WE ASKED WHAT PRIDE MEANS TO THEM?

AOIFE MORIARTY

Writer of our feature celebrating 25 years of decriminalisation of homosexuality, Aoife is a former website editor for CQC in England and freelances on issues of social justice, equality and health. She has written for The Irish Times, The Independent, and New Statesman, and is Editor of this year’s Dublin Pride Guide.

“For me, Pride is about emancipation from the shackles and conventions of our society,” she says. “It’s the freedom to be your authentic self without fear or shame, without feeling you have to fi into a predictable box. I’ve been taught by the LGBT community ever since was old enough to understand what it is to be yourself. Love, laughter, authenticity and respect are ultimately what counts.”

AOIFE O’CONNOR

Aoife’s self-proclaimed queer notions have fueled a career in both journalism and stand-up comedy, and she’s set to play this year’s Vodafone Comedy Festival and the fi rst all-female stage at Electric Picnic. For this issue of GCN, Aoife sat down for a chat with actor Rupert Everett. “He’s been calling Hollywood out on its overt hetrosexuality for years” she says. “In my eyes, he’s an absolute legend”.

For Aoife Pride has always been “about joy, and a touch of fearlessness”.

“Pride gives me the opportunity to spend a day covered in glitter, surrounded by my mates, singing and dancing and celebrating this wonderful thing. It’s really fl ippin’ fantastic,” she says.

STEPHEN JAMES O’NEILL

Stephen who shot this month’s super-cool fashion feature began taking photos around ten years ago at clubs and events around the city. Since then his focus has shifted more in the direction of fashion and portraiture. “One of the reasons that love shooting fashion and portraiture in particular is that it so often involves meeting new and interesting people,” he says.

“I went to my fi rst Pride around the age of 14 and still remember David Norris’ speech about government and society’s attitude to the LGBT community and how it needed to change. Every year since, and especially in the last three years, Pride has served as a wonderful reminder of how far we’ve come as a community and society.”

GER PHILLPOT

Ger, who in this issue forensically researches the murder of Declan Flynn, which ignited the fi rst gay rights march in Ireland 35 years ago, is an award winning screenwriter, fi lmmaker and educator.

His work includes the short fi lms, Change and An Turas, and his New York Festival award-winning, radio documentary, Three Rivers One Summer. His bestselling book on AIDS, Deep End was published in 1995.

He works as a writer, director, TV and radio producer and journalist across current aff airs, factual and entertainment genres.

“Gay Pride, for me, is about celebrating, not hiding, who we are. Importantly, it’s about visibility,” he says.