Leo Varadkar comes out as gay

Dog of Tears · 19-01-2015 11:20AM

Laois_Man wrote: »

But I doubt I know anyone who’d actually discriminate against someone because he’s a red head.

If it's a role that involved working in direct sunlight, I think it would be fair enough to discriminate.

AudreyHepburn · 19-01-2015 11:22AM

Good for him....it can't have been easy to it in that way and in his position.

Is it asking too much for this not to degenerate into the usual government hating rubbish.

That's not what this is about and to be honest trying to imply that he did to detract from the problems we have or any other ulterior pmotives you want to make up is just petty and childish.

He did a brave thing that of course should not be a big deal, but thanks to the way we in the heterosexual community have behaved to men like Leo in the relatively recent past, is a huge and terrifying thing to do.

floggg · 19-01-2015 11:24AM

mynamejeff wrote: »

leo seems to be one of the very very very few "good" politicians we have in this country

I dont see that he had the need to make any statement about his sexuality though, as long as he is competent i reckon the vast majority of people dont give a damn where he puts his pee pee in his off hours.

im sad to say i have lost a little bit of respect for him. the only reason i can fathom for a big public announcement like that is to garner publicity and boost FG in the polls a little .

What big announcement did he make?

While I didn't hear it, I understand he mentioned it during a radio interview (in the context of an upcoming referendum on marriage equality for LGBT people I think). It was a relatively low key way for him to acknowledge his sexuality in public, on what I imagine is one of the quieter days for talk radio shows.

The story wouldn't have made its way much further than the audience of that show unless the media decided it was newsworthy and ran with it.

And that they did - because they knew it would be a story the public would be interested in. They won't publish this sort of thing unless they know people will be interested.

So don't blame Leo for making this into big news. If the irish people didn't think this was a big story, then most of us wouldn't have know about it.

Baggy Trousers · 19-01-2015 11:26AM

jocmilt wrote: »

Another thing he's blown is he re-election. At 12-15% of Dublin West Fine Gael can't afford to lose even a couple of thousand votes. This will lose him over half of them and those will got to the Socialists of various hues. Maybe he can get one of those unelected jobs in Europe?

Very snide. You haven't a clue. He'll top the poll.

floggg · 19-01-2015 11:29AM

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

The idea there would to be try and prevent one party from dominating (as FF have done since pretty much the foundation of the State).

There's nothing wrong with fresh ideas every few years.. unfortunately this time round we got FF-lite rather than the real reform and change we were promised. Probably also explains why FG never get 2 consecutive terms in government as all they seem to do in Irish politics is screw things up so badly that they make FF viable again! :rolleyes:

I do think the PR electoral system needs to go though too.

So even if the ruling party have the best ideas and policies, we should still put in another less capable crowd just because?

shruikan2553 · 19-01-2015 11:30AM

Man comes out as gay and people say who cares. Man wants to marry another man or have a child and all of a sudden his sexuality becomes important.

Dan_Solo · 19-01-2015 11:30AM

floggg wrote: »

But it seems that there are a number of people who genuinely seem put out by the whole affair.

Nope, haven't seen one person put out by it actually. Put out by its irrelevance, which is nothing to do with homophobia.

Dan_Solo · 19-01-2015 11:31AM

shruikan2553 wrote: »

Man comes out as gay and people say who cares. Man wants to marry another man or have a child and all of a sudden his sexuality becomes important.

All that says is that the law doesn't reflect prevailing attitudes. It doesn't imply a contradiction.

Dan_Solo · 19-01-2015 11:32AM

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

Very snide. You haven't a clue. He'll top the poll.

It's an observation and prediction. You saying he'll top the poll is also a prediction. Therefore you are also very snide. How dare you.

mrsbyrne · 19-01-2015 11:34AM

efb wrote: »

WOULD YOU HAVE A ISSUE WITH GAY MEN KISSING IN FRONT OF YOUR ELDERLY AUNT?

First of all why are you shouting at me? I'm not deaf!
Gay, straight makes no difference to me. Holding hands, cuddling is fine. Open mouth kissing and fondling in a public place during daylight hours is completely unacceptable.
In adult only environments, in particular nightclubs, discos, pubs, clubs etc.people can act within the rules of the establishment itself. I don't care one way or the other. Once again, gay, straight, doesn't matter to me.
If I or anybody else is uncomfortable with that then that's my problem and I'm free to leave.
If I'm standing at a bus stop with a child or children , and couples of any sexual orientation are heavy petting outside a pub, or in a café with my mother in the middle of the day and the couple at the next table are groping each other in full view, I'm going to call them on it, no problem.
If you think im going to excuse you your inappropriate behaviour just because your gay , you've another think coming.

floggg · 19-01-2015 11:37AM

cloudatlas wrote: »

Politicians give all kinds of details for their political support for a particular topic it makes their case stronger. An M.P. said she was pro fox hunting as she grew up on a farm and the foxes decimated the hen population. She saw her father stress over the loss of earnings. (Now I may not agree with her stance but I can't deny her personal experience). Nobody said she should just keep it to herself nobody cares, on the contrary it was a point of discussion.

All these comments that say keep silent demonstrate a few things: Lack of empathy, lack of knowledge about the level of prejudice and homophobia that is still out there, a failure to grasp the context of Leo's coming out and perhaps a touch of prejudice, otherwise why tell someone to keep quiet? 'Shut up about it' and 'I don't care' are two different statements. 'I don't care' I can understand fair enough but the 'shut up about it' is tinged with prejudice.

People who genuinely don't care about any issue rarely take the time to make a participate on a discussion on the issue.

Baggy Trousers · 19-01-2015 11:40AM

Dan_Solo wrote: »

It's an observation and prediction. You saying he'll top the poll is also a prediction. Therefore you are also very snide. How dare you.

The snide bit was "Another thing he's blown is he re-election." which was a reference to mrsbyrne's oral sex "tangent". Look for the context before you butt in.

VinLieger · 19-01-2015 11:42AM

mrsbyrne wrote: »

First of all why are you shouting at me? I'm not deaf!
Gay, straight makes no difference to me. Holding hands, cuddling is fine. Open mouth kissing and fondling in a public place during daylight hours is completely unacceptable.
In adult only environments, in particular nightclubs, discos, pubs, clubs etc.people can act within the rules of the establishment itself. I don't care one way or the other. Once again, gay, straight, doesn't matter to me.
If I or anybody else is uncomfortable with that then that's my problem and I'm free to leave.
If I'm standing at a bus stop with a child or children , and couples of any sexual orientation are heavy petting outside a pub, or in a café with my mother in the middle of the day and the couple at the next table are groping each other in full view, I'm going to call them on it, no problem.
If you think im going to excuse you your inappropriate behaviour just because your gay , you've another think coming.

Ahh your just a bit of a prude thats all.

I do find it funny that you don't want your children seeing people kissing yet your perfectly allright with a some random giving your child a physical demonstration of how tampons work.

mrsbyrne wrote: »

One great girl gave my daughter and all her pals a demo. These girls these days are no shrinking violets.

Dan_Solo · 19-01-2015 11:44AM

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

The snide bit was "Another thing he's blown is he re-election." which was a reference to mrsbyrne's oral sex "tangent". Look for the context before you butt in.

Nothing snide about that at all. A little word play. Impossible to be upset by except for the "I insist on being upset" types.

floggg · 19-01-2015 11:49AM

Rubberchikken wrote: »

How can this be news?
His private life is no concern of mine so i'd be curious why he feels the need to talk about his sexual orientation.

I wonder would people care about the private life of a straight politican so much...

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/creighton-ties-the-knot-in-lowkey-ceremony-26728666.html

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/baby-on-the-way-for-lucinda-creighton-and-husband-paul-bradford-29760951.html

floggg · 19-01-2015 11:53AM

efb wrote: »

He came out as GAY not god

Well he does get access to our weather controls now...

AudreyHepburn · 19-01-2015 11:55AM

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Nope, haven't seen one person put out by it actually. Put out by its irrelevance, which is nothing to do with homophobia.

But surely if people thought it was irrelevant then we wouldn't be talking about it.

If it was that irrelevant perhaps Leo wouldn't felt the need to 'come out' in the first place.

signostic · 19-01-2015 11:56AM

Thespoofer wrote: »

I hear you're gay now Father...

"Should we be all gay now Father? Whats the official line the church is taking? only the farm takes up most of the day and at night time I just like a cup of tea, I might not be able to devote myself full time to the old gayness"

Flem31 · 19-01-2015 12:01PM

floggg wrote: »

I wonder would people care about the private life of a straight politican so much...

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/creighton-ties-the-knot-in-lowkey-ceremony-26728666.html

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/baby-on-the-way-for-lucinda-creighton-and-husband-paul-bradford-29760951.html

I don't think anyone cares about the private life of any politican regardless of their sexual preference.

The media appears to be obsessed by it, but the vast majority of people are more interested in their own lives.
If Lucinda announced she was expecting another child and someone posted it on boards, I'm am sure that there would be I don't care comments on that as well.

chrysagon · 19-01-2015 12:02PM

im more interested that hes a straight politician and not bent or corrupt like many of the politicians gone before him!

charlie14 · 19-01-2015 12:03PM

floggg wrote: »

So even if the ruling party have the best ideas and policies, we should still put in another less capable crowd just because?

If FG/Lab don`t get r-elected it will be due to Labour reneged on their policies and FG carrying out FFs bailout policies to the letter, plus throwing in a few nasties of their own.There was also the supposedly new openess that became a four member economic council ruling the state, plus the same old strokes and cronyism.

floggg · 19-01-2015 12:06PM

mrsbyrne wrote: »

No. I have every bit as much right as anyone else to enjoy the streets. Are you happy for a preteen to be exposed to couples engaging in foreplay right in front of them.? There's a time and a place. There's acting appropriately. There's common decency.Get a room.

So kissing is foreplay now?

DulchieLaois · 19-01-2015 12:08PM

i think nowdays, people do not care what Leo does in his own personal life.

People only care about the Health Service that is being provided, like 9 years old who requires a medical card.

I reckon, this publicity is side-stepping a far more serious issue of the Government and Health Service inability to work.

floggg · 19-01-2015 12:09PM

mrsbyrne wrote: »

You know perfectly well that "wearing" the face off one another is more then a peck on the cheek and a hug. I or small children with me don't want to he exposed to couples groping each other and slobbering over one another's faces. It's pathetic and stomach churning.its completely unnecessary and no, you do not have the right to shove your lust for your partner down my throat and tell me to keep my kids at home any more than I have the right to squat down and s**t on the pavement in front of your kids.

I think you'll find they do have that right.

****ting in public is an arrestable offence however.

PeteFalk78 · 19-01-2015 12:09PM

chrysagon wrote: »

im more interested that hes a straight politician and not bent or corrupt like many of the politicians gone before him!

I see what you did there.

mrsbyrne · 19-01-2015 12:09PM

eviltwin wrote: »

Mrs Byrne admit you went way overboard. The original post is valid. I can hold my husband's hand, kiss him or hug him and no comment is passed. A gay person can do the same but may be subjected to a comment. I've heard them myself. Only a few months back I was outside a well known dublin gay bar and two lads on the other side of the road shouted an abusive term. It's not nice. I know the advice is to ignore but it's not easy to do that. And it shouldn't even be an issue. No one is suggesting any sex acts at all, you came up with that one all on your own. Of course we would all be horrified by a blow job in a public street but how you can compare that to two people having a brief kiss or a hug is beyond me. Are you just uncomfortable with displays of affection in general?

It depends on the extent of the show of affection and the circumstances.
I think if I go to a nightclub tonight (chance would be a fine thing) and the drink is flowing and the music is rocking then its perfectly acceptable to see couples snogging and grinding etc.
I know I'm not a ceili run by the parish priest in 1962.
In public seating areas, for example outside pubs on the pavement, on park benches etc. people simply must be cognisant of others. end of story.
BTW I wouldn't be ignoring anyone shouting homophobic slurs at me.
As you may have guessed I'm very reactionary.
I'm fat and occasionally am on the receiving end of some choice remarks. Im afraid I don’t react well, and have only recently had a rather embarrassed Garda on the door step after one smart alek was sufficiently shaken by my response to move to make a complaint of threatening behaviour about me.

AndonHandon · 19-01-2015 12:11PM

Being in government turned him gay.

eviltwin · 19-01-2015 12:11PM

mrsbyrne wrote: »

It depends on the extent of the show of affection and the circumstances.
I think if I go to a nightclub tonight (chance would be a fine thing) and the drink is flowing and the music is rocking then its perfectly acceptable to see couples snogging and grinding etc.
I know I'm not a ceili run by the parish priest in 1962.
In public seating areas, for example outside pubs on the pavement, on park benches etc. people simply must be cognisant of others. end of story.
BTW I wouldn't be ignoring anyone shouting homophobic slurs at me.
As you may have guessed I'm very reactionary.
I'm fat and occasionally am on the receiving end of some choice remarks. Im afraid I don’t react well, and have only recently had a rather embarrassed Garda on the door step after one smart alek was sufficiently shaken by my response to move to make a complaint of threatening behaviour about me.

Are you talking about any kind of kissing in public or just the full on tonsil tennis?

mrsbyrne · 19-01-2015 12:12PM

floggg wrote: »

I think you'll find they do have that right.

****ting in public is an arrestable offence however.

Yes and obviously you must think that your "rights" are paramount and override anybody else's entitlement to expect decent and appropriate behaviour out and about in general society.

Grayson · 19-01-2015 12:14PM

Flem31 wrote: »

I don't think anyone cares about the private life of any politican regardless of their sexual preference.

Unless it involves a brown envelopes or bunga bunga parties.

Flem31 wrote: »

If Lucinda announced she was expecting another child and someone posted it on boards, I'm am sure that there would be I don't care comments on that as well.

We are having a referendum on this. There isn't one on childbirth. If Lucinda decided to go to Manchester for an abortion then it becomes politically relevant.

When a government minister comes out as gay just before a referendum on gay marriage it's relevant. In 12 months after it passes it won't be relevant at all.

Leo Varadkar comes out as gay

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