L'équivalent irlandais de Little Britain!
A village in Ireland is going gay for a day in what is thought to be the smallest gay pride event in the world. Today the tiny coastal hamlet of Easkey in Co Sligo, which has just two shops, two pubs, two butchers and a post office, is urging heterosexual residents to "go gay" as an act of solidarity. "We are hoping to attract around 80 people out of a population of just 250," says Denise Clarke, a 48-year-old interior designer and artist who has lived in Easkey for 10 years.
"There is a trend now in Ireland where gay people are leaving the big cities and returning to their rural roots," she said. "It is no longer a necessity to run off to Dublin or London or Manchester to 'come out'. As a society we have moved on and are more broadminded and accepting."
Denise admitted that when she first moved to Easkey 10 years ago, she was ostracised. "People were afraid of the new lesbian in town" she said. "One woman even rang around the local farmers to warn them that their wives could be in danger. It was just a lot of fear and some ignorance, but an event like this today helps dispel those myths and brings the townfolk together."
Village store manager Michael Gordon said: "Gay people are the same as every body else." He has lived in Easkey all his life, helped rebuild two churches in the area and knows everyone in the town. "Ireland is a tolerant place now, thank God," he said. "Rural Ireland has grown up."
Mother-of-five Linda O'Dowd was at pains to point out that not long ago people were ostracised for being unmarried mothers. "I have no idea if any of my kids are gay, but I would totally support them," she said. "I don't see anything wrong with it whatsoever.
Easkey doesn't even attract a lot of visitors. It is best known as a surfing destination but is also renowned for salmon fishing. "At one stage we even had a restaurant in the village," said pub landlord Vincent O'Brien. "But there aren't enough visitors now to support such a venture. This year in particular has seen few tourists with the recession."
O'Brien is encouraging staff in the Fisherman's Weir to wear "gay for a day" badges on their lapels and said that the celebrations were a good thing. "In general people are being positive about it, but I have heard a few of the lads cracking jokes," he added.
The Easkey Pride celebrations are part of a larger umbrella group – North West Pride – incorporating several western counties such as Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim – and began in 2006 when a group of people from Sligo and Leitrim organised a gay pride event for their families and friends. Traditionally, gay pride events only took place in big cities like Dublin and Cork. The first North West Pride attracted huge support from politicians, community groups, businesses and local residents, according to Una Foster, one of the organisers.
"Friends and neighbours rushed from the pavement to hug people taking part, it was beyond our expectations," she said. "An elderly man approached me outside the City Hall and said: 'This is a great day for Sligo.' That's how important it is to some people who may never join in themselves: people who've kept their secret all their lives, people whose relatives left under a cloud, people who came home to look after their parents and thought they could never live openly again."
Homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland in 1993, and discrimination based on sexual orientation is now outlawed. Ireland also forbids incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation.
"There are 107 Family Resource Centres [FRCs] scattered throughout Ireland and they are obliged as part of policy to support people who are marginalised," explained Pat Hegarty, co-ordinator of Easkey's FRC. Hegarty's daughter Sarah is gay and lives in Manchester.
Hegarty and Denise Clarke came up with the idea of "gay for a day" as a way to make heterosexual people feel comfortable joining in the celebrations. "It's all about inclusiveness," said Pat. "It's no different to the world going Irish for the day on St Patrick's every March."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/09/ireland-easkey-gay-pride-day
