This morning.

In a two-year-old tweet (above) being shared again online, newly-appointed Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration Roderic O’Gorman (above left), of the Green Party, poses with veteran British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell (in green shirt) at the 2018 Dublin pride.

In a letter to The Guardian in 1997 (above), Mr Tatchell stated that friends as young as nine had sexual experiences with adults which gave them “great joy”.

Mr Tatchell, who has called for the age of consent to be 14 in the UK, claimed that not all sex involving children was “unwanted, abusive or harmful”.

He later said the letter had been edited and issued a ‘Statement Of Clarification’.

Mr Tatchell said:

“The printed version [of the letter]  did not include my point that I oppose adults having sex with children. I empathise with victims of child sex abuse and agree for the vast majority of children, sex with adults is neither wanted nor joyful.”

Peter Tatchell: Statement Of Clarification

Roderic O’Gorman (Gov.ie)

Update:

Tonight.

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61 thoughts on “Consenting

  1. TypeONegative

    Oooof I don’t think there’s any clarification on earth that can sugarcoat that statement

  2. Toby

    I wish they had learned from David Norris. Explaining the good type of pedophilia is never a good strategy. However, the rank hypocrisy that is surrounding the Bobby Storey funeral makes me think Mr Roderic will be praised for his inclusivity rather than pilloried for the company he keeps. Cos that’s how the libs roll.

  3. Johnny

    ..lost me is who Roderic O’Gorman stood next too a story-did anyone ask him if it was just a casual encounter before going the sinister route, it a bit out there for me Bodger.

    1. ReproBertie

      From the tweet it’s clear O’Gorman knew who he was standing beside but there is nothing to say he shares Tatchell’s views.

      1. Rob_G

        I had heard of Peter Tatchell for many years as a gay rights activist (confronting Mugabe, etc). It’s only today I have heard of his possibly-iffy stance on relations between adults and minors; I imagine that this could be the case for a lot of people, Roderic O’G included.

        1. Vanessanelle

          And I only knew him as the one man campaign that used to Out high profile Gay men and women

          Odious and cruel then
          I don’t have the capacity to come to terms with his fuller profile now, so I’m going to drop off, only to say referring to him as a gay rights activist does him an enormous favour RoG

          1. SOQ

            Peter was a member of OutRage!, a group who engaged in a campaign of outing public figures who were homophobic in public but gay in private. To my knowledge they never outed people who were pro gay or even neutral on the subject.

          2. Bodger

            When he stood for Labour in Bermondsey, sarf London back in the day he faced homophobia (a lot of it from his own party) that you would scarcely imagine people would think let alone say. I thought he was very brave.

          3. Vanessanelle

            Sure

            Whatever ye say

            Outing
            Doxing
            whatever

            Against someones express wishes — no matter who they are, or how they live their private lives – sure

            ara, shur ye couldn’t give ah poo

          4. Robert

            these are different things

            doxxing is stripping somebody of their anonymity

            outing hypocrisy, in particular the kind that is harmful or hurtful is a good bit different. Perhaps questionable but in the context of how the gay community was suffering back in those times perhaps excusable.

      2. SOQ

        Yes. I never knew Tatchell made such a statement until now so it it not possible that O’Gorman and The Greens didn’t know too?

        Was it in the media at that point? If not then it is pretty obvious it is a smear job.

        1. ouch

          I think this is by far the most plausible explanation, but the ol’ Twitter like on doesn’t always use logic

      1. Johnny

        I used be big Woody Allen fan,he played in jazz quartert every Tuesday for years at Cafe Carlyle in NY-always used say yeah yeah I should go one night,one night,never did go…..at best poor judgment.

        1. Janet, dreams of spidercrab and fancy pastries

          I can’t stand that man, all his movies are just his own fantasies of whoever is playing the lead, repetitive and every time he opens his mouth with his irritating high speed stumbling jibber jabber, I feel like he’s wanking all over you without asking

          1. Janet, dreams of spidercrab and fancy pastries

            I never miss an opportunity to give out about Woody ;)

          2. Brother Barnabas

            yep..know what you mean

            I dont mind when they ask (so long as I’m finished my dinner etc)

          3. Johnny

            …agree can’t watch them,certainly not posting pics on my insta with my arm around him after a show at The Carlyle …..and i’m no Minister for Children,SF have had deal with these types things for years,its senior hurling now for The Greens.

  4. Optimus Grime

    Yeah it’s not great from any standpoint but there is nothing to say that O’Gorman endorses or supports any of his views. And there is no indication on the level of interaction – Standing beside someone for a photo does not mean you have full knowledge or support any or all of their views

    1. paul

      yeah but, saying that you’re delighted to be standing next to someone who endorses sex with children, not great.

  5. Vanessanelle

    Hopefully I won’t get dragged down into the bog hole occupied by the scavengers who do this type of deep digging vocationally, so here goes;

    From the entire pool of TDs available to the Fianna Fine Green Government, Catherine Martin was the most obvious appointment for the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration

    So I really don’t know where the inspiration for this lad’s appointment came from

    Whatever way this gets managed or how it ends, I do hope the Greens get to hang on to this Department as it now includes responsibility for Direct Provision on its slate

    The one decision of this new Government that I’m most impressed by, and maybe a bit optimistic for its chances.

    1. ReproBertie

      I honestly don’t believe for a second that suitability is considered when Ministerial positions are handed out. It’s about rewards for the party members and nothing else. Look at the Dara Calleary thing. People were annoyed that he wasn’t made a minister, any minister, because they felt he deserved it for his hard work. Nothing to do with aptitude or suitability.

      1. Vanessanelle

        won’t deny that ReBerto – when hasn’t self entitlement had its way in politically gifted gigs

        But I am allowed to pretend our leaders work to a higher standard

        Even if I’m only fooling meself, shur what’s the harm
        They couldn’t give a fupp.

    2. LuvinLunch

      Anne Rabbitte was the most qualified person. She got a junior ministry. She was all over child protection as FF spokeswoman. It pains me to say that because i’m still raging with FF over that banking crisis but credit where it’s due.

  6. GiggidyGoo

    Tatchell obviously shares O’Gorman’s views if he takes the time to come over, march with him, and hold banners with him. Given Tatchell’s views, and O’Gorman being delighted for his support, some could assume that the view-sharing is two-way.

    The other question that arises is as to the reason two gay people have been installed in the Children’s Ministry. Surely a Minister for Children should have experience of being a Father/Mother and have the experience from conception to birth to adulthood and everything in-between. Neither O’Gorman nor Zappone have that.

    1. ReproBertie

      “some could assume that the view-sharing is two-way”
      You know what happens when you assume.

      Do you also believe the Minister for Agriculture should be a farmer? Should the Minister for Transport be a train driver maybe? A teacher as Minister for Education? An actor as Minister for the Arts? A banker as Minister for Finance?

        1. GiggidyGoo

          Sorry, I think Michilin has filled that post already. There may be other positions open to a fellow of your talents though

          1. italia'90

            I’m too busy right now.
            Maybe when I’ve completed the new 5 contract I signed with one of Dinny’s companies to design his new data centres and upgrade some of the old ones.
            I recently had a great weekend down in Mount Juliet with his data partners. Stayed in Nick Faldo’s old place, just across from Dinnys and JP’s ;)

      1. GiggidyGoo

        Yes I know. That’s why I worded it that way.

        A minister for agriculture should have experience of that industry and should be able to relate to it from actual experience. (Where is the Fisheries Minister from actually? .that’s another days work)

        A minister for transport – well if a train driver was elected as a TD and could show experience in that sector, then why not?

        A teacher as Education Minister – again why not if he/she is an elected TD

        A banker – maybe – but how many bankers would be interested in standing for election?

        1. jamesjoist

          If we were to use rhyming slang we could say the place is full of ‘merchant bankers’

  7. SOQ

    Anyone know who that younger guy with sunglasses on the right of the main picture is?

  8. Toby

    Thinking that some kids like pedophillia and aren’t affected by it is hardly something small, and not something one is likely to change their minds about.

    At the very least O Gorman could make a statement about it. It will undermine him for the duration of his job if he doesn’t. Although Id say Tara, Jenifer and the gals will probs give him a totes clean ride.

    Not like the young Fine Gaeler who went to a totes legit conference.

    Oh hypocrisy, liberal is thy name.

    Where is Nigel to tell us how we should feel/what we should say?

  9. scottser

    ‘Oh hypocrisy, liberal is thy name’
    are you just going to leave that there and expect someone else to tidy up after you? the bin is over there, dumbass.

      1. Janet, dreams of spidercrab and fancy pastries

        Toby do you post under Gabby sometimes ?
        just curious

          1. Janet, dreams of spidercrab and fancy pastries

            ah just cause she throws the odd Frenchie in there too, she wouldn’t answer me when I asked if she was though, what’s your connection if I may ask

          2. Toby

            Rien. Im just a fan of languages every now and then. And sure the pandemic is making us all global citizens n’est ce pas?

  10. Junkface

    How come this guy isn’t banished by the left for a statement like that? There’s a lot of hypocrisy going on there. If he was straight and he made a statement like that there would be outrage, rightfully so.

    1. newsjustin

      I think Tatchell is already shunned by elements of the liberal-left for having the audacity to say something not-quite-kosher regarding transexuality.

  11. fluffybiscuits

    The Greens are a waste of oxygen and space and could be better served tied to trees or rescuing kittens or whatever. However Roderic O G probably does not share Tacthells views and does not deserve to have mud slung at him over this.

    1. gringo

      Having disgust for child abusers and their apologists should not be confused with homophobia.

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