“I Have No Objection Of Members Of The Gardai Taking Part in A Personal Capacity”

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Gardai at last year’s Dublin Gay Pride and in 2017 (middle pic)

“When I’m taking part in Dublin Pride these days, I feel like I’m Dr Frankenstein chasing his monster, said Izzy O Rourke [one of three people who began the current run of Dublin Pride in 1992].

“I’m not saying anyone shouldn’t go to Dublin Pride, I understand why people go, but today’s celebration has become a cheap opportunity for businesses to promote themselves, and for state bodies to give an appearance of inclusivity without having to do anything very substantial.

“There’s a chequered history between the Garda and Dublin Pride. For years I was liaison with the Garda, and the truth is we weren’t treated very respectfully, we never got the policing we asked for and we were not protected.”

“I have no objection of members of the Gardai taking part in a personal capacity, but we’ve forgotten what Pride is supposed to be about. It’s about resistance and solidarity, the fact that we will defend each other in good times and bad. That’s what it commemorates, and there’s a recalibration needed.”

Anyone?

‘Cops marching in Pride is not a sign of progress’ – Founding member of Dublin Pride backs alternative event (Breakingnews)

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31 thoughts on ““I Have No Objection Of Members Of The Gardai Taking Part in A Personal Capacity”

  1. AOShea

    So now that the LGBTTQQIAAP have achieved mainstream and normality they revolt against it?

    1. Ian-O

      Taking the likes of RTE to task for some of what they have done against members of the LGBT community is not ‘revolting against’ normality nor is calling out band wagon jumpers.

      Pride was set up to commemorate all those people, alive and deceased, who fought tooth and nail for the level of acceptance they have today. Its about remembering the pain, the persecution and the hard times.

      I take issue with RTE, I take issue with how some of An Gardai Siochana have acted over the years, but I do not consider this ‘revolting about normality’.

      1. Joe Small

        “Pride was set up to commemorate all those people, alive and deceased, who fought tooth and nail for the level of acceptance they have today. Its about remembering the pain, the persecution and the hard times.”

        I thought Pride was set up to advance gay rights and ensure the wider acceptance of society? If so, its been a great contribution and fairly successful. That last sentence above reads like something a die-hard Republican would say when rejecting the Good Friday Agreement! Is mainstream acceptance so bad? Isn’t great Gardaí and the business community want to be a part of it? the business community pay handsomely for their participation making sure Pride is financially sustainable. is this such a bad thing?

        1. George

          The first Pride was organized one year after the Stonewall Riots as a commeration of those riots.

          It was described by the founds as an “Annual Reminder, in order to be more relevant, reach a greater number of people, and encompass the ideas and ideals of the larger struggle in which we are engaged—that of our fundamental human rights—be moved both in time and location.

          We propose that a demonstration be held annually on the last Saturday in June in New York City to commemorate the 1969 spontaneous demonstrations on Christopher Street”

      2. George

        I wouldn’t engage with something who mocks LGBTQ people in their rhetorical question.

  2. Joan

    Spot on. The whole point of the parade is to agitate for rights, to abolish discrimination. We’d a pub recently that was bullying a staff member because he was gay, the pub wasn’t named. We’ve a long way to go, even to get the law to name a pub involved in homophobic practices. We’ve still a long way to go.

      1. Joan

        The pub allowed this homophobic bullying to continue, even tho the gay man had made repeated efforts to get management to do something about it. The individual still continues to work for the pub’s parent group.

      2. Ian-O

        No, the manager was the one discriminated against by 2 directors of the pub and if it had directors I would imagine it was part of a chain? So I would Joan’s comment stands?

        From the report:

        The bar manager’s husband and two former members of staff gave evidence of hearing some of the comments made by both ‘Director A’ and ‘Director B’.

        It was ongoing and cost them 20k. Hardly small beer?

        1. topsy

          It’s wrong but lots of people get bullied for lots of reason. So don’t give me the martyrdom crack.

    1. eoin

      Hi Joan, I think most WRC cases are anonymised, though in the case yesterday (complaint and decision linked down below), you should be able to work out who the red Mercedes-driving gay recently-married redundant bar manager is. The bar/restaurant is run by a company with 51 staff in 2016, since reduced to 30, it has four directors, two of whom are apparently on site, and one works from a nearby office.

      https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/cases/2019/may/adj-00015191.html

      Who will be brave enough to name the establishment (not on BS, which would require solid proof for defamation reasons).

  3. Jim

    Well I guess when Pride is being snubbed as “too mainstream” it means being gay is just very normal. In the main this is probably a good sign for most gay people right?

    I should add, not being gay I have no idea what level of discrimination still exists. Aside from a heated argument I had recently with a homophobe neighbour, I’m immune to it.

  4. Iwerzon

    The pink euro was always going to be exploited. Sad but inevitable. Community festivals need not always be overly commercial bar some Guinness bunting.

  5. SOQ

    The commercial argument in Pride is being held worldwide- but I can see how targeting the community while also actively discriminating against, irks some. So yes, such employers should be called to account.

    In the case of An Garda Síochána or indeed PSNI, I personally have no issue with them marching and the objections somewhat remind me of back in the day Patrick’s Day in NYC. They are both very responsive to alleged hate crimes now, which is what is really important.

    We are where we are and we are many different colours of a flag. I personally have no interest in listening to politicos droning on in Merrion Square but, that is just me. Something for everyone- including An Taoiseach.

    I’ll float into Mother, on a cloud, at some stage.

  6. Spaghetti Hoop

    So the once discriminated against are now the discriminators. Nowt as queer as folk.

  7. Vanessa the Holy Face of Frilly Keane

    I think it’s a nice happy parade
    It’s not angry or ugly
    And as long as everyone is welcome to take part
    I’m in the more the merrier camp

    I do understand Izzy’s points tho’
    And can totally empathise with them

    Especially about the historical behaviour of AGS
    And their general mistreatment of everyone not them or to their liking – fringe groups and outsiders, people that stand up for themselves
    I’m particularly reminded of Joanne Hayes and how somehow she is awaiting on her settlement, as is her family
    Her day of Pride hasn’t come yet

    I’m also now far too curious about Pride (Irish) organisation
    And ye know what that means
    So get me the Accounts and the usual etcs
    And I’ll run something up for ye

    Anyway in the meantime AFAIC
    Be who ya want ta be
    Walk in whatever parade ya want ta
    Or don’t
    Tis great not to have to fret, or worry, or have to keep your wits about you whatever ya get up to
    Pride is Alive
    And on our streets, and in our workplaces, in our services, in our communities, our families and our various clubs and Social groups
    And long may it last
    As it was too long coming
    And only for girls like Izzy
    It may have been an even longer wait

    Hon’ the lotta ye

    1. SOQ

      The same Lizzy who argues that imprisoning people with no language skills in the back end of nowhere with definite hostility from the locals is a good thing?

      1. Vanessa the Holy Face of Frilly Keane

        Ya wha’
        Don’t you be dragging me inta drama n’ argie bargies
        That have nothing to do with me

        If you want to pick a fight
        Or kick off a row
        Man up
        And bring it on yourself

        Don’t ever
        Not for a miniscule of a second
        Ever try and enroll me as a proxy for your own games
        And I’ve asked you this before

        Knock it off

  8. Dr.Fart MD

    can’t people change? and shouldnt that change be welcomed? If the Gardai were unhelpful in the past, but now they’re taking part and putting rainbow patterns on some squad cars, then shouldn’t that change in attitude be welcommed? rather than told to keep out of it forever, because of the decisions of whoever was in charge in the past?

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