The Outburst Festival

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