Irish in London – Page 19 – London Irish LGBT Network

Yvonne’s Story: Finding The Gold At The End of My Rainbow

For Pride month, we asked some of our members if they would like to write their story and tell us of their ‘Pride’. If you would like to get involved email: londonirishlgbtnetwork@gmail.com

Today, Yvonne tells her story

Finding The Gold At The End of My Rainbow

By Yvonne Devine

My story is the opposite of many…..I emigrated to London from Ireland in my 40s. I envied LGBTQ people who seemed to have left in their 20s and ended up in strong partnerships. I chose college and working and studying my way around Ireland (as well as other travel) resulting in me realising my feelings at 26 and not declaring them til 29 due to adverse conditions in my workplace of homophobic bullying by a Supervisor. I found out years later there was an Equality Tribunal that LGBTQ people could contact to complain.

I had already endured years of loneliness and isolation which led to low self-esteem and lack of confidence and had developed a coping mechanism of alcohol misuse. At least I hadn’t thrown myself in the river I thought, like the stories I heard on a frequent basis……but I sometimes wondered what would be my future.

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Our Life Stories

Hannah’s Story: Life would Be Boring If We Were All The Same…

For Pride month, we asked some of our members if they would like to tell their story and why they are proud. If you would like to contribute, please email londonirishlgbtnetwork@gmail.com

Here’s another of these stories but first, grab yourself a cuppa.

Life would Be Boring If We Were All The Same…

by Hannah Doran

I always knew I was different. And I thought I knew why. None of my friends had Irish blood, none of them were dragged off to church on a Sunday, nor were they aware of the mythical lands that are the County Mayo. I had somehow escaped being sent to the local Catholic schools. That’s why I knew I was different, oh and being the product of an act of parliament but that’s another story. And I conned myself into believing that because that was the easy way out even through it didn’t address the simple fact that I wanted to be a girl.

My childhood at times was quite lonely, yes I had friends but few of them were really close. I struggled to fit in at times simply because I didn’t fit in. I knew that I would have been much happier French skipping with the girls instead of half-heartedly chasing a football around at Junior school. And then there was that small question of why I was on the only ‘boy’ who didn’t mind wearing a dress in the school play. Oh and that other question that kept coming up…”Why couldn’t I have just been born a girl?”

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News

Out in The World: Exhibition Launch

Join us and other member of the Irish LGBTQ diaspora for ‘Out in The World‘, a new exhibition, which will be hosted in Dublin by the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, in partnership with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

The exhibition has been curated by Dr Maurice J. Casey who has been a champion of the LGBTQ community and a friend of the London Irish LGBT Network for a number of years. Maurice gave a talk for us on his paper ‘Radical Politics, The 8th and LGBT Activism in the Republic of Ireland 1973-1990.

The online launch takes place on June 8th at 6.30pm and will feature our Chair, Vanessa Monaghan, speaking as a voice of the Irish LGBTQ diaspora. You need to register for your free ticket on Eventbrite.

You can visit the exhibition EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin from June 8th to December 1st 2021. Here’s the fun part: ‘Out in The World’ will also tour to select locations across the world in 2022. Hopefully London will be one of those stops!

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