As the year draws to a close we’re having a reflective moment in GCN towers. 2018 was a momentous year, for the country in general and an extra special one for us, as we marked our 30th year in publishing- three glorious decades of being the national LGBTQ+ press in Ireland. This is a milestone we would not have reached without you, dear readers! With that in mind, here are some of our GCN highlights.

01 QUEERSTORY

From January 1, we introduced a new daily segment, shared across our social media platforms. #Queerstory is a look back at momentous events which took place every day in LGBT+ history both in Ireland and worldwide.

02 HAPPY BIRTHDAY GCN

On March 23 we published our Birthday Issue celebrating 30 years of GCN. Three decades and 340 issues of Ireland’s beloved queer magazine (not to mention being the longest running not-for-profi LGBT+ community news publication in the world!). The cover was specially created by artist Will St Leger, while inside, 30 columnists remembered 30 moments that changed Ireland.

In the lead-up to this milestone issue, we also revisited the 30 most iconic GCN covers and received many thoughtful happy birthday video greetings from members of the Irish LGBT+ community, including An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

03 THE Q CARD

To honour our loyal readers who support the magazine by subscribing, we introduced our very own Q card. Across each of the subscription categories, the Q card off ers a range of rewards in shops, restaurants, clubs and much more. The super-talented Jill & Gill also designed an exclusive tee from their ‘Boss Lady’ series for GCN patrons.

04 FUND IT

In April 2018, GCN launched an ambitious Fund It campaign to raise funds for its historic exhibition ‘Proof: 30 Years Of Gay Community News’. The campaign ran for six weeks with a target of €10k. We made €11,920 with the help of 194 fantastic funders.

05 OUR SECOND REPEAL COVER

Published a week before the referendum, GCN’s second Repeal cover was nominated for Cover of the Year at the Irish Magazine Awards. Visually dynamic while also making a powerful statement, it depicted GCN’s support for the referendum, a refusal to back down in the face of oppression and the revolutionary spirit of a nation.

06 GCN 30 EXHIBITION

‘Proof: 30 Years Of Gay Community News’, opened on the first official day of the Dublin Pride Festival and ran until July 1. The Gallery of Photography in Temple Bar played host to a community supported celebration of our magazine, highlighting 30 years of revolutionary change and advancement made for and by our LGBT+ family.

07 GCN TAKEOVER SCIENCE GALLERY

To celebrate the launch of our annual Youth Issue, and in collaboration with the wonderful Belong To, the Science Gallery Dublin helped us create a safe space where LGBTQ+ youth could meet, share, and explore intimacy regardless of preference. Visitors were treated to guided tours, trust workshops and chats.

08 PRIDE PETITION

Anger erupted after Pope Francis was allowed drive down O’Connell Street during the papal visit when, for the past five years, the Dublin Pride Parade has been diverted away from the main thoroughfares and shoved onto side streets. GCN launched a petition asking Leo Varadkar to ensure that the Parade regains its rightful place. It states: “We call on the Taoiseach and all the relevant government departments to ensure funding for Dublin Pride to march down O’Connell Street and Dame Street on the last Saturday in June 2019.” To date, 9,243 people have signed.

09 LEO VARADKAR BECOMES FIRST TAOISEACH TO PUBLICLY TAKE HIV TEST

With the World AIDS Day 2018 theme of ‘Know Your Status’, GCN teamed up with Leo Varadkar for the historic moment he became the first Taoiseach to publicly take a HIV test. This was in order to help reduce stigma and encourage others to get tested.

10 WORLD AIDS DAY SPECIAL EVENT

In honour of 30 years of World AIDS Day, GCN and HIV Ireland co-promoted a specal fundraising event. Titled ‘Panti Bliss and Prof Mulcahy in Conversation: The Legacy of AIDS Activism in Ireland’, it explored the changing landscape of medical research and new challenges in light of the recent HIV infection spike.

These are just snapshots in a milestone year for your community magazine. Here’s to 2019 and our 31st year going strong. As ever, dear readers, thank you for your support.