No: 25 LGBT NOISE

In 2007 a small group of volunteers founded LGBT Noise. We wanted to educate and empower the community to fight for their rights. When the government proposed a civil partnership scheme in 2008 it was welcomed by older members of the community in particular as providing long sought after protections for same-sex couples. However, a new generation of LGBT activists were not prepared to accept a minimal extension of rights.

Noise wanted to have an out, visible and vibrant presence of LGBT people on the streets of Dublin, in the media and in the minds of the general public. We wanted to get the message out to the public that LGBT people deserved equal rights, but first we had to convince the LGBT community. We believed that if the people wouldn’t engage in the politics, then they would have to bring politics to the people. Volunteers would go to bars, nightclubs and community events with flyers. Speaking to people we were often met with confusion, disinterest and on occasion, disdain. It was difficult to gain traction at first.

In 2009, after a poorly attended protest, Rory O’Neill wrote a blog post about the event that was to be a game changer. The post, ‘No more Mr. Nice Gay’ began: ‘Dear Lazy Arsed Queers’ and ended with a call to LGBT people to stand up for their rights and to get out and fight for what they deserved. When the Civil Partnership Bill was published in 2009 the community was expected to be grateful. Noise grabbed headlines, publicly tearing up the legislation, making a strong (and in many circles, unwelcome) statement that civil partnership was not equality.

That same year Noise held our first March for Marriage. It began with thousands of hopeful faces, vibrant placards, and an unmistakable determination; it was unlike anything the community had seen in years. As the march grew in strength with each passing year, so did the confidence of the community. Noise sought to empower people to speak about their rights and to fight confidently for them.

Over these years Noise held six marches for marriage and in each were determined to give space and voice to the many other LGBT rights issues outside of marriage that faced the community: trans rights, gender recognition, Section 37, the blood ban and homophobic bullying to name a few. Supporters learned about the issues and became equipped to advocate for them. The LGBT community was forever changed and the movement for rights newly invigorated.