By Adam Long, Advocacy And Communications, National LGBT Federation

Some of the leading lights of the Irish LGBT+ civil rights movement are to be found among the early members of the National LGBT Federation (NXF), or the National Gay Federation (NGF) as we were originally called. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, it is appropriate to look in more detail at some of those pioneering individuals.

David Norris was one of the founders of the NGF in 1979 and was then two years into his High Court case challenging the constitutionality of colonial era homophobic laws that continued to blight society. In 1975, he would establish the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform, employing future president Mary McAleese as its first legal advisor.

David recalls the campaign receiving correspondence accusing its members of being part of an “international Jewish conspiracy” to undermine moral virtue in Ireland. Over 40 years later, some of the same offensive tropes are still in usage across Europe as far-right ‘populist’ forces seek to attack human rights and social progress.

David would lose his High Court case in 1980 and a subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed in 1983. The harsh and uncompromising tone of the latter judgement – delivered by Chief Justice Tom O’Higgins – would later be described as the most shameful legal ruling ever handed down by an Irish Court when Parliamentarians came to debate the official state apology to the LGBT+ community in 2018.

Justice was finally secured in 1988 when the European Court of Human Rights ruled in the Norris Case that Ireland was obliged to repeal the discriminatory laws in question - a judgement that would finally be given effect in July 1993.

David, meanwhile, would be elected to the Seanad (Irish Senate) in 1989, a position he retains to this day, where his electors have continued to return him to the top of the poll in each subsequent election, and from where he continues to be a prominent voice for progressive causes.

Tonie Walsh joined the NGF in the early 1980’s having returned from the liberal Netherlands where he was excited by the possibilities for change and reform. For Tonie, the campaign to secure basic civil rights for LGBT+ people was part of a much broader suite of socially progressive measures.

A highlight of those early years of advocacy occurred in 1985 when the NGF was chosen to host the second International Gay Youth Congress in what was a significant honour not only for the organisation, but indeed for the city of Dublin. A discordant note was struck when the then Minister for Youth Affairs, George Birmingham, rejected an invite to address the Conference on the grounds that the Irish Government could not be seen to be condoning “criminal acts”.

Tonie is quoted in media reports from the time as condemning the archaic laws in question and expressing confidence that they would be struck down by the ECHR in the then ongoing Norris Case. Tonie Walsh was also the first editor of this publication and currently acts as curator of the Irish Queer Archive in what continues to be a vibrant contribution to the Irish LGBT+ community.

Joni Crone, a founder member of the NGF, came to national prominence in 1980 when she appeared on The Late Late Show to talk about her life as a lesbian in Ireland. A chilling legal climate meant Joni feared losing her job at a time when anti discrimination protections for LGBT+ people were entirely absent from Irish legislation. Joni’s appearance was a very early and incredibly brave example of the kind of visibility that goes to the heart of our Pride movement and what has proven to be a very effective way of winning over hearts and minds. Her groundbreaking interview is essential viewing for anyone interested in Irish LGBT+ history.

There are of course many others who have made huge contributions to the work of the National LGBT Federation and LGBT+ rights advocacy in Ireland more generally. We are proud of each and every one of them.