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Leo Varadkar comes out as gay

24567…22

Comments

  • #52
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,192 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    Fair play to him and the fact he can come out on the national airwaves shows how far we've come as a culture and in a remarkably short time too. Something like this would be an alien concept in the 1970's, even 80's and 90's.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #53
    DeJa VooDoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 684 ✭✭✭DeJa VooDoo


    Daith wrote: »
    Coming out may be tougher for some mentally than running a marathon.

    Why?
    It's not the 1950's?
    Do people like Leo just like the attention?
    Might explain his big mouth.


  • #54
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    Sheep Lover wrote: »
    This is a surprise to some?

    I wouldn't have known, TBH.


  • #55
    stanley1980
    Registered Users Posts: 227 ✭✭stanley1980


    Quazzie wrote: »
    Thomas Hitzlsperger is openly gay.

    He retired a few years ago and only came out after doing so.

    For all those saying 'big deal', I appreciate the sentiment and agree but the day a serving government minister comes out is quite a big deal tbh.


  • #56
    Aint Eazy Being Cheezy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Aint Eazy Being Cheezy


    Re: Poster's who have come in to post that they don't care. Are you saying that to highlight that we're in an age now when it's not a defining factor of someone's character, no more so than being, for example, left handed or bald?

    I hope it's that, and not a sly swipe at the man, a "What are you telling us for?" sort of thing.

    If I didn't care for a particular topic, I just wouldn't post at all.


  • #57
    Sir Osis of Liver.
    Registered Users Posts: 2,797 ✭✭✭Sir Osis of Liver.


    http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/varadkar-i-am-a-gay-man-658527.html

    Varadkar said he rang the Taoiseach to give him "a heads-up" about the announcement, and the Taoiseach told him it was no issue and a private matter. He said the Taoiseach then asked him if he'd been to Panti Bar, a popular Dublin bar Kenny had recently visited.


  • #58
    Dirty Dingus McGee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭Dirty Dingus McGee


    wow sierra wrote: »
    20 years ago it was illegal to be sexually active in Ireland if you were gay. There are no openly gay soccer players in the premiership that I know of anyway. Serioulsy do you think they are all straight?

    It is still a big deal to come out as gay - so fair play to him.

    The people who think it is as big deal to come out as gay are the problem.People being completely indifferent about his sexuality are what society should be striving for and making a big deal about it by having to make a public announcement (to people who have no business knowing anything about his personal life) is kind of admitting that its a big deal when it really isn't.

    I don't really give a toss about his announcement or Donal Og Cusack,Valerie Mulcahy etc and thats the way it should be and it shouldn't and wouldn't be a big deal if a professional soccer player came out as gay only idiots would have a problem with it and they are best ignored.


  • #59
    Daith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,112 ✭✭✭Daith


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    Why?
    It's not the 1950's?
    Do people like Leo just like the attention?
    Might explain his big mouth.

    So now he's deflecting from the HSE and has a big mouth.

    Maybe stupid reactions like that are the reason it's still a big deal.


  • #60
    ted1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,794 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    Was he trying to deflect from the screw up FG have made of the health service since they've been in power?
    Was he asked how come FG were able to break the 600+ people on trolleys, a record the FFailures couldn't even reach?
    No he was being open and honest, there's a referendum coming up on gay marriage and he was displaying his vested interest


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  • #61
    stanley1980
    Registered Users Posts: 227 ✭✭stanley1980


    Chancer3001 wrote: »
    Not while playing in the premiership.

    Justin fashanu came out after retiring and in the end committed suicide.

    Thomas hitzlesperger came out after he left the premiership.

    Soccer fans seem to get away with torrid personal abuse towards players. One can only imagine the abuse an openly gay player would unfortunately receive.

    yep...sad but true. Even the GAA which you might've thought would be more conservative seems light years ahead.....


  • #62
    DeJa VooDoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 684 ✭✭✭DeJa VooDoo


    Saipanne wrote: »
    Angry and cynical. Quite the catch!

    Neither.
    Leo's an attention whore, always has been.
    Gays and lesbians want to be treated equally by society, yet here you all are, banging on......
    I don't care what side he bats for, I just want him to do the job we pay him to do.


  • #63
    smcgiff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,943 ✭✭✭smcgiff


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    He was outed in Village magazine a few weeks ago

    Hardly outed, as has been said, it wasn't exactly secret.

    Will it be a surprise to some and will it affect his chances of being Taoiseach. - possibly. But the sooner it's out there and normalised the better his chances.


  • #64
    mikom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    Lucinda Creighton is said to be delighted, as "some of her best friends are gay".


  • #65
    DeJa VooDoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 684 ✭✭✭DeJa VooDoo


    Daith wrote: »
    So now he's deflecting from the HSE and has a big mouth.

    Maybe stupid reactions like that are the reason it's still a big deal.

    People like you make it a big deal.


  • #66
    paddydriver
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,086 ✭✭✭paddydriver


    So this means he never boned Lucinda?


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  • #67
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    Why?
    It's not the 1950's?
    Do people like Leo just like the attention?
    Might explain his big mouth.

    Try it sometime I was in bits before I came out and that was only 6 years ago. You only hear the negative voices in the closet


  • #68
    Saipanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭Saipanne


    stanley1980 wrote: »
    yep...sad but true. Even the GAA which you might've thought would be more conservative seems light years ahead.....

    GAA fans tend to be more respectable folk, though. Hence the crowds can be mixed together. Soccer fans are possibly the lowest of the low. No way a professional footballer could come out in that environment.


  • #69
    Daith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,112 ✭✭✭Daith


    mikom wrote: »
    Lucinda Creighton is said to be delighted as "some of her best friends are gay".

    Lucinda actually said she would vote for equal marriage. I think she's actually friends with Leo.


  • #70
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    paddydriver wrote: »
    So this means he never boned Lucinda?

    She probably boned him


  • #71
    Laois_Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,758 ✭✭✭Laois_Man


    smcgiff wrote: »
    will it affect his chances of being Taoiseach


    It don't think it hurt David Norris' chances of becoming president. He isn't president obviously.....but that's not because he's gay!


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  • #72
    Wang King
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,169 ✭✭✭Wang King


    Quazzie wrote: »
    Thomas Hitzlsperger is openly gay.

    But came out after his PL career
    No high profile player has come out during his career in the EPL, and probably won't in the near future imo


  • #73
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    Neither.
    Leo's an attention whore, always has been.
    Gays and lesbians want to be treated equally by society, yet here you all are, banging on......
    I don't care what side he bats for, I just want him to do the job we pay him to do.

    He gets 10 days extra Gay leave too


  • #74
    Daith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,112 ✭✭✭Daith


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    People like you make it a big deal.

    Using his coming out as a reason to attack him makes it a big deal.

    It still is a big deal for lots of people.


  • #75
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    Laois_Man wrote: »
    It don't think it hurt David Norris' chances of becoming president. He isn't president obviously.....but that's not because he's gay!

    Would that it were but it will


  • #76
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,491 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Byrne...?


  • #77
    DeJa VooDoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 684 ✭✭✭DeJa VooDoo


    efb wrote: »
    He gets 10 days extra Gay leave too

    Equally, I said.


  • #78
    cerastes
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,601 ✭✭✭cerastes


    Daith wrote: »
    Lucinda actually said she would vote for equal marriage. I think she's actually friends with Leo.

    An equal marriage, that will never happen, meanwhile as for gays


  • #79
    Pappacharlie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 197 ✭✭Pappacharlie


    Obviously he will never be the leader of Fine Gael!!!!


  • #80
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,553 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    Now that he's got that bee out of his bonnet, could he focus on job and fix the health service.


  • #81
    DeJa VooDoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 684 ✭✭✭DeJa VooDoo


    Daith wrote: »
    Using his coming out as a reason to attack him makes it a big deal.

    I don't need his 'coming out' to attack his record so far as health minister.


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  • #82
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    Dempsey wrote: »
    Now that he's got that bee out of his bonnet, could he focus on job and fix the health service.

    Can't do worse than his last few predecessors


  • #83
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    I don't need his 'coming out' to attack his record so far as health minister.

    You seem to keep refrencing it


  • #84
    Daith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,112 ✭✭✭Daith


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    I don't need his 'coming out' to attack his record so far as health minister.

    Then why post on a topic about his coming out?


  • #85
    DeJa VooDoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 684 ✭✭✭DeJa VooDoo


    efb wrote: »
    Can't do worse than his last few predecessors

    And that folks, is the standard we set for ministers for health.


  • #86
    Saipanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭Saipanne


    Pappacharlie wrote: »
    Obviously he will never be the leader of Fine Gael!!!!

    What about Fine Gayl?





    (terrible)


  • #87
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    And that folks, is the standard we set for ministers for health.

    Name a good one? He seems very hands on TBf


  • #88
    Guy:Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    Was he trying to deflect from the screw up FG have made of the health service since they've been in power?
    Was he asked how come FG were able to break the 600+ people on trolleys, a record the FFailures couldn't even reach?

    Yes, it's definitely easier and a better tactic as far as the electorate are concerned to reveal something personal about yourself that will almost certainly harm your standing among some of your support and possibly stop you getting the top job than to just throw someone elses money at an issue and hold a congratulatory press conference......


  • #89
    DeJa VooDoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 684 ✭✭✭DeJa VooDoo


    Daith wrote: »
    Then why post on a topic about his coming out?

    Yea, you're right.
    I'll leave ya's to your little love in.


  • #90
    Sheep Lover
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,730 ✭✭✭Sheep Lover


    efb wrote: »
    Name a good one? He seems very hands on TBf

    Hands on is all well and good

    But what has he actually done to improve the service, not talked about but actually done


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  • #91
    Jawgap
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,297 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    I'm not sure why he felt the need to air his private life, unless some rag of a paper was about to make an issue of it.

    Still doesn't change my opinion of him as an popularity hungry, intellectually lightweight politician.


  • #92
    Phoebas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,371 ✭✭✭Phoebas


    Laois_Man wrote: »
    It don't think it hurt David Norris' chances of becoming president. He isn't president obviously.....but that's not because he's gay!

    There was an awful lot of homophobic crap directed at Norris during the campaign, including on this site - mostly childish stuff ('will he be taking it up the Aras' etc).
    Scratch the surface and homophobia is alive and well.


  • #93
    mad muffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭mad muffin


    Good. Good.

    Now go do your fûcking job, that you are payed large amounts of money for and fix the health system.
    No one gives two fûcks if you're gay or straight.


  • #94
    Saipanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭Saipanne


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    Yea, you're right.
    I'll leave ya's to your little love in.

    Yas? You are pluralising you?

    Chortle.


  • #95
    Jawgap
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,297 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    Sheep Lover wrote: »
    Hands on is all well and good

    But what has he actually done to improve the service, not talked about but actually done

    He's certainly done an excellent job at ratcheting expectations right down!!

    A great man for saying what he can't do.


  • #96
    Bootros Bootros
    Closed Accounts Posts: 274 ✭✭Bootros Bootros


    DeJa VooDoo wrote: »
    And that folks, is the standard we set for ministers for health.

    Again. He is not responsible for the day to day running of the hospitals. Until we can light a fire under the HSE's ass there is nothing that can fix the health service.


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  • #97
    Saipanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭Saipanne


    mad muffin wrote: »
    Good. Good.

    Now go do your fûcking job, that you are payed large amounts of money for and fix the health system.
    No one gives two fûcks if you're gay or straight.

    He can't fix it. No one can. The unions run the show.


  • #98
    Guy:Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Quazzie wrote: »
    Thomas Hitzlsperger is openly gay.

    And also retired.he came out after he retired.

    I see your watching goals on Sunday :-)


  • #99
    Phoebas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,371 ✭✭✭Phoebas


    Jawgap wrote: »
    He's certainly done an excellent job at ratcheting expectations right down!!

    A great man for saying what he can't do.

    I'd take the honest truth over false promises any day.


  • #100
    Bootros Bootros
    Closed Accounts Posts: 274 ✭✭Bootros Bootros


    Jawgap wrote: »
    He's certainly done an excellent job at ratcheting expectations right down!!

    A great man for saying what he can't do.

    I love that honesty. He's right. The minister is health is like the chairman of a board who has little power because of trade union restraints. The HSE has a CEO.


  • #101
    mad muffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭mad muffin


    Saipanne wrote: »
    He can't fix it. No one can. The unions run the show.

    The unions? :rolleyes:


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