FROM THE TEAM

Welcome, dear reader, to the Pride edition of GCN for 2024! Although often thought to only be celebrated in June, Pride season in Ireland starts as early as May and extends beyond summer and into the early autumn months. As a result, this magazine has been designed to stay with you and remain relevant through it all.

Our biggest issue of the year is brimming with diverse talent, old and new, who share compelling stories, highlight pressing issues and showcase stunning photography. If that weren’t enough, this is also the first issue published under new leadership at GCN, with Stefano Pappalardo taking the reins as Manager, and Alice Linehan assuming the role of Editor. It is an exciting time for the organisation as it takes the next step in its 36-year journey.

Our colourful cover was photographed by Hazel Coonagh and aims to capture a tiny glimpse of our wonderful rainbow community. Friends of GCN and representatives from various LGBTQ+ groups showed their pride on the steps of the Department of Justice in Dublin. They stood where a small group of activists gathered 50 years ago on June 27, 1974, to make history by commencing Ireland’s first-ever Pride demonstration.

The Irish Gay Rights Movement (IGRM) similarly celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, while Cork’s Gay Project marks its 40th. All of these milestones are celebrated in these pages. Without the bravery of those trailblazing activists, we would not be where we are today. We stand on the shoulders of giants.

While there is much to celebrate, we must not ignore the work that is left to do. Pride is rooted in protest and it is essential that we raise our collective voice during the times in which we are living. This magazine releases on the day of the local and European elections, the results of which have the potential to largely influence the future of our society. Far-right ideology is rising across the continent and in Ireland, posing a threat to minority communities everywhere.

We must continue to fight back against this, in solidarity together.

Another area of concern is Ireland’s trans healthcare system, which continues to rank worst among the 27 EU states. In this magazine, one writer argues that the services have gone from bad to worse, highlighting the need for immediate action. Similarly, accessibility within society and the queer community also urgently needs to improve, as does the situation for queer and other refugees.

As a member of Belong To’s Pride Youth Committee puts it in one article, “While the base of Pride is obviously the LGBTQ+ community, we’re a human rights march.” This point is more important than ever, as we witness the ongoing devastation happening in Palestine. At the time of writing, over 36,000 people have been killed and 81,000 injured since Israel launched its military offensive in the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ attack on October 7. The invasion has expanded through Rafah, wiping out health services and bombing designated safe areas where displaced people were living in tents.

As Queers for Palestine (Ireland) states in the parting shot, Palestinian liberation concerns us all. As LGBTQ+ people, we know all too well what it’s like to be denied basic human rights, oppressed and even killed. While Ireland has taken the step to recognise the State of Palestine, this must be accompanied by actions that will have a tangible effect, including sanctions on Israel and the introduction of the Occupied Territories Bill. There is No Pride in Genocide, and we echo the global calls for an immediate ceasefire.

With that, we invite you to dive into this bumper issue of GCN, and we thank you, as always, for reading. To all members of our beloved LGBTQ+ community, we wish you a safe, empowered and happy Pride. Stay loud, stay proud.