The Next Chapter

The NXF and GCN are proud to announce Alice Linehan as the magazine’s new Editor. Upon assuming the role, Alice shares what the appointment means for her and her hopes for the future of Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ press.

On April 3, 2020, I sent an email to GCN expressing my “extreme” interest in volunteering with the team. I said I had wanted to get involved with an LGBTQ+ organisation for some time, and with my background in media, I believed it’d be a perfect fit. As a bright-eyed student preparing to graduate, I was not one to sell myself short. I outlined my experience in video, photography, social media and more, but failed to mention that I had rarely been drawn to the art of writing. In fact, I did the exact opposite and made it sound like it was something I was totally interested and skilled in. This was despite having penned perhaps one article in my life.

“I would really love to get involved, especially during this period where I have extra time to lend a helping hand,” I expressed. It was the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and truthfully, I saw volunteering with GCN as a way to keep busy. I believed it would be relatively temporary and noncommittal, and that my disinterest in writing would ultimately be reinforced.

A month and two days later, on May 5, I had my first byline on gcn.ie. I had written a news story about DCU LGBTA being crowned ‘Best Society’ at the university’s annual Clubs and Socs awards. Another month passed and inspiration struck again; I submitted a second piece, highlighting the queer characters among the BAFTA 2020 nominees.

Then, opportunities outside GCN piqued my interest. It wouldn’t be until January 2021 that I got in touch with the team again, and thankfully, they welcomed me back. It just so happened that they were about to train up a new group of volunteers and I was invited to join the cohort. I remember being quite nervous in anticipation of the Zoom, worried about what I was getting myself into. This was at a time when I wasn’t entirely comfortable in my queerness. I was out to most of the people in my life, but to be openly involved in an LGBTQ+ organisation felt like an intimidating step. Even so, I pushed through, joined the call, and as they say, the rest is history.

It’s been over four years since I hit send on that first email, and a lot has changed. While I joined GCN simply searching for a productive way to occupy my time, what I found was so much more. GCN is not just a nine-to-five for me, but a lifelong passion, home and family. I can confidently say I would not be who I am today without it, and it has helped me grow both professionally and personally in ways I will forever be grateful for.

As I take my next step within GCN as Editor, I aspire to continue the incredible work that has been done by those before me. Since 1988, the magazine has been recording the triumphs and tribulations of the Irish and global LGBTQ+ community. From decriminalisation, marriage equality and legal gender recognition to devastating homophobic and transphobic violence and the current rise of the far-right, GCN has been there to document it all and provide an essential free resource to those who want and need it most.

I hope that I can contribute to making the next chapter in its legacy one to be proud of. One full of diverse voices, exciting talent, important conversations and compelling stories. I hope those who have been with us throughout the past 36 years will enjoy what’s to come, and that new audiences will feel compelled to pick up a copy of Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ press for the first time. More than anything, I hope that GCN can continue to impact others the way it did me. That our readers will feel reflected in these pages; celebrated, understood and included, and emerging writers will have a space to amplify their voice, find their truest self, and who knows, maybe even become Editor one day.

Before I sign off, I want to shout out some of those who have inspired and supported me along the way. To the outgoing Editor Peter Dunne, your generosity and belief as a mentor have impacted me more than you’ll ever know. If I can do half the job you did, I’ll consider it a success. To the rest of my GCN fam from throughout the years, thank you for the trust and encouragement you’ve given me and for hustling hard day in and day out to ensure GCN thrives through the good times and bad. They say the people make the place and that is certainly true in this instance.

I would also like to mention my late colleague and friend Joe Drennan. His tragic passing was a cruel reminder that time in life is not promised. While fear often threatens to hold me back, I lean on Joe’s unforgettable presence when I decide to feel the fear and do things anyway. So while I’m acutely aware that a challenge lies ahead, I’m grabbing it with both hands and hope I can do the role justice.

Thank you for reading up to this point; I hope you’ll continue to lend us your eyes, ears, minds and voices well into the future.