Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Is Ireland ready for its first openly gay Taoiseach?

  • 16-02-2017 05:42PM
    #1
    Nomis21
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭


    Enda Kenny looks like he is on his way out.

    Leo Varadkar is the bookies favourite to replace him.

    Is Ireland ready for its first openly gay Taoiseach?

    Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir in Iceland was the first openly gay person in the world to be elected head of government in 2009.


«1345678

Comments

  • #2
    judeboy101
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,246 ✭✭✭judeboy101


    Isn't Michael d Higgins openly gay?


  • #3
    RainMakerToo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 242 ✭✭RainMakerToo


    Ready for a gay Taoiseach - sure
    Ready for Leo as Taoiseach - not a chance


  • #4
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,510 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    I was just thinking about this earlier.

    In all honesty I've heard nothing said from any quarter about the fact the Varadkar is gay. People seem to like or dislike him for entirely other reasons. Say what you like about his policies but he is a very good politician. He knows how and when to answer questions. His policies in health weren't the best but they certainly weren't the worst. He's done very good things in the DSP if you ask me. Not perfect but then no-one is. He's far easier to listen to than Coveney.


  • #5
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,510 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    judeboy101 wrote: »
    Isn't Michael d Higgins openly gay?

    Lol what? The man has a wife and kids and has been happily married to said wife for many many many years.


  • #6
    DredFX
    Closed Accounts Posts: 287 ✭✭DredFX


    RainMakerToo wrote: »
    Ready for a gay Taoiseach - sure
    Ready for Leo as Taoiseach - not a chance

    I'm sure the left-wing media would respect such a sentiment and not skew it into a symptom of a homophobic Ireland.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,334 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I think at this point in time no one actually cares about his sexuality. His politics and performance in government is what people will care about. He is significantly better than most others who might qualify for the job.


  • #8
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75,480 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    I think he'd be Europe's first non-white head of Government also if this came to pass.

    Problem is FF are unlikely to support FG if they have someone more electable in charge - that's the biggest potential roadblock.


  • #9
    titan18
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,075 ✭✭✭✭titan18


    Wouldn't even cross my mind about him being gay. Think he's one of the most qualified there to do it


  • #10
    Nomis21
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭Nomis21


    I actually think that being Gay will add to his appeal. At least guaranteed 10% of the vote for that reason alone I would think.

    More than that though his election will show the World that being Gay in Ireland is no bar to career success.


  • #11
    coolbeans
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,178 ✭✭✭coolbeans


    DredFX wrote: »
    RainMakerToo wrote: »
    Ready for a gay Taoiseach - sure
    Ready for Leo as Taoiseach - not a chance

    I'm sure the left-wing media would respect such a sentiment and not skew it into a symptom of a homophobic Ireland.
    Ah stop. This isn't Fox News or Breitbart comments section. You'll be calling us all "libtards" next. ,ðŸ˜


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    Nomis21
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭Nomis21


    judeboy101 wrote: »
    Isn't Michael d Higgins openly gay?

    He didn't come out yet. Don't hold your breath.


  • #13
    coolbeans
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,178 ✭✭✭coolbeans


    L1011 wrote: »
    I think he'd be Europe's first non-white head of Government also if this came to pass.

    Problem is FF are unlikely to support FG if they have someone more electable in charge - that's the biggest potential roadblock.

    Looks fairly white to me...


  • #14
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,510 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    coolbeans wrote: »
    Looks fairly white to me...

    His Dad is Indian. I'm fairly sure that he embraces that part of his culture.


  • #15
    ForestFire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,283 ✭✭✭ForestFire


    Don't see any issue or why we should even be discussing it?

    This is why there are so many ...isim's in the world, social media and bringing it into discussions for no reasons...just get on with it


  • #16
    kunst nugget
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭kunst nugget


    coolbeans wrote: »
    Looks fairly white to me...

    His father is Indian. His mother is from Waterford. They're so white down there they're nearly blue so it balances out…


  • #17
    mockingjay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 420 ✭✭mockingjay


    If he can do the job that's all I care about - his private life is his own.


  • #18
    StupidLikeAFox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,908 ✭✭✭StupidLikeAFox


    baby and crumble wrote: »
    I was just thinking about this earlier.

    In all honesty I've heard nothing said from any quarter about the fact the Varadkar is gay. People seem to like or dislike him for entirely other reasons. Say what you like about his policies but he is a very good politician. He knows how and when to answer questions. His policies in health weren't the best but they certainly weren't the worst. He's done very good things in the DSP if you ask me. Not perfect but then no-one is. He's far easier to listen to than Coveney.

    I agree with this.

    I remember when he came out in an interview on radio. There was a general outpouring of between "meh" and "more power to him" and it was a non-issue after about two days.

    In fairness to Leo, he doesn't put himself out there as a gay politician, in the sense that David Norris would for instance.


  • #19
    mansize
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,521 ✭✭✭✭mansize


    kunst nugget wrote: »
    His father is Indian. His mother is from Waterford. They're so white down there they're nearly blue so it balances out…

    Neither a hurling stronghold ...
    (Sorry deise boys ðŸ˜)


  • #20
    firemansam4
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,768 ✭✭✭firemansam4


    Well if he does become Taoiseach it wont be for long. FF will pull the plug on this government soon enough and are looking like dead certs to lead the next government. FG should have ditched Enda a long time ago, there are many reasons why they are loosing support but Enda would be a big part of the reason IMO.


  • #21
    Red Kev
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,793 ✭✭✭Red Kev


    L1011 wrote: »
    I think he'd be Europe's first non-white head of Government also if this came to pass.
    .

    Kublai Khan may disagree

    4566224-5477189466-The-M.jpg


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    tayto lover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 56,719 ✭✭✭✭tayto lover


    StupidLikeAFox wrote: »
    I agree with this.

    I remember when he came out in an interview on radio. There was a general outpouring of between "meh" and "more power to him" and it was a non-issue after about two days.

    In fairness to Leo, he doesn't put himself out there as a gay politician, in the sense that David Norris would for instance.


    Good. People should keep their sexual preferences to themselves.


  • #23
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75,480 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    I was trying to decide whether Turkey or one of the former SSRs would count...


  • #24
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,235 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Nomis21 wrote: »
    He didn't come out yet. Don't hold your breath.

    Eh he's married with kids

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #25
    flowerbattle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 90 ✭✭flowerbattle


    I don't think it matters really. I mean Zappone was the first openly Lesbian minister/TD and no one really cared about that last year. And there wasn't much of a fanfare in 2011 when Dominic Hannigan and John Lyons were elected. It's interesting I guess and shows how sexuality isn't a barrier to getting into high office in Ireland but it's not really a huge deal.


  • #26
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,235 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    tayto lover wrote: »
    Good. People should keep their sexual preferences to themselves.

    Fine.

    We should ban every single expression of heterosexuality as well.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #27
    mansize
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,521 ✭✭✭✭mansize


    Leo was Minister and put before Zapponnr was even elected

    Maybe he should hide his partner on State visits, seeing as it's only a "preference "


  • #28
    nhunter100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,990 ✭✭✭nhunter100


    Nomis21 wrote:
    Leo Varadkar is the bookies favourite to replace him.


    Bookies never get it wrong......


  • #29
    mansize
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,521 ✭✭✭✭mansize


    Maybe people should keep their crisp preferences to themselves!


  • #30
    tayto lover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 56,719 ✭✭✭✭tayto lover


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    Fine.

    We should ban every single expression of heterosexuality as well.
    Nobody used the word "ban" only you. But i agree with the rest.


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    jameorahiely
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 825 ✭✭✭jameorahiely


    I don't understand what Ireland needs "to get ready" for? What does his sexuality have to do with the job?


Advertisement
Advertisement