GCN
392
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FROM THE TEAM
Keep up to date across our socials: @gaycommunitynews
Run The 2026 Dublin City Marathon In Support of GCN
GCN is recruiting a team of runners to take on the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon, and we have a very limited number of free charity entries up for grabs!
Time for change
The National LGBTQ+ Federation (NXF), publishers of GCN, are pleased to have the opportunity to once again update readers on recent developments in the advocacy and policy space.
Words of affirmation
As part of GCN’s ongoing collaboration with Belong To in which we platform young voices, Ciara Kelly shares a powerful reflection on her experience as a trans woman and how she challenges rigid narratives.
Reigning Supreme
On Friday, February 27, So You Think You Can Drag returned to The George for one magical evening of glamour, comedy and fundraising. With Davina Devine on hosting duties, nine phenomenal performers took the plunge and made their drag debuts, but only one could be crowned Mx GCN 2026.
KNOWLEDGE-IS-POWER
Last year saw the launch of the Know Your Rights guide, Ireland’s first comprehensive guide dedicated to outlining the legal rights and supports of trans and nonbinary people. To have a better understanding of how this resource was created, Beatrice Fanucci spoke to the people who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.
PRIDE & PROTEST DOWN UNDER
As Sydney Mardi Gras marks its 48th year, Alice Linehan revisits the event’s history, catches up with members of the Irish diaspora celebrating today, and examines the rift between the parade’s board and activist group Pride in Protest. Photo by Pratiksha Mohanty .
FURRY FRIENDS
If you have spent any time on the internet, it’s likely that you have come across the term ‘furry’, whether in a positive or negative context. Al Fartukh aims to educate the masses on what it truly means to be a furry by speaking to some folks who resonate with the unique label.
MOTHER MAY I?
With a star-studded lineup of legendary queer talent, Mother’s 2026 Pride Block Party is shaping up to be an absolutely unmissable weekend. We’ve got the tea on what to expect as the Pride event makes its return to Collins Barracks this June.
Trans Healthcare Now
With waiting lists spanning up to 10 years and a pathologising approach of care, it is clear that the model of trans healthcare in Ireland is not fit for purpose. Sarah McKenna Barry caught up with those on the forefront of the movement to learn what a model of trans healthcare could, and should, look like. Photos by Babs Daly .
Decolonising Dance
Through academic research and performance, Louth-based Indian classical dancer Subhashini Goda seeks to explore what art is capable of when you look beyond gender norms and the idea of perfection. Sarah McKenna Barry spoke to the multi-disciplinary artist about their journey with dance and their vision for the future of the art form. Photo taken from An talamh faoi gheasa – The Enchanted Land by Pradeep Mahadeshwar.
Idol Hands
Fresh off the Irish premiere of The Restoration at Grayson Manor, Conor O’Doherty caught up with Chris Colfer to chat horror, queer representation and his experience of filming in Ireland.
United We Bargain
The Irish government is introducing new regulations that will affect renters and landlords across the country. Most new leases or tenancies that begin from 1 March onwards will have additional protections from eviction for tenants, but the change will also give landlords new ways of being able to increase the rent on their properties. Chris Rooke spoke to a number of housing activists to gauge what impact the regulations will have on queer renters.
Directory
Dublin & The East Acting Out Performance group
Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre
105 CAPEL ST, D01 R290 WWW.OUTHOUSE.IE E:
CARNIVAL QUEENS
In the Brazilian tradition of Carnival, a samba school’s drum queen is among the festival’s most coveted positions. André Aram looks at some of the groundbreaking trans women, past and present who have stepped into this prestigious role. Photograph courtesy of Camila Prins .
Justice Is In Sight For Men Convicted Under Anti-Gay Laws
Image: Gareth Miller, Irish Queer Archive/National Library of
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Welcome, dear reader, to the March 2026 issue of GCN.

With winter finally leaving us, we have a spring in our step, a fire in our bellies, and we’re ready to spotlight some of the key issues facing the LGBTQ+ community this year.

Our cover story shines a light on the state of trans and non-binary healthcare in Ireland. We caught up with those at the forefront of the battle to discover what a functioning model of care can, and should, look like for Ireland’s trans community.

Elsewhere in this issue, we’re taking a look at the housing crisis in Ireland, and in particular, how LGBTQ+ renters are affected by the latest policy developments. Meanwhile, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, TENI and ShoutOut are ensuring that we’re equipped with essential legal knowledge, courtesy of the Know Your Rights guide, a vital resource for trans and non-binary people in Ireland.

In addition to delving into the most pressing issues for Ireland’s queer community, this edition also offers a colourful celebration of LGBTQ+ art and culture. Following the premiere of The Restoration at Grayson Manor, we caught up with Chris Colfer to hear all about his time filming in Ireland. Subhashini Goda, a Louth-based Bharatanatyam dancer, shares their vision for the future of the dance form, while Ireland’s vibrant furry community invites us into their fascinating subculture ahead of Ainmhícon.

While we’re emerging from the colder months, it’s summer in the southern hemisphere, so we have reports from Carnival in Brazil and Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia.

And, fresh off the success of our So You Think You Can Drag fundraiser, the newly crowned Mx GCN 2026, aka Michael Fry, aka Buncrana Del Rey, reflects on his triumphant victory. It was a night of fabulous performances, but also a vital evening spent raising funds for GCN.

Indeed, fundraising plays an important role in ensuring that we can continue amplifying LGBTQ+ voices as we inform and connect the community. At this time, we want to say a big thank you to everyone who came to The George for So You Think You Can Drag, and to those who donated to our birthday campaign in February. If you would like to support the work we do, please consider becoming a GCN supporter for as little as €1.99 per month. Additionally, if you would like to run the 2026 Dublin Marathon for GCN, scan the QR code on page five to register your interest.

And finally, if joining a club or taking up a new sport is on your agenda for 2026, check out Sporting Pride’s brand new directory, an all-island resource dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusive clubs across Ireland.

We hope you enjoy our first edition of 2026. Let these stories inspire you, challenge you and remind you of the power of community, visibility and collective action.

Run The 2026 Dublin City Marathon In Support of GCN
GCN is recruiting a team of runners to take on the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon, and we have a very limited number of free charity entries up for grabs!
Go to Next Article >
Run The 2026 Dublin City Marathon In Support of GCN
GCN is recruiting a team of runners to take on the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon, and we have a very limited number of free charity entries up for grabs!
Go to Next Article >
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FROM THE TEAM
Keep up to date across our socials: @gaycommunitynews
Run The 2026 Dublin City Marathon In Support of GCN
GCN is recruiting a team of runners to take on the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon, and we have a very limited number of free charity entries up for grabs!
Time for change
The National LGBTQ+ Federation (NXF), publishers of GCN, are pleased to have the opportunity to once again update readers on recent developments in the advocacy and policy space.
Words of affirmation
As part of GCN’s ongoing collaboration with Belong To in which we platform young voices, Ciara Kelly shares a powerful reflection on her experience as a trans woman and how she challenges rigid narratives.
Reigning Supreme
On Friday, February 27, So You Think You Can Drag returned to The George for one magical evening of glamour, comedy and fundraising. With Davina Devine on hosting duties, nine phenomenal performers took the plunge and made their drag debuts, but only one could be crowned Mx GCN 2026.
KNOWLEDGE-IS-POWER
Last year saw the launch of the Know Your Rights guide, Ireland’s first comprehensive guide dedicated to outlining the legal rights and supports of trans and nonbinary people. To have a better understanding of how this resource was created, Beatrice Fanucci spoke to the people who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.
PRIDE & PROTEST DOWN UNDER
As Sydney Mardi Gras marks its 48th year, Alice Linehan revisits the event’s history, catches up with members of the Irish diaspora celebrating today, and examines the rift between the parade’s board and activist group Pride in Protest. Photo by Pratiksha Mohanty .
FURRY FRIENDS
If you have spent any time on the internet, it’s likely that you have come across the term ‘furry’, whether in a positive or negative context. Al Fartukh aims to educate the masses on what it truly means to be a furry by speaking to some folks who resonate with the unique label.
MOTHER MAY I?
With a star-studded lineup of legendary queer talent, Mother’s 2026 Pride Block Party is shaping up to be an absolutely unmissable weekend. We’ve got the tea on what to expect as the Pride event makes its return to Collins Barracks this June.
Trans Healthcare Now
With waiting lists spanning up to 10 years and a pathologising approach of care, it is clear that the model of trans healthcare in Ireland is not fit for purpose. Sarah McKenna Barry caught up with those on the forefront of the movement to learn what a model of trans healthcare could, and should, look like. Photos by Babs Daly .
Decolonising Dance
Through academic research and performance, Louth-based Indian classical dancer Subhashini Goda seeks to explore what art is capable of when you look beyond gender norms and the idea of perfection. Sarah McKenna Barry spoke to the multi-disciplinary artist about their journey with dance and their vision for the future of the art form. Photo taken from An talamh faoi gheasa – The Enchanted Land by Pradeep Mahadeshwar.
Idol Hands
Fresh off the Irish premiere of The Restoration at Grayson Manor, Conor O’Doherty caught up with Chris Colfer to chat horror, queer representation and his experience of filming in Ireland.
United We Bargain
The Irish government is introducing new regulations that will affect renters and landlords across the country. Most new leases or tenancies that begin from 1 March onwards will have additional protections from eviction for tenants, but the change will also give landlords new ways of being able to increase the rent on their properties. Chris Rooke spoke to a number of housing activists to gauge what impact the regulations will have on queer renters.
Directory
Dublin & The East Acting Out Performance group
Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre
105 CAPEL ST, D01 R290 WWW.OUTHOUSE.IE E:
CARNIVAL QUEENS
In the Brazilian tradition of Carnival, a samba school’s drum queen is among the festival’s most coveted positions. André Aram looks at some of the groundbreaking trans women, past and present who have stepped into this prestigious role. Photograph courtesy of Camila Prins .
Justice Is In Sight For Men Convicted Under Anti-Gay Laws
Image: Gareth Miller, Irish Queer Archive/National Library of
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