70 thoughts on “Roscommophobia

    1. Der

      Don’t forget David Quinn, John Waters, Ronan Mullan, Keith Mills, Paddy Manning and all the other people representing the “under-represented” no side.

      1. Joe cool

        I personally would like to just stand in front of mullen and manning and just wind them up.

      2. PK

        Keith Mills take the biscuit entirely. Growing up gay in Limerick, he’s someone who’s probably experienced similar stuff to this when he was growing up.

  1. Tony

    It’s his choice not to come out, but I think in most cases, it’s a lot harder to hate ‘the gays’ if your neighbour, son or daughter, niece or nephew is one, when they realise they’re just normal people too that farce of treating them as ‘the other’ soon falls through whereas if you imagine it as some foreign, otherworldly concept, it’s a lot easier to reject it without even trying to understand it. IMHO Roscommon would be more gay friendly if more gays came out, but to take that first step must be horrifying if it’s as bad as it seems.

        1. Martin Heavy-Guy

          I think Clampers is making a very fair point. I don’t think it’s a choice if you are risking homophobic abuse (everything from insults to physical violence) from people who are turbo-charged on the idea that gay=antisocial, gay=wrong, gay=evil. I have personally witnessed abuse in Dublin and Cork, and it can get pretty nasty in the anonymity of a city. If you take away that anonymity and think about a lot of people you know having an issue with you for no reason it becomes very difficult.

          Once you are out then anyone who might hold a strong anti-gay opinion is free to take their time responding to you when you order something from the carpenters, or to accidentally forget you when you are looking for a taxi late at night etc. Obviously there was a lot of support for the campaign in Roscommon, but it’s not fair to say that this is just a choice.

          If the choice exists, it is a weighted choice and a much more difficult one in rural Roscommon than in Dublin.

          1. Medium Sized C

            I don’t think he is making a point.
            I think he is responding to uninformed optimism with sarcastic derision.

            But given Sean’s post below, I am gonna respectfully bow out of the discussion.
            I have no frame of reference to argue whether or not a gay person has the choice to come out in rural ireland or not.

        2. Sean

          Totally agree with Clampers, I’m in my late thirties from rural Co. Cork – coming out in the area I’m from would have have made my life intolerable. My own father often made disgusting,homophobic comments, I have doubt whatsoever what his reaction would be were I to tell him I’m gay. I could have written that story from the Roscommon gay person. Choice my arse.

          1. blueswannabe

            No offence meant Sean. Sorry you feel that way, however I still believe it is a ‘choice’ of the poster, maybe a very hard one, maybe one he makes for perfectly good reasons. I mean Russia has an anti gay propaganda law and homosexuality is openly vilified and some Russians bravely choose to be openly gay, not saying other people have to live up to their heroic standard but it’s still a choice. I hope you feel a bit better after the result, thought Cork was a fairly tolerant place these days, sorry it’s not the case throughout the County.

    1. Rob

      All this abuse is ok just as long as the abuse isn’t homophobic? Fair play to all of you taking the piss out of people that voted no, just shows you how little Ireland has moved at all. The guy is getting stick because you all think he is gay and won’t come out?
      Biggots.

      1. Hank

        So many inaccuracies.
        And then you top it all off by misspelling ‘bigots’.
        Genius!

    1. newsjustin

      Gwan away with your “numbers”. There’s righteous hatred to be done here.

    2. cluster

      It’s not about tha absolute numbers, it is the relative support for yes and no which counts.

  2. Sido

    Why Roscommon you ask?

    A disgruntled electorate who don’t trust anyone.
    Let’s go over the reasons, for this. A few years of recent history.

    A) Don’t dig your own turf for domestic fuel. Its bad for the environment. Pay for domestic fuel instead, that we have just increased the tax on, and that goes up every year.
    B) Roscommon’s choice of Hippie TD’s.
    Let’s have a campaign in the Indo about how Roscommon elects backwards bog savages. Honestly, Can he not wear a tie? Get a haircut? Buy a suit? Is there no Marks & Sparks in Roscommon?
    C) Let Enda Kenny promise to keep the hospital Accident and Emergency Department open and return 2 FG TD’s and Independent Hippie, in 3 seater. Then promptly close hospital A&E department. To encourage the citizens not to have accidents and emergencies. (Strategic Health Planning)
    D) The water. Coming out of the taps, in some areas, is the stuff that looks like those charity adverts for Africans, where you send a fiver a month, to stop babies from dying. Then put a stealth tax on this “glorified piss”

    Demographic –
    A lot of young people (Yes voters) work abroad nowadays.

    1. Mister Mister

      And how is ANY of that related to the referendum ? Are you saying that they’re not homophobic, just dumb idiots who can’t differentiated between a constitutional change and a governmental one ?

      1. Sido

        Dumb Idiots, what a charming expression, Can’t think why anyone would object to be called a dumb idiot, by a thoughtless, ignorant **** like yourself. Maybe you have a point.

        1. Mister Mister

          Do you read ? I didn’t say they were, I asked is that what you’re implying.

        2. St. John Smythe

          Complete this sentence by filling in some of the above ‘reasons’ you give:
          Roscommon people voted in large numbers against marriage equality because…

          I’ll help you get started:

          Roscommon people voted in large numbers against marriage equality because the government closed the hospital.

          Roscommon people voted in large numbers against marriage equality because the water quality is awful down there.

          1. Nigel

            Because it isn’t as if referendums and by-elections haven’t been used to make anti-government gestures that have little to nothing to do with the subjects or the candidates in the past. A lot.

      2. ivan

        it doesn’t excuse it, but it goes *some* way to explaining it.

        Roscommon has form (I live here) for what I’ll call, ahem, ‘protest’ voting. We returned Tom Foxe as a TD for two terms in the 80s/90s and he stood on one platform – that of keeping the hospital open. Parish pumpery it may well have been, but even back then there was a fear/mistrust of The Government (no matter what party they were).

        It’s the same way Ming got voted in. It’s this inherent, residual belief (whether justified or not) that, er, nobody is looking after us, and we’ll show them feckers in Dublin. When you’ve got an area that’s got sod all in the line of industry (which brings in educated young people) and lots of farming (dependent on subsidies to keep it going) this simmering resentment among a sizeable swathe of the population is inevitable. Local politicians know this which would explain Frank Feighan and Maura Hopkins going out there to canvass and the rest staying put. Frank’s got nothing to lose because his seat might be precarious as it is (due to – ta-daaaa – that ruddy hospital again) and it’s no harm for Maura to be seen. Denis Naughton and Michael Fitz know full well what the electorate are like – you’d go campaigning for a yes vote, and the craw thumpers would have your heart broken whingeing about summat else.

        It doesn’t excuse bigotry. It doesn’t excuse homphobia. It doesn’t ‘excuse’ the no vote winning out, but it does, I hope, go some way to explaining it, AND to highlighting the bloody great job the Yes side did in bringing the vote SO close, and they’re due a mighty buladh bos either way.

        1. Casey

          Actually Ivan, if that is true, it does offer an insight that I would not otherwise have had.

      3. Well that's that

        Yes, Roscommon. Stop using your “we’re hard done by the Government and used the Referendum on a completely different topic to send a message to Leinster House” because it’s complete bull. Your backwards, ignorant and easily-led demeanour has been highlighted. And playing numbers with other constituencies means nothing. The majority voted NO. Live with your shame. You need to evolve internally, because you’re sure as hell won’t be getting much business from the LGBT community anytime soon

        1. Sido

          Oh yeah, I’ll be watching out for coach loads of “progressives” in their pink jack boots.
          The reason you don’t know what anything about “complete bull”is because you talk it all the time. Your fingers are turds that dance over your keyboard.

          1. Sido

            I believe it was no lesser person than John Lydon that pointed out. “Anger is an energy”.

        2. Nigel

          ‘Stop using your “we’re hard done by the Government and used the Referendum on a completely different topic to send a message to Leinster House” because it’s complete bull.’

          I know, it’s literally unprecedented and utterly unthinkable that anyone would ever approach a referendum or a by-election in such a way! Unimaginable! Grotesque! Bizarre! The other thing! Etc!

  3. Nice Anne (Dammit)

    My heart goes out to this poor man. What a horrible experience. Many people (myself included) were only thinking of what a good, positive thing all this discussion and debate was. How fantastic it was to see a politically motivated movement determined to do the right and the fair thing. I never dreamed how it would impact anyone trapped in a circumstance like this.

    It just shows that what David Norris has been saying for years and Rory o’Neill reiterated on Saturday, it is not enough to get the vote, you also have to show those who are fearful of this change that they have nothing to fear. Those who were campaigning for a ‘No’ vote using negative stereotypes have a lot of answer for PREYING on people’s fear of the unknown to intimate that this vote would put children in danger.

    It is unfortunate that the ‘Yes’ canvassers did not go to his area. The ‘Yes’ side did not have a finite number of people to carry out this canvassing. Most people that canvassed did so in their hometown or where they are currently living. Political strategy has shown that there is more traction to be gotten from talking to the voters who are on the fence than those who are a determined ‘No’.

    Lastly, not everyone in Roscommon feels negative about the marriage referendum. The electorate eligible to vote was 62,031 of which 36,259 voted. Of these votes, 48.48% per cent voted Yes with 51.42% per cent voting No. That is 17,578 for a YES and 18,681 voted for a NO. A difference of 1103 votes. So your figures are:
    62,031 eligible to vote
    8,064 emigrated (the 13%)
    36,259 voted
    17,708 did not vote
    17,578 voted Yes
    18,681 votes No

    From this it, you could say that there were a potential 17,000 people who could have been canvassed to swing the vote to Yes as they did not care enough to come out and vote for a yes or no on the day. Even if you cut this figure in half, allowing for the fact people were on holiday, physically incapable or hospitalised on the day, there was still enough undecided voters in the county to swing it for the Yes side if only someone has mobilised some canvassers. As it is, I don’t think that the diffrence between the Yes and No sides warrant the Roscommonaphobia that is being seen online but that is just me.

  4. Mr. T.

    There’s still plenty of slobbering gobshites around in small towns who take the lazy option every time. They’re ignorant, boring, useless and contribute nothing to society other than shoveling shit from one pile to another.

  5. chris

    Poor chap. I only hope that the referendum’s result leads people in his area to become more enlightened.

    I’ll take issue with 2 points he mentioned…
    Firstly, of course a No was advocated in the local (presume catholic) church. That’s as expected, and the church has every right to argue its position. That position, by the way, has finally driven me from the church; straws, camel’s backs etc.
    Second, I ALWAYS advocate in every referendum “If you don’t understand what you’re voting for, then vote for no change”. Same with this one; so for anyone who was confused and voted No – they did the right thing. That does not mean that they should wallow in their ignorance – people have a duty to inform themselves. What this says mostly is that the No campaign’s misinformation and smokescreen tactics worked on certain people.

    1. Evian

      If you don’t understand what you’re voting for, do a bit of reading and take some time to understand it, ffs.

      1. chris

        Nice one, Naive.

        Did you bother to “do a bit of reading”, read what I wrote?
        “That does not mean that they should wallow in their ignorance – people have a duty to inform themselves”

  6. rotide

    for gods sake, leave roscommon alone. Less people voted no there than in a lot of ofther counties.

    Longford voted no too but was saved the embarassment by being carried by Westmeath.

    As someone somewhere said a referendum turns Ireland into a single constituency where every vote counts. Yes won, celebrate that.

    1. cluster

      Yes won.

      It’d be remiss of us not to delve into the fact that one single constituency voted no.

      1. Medium Sized C

        Would it really though?

        Both Donegals said yes, by about the margin that Roscommon/South Leitrim said No.
        So like 1% of the population decides how we talk about the entirety of the constituency.

        We already have somebody in this thread talking about a similar experience to the OP in a county that voted yes.
        Constituency boundaries are arbitrary administrative conveniences.

        1. cluster

          You’re correct, Medium-Sized C, it wouldn’t be remiss at all.

          I’m merely interested. What I really want is a list of every polling station in the country and the percentages in each.

  7. ams

    That poor guy – coming from a rural area I can imagine how tough it is to feel like that.

    My brother was in the local Credit Union and one of the local resident bible bashers was going on about what a disgrace it was that Yes one and that it was due to people not getting enough No literature in the door, sure didn’t her daughter bring reams of it down from Galway!

  8. Gallant

    I saw a little bit of it during the run up to the referendum – this intolerance to a different view. I voted yes because I believe in equality, tolerance and freedom from bigotry from any side.
    However what I’ve heard since is people saying things like “hate filled bigots”, “homophobic idiots” and told to get back to their “sky fairy”.

    All of this does not help to bring people together rather it pushes people apart. The No campaign in my opinion deliberately obfuscated this referendum with misdirection and misinformation leading people away from a Yes vote.

    We should be inclusive, respectful and practice equality particular those you feel entirely at odds with. Don’t be in a hurry to condemn a person or county because they ALL don’t do what you do or think as you think.

  9. sheesh

    The mass exodus of young people definitely had an impact there. Roscommon/South Leitrim is the oldest population. Myself and my group of school friends have all left Roscommon years ago and voted Yes in our new cities.
    Last time I was home, I saw only No posters, ‘No’ leaflets in the local church.
    My mother (who voted Yes) confirmed she had no ‘Yes’ canvassers or leaflets through the door.
    The Yes campaigners on their high horses in Dublin can’t vilify Roscommon when they didn’t give the needed support to the stretched campaigners in the area.

  10. mthead

    I think the funniest thing that could happen is that every year a big gay festival is held in Roscommon, on the anniversary of the referendum, attended by thousands of lbgt community; and also that the Roscommon GAA colours are used to advertise gay events.
    I don’t know if it would help but it would be funny.

    1. Medium Sized C

      There are some great wedding venues in Roscommon and South Leitrim.
      Castles that look like castles.

      There will be plenty a Gay event over there over the next few years, I’d wager.

    2. Sido

      What’s up Chompsky? Comments from Roscommon will be severely censored now?
      Damn shame when de culchies got de internet.
      Lowering the tone of your organ of free speech and political correctness?

      Well screw you. You posted it. The least you could do, is let us give it back to you, and some of your more brain dead commenters, on a plate.

      Fighting oppression with lurve – right yeah.

  11. Ppads

    Roscommon is getting a bad rap because the majority was No but some other counties were close to the line too. Where the most anti gay sentiments are prevalent the No vote was highest. This is not rocket science. Bigots homophobes call them what you want, they all voted No.

    And then you had Breda O’Brien on the radio before the vote was even counted bleated on about how these sensitive caring individuals will be treated now. Yeah well, they’re not too sensitive when they spout their hate. They are not the ones hiding in fear and living a lie. Enough of this bullsh|t.

    I hope that more people like daymog come forward and tell their story. Not just in Roscommon but right across the country. They don’t have give their names or anything else to reveal their identity. Just enough to let others see the damage that constantly living a lie does to the human soul. We are equal now so have your say.

    1. Odis

      >They don’t have give their names or anything else to reveal their identity.
      >We are equal now so have your say.

      Pick one

  12. illuminati16

    Equally as backward and narrow minded are the dubliners discriminating against ‘culchies’ as they refer to them. What happened to equality and tolerance?

  13. London Irish

    I just don’t get this and it makes no sense. Does homophobia only exist in Roscommon now? Why are many wanting to give all the Yes voters in Roscommon and SL a “f*ck you” message?
    Please think that many Ros people and other “culchies” were in Dublin and other urban centres voting yes. The Roscommon Yes votes counted along with every other Yes vote to make this happen. And this is a county that has very few young people compared to other constituencies. As a Roscommon man myself, I’m not happy at what happened – but really, don’t tar everyone there with the same brush. Almost 1 in 2 people voted yes in Roscommon.
    Quite frankly, considering its traditional stance, the message from the Church, and its demographic profile, that’s an amazing result.

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