No: 27 Panti's Noble Call

For me, Panti’s Noble Call is one of the most effective pieces of oratory I’ve ever heard. Set against the backdrop of Pantigate, the shameful situation that ensued after Panti’s alter ego, Rory O’Neill called certain pundits homophobes on the The Saturday Night Show in January 2014, the speech sought to reclaim the definition of homophobia which was in danger of being hijacked by homophobes.

In doing so it gave expression to the nature of homophobia, elaborating in perfect detail how insidious it is and the effects it has those who experience it.

There are two themes in the speech which most resonated with me. The first was Panti’s angry denunciation of homophobes and their ridiculous attempts to deprive gay people of the right to define it. Describing this as a “neat Orwellian trick” was perfect in its simplicity.

The spectacle of the likes of John Waters and Breda O’Brien claiming that they were being marginalised and that their views were under attack, despite enjoying significant platforms within the national media, was ferociously met by Panti as she broke down their anti-gay arguments into absurdism. Panti is on a mission, she’s angry and you know she is going to deliver.

The second theme was the effect of internalised homophobia and how it is absorbed from the dominant culture. The power of this part is in Panti’s vulnerability. She’s baring her damaged soul, but at the same time she is in total command of her audience.

I don’t think Rory O’Niell had any idea that the speech would resonante in the way it did. But it was its authenticity that connected across the globe.

Overall Panti’s Noble Call asked us to confront homophobia for what it is, how it expresses itself and what role we all might play in it. It held up a mirror and showed what homophobia is from the perspective of a gay person, rather than through the cynical lens of fully paid-up members of the Catholic right.