come out.

Donnaghm

Aard wrote: »

Dominic Hannigan is a Labour Senator, who is openly gay. As for your question about no gays being in politics, or are they just closeted: I think it's the latter. I'm sure there are many gay FF TDs who are closeted for fear that all the Dublin grannies would stop voting for them were they to come out.

It would take the FFers wouldn't it. They don't wish to alienate the bigoted redneck demographic.
I say it's more the rural grannies. The dublin grannies couldn't give a monkeys.

Bottle_of_Smoke

The Economist wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmet_Stagg

Its funny the wikipedia article says he was found loitering in an area "used by underage male prostitutes"

The links it quotes - Myers has no reference to underage. The other one only has "dubious circumstances"

F*cking wikipedia!

L1011

Malcolm Byrne, FF councillor in Gorey. Few Labour councillors. Dominic Hannigan and David Norris.

Thats about it as goes openly gay. There are far more, obviously; and those in parties are going to know of ones that aren't out.

Malcolm Byrne got outed after a local rag journo found him on Gaydar. Nobody asked what said "upstanding member of the community" journo was doing on Gaydar in the first place. Local radio station had a poll about "do you still support Malcolm Byrne after his 'scandal'" and got over 90% support IIRC....

Boston

Just because you don't know a politician is gay, doesn't mean he/she isn't out. Often those in the political establishment will know while the public will not. I don't see anything wrong with that.

LegacyUser

MYOB wrote: »

Malcolm Byrne, FF councillor in Gorey. Few Labour councillors. Dominic Hannigan and David Norris.

Thats about it as goes openly gay. There are far more, obviously; and those in parties are going to know of ones that aren't out.

Malcolm Byrne got outed after a local rag journo found him on Gaydar. Nobody asked what said "upstanding member of the community" journo was doing on Gaydar in the first place. Local radio station had a poll about "do you still support Malcolm Byrne after his 'scandal'" and got over 90% support IIRC....

F-ing journalists thinking they've discovered news by finding someone on gaydar.. he had a profile on gaydar ages before he was a FF councillor. It wasn't something he ever hid, just cos some people didn't know about it..what was he supposed to do, introduce himself as gay to everyone?

It could be worse, though..in the last elections Rodiric O'Gorman in D15 had to content with Leo Varadkar's canvassers going around telling people at the door about his sexuality (mostly with older folks), with the not-so-subtle suggestion that people should thus think carefully about his suitability as a candidate before voting for him. Having known his father for quite a long time, having attended him as my GP in all this time, it seems the apple fell far from the tree.

Anyway, re. Malcolm I hope that journo got a rap on the knuckles.

Iskenderun

Boston wrote: »

Just because you don't know a politician is gay, doesn't mean he/she isn't out. Often those in the political establishment will know while the public will not. I don't see anything wrong with that.

I completely agree. Whether you are in the closet or out, and are a public representative, is a matter for the individual concerned. People have a right to privacy and it appears that the 4th estate in this country respects this, as they also do in France.
The only occasion a person should be 'outed' is when they engage in some hypocritical campaign against the gay community.

L1011

Boston wrote: »

Just because you don't know a politician is gay, doesn't mean he/she isn't out. Often those in the political establishment will know while the public will not. I don't see anything wrong with that.

Publicly out might be a better term.

4red

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/mullingar/articles/2009/06/23/40821-town-council-leader-out-/

kumate_champ07

Iskenderun wrote: »

The only occasion a person should be 'outed' is when they engage in some hypocritical campaign against the gay community.

how so?

maxi19

Many Sinn Féin councillors and senior representives in Belfast are homosexuals.

Daisy D

maxi19 wrote: »

Many Sinn Féin councillors and senior representives in Belfast are homosexuals.

And how is this different to other parties?? So what if SF or FF or GP or whoever is gay.

I really don't know why people are so hung up on if people are publicly gay or privately. I know what mayor you are talking about OP and they are not publicly out to everyone but to people who ask this person admits it.

I support what a poster said about not having to be publicly outed unless they are doing something to infringe on the minorities advancement!:rolleyes:

Annasopra

Filan wrote: »

Did I hear that Ireland recently elected it's first gay (lesbian) mayor? Somewhere like Tullamore?. Strange how just one member of our 226 Oireachtas members are homosexual. Is it that no gay's are allergic to politics or are there more in the closet?.

Yes Mullingar

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/mullingar/articles/2009/06/23/40821-town-council-leader-out-/

Iwasfrozen

So what if a politician is Gay ?
What they do in their bedrooms is their own business.

Daisy D

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

So what if a politician is Gay ?
What they do in their bedrooms is their own business.

Too an extent, LOL