An Ending | Pocketmags.com

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An Ending

Photo by Hazel Coonagh.

The thoughts of writing this ‘goodbye letter’ filled me with a weird dread. Initially it was because I genuinely don’t like drawing attention to myself, but as the time to create it (and the magazine deadline!) drew nearer I also realised it was because it’s the last thing I’ll write as a member of Team GCN.

Although I made the decision to move on, it’s a little heartbreaking to be leaving not just the great people I work with, but also to no longer be a part of creating Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ press. 

GCN added things to my life that I never knew were missing. It made me feel connected to the queer community beyond going to the odd bar. It taught me more about our struggles, achievements and history. It introduced me to people who made change for the good, and not just the familiar names, there are far far more who bettered lives and gave hope without ever getting recognition. GCN is at the epicentre of Irish LGBTQ+ life, so getting the opportunity to work alongside groups, organisations, activists and people striving to make the lives of other people easier, safer and brighter has been a rare honour. It also answered a lot of questions I had about my own identity and showed me there wasn’t a box I had to squeeze myself into, queer life is a spectrum.

When I first joined GCN as an Editorial Assistant, the idea of going on to edit the magazine was non-existent. It was never a possibility so I didn’t even entertain the notion. And then, after a year, somehow, it happened, and I will always be incredibly grateful. Led by our Managing Editor at the time (and one of my favourite people in the world), Lisa Connell, GCN was more than ever a platform to make change through empathy. I believe the greatest way to make connections, and therefore to make those necessary changes to better the world, is to share our stories. Growing up in a family who were huge storytellers, always trying to make each other laugh or to tell a tale that would make the listener hang on your every word, I soon realised the power in telling. Reading and platforming the thoughts, experiences, beliefs and hopes of queer people has been life changing. There have been articles that have made me laugh out loud, inspired me, and even raised a tear. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all the volunteers, writers, creatives and photographers who trusted me with their work, their words and images, I hope I did you justice. 

What I’ve loved most, and one of the things I’ll miss the most, will be working with, mentoring and championing new writers. It wasn’t part of the role initially, just something that evolved over time. And it was wonderful. All the face-to-face chats, the zoom meetings and the phone calls, offering support and help to writers (never corrections, never that), discussing what they needed to move forward and figuring out how to get it for them, listening to their thoughts and ideas, commissioning every one of them for the magazine, in some cases giving people their first chance to be published, and then absolutely glowing when reading their finished work - that was heaven.

It would be impossible to thank all the people who impacted me over the years in this brief letter, so I thought maybe I’d keep it a little mysterious by saying ‘thank you, you know who you are’ as that would also get me off the hook down the line if I ran into someone in a bar who says ‘you never mentioned me’. Problem solved! 

I leave GCN in many ways the same person - a bit of a weirdo who loves everything horror and Nicole Kidman’s biggest fan - but I leave in many more ways changed for the better. Here’s to words, here’s to stories, here’s to the creative spirit, and here’s to GCN.

Thank you, you know who you are.

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From The Team
Welcome, dear reader, to the October/November edition of GCN, which will provide you with some top reading content and also act as a perfect example of the maxim ‘the only constant in life is change’!
NXF UPDATE
The National LGBT Federation (NXF) would like to begin our monthly update by paying tribute to recently departed Managing Editor Lisa Connell who has moved on from GCN to pursue new career...
The Outburst Festival
Belfast’s international queer arts festival, returns this year with a jam-packed line-up of gems. Including a very special event in association with yours truly. Read on!
How do you feel?
The above is one question that Beryl Ohas normalised hearing after being granted refugee status in Ireland. The answer disappoints most people because they expect her to be jumping up and down expressing happiness, but unfortunately that’s not the response she can give.
The Ownership Of Words
When Lucia Stein interned with GCN, she learned a lot about the language communities use to identify themselves, as well as those who would choose to weaponise that usage.
Stitching Up The Past
Widely acknowledged to be the world’s largest community project, the Names Quilt serves as a memorial, a reminder, a warning, and a moment of solidarity...
What It’s Like To Be Me...
There’s a brand new multimedia series created by GCN which aims to create visibility and provide a platform for the voices of minorities and the underrepresented in the LGBTQ+ community. What it’s Like to Be will highlight important conversations that need to be had, spoken by the voices of the people directly affected. Alice Linehan interviewed those involved. Here follows just a handful, keep an eye on GCN.ie for the full series
States Of Fear
In 2022, the Halloween industry in the US is expected to bring in 10.6 million dollars. A chunk of that will come from tourists looking to get that uniquely American spooky season experience. But with the continuing rollback of queer rights across the nation, will LGBTQ+ travellers have something to really fear from a place that welcomes their money but not their identities? Peter Dunne braved the fake blood and chainsaws to speak to queer locals for whom the scares won’t end at the stroke of midnight on October 31st
Under Control
About six months ago, following a long shift at work, Joe Drennan arrived at his friend’s student accommodation to find a group rallying around the TV, watching a film. It would soon open his eyes to the world of BDSM
Making It Happen
Michael Barron has had a hugely positive impact on the lives of the queer community and the disenfranchised over the years. He caught up with Leah Downey to discuss his journey and the essential work he does with The Rowan Trust. Portrait by Hazel Coonagh
Bros
Billy Eichner is no stranger to success. The New York native has worked hard to build his career in comedy over the last two decades. He has now reached a milestone in queer cinema, writing and starring in the first big studio LGBTQ+ rom-com. Eichner spoke to Elliott Salmon about making his mark on movie history
Creating A Better You
The already iconic two-person collective Adrian+Shane are almost instantly recognisable to lovers of LGBTQ+ art. The duo spoke to Oz Russell about meeting up, making art and what to expect from their new exhibition, 17 Ways to a Better You.
Cork’s Crown Jewel.
Loafers, Ireland’s oldest gay bar, opened its doors to the LGBTQ+ population of Cork City back in 1983, a time when, strictly speaking, it was still illegal to be queer in Ireland. In fact homosexuality would not be decriminalised in the Republic until the passing of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act of 1993—ten years after Loafers staked its claim as one of Cork’s premier LGBTQ+ bars. Ethan Moser looks back at a gem of the scene
Sports & Fitness
The Measure Of Love
When Niamh Nestor and her partner began their fertility journey, their experience was much more difficult than they originally assumed. Their story is sure to be familiar to many.
An Ending
GCN’s family member and Magazine Editor Peter Dunne will wind up his time with the team right as this issue goes to print. Here, he says goodbye
Looking for back issues?
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