How are homosexuals treated in Ireland?

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Priscilla Duck

Seeing as we only discovered sex about twenty years ago, Ireland's pretty liberal about homosexuality. There is a thriving gay scene in Dublin and the other larger towns, and there has been for quite a while.
In rural areas, it's also loosening up quite a bit. I live in the Irish version of Deliverance country and have a number of friends who are openly gay, and while they do encounter some negative attitudes, they have certainly never experienced violence. Having said that, they are all younger men - the older generations still see it as a bit of a taboo and lesbians seem to be an awful lot slower about coming out of the closet for some reason. This probably has something to do with the fact that the majority of gay public figures are men and there haven't been many younger role models for lesbians. There also seems to be a bit of a gender divide in attitudes towards homosexuality, with more men being homophobic than women, but I think that's pretty much the same in every society.

In terms of Ireland's religiousity, homosexuality certainly isn't lambasted with rhetoric about damnation, sin and hell - we don't go in much for that type of belief here. I think it might have to do with the fact that the majority religion (Catholicism) allows for forgiveness of all sins so that even the religiously devout who would view homosexuality as a sin see ALL sin as a private matter between the individual and god. There is a big difference between being a (traditionally) Catholic country and being a Christian country. Christians tend to be quite evangelican and holy holy. Irish Catholicism still contains a lot of pagan elements from pre-christian times. That, coupled with a healthy disrespect for all authority which we cultivated during colonial times, means that we tend to be a bit laid-back regarding rules and dogma. We do not like to be told what to do or what to think.

So no, the majority don't treat gays like crap, but of course there are still narrow-minded people who feel threatened by anything different and who will make a deal out of it.

Podge and Rodge Tribute Band

Homosexuals are treated like royalty in Ireland. Sher look at David Norris. Isn't he a national treasure? And then we have Graham Norton and that Brian fella who won Big Brother 20 years ago.
Homosexuals are treated well in the countryside also. Here in Ballydung we have the Ballydung Gay Men's Club. Because it's a small place, there's only one member, by the name of Mick McLaverty.
He's the only gay in the village......

DuB

It's really not that bad actually. Once they get over the shock of meeting "one of dem" and realize that you're still a fine person, they're grand with it. Most people anyways. They have other things to worry about than who you do the naked pretzel with.

Of course, like anywhere else, you'll meet some ignorant gobshites who are just looking to beat the crap out of anyone that shows a bit of diversity.

Also, you'll find that people are quite open when comes the time to ask embarrassing question about the gay-lifestyle. :)

John M

like every where else there are people who treat them with respect and other that treat them poorly

Orla C

Ireland is not really that Christian in the political sense .... we're really Pagan underneath a very thin veneer of Christianity.

Dublin is not the only city in Ireland, and there is a gay scene there, quite an active one.

I live in County Limerick, and I'm straight myself but have lots of gay friends. This week is the Gay Pride week in Limerick, and I have the impression that people in the city of Limerick are largely pretty supportive of the gay community.

I think that people in more rural areas would have a harder time accepting an openly gay lifestyle. But then they find it a little strange if a straight couple are being very publicly affectionate, so a gay couple would be that bit stranger. I think Irish country people would be accepting as long as you were discreet!

fenderbloke

Its actually not too often you run into people who take religion seriously over here (And when I say take it seriously, I mean practise it in general), so there isnt too much bigotry. Mind you, people up to about 17 still use the words gay and fag as general insults towards peers

slipstreamer

Like the US, Ireland is not as religious as it is made out to be. Just because there are a lot of churches doesn't mean the people are all narrow minded. I have two friends, a lesbian couple, who backpacked all through Ireland without much trouble. They were a little worried before they went, but the worst treatment they received was a few stares in some more rural areas. Not great.. or polite, but nothing that couldn't happen to them in parts of the US either.

They had a wonderful time. Don't worry about it. If someone has a problem - it's their issue. Nothing to do with you.

keep it scrubbin

listen:
dont listen 2 that other guy.
it doesn't matter wat they think of ur orientation, people beat the crap out of them over here too, and yet all this nations gays/lesbians/bi's still walk with their heads held high.
knowing me, if i wuz u, i would walk around in all rainbow chanting gay pride! just to piss them off. lolz.
and im bi, 15, in a south texas school.
believe me dude, i can identify with the discrimination thing.
but ill admit, guyz do have it alot tougher when it comes to being gay or bi.
girls tend to just get bad looks. lolz, good luck, i hear the countryside in ireland is beautiful!
since i assume ur planning 2 travel there? =D

Flying mop dog

Ireland is not very Christian by American standards.
Gay people are usually treated quite well but there are always exceptions.

phil

They beat the crap out of them .

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