From: Eugene McElroy <emcelroy@igc.apc.org>
Subject: IRELAND: Gay 'Ra member writes
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 22:10:29 GMT

                          INVISIBLE COMRADES: 
                    GAYS AND LESBIANS IN THE STRUGGLE

                          by Brendi McClenaghan
       (Currently a Prisoner of War in Long Kesh aka Maze Prison)
              taken from 'The Captive Voice'/'An Glor Gafa
             the Voice of Irish Republican Prisoners of War
                               Winter 1991
                               **********

      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, that 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 recognized 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 {Southern Ireland}
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 organizations such
as Family Solidarity whose views on homosexuality range from the patronizing to
the downright chilling:
                      "If homosexual acts are legalized, 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 civilization 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 deionize 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, neighbors 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 Programme of
the Dail Eireann {Irish Parliament}. Republicans who have always been to the
fore on issue of justice and equality must begin to recognize the oppression of
gays/lesbians and to identify with their needs. Republicans must acknowledge
and resolve the contradictions in their attitude and behavior which add to that
oppression.
      Our participation in the national liberation struggle is not a detraction;
on the contrary, out 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 recognize that we fought to end the oppression of all. The
vital necessity is stressed by those involved in other wars of liberation.
      Simon Nkoli. a gay activist involved in the Delmas treason trial in South
Africa in 1986, has this to say:
           "There are lots of gay activists involved in political organizations,
but because of the pressure put upon the gay and lesbian community we are
afraid to come out. 'What will people think if they know I am a gay person? I'd
better fight against apartheid in a hidden way.' The danger of that is that
when South Africa is liberated we as gay people will seem never to have taken
part in liberating our people. What will we say if people ask, 'What did you do
to bring about change in this country, where were you during the battle?' We'd
have to come back to them and say 'We were with you but we didn't want you to
know we were there.' That would be a foolish answer."
      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'.
                                *********

The Captive Voice/An Glor Gafa is available from:
                                Sinn Fein
                              The POW Dept
                            51/55 Falls Road
                                 Belfast

                                  -or-

                              An Glor Gafa
                         c/o Irish Northern Aid
                              4951 Broadway
                           New York, NY 10034
                            tel: 212-567-0707
                               **********
for other news on Ireland in Peacenet, see 'reg.ireland'. 
eugene mcelroy
       

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