GCN
389
In this edition
FROM THE TEAM
Welcome to GCN’s third annual Sex Issue. This time around
GCN TEAM
It’s the Sex Issue, so this month we asked some of the What’s your favourite sex scene from the movies or television?
Sex across the spectrum
I WAS BORN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY IN MY LEGS AND WALK WITH CRUTCHES. I KIND OF FELL INTO BEING AN ACTIVIST BUT I DO IT BECAUSE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER THERE WAS NO ONE DISABLED I COULD REALLY LOOK UP TO IN THE COMMUNITY
The leather scene as a muslim person of colour
I WAS BORN IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS VERY CONSERVATIVE. I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE EDGIER KIND OF STUFF, EVENTUALLY, I FELL INTO THE LEATHER WORLD. I COMPETED IN MR LONG BEACH AND WON. FROM THERE I COMPETED IN NATIONAL MR LEATHER AND I WAS THE FIRST PAKISTANI AMERICAN TO DO SO. SINCE THEN, I’VE SPOKEN AT DIFFERENT CONFERENCES TRYING TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF EMPOWERMENT
The hook up scene for trans people
FEELING GOOD ABOUT OUR BODIES, HAVING GOOD SEX, AND OWNING OUR PLEASURE REQUIRES FEELING COMFORTABLE FIRST; COMFORTABLE IN OURSELVES, COMFORTABLE WITH WHOEVER WE’RE WITH, COMFORTABLE WITH THE SEX WE’RE HAVING. THOSE THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS EASY TO COME BY AS A TRANS PERSON NAVIGATING THIS WORLD
Building a place of Memory
As we approach the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, and take a moment to acknowledge almost 35 years of HIV/AIDS activism in Ireland, it’s also time to critically acknowledge how we negotiated what I call ‘the war’ - our experience of the AIDS pandemic in Ireland
ACT UP ACT NOW!
ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the HIV/AIDS crisis. Photograph by Stephen Moloney
THE BOOK GUY
What’s keeping Stephen Boylan up at night this month?
If you like this, you might also like…
Author of 2013’s much-admired The Panopticon, Jenni Fagan’s latest is
modern anthem 012 Charting The Songs We Love So Well
Sometimes when a new band arrives on the scene, their success is partly because they understand the power of knowing their music history. When the Scissor Sisters began their European chart dominance with ‘Take Your Mama’, that much soon became clear to their legions of fans. An unapologetically queer five-piece formed out of the underground electroclash New York music scene, Scissor Sisters emerged at a time when interchangeable indie bands and slick American R&B were the main players on the charts
The Verdict
With an eight year gap between album releases, Robyn’s Honey
The Life of the Party
“It’s very much the ‘aſter party’ scene. The word chemsex is a dirty word. It’s not a word that, definitely in Dublin, or Ireland, we’re comfortable using here.” Adam Shanley, outreach worker with the Gay Men’s Health Service (GMHS) and manager of Know Now, the rapid HIV testing service, speaks with Stephen Moloney about men having sex with men on drugs
A PrEP in the right direction
Prior to December 2017 the only way people in Ireland had access to PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) was to bring it with them physically across the border, or risk ordering it in the post and potentially having it seized by the HPRA
Seeking Sanctuary
Five years ago, Ernest Slickus arrived in Ireland from Lithuania, hoping to build a better life but found himself being hunted by a criminal gang. He speaks to Aoife Moriarty about his experiences and how another migrant helped him to come out. Photograph by Hazel Coonagh
Re—building the future
“Queerness is not here yet” writes Joe Esteban Munoz in Cruising Utopia, “Queerness is an ideality.” According to the theorist, the aesthetic provides a blueprint of the worlds proposed and promised by queerness. For many young people who stumbled across Wolfgang Tillmans’ photography in magazines, books or galleries, it offered just that, a portal into another world. Here he speaks to Róisín McVeigh
EVVOLUTION
With their groundbreaking video for their single ‘Release Me’, Evvol proclaims the beauty and authenticity of queer intimacy. They speak to Katie Donohoe about the under-representation of queer women in media and how they looked to remedy it
Human Relations
As broad as the spectrum of our community is, equally as wide ranging can be the different types of romantic and sexual relationships we enjoy. Peter Dunne speaks to different couples about their relationships and why they work for them
What’s in a name?
Created in honour and remembrance of those who died in Ireland from AIDS and HIV related illnesses, each panel on the Irish Names Quilt represents a life lost too soon. Sections of the quilt will be hung at GCN’s event to mark 30 years of World AIDS Day - ‘Panti Bliss & Professor Mulcahy in conversation: The Legacy of AIDS Activism in Ireland’. Mary Shannon, the custodian of the quilt, will also be on hand. Here she speaks to Peter Dunne about its history. Photos by Brian Teeling
30 Years; 30 Moments
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, here are some notable moments in the battle against HIV and AIDS in Ireland. Considering the huge amount of work being done by the community, activists, charities and researchers amongst others, the list is obviously far from exhaustive but gives a flavour of the long fight. With thanks to HIV Ireland, ACT UP and Positive Now for advice and images
In the KNOW
Offering free, confidential, rapid HIV testing, KnowNow can be accessed in bars, clubs, saunas and community centres across the country. These peer-led, non-clinical sessions deliver results within 60 seconds, thereby eliminating the stress and waiting-times you might find in a doctor’s office. Sarah McKenna Barry sat down with some of the volunteers who make the service possible
TENI
Every year, the Dublin Bus Community Spirit Initiative awards voluntary
‘Tis The Season
Start your Christmas celebrations on a musical note, as a
Galway
Our friends at AIDS West will hold their annual World
INSIDE OUT
Winner of the Time Out Performer of the Year in 2010, queer writer and artist Scottee has created challenging works across theatre, fine art and installation. His latest piece Fat Blokes challenges the desexualisation of fat people. Photograph by Brian Teeling
Shirley’s Burn Book
Tyson McConnell ‘placed himself’ in a fingerless glove and
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30 Years; 30 Moments

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, here are some notable moments in the battle against HIV and AIDS in Ireland. Considering the huge amount of work being done by the community, activists, charities and researchers amongst others, the list is obviously far from exhaustive but gives a flavour of the long fight. With thanks to HIV Ireland, ACT UP and Positive Now for advice and images.

1981

The first cases of AIDS are detected in California and New York, in 1982, the first two cases of AIDS are diagnosed in Ireland.

1985

Gay Health Action (GHA) is founded. It is the first NGO (Non Governmental Organisation) to campaign specifically on AIDS in Ireland.

1985

That same year, AIDS Action Alliance comes together.

1987

Dublin AIDS Alliance, now known as HIV Ireland, is established. It is made from the constituent groups; AIDS Helpline, Body Positive, Women and AIDS, Cairde and Irish Frontliners.

1987

The National Task Force on AIDS is set up by the Catholic Social Services Conference with representation from community groups, clinicians and the Department of Health.

1988

Tonie Walsh and Catherine Glendon found GCN, a queer community newspaper. It would go on to regularly report on the crisis and feature columns by people living with HIV.

1991

The Mansion House in Dublin plays host to the tour of the Irish Memorial Quilt. The Quilt was made in remembrance of all who lost their lives to the virus.

1992

The Gay Men’s Health Service is established by the Health Board. It will become Ireland’s only dedicated statutory sexual health and wellbeing service for gay and bisexual men who have sex with men and the trans population.

1993

Homosexuality is decriminalised, a huge step forward in allowing queer people to live their lives more openly.

1995

Following years of fear and ignorance on how to deal with those affected, the segregation of prisoners with HIV ceases.

1996

The HIV Services Network (HSN) is established to bring together groups providing HIV related services.

1996

After a hiatus following its initial launch in 1987, Alternative Miss Ireland is relaunched. The annual event would raise hundreds of thousands of euro for community based HIV services.

2000

The National AIDS Strategy is produced recommending broader links to sexual health.

2004

The Irish government are part of the EU Dublin Declaration on Partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Europe.

2004

Dublin AIDS Alliance in partnership with Concern launch a PositiveYouthVideo on World AIDS Day aimed at increasing HIV awareness amongst young people.

2005

Dublin AIDS Alliance launches DoYou Choose It, a sexual health awareness campaign with posters, flyers and beer mats.

2006

Dublin AIDS Alliance join with IFPA, CPA and USI in running the first ever Durex National Condom Week.

2007

A national Stamp Out Stigma campaign is launched by the government on World AIDS Day to tackle prejudice and discrimination regarding HIV.

2010

Positive Now is formed to give people living with HIV or AIDS a voice within existing government and NGO agencies. The group seeks to improve the well-being and quality of life for people irrespective of their gender, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

2010

A pilot HIV testing service is run in Dublin AIDS Alliance on Irish AIDS Day.

2011

On World AIDS Day, Dublin AIDS Alliance launches Living With HIV: A Self-Help Guide for people living with the virus,

2011

Dublin AIDS Alliance are also involved in the development of the joint GHN/HSE National HIV Prevention Programme for MSM.

2014

Rory O’Neill AKA Panti comes out publicly on a radio show as a person living with HIV, helping to break stigma.

2016

ACT UP Dublin use World AIDS Day to warn that the disease continues to spread. The group, along with their chapters in Cork and Belfast reignite the political and social fight to address Ireland’s HIV crisis and educate people about U=U.

2016

Know Now, a free rapid HIV testing service which visits pubs, clubs, community centres and saunas is launched in a collaborative project between HIV Ireland, GOSHH, Sexual Health Centre and AIDSWest.

2017

Tonie Walsh calls on the Government to fund an Irish AIDS Memorial to honour those who have died.

2017

The High Court clears the way for generic PrEP to be made available in Ireland although it is still not available through the HSE.

2018

Activist Robbie Lawlor appears on RTE show Inside James’ and battles stigma by speaking about U=U and how effective treatment for HIV has transformed his life.

2018

ACT UP Dublin and Masc.life launch the We Are The Solution campaign featuring men living with HIV and highlighting the health and prevention benefits of HIV treatment.

2018

The 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day is celebrated with the theme ‘Know Your Status’

What’s in a name?
Created in honour and remembrance of those who died in Ireland from AIDS and HIV related illnesses, each panel on the Irish Names Quilt represents a life lost too soon. Sections of the quilt will be hung at GCN’s event to mark 30 years of World AIDS Day - ‘Panti Bliss & Professor Mulcahy in conversation: The Legacy of AIDS Activism in Ireland’. Mary Shannon, the custodian of the quilt, will also be on hand. Here she speaks to Peter Dunne about its history. Photos by Brian Teeling
< Go to Previous Article
In the KNOW
Offering free, confidential, rapid HIV testing, KnowNow can be accessed in bars, clubs, saunas and community centres across the country. These peer-led, non-clinical sessions deliver results within 60 seconds, thereby eliminating the stress and waiting-times you might find in a doctor’s office. Sarah McKenna Barry sat down with some of the volunteers who make the service possible
Go to Next Article >
In the KNOW
Offering free, confidential, rapid HIV testing, KnowNow can be accessed in bars, clubs, saunas and community centres across the country. These peer-led, non-clinical sessions deliver results within 60 seconds, thereby eliminating the stress and waiting-times you might find in a doctor’s office. Sarah McKenna Barry sat down with some of the volunteers who make the service possible
Go to Next Article >
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FROM THE TEAM
Welcome to GCN’s third annual Sex Issue. This time around
GCN TEAM
It’s the Sex Issue, so this month we asked some of the What’s your favourite sex scene from the movies or television?
Sex across the spectrum
I WAS BORN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY IN MY LEGS AND WALK WITH CRUTCHES. I KIND OF FELL INTO BEING AN ACTIVIST BUT I DO IT BECAUSE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER THERE WAS NO ONE DISABLED I COULD REALLY LOOK UP TO IN THE COMMUNITY
The leather scene as a muslim person of colour
I WAS BORN IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS VERY CONSERVATIVE. I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE EDGIER KIND OF STUFF, EVENTUALLY, I FELL INTO THE LEATHER WORLD. I COMPETED IN MR LONG BEACH AND WON. FROM THERE I COMPETED IN NATIONAL MR LEATHER AND I WAS THE FIRST PAKISTANI AMERICAN TO DO SO. SINCE THEN, I’VE SPOKEN AT DIFFERENT CONFERENCES TRYING TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF EMPOWERMENT
The hook up scene for trans people
FEELING GOOD ABOUT OUR BODIES, HAVING GOOD SEX, AND OWNING OUR PLEASURE REQUIRES FEELING COMFORTABLE FIRST; COMFORTABLE IN OURSELVES, COMFORTABLE WITH WHOEVER WE’RE WITH, COMFORTABLE WITH THE SEX WE’RE HAVING. THOSE THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS EASY TO COME BY AS A TRANS PERSON NAVIGATING THIS WORLD
Building a place of Memory
As we approach the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, and take a moment to acknowledge almost 35 years of HIV/AIDS activism in Ireland, it’s also time to critically acknowledge how we negotiated what I call ‘the war’ - our experience of the AIDS pandemic in Ireland
ACT UP ACT NOW!
ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the HIV/AIDS crisis. Photograph by Stephen Moloney
THE BOOK GUY
What’s keeping Stephen Boylan up at night this month?
If you like this, you might also like…
Author of 2013’s much-admired The Panopticon, Jenni Fagan’s latest is
modern anthem 012 Charting The Songs We Love So Well
Sometimes when a new band arrives on the scene, their success is partly because they understand the power of knowing their music history. When the Scissor Sisters began their European chart dominance with ‘Take Your Mama’, that much soon became clear to their legions of fans. An unapologetically queer five-piece formed out of the underground electroclash New York music scene, Scissor Sisters emerged at a time when interchangeable indie bands and slick American R&B were the main players on the charts
The Verdict
With an eight year gap between album releases, Robyn’s Honey
The Life of the Party
“It’s very much the ‘aſter party’ scene. The word chemsex is a dirty word. It’s not a word that, definitely in Dublin, or Ireland, we’re comfortable using here.” Adam Shanley, outreach worker with the Gay Men’s Health Service (GMHS) and manager of Know Now, the rapid HIV testing service, speaks with Stephen Moloney about men having sex with men on drugs
A PrEP in the right direction
Prior to December 2017 the only way people in Ireland had access to PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) was to bring it with them physically across the border, or risk ordering it in the post and potentially having it seized by the HPRA
Seeking Sanctuary
Five years ago, Ernest Slickus arrived in Ireland from Lithuania, hoping to build a better life but found himself being hunted by a criminal gang. He speaks to Aoife Moriarty about his experiences and how another migrant helped him to come out. Photograph by Hazel Coonagh
Re—building the future
“Queerness is not here yet” writes Joe Esteban Munoz in Cruising Utopia, “Queerness is an ideality.” According to the theorist, the aesthetic provides a blueprint of the worlds proposed and promised by queerness. For many young people who stumbled across Wolfgang Tillmans’ photography in magazines, books or galleries, it offered just that, a portal into another world. Here he speaks to Róisín McVeigh
EVVOLUTION
With their groundbreaking video for their single ‘Release Me’, Evvol proclaims the beauty and authenticity of queer intimacy. They speak to Katie Donohoe about the under-representation of queer women in media and how they looked to remedy it
Human Relations
As broad as the spectrum of our community is, equally as wide ranging can be the different types of romantic and sexual relationships we enjoy. Peter Dunne speaks to different couples about their relationships and why they work for them
What’s in a name?
Created in honour and remembrance of those who died in Ireland from AIDS and HIV related illnesses, each panel on the Irish Names Quilt represents a life lost too soon. Sections of the quilt will be hung at GCN’s event to mark 30 years of World AIDS Day - ‘Panti Bliss & Professor Mulcahy in conversation: The Legacy of AIDS Activism in Ireland’. Mary Shannon, the custodian of the quilt, will also be on hand. Here she speaks to Peter Dunne about its history. Photos by Brian Teeling
30 Years; 30 Moments
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, here are some notable moments in the battle against HIV and AIDS in Ireland. Considering the huge amount of work being done by the community, activists, charities and researchers amongst others, the list is obviously far from exhaustive but gives a flavour of the long fight. With thanks to HIV Ireland, ACT UP and Positive Now for advice and images
In the KNOW
Offering free, confidential, rapid HIV testing, KnowNow can be accessed in bars, clubs, saunas and community centres across the country. These peer-led, non-clinical sessions deliver results within 60 seconds, thereby eliminating the stress and waiting-times you might find in a doctor’s office. Sarah McKenna Barry sat down with some of the volunteers who make the service possible
TENI
Every year, the Dublin Bus Community Spirit Initiative awards voluntary
‘Tis The Season
Start your Christmas celebrations on a musical note, as a
Galway
Our friends at AIDS West will hold their annual World
INSIDE OUT
Winner of the Time Out Performer of the Year in 2010, queer writer and artist Scottee has created challenging works across theatre, fine art and installation. His latest piece Fat Blokes challenges the desexualisation of fat people. Photograph by Brian Teeling
Shirley’s Burn Book
Tyson McConnell ‘placed himself’ in a fingerless glove and
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