Invisible Comrades, Gays And Lesbians In The Irish Struggle

The first issue of the independent magazine An Glór Gafa, “The Captive Voice”, was published and distributed by Sinn Féin’s Prisoner of War Department in 1989. As well as providing information on the draconian conditions faced by Irish POWs and political prisoners, both at home and abroad, the periodical was a platform for the men and women “behind the wire” to speak to the world. Some twenty-six editions of the magazine were printed over the next ten years, overcoming censorship and harassment by the British authorities, until the final volume was issued in 1999. During that time articles and letters by prisoners-turned-writers dealt with a host of different subjects, politics, economics, history, feminism, art and so on in an avowedly progressive manner. Following the recent success of the Belfast Pride Festival I was reminded of one particular piece by Brendí McClenaghan, then a POW in the UK’s infamous Long Kesh (H-Blocks) camp, published in the Winter 1991 edition of An Glór Gafa.

Invisible Comrades, Gays And Lesbians In The Irish Struggle

Gay men and lesbian women have been involved in the struggle for national liberation and independence as long as any other section of our people. You might claim that you have never known nor met a gay man or lesbian woman, but you have met one or more — today, last week, last year, 22 years ago — for they have been among us, in struggle alongside you. The primary reason you have not noticed them is that the prevailing culture in our society in relation to sexuality in general, and homosexuality in particular, compels gays/lesbians to conform, thus their sexuality becomes invisible.

Women as a whole were also once virtually invisible in the national struggle. In recent years, however, they have argued forcefully that women’s liberation must be an integral part of that struggle. In order that the concept of women’s liberation be recognised and accepted as an equal, valid component, women comrades confronted their male counterparts with the contradictions of sexist words and actions. While there is still a long way to go to overcome male chauvinism and sexism, at least today women have succeeded in putting feminist issues on the agenda of the anti-imperialist fight.

It is now time, indeed long past time, to open up debate among republicans on the issue of gay and lesbians, our oppression and its causes, and on our right to be visible equal partners. I believe that national liberation by its very nature incorporates gay/lesbian liberation as an integral part, and it is only through open debate leading to an understanding of gay/lesbian experience that our equality in struggle can be made a reality.

Social and economic oppression is something the people in the whole of Ireland have suffered, and in the north of Ireland the weight of British occupation is an added burden. As gays/lesbians we are doubly oppressed for we had to endure further repression within our families, local communities and within the Republican Movement because of our sexuality. This manifests itself in many ways and affects every part of our lives.

The state’s laws deny equality in marriage, education, social welfare, employment, adoption, life insurance… the list is endless. The state denies gay/lesbian relationships the same recognition as heterosexual relationships under the civil law. While British law allows for consensual relationships between men over 21, the position in the 26 Counties remains that gay men of any age are liable to imprisonment because of their sexuality — and this in spite of the fact that the Dublin government has accepted, in theory, the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that present legislation is in breach of the rights of gay men. Both the British and Irish states have appalling records in the area of gay/lesbian rights, especially when compared to other countries in Europe. The legal age of consent, for example, is 16 in Portugal, Switzerland and Holland.

The legal status of gays/lesbians reflects attitudes in the wider society. All the Churches promote traditional, stereotypical views in relations to matters like contraception, abortion, sex education for young people and the rights of women in marriage. The Catholic Church in particular seeks to maintain its control over our lives and our sexuality. And it has spawned organisations such as Family Solidarity whose views on homosexuality range from the patronising to the downright chilling:

“If homosexual acts are legalised, the likelihood is that this will be interpreted as a major reversal in social policy, and as recognition by society that for those who are so inclined, engaging in these unnatural, unhealthy and immoral acts is now to be seen as a right… [Legislative reform] would send shock waves through every part of society, the structure of marriage and the family would be interfered with, the rights of children and their parents violated and the freedom and autonomy of religious institutions and schools would be seriously breached.” (Family Solidarity News, Spring 1991.)

In short, the end of civilisation as we know it because of men loving men and women loving women. Such attitudes, which are based on intolerance, misinformation and fear, serve only to demonise gays and lesbians in the minds of the Irish people, evoking images of us as depraved men and women wreaking havoc throughout society.

While oppression from the state and the institutions of society adversely affects the quality of life for gays/lesbians, there are other forms of oppression which are as much, if not more, detrimental.

Gays and lesbians face oppression daily from family, comrades, neighbours and friends due to the irrational fear of and of deep prejudice against homosexuality.

The most direct expressions of such homophobia are insults, derision and threatened or actual violence. Indirect expressions are sometimes harder to pin down but are nonetheless just as offensive: the pressures to “be what you are but keep it secret and don’t rock the boat”. This is nothing short of moral blackmail as it is usually accompanied by comments like “What will the family think?”, or “It will harm the Movement/struggle”. Thus gays/lesbians are forced into invisibility within both the community and the Republican Movement, and consequently within the struggle.

This is a situation which must be confronted not only by gays and lesbians but by everyone who espouses the ideals of republicanism. “We declare that we desire our country to be ruled in accordance with the principles of liberty, equality and justice for all”, states the 1919 Democratic Program of the Dáil Éireann. Republicans who have always been to the fore on issue of justice and equality must begin to recognise the oppression of gays/lesbians and to identify with their needs. Republicans must acknowledge and resolve the contradictions in their attitude and behaviour which add to that oppression.

Our participation in the national liberation struggle is not a detraction. On the contrary, our involvement is a reinforcement that the struggle is indeed about the freedom and equality of all who are oppressed. No one should feel excluded. Gay men and lesbian women, especially gay/lesbian comrades within the Republican Movement, must begin the process of full integration and acceptance into the struggle by becoming more visible and making our voices heard on issues that affect us.

The prejudices of others can be resolved only by confronting them and by exposing the oppression that those prejudices give rise to, with the resultant fear, isolation and violence. The experience of such feelings is not imaginary. They are a daily reality for gays and lesbians in the Bogside, Falls, Monaghan, Dungannon, Arydoyne, Ballymun, Crossmaglen and every other town and village in Ireland.

They key to gay/lesbian liberation lies in the success of the national liberation struggle. Gays and lesbians must be a visible part of that struggle so that everyone will recognise that we fought to end the oppression of all. The vital necessity is stressed by those involved in other wars of liberation.

Gays and lesbians need to seek out the strength and support of each other, and of those around us who are receptive to the cause of our liberation. There is a need for gay/lesbian comrades to discuss together the issues that affect our lives and which retard participation in the national liberation struggle. In isolation we stand alone and remain invisible, continuing to be oppressed not only by the state but within our own communities.

Through mutual reinforcement and support we can break down the isolation that each feels and discard the cloak of invisibility that has for too long made a misery of, and destroyed, the lives of gays and lesbians. Together we can articulate the relevance of gay/lesbian liberation, confront the homophobia that faces us and attempt to resolve it through dialogue and discussion. This can only be based on logic and facts, not on the myths and mis-truths deliberately fed to out people by those who seek to maintain control over every aspect of our lives: social, political, cultural, economic and sexual.

Everyone has a role to play in the struggle to end all oppression. Those who are themselves oppressed have an obligation to ensure that they do not contribute in any way to the oppression of others. To do otherwise is to deny the essence of the struggle for “liberty, equality and justice for all.”