LGBT history in Ireland

The history oflesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenderpeople inIreland.

Pre-20th century

The first recorded trans individual in Dublin was a 19th-centurytrans manPatrick McCormack, who lived from 1821 to 1871. McCormack was a famine survivor and worked as alabourer,while living inCastleknock.Another 19th-century trans man wasAlbert Cashier(born Jennie Hodgers, 1843–1915) fromCounty Louth,who fought on theUnion sideof theAmerican Civil War.

Writers and patriots

Ireland and Dublin, in particular, have always been regarded as the home of some of the greatest gay and lesbian writers in the English speaking world, some of whom areOscar Wilde,Eva Selina Gore-Booth,Elizabeth Bowen,Kate O'Brien,Ladies of Llangollen,Somerville and RossandMary Dorcey

Legal situation

See also:Timeline of LGBT history in the United Kingdom

Prior to formalIrish independence in 1922,sexuality in Ireland was governed by the UK-wide laws emitted from theParliament of the United Kingdomsuch as theOffences Against the Person Act 1861.These laws were automatically inherited by the newIrish Free State.The most notable legal event related to Irish natives was thetrial and imprisonment of Oscar Wilde.Some leaders of the Irish Independence struggle of the early 20th century were assumed - at the time or later - to be gay, notablyPadraig PearseandRoger Casementwhose sexuality was an element in his trial and execution.

Post-independence

After independence, Ireland became a very insular society, dominated by the Catholic Church and was conservative,however in the midst of this, there was an acceptance of homosexuality of those within the acting profession such asMicheál MacLiammóir.It was widely accepted that Micheál MacLiammóir was gay and that his longtime life partner wasHilton Edwards.MacLíammóir would even appear on IrishTVin the 1950s and 1960s performing in drag. It is because of this that Irish people were never really surprised to see men dressing up as women on TV and even today, one of Dublin's drag queens,Shirley Temple Bar,presents bingo on prime-time national TV.MacLíammóir when talking to Irish playwrightMary Manningto have had a homosexual relationship withGeneral Eoin O'Duffy,formerGarda Síochánacommissioner and head of the quasi-fascistBlueshirtsin Ireland, during the 1930s.The claim was revealed publicly byRTÉin a documentary,The Odd Couple,broadcast in 1999. However, MacLíammóir's claims have not been substantiated by any evidence.

Economic development and civil unions

Main article:LGBT rights in the Republic of Ireland

In the 1970s, theCampaign for Homosexual Law Reformwas led byDavid Norris,who campaigned for then-current criminalization of homosexuality (namely those in force from 1861 and 1885) to be dismantled. In 1980, the case was taken before the Supreme Court of Ireland; losing the case, Norris took the case to the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in 1988 against the Irish government. The laws were finally reformed in 1993by then-Minister for JusticeMáire Geoghegan-Quinn.

With the emergence of theCeltic Tigereconomy from 1995 onwards, Ireland underwent a massive transformation both economically and socially. The individual wealth of the average Irish citizen quadrupled in the space of 15 years along withEUmembership helped to liberalise and make this once conservative and religious society into one that is more open and pro-gay rights with a raft of pro-gay legislation.73% of the Irish population support full gay marriage being extended to same-sex couples while 53% support the idea of same-sex adoption.

In 2011, civil partnership legislation was passed by the Dáil and Seanad and was enacted into law. Also, in 2011,Dominic HanniganandJohn Lyons,both of the Labour Party, became the first openly gayTDsto be elected to theDail,andKatherine Zapponebecame the first openly lesbian senator.

In 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage through a referendum, with yes winning by over 62% of the vote. In a total over two million adults voted, and it was found that many younger adults participated in this vote to bring Ireland into a new era.

In 2017,Leo Varadkarwas electedTaoiseach(Prime Minister), making him the youngest and first openly gay leader of Ireland.

See also

• LGBT history
• Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform
• Oscar Wilde