KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

FROM THE TEAM
Welcome, dear reader, to the August/September edition of GCN.

THE NXF DURING PRIDE SEASON
We were delighted to use the occasion of the 2022 Dublin Pride Parade to unveil a new banner showcasing our rich legacy of campaigning dating back to 1979.

BEING ‘OUT’ IN THE WORKPLACE
Being queer means constantly questioning your identity and how you represent yourself to those around you, shares Leah Downey. There is a constant need to gauge the reactions of others, to understand if you are safe to be out or if it becomes a source of social isolation.

THIS IS ME
Up until the day she moved from Brazil to Ireland, Leticia Barbosa never really thought of herself as part of the Black community, but a new country brought about a new realisation of identity.

Sea Change
“My younger self always dreamed about traveling, so when I learned about a program that did internships abroad I knew this was my chance”, shares Olivia Fraser.

Scrambled Eggs & Androgyny My Genderqueer Story
Zayda Slabbekoorn shares her genderqueer story and her journey of self actualisation.

THE DARK SIDE OF MONKEY
With the rise of campaigns against equality, Beatrice Fanucci takes a look at where funding for far-right groups comes from.

DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THE QUEER COMMUNITY
“I have experienced domestic abuse,” writes Val Hourican. “It’s taken me two years to write that down and sit with it. It’s a hurt I’ve worked through but it still sits there under the surface. The tension ready to break at any moment like a fish jumping out of water to avoid a predator...

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN
An absorbing read full of twisted tenderness and atmospheric tension, Hawk Mountain, the debut novel by Conner Habib, is utterly compelling. He spoke to Lisa Connell on its journey to reality. Portraits by Hazel Coonagh.

Making A Move
Choreographer and performer Nick Nikolau dances through their memories in a daring solo show at DFF. Dissecting it with Oisín Kenny, they open up about the people, queer spaces, and club nights which breathed a euphoric life into their performance. The stunning images were captured by Hazel Coonagh.

FAMILY REVELRY
After igniting a RIOT at the Dublin Fringe Festival in 2016, THISISPOPBABY celebrates the act of letting go with a glittering Irish WAKE. Ahead of their new show, writer Oisín Kenny dives into this raucous meeting between club culture and Irish tradition

All Shook Up
“Think The Wizard of Oz meets Thelma and Louise with camp pop classics as our soundtrack,” says Candy Warhol when asked to give an elevator pitch to writer Chris Rooke for her upcoming Dublin Fringe Festival show The Wind That Shakes the Wig. The stunning photos featured are all by Eoin Greally

ABSENT
Writer Dylan Coburn Gray on the the process of making a show about adoption.

Roundup of Queer Dublin Fringe Festival Shows
Take a look at the queer side of the Dublin Fringe Festival...

Fostering with Five Rivers
We started our fostering journey over five years ago now. We always believed that we had something to offer...

LETTING OFF STEAM
When it comes to his body, Geraint Llewellyn prefers to disappoint people one at a time – so as a result he’s never stepped inside a sauna. And by sauna he doesn’t mean getting sweaty in Sweden being hit by sticks.

Giving Voice
A series of short video portraits of queer men will be screened in Outhouse on the evening of Friday 23 September. The people involved share a part of their stories, accompanied by a series of beautiful images from Babs Daly

Directory

Trans & Intersex Pride 2022: Shared Communities
During the recent Trans and Intersex Pride, a powerful speech by Mike, a Trans Traveller, was read aloud on his behalf. We are proud to share his powerful words and thank those involved for permission

Goodbye, My Friends
From early days as a team member all the way up to running the organisation, our beloved Managing Editor Lisa Connell will depart after an incredible 14 years in total with GCN