Michael McDowell has been invited to open this years Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

by BALANCED VIEW Fri Jul 15, 2005 23:28

How inclusive are you ?

What about people who might not oppose this ?

It is called the other point of view !!

by pink paddy Fri Jul 15, 2005 23:40

a) You're moaning and want to complain to the organizers because he accepted an invitation? That's ridiculous. Surely complain to the organizers for inviting him.

b) Why are you conflating his policies? Having you the backing of any organization on this

by Paul MacDiarmuid Fri Jul 15, 2005 23:44

E-mail the minister and congratulate him. The cops did a great job at Pride in Dublin. And E-mail the organizers and congratulate them for having for intelligence to invite him...

by Reality Check Sat Jul 16, 2005 12:14

What does deporting economic migrants who pose as asylum seekers have to do with a lesbian and gay film festival?

by polymath Sat Jul 16, 2005 12:18

surely there is some girl on girl deportee action.
Or is this a case of one "minority" (on what grounds? are the LGT community so persecuted? ) not showing solidarity with another who are persecuted, who are victimised and who indeed count "LGT" amongst their numbers.

by iosaf Sat Jul 16, 2005 13:15

Because I honestly would have thought such an "intelligent" migrant as scottish Paul above would realise that gender and sexuality issues play a as much a role in migration from oppressive regimes to liberal regimes as economics do.
If you wish to say "thank you" to the Gardaí for their behaviour during your pride march, *which no mainstream political party acknowledged [perhaps it is not a political issue], then invite the Garda Commissioner to open your festival of "girl on girl" and "boy on boy" action. You would have greated political effect if he refused, or more joy listening to what a non-politician would say to you.

If you wish to build a movement based on self-awareness and fulfilment and full and equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens regardless of gender or sexual orientation, then recognise that the majority of lesbians and gays live in the third world (even worse than scotland Paul), and many of them have come to live in europe and ireland and quite a few have been deported by the minister.

There's nothing intelligent about the invitation at all. Remarkably stupid in fact.

by Maggie Sat Jul 16, 2005 14:48

The invitation to McDowell is made by a group who support the recognition of same sex partnerships through their theme of the film festival - Family Values.

Whilst many lesbians and gay men are seeking partnership rights, there are a lot of us who don't want it on the backs of other people in the lgbt community who are discriminated by the minister.

Disabled lesbians and gay men in particular face discrimination fromt he Minister in his introduction of t he Disabilities bill. They also face discrimination in their own community.

Travellers who are lesbian and gay men have similar experiences.

Lesbian women are not included in government action plans tackling gender equality.

Lesbians and gay men from ethnic minorities face racism within the community and a lack of urgency from the Dept in tackling racism in Irish society.

The invitation issued was done by a group of mainly middle class white gay men who are looking for tax breaks for their relationships and recognition of non nationals who live with Irish partners. The Minister has no plans for introducing legislation for these tax breaks and indeed the many lesbian/gay couples with children can forget any chance of having their families recognised either.

This film festival launch will not provide a chance for dialogue or debate and will not be open to the community to attend. The organisers have been asked to facilitate the diversity in the community but have not responded to it yet. The festival committee have their own views of family values and its not incluisve of the great diversity in the lgbt community in Ireland or wider society.

by Pro-GBLT rights- Pro-Migrant rights Sat Jul 16, 2005 15:21

back in November 2004 Residents Against Racism protested [ http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=67423 ] at a meeting of 'National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism' [ http://www.nccri.com ]

why would an Anti-Racism organisation protest against an Anti-Racism organisation?

Because Michael McDowell was using them as cover for his own racist government policies. NCCRI allowed him to give his 'I'm not a racist, I oppose racism' speech [ http://www.justice.ie/80256E01003A02CF/vWeb/pcJUSQ66BFBC-en ] and if it were not for RAR exposing the hypocrisy using media exposure, McDowell would have gotten away with it.

Now it looks as if McDowell can give a speech about anti-homophobia while he's deporting girls tortured and potentially die from Female Genital Mutilation [ http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70880 ]

If this group wants McDowell, then at least allow an open forum for the public to debate him.

by hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (iosaf) Sat Jul 16, 2005 15:26

Details on the Irish Film centre website include this little bit by Festival Programmers Deborah Ballard and Paul Connell
:- "Morel (Le Clan) and Lussi Modeste (Kissing Tigers) both focus on the complex, clannish and competitive relations between brothers in mixed-race or outsider communities, where homosexuality provides yet another twist".

It seems like a politically inept way to promote a same sex civil union legal recognition agenda. If I was in the lesbian gay community, I'd be angry with these people.
& if I was in the hetrosexist conservative anti-gay marriage community, I'd be angry with these people too. But I'm neither. I just care about "oppressed" people and wonder do these organisers and supporters such as Paul above (an ex TCD gay & lesbian rights officer) realise the political mistake they've just made and the disservice to cultural advancement of equality issues.

not all families it would seem...

by Pro-GBLT rights - Pro-Migrant rights Sat Jul 16, 2005 15:49

http://forum.gcn.ie/index.php?s=b47a1b65ac1135bba10fa98f5673b000&showtopic=3463&pid=86721&st=80
if that link doesn't work, try http://tinyurl.com/967dp

by irish citizen Sat Jul 16, 2005 18:16

"If you wish to build a movement based on self-awareness and fulfilment and full and equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens regardless of gender or sexual orientation, then recognise that the majority of lesbians and gays live in the third world (even worse than scotland Paul), and many of them have come to live in europe and ireland and quite a few have been deported by the minister."

- So the Dublin Film LGBT Film Festival should concern itself with the world order? Sorry, that's not what it's about. Would the overthrow of Islamic regimes that oppress women and the LGBT community be order? What if they called for that?

- " and many of them have come to live in europe and ireland and quite a few have been deported by the minister" this is on one of the most ludicrous comments I've seen for a long time. The big question is "how many have been deported"?

- the third world is worse than Scotland? Sorry, no idea what all this scottish stuff is about...

by Up To My Hiltin Edwards - yada Sat Jul 16, 2005 18:31

The comment about no recognitiion from "mainstream" political parties amazes me - do you mean "straight". Do more reading:

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70439&condense_comments=false#comment112189

by christian Sat Jul 16, 2005 18:47

Welcome the guy and let him get down and dirty with the plebes! What a great idea. You're not gonna change your mind on him because talks to a bunch of gays/lesbians, but he might get an inside.
besides, he's got a right to be gay, too...

by mms Sat Jul 16, 2005 20:41

i can tell you that something very impolite happened to me at the closing of the above festival last year.
I was enjoying a drink with a friend of mine at the venue where they decided to organise such event, and we were literally thrown out of the place, and intimidated, just because we were not have been invited to such closure, ( they knew we were not part of this selected group of people attending the closing ceremony), but we were there before the event started, we thought the place was "open to everybody" and we had the idea to ask for a drink...oh my goodness.. but they thought we were taking advantage of their "free drinks" when I even drink

when I asked the day after the organisers for an apology, this didn't happened.
in my country where gay and lesbian marriage is legal, people are not treated like this
!

by the way, how do you get an invitation for the opening of such festival? do you need to be from a political party or show any ID?

by ex-JCR Head Sat Jul 16, 2005 23:18 dufflecoat at tcd dot ie

I think clearly there are 2 Paul McDiarmuid's involved here. I think Mr. Iosaf is referred to the large gay Scottish gentleman who c ame to study in Trinity in the mid-80's and was elected LGBT officer for the students union. Clearly, the other Paul has a different, er, view...

His most famous slogan was "Heterosexist Crap" and on one occassion picketed weddings in the chapel in Trinity's front square 'coz gays weren't allow marry. Ah yes, I can see those blue dungarees and those billy bunter glasses now....

Unfortunately, his manner turned many people off supporting the cause...

Yes, I'm having a flashback, will someone start on about the Anarchy Night Cafe next?

by :-) - {did we deport him? or did he "go into exile"? :-) } Sat Jul 16, 2005 23:30

If a film night is programed for a community interest on a national institution's premises and addresses such macro-political issues as the family, and then to further the pretension invites the minister of justice, a minority party coalition government spokesperson to that event, then those who program it ought not be surprised if their "micro-cultural event" enters "deeper waters".

Do the organisers expect draft legislation from that politician?
Are the organisers aware of the track record of that politician and thus his chances of ever presenting the agenda of their wider community many of whom have suffered due to his legislation, policy and demagoguery?

Which is it? Film night? or political event?

We'll help you with the film nights by fighting the distribution rights, copyrights, limitations on both hard and software you know. Always there for ye.
Or do you really want to make it a "political event"?
Then the minister comes - the minister is protested. the minister goes through the media, or you revoke the invitation. The minister though a bad politician is very wiley. Has anyone told you that?

by ex JCR-head Sat Jul 16, 2005 23:45 dufflecoat at tcd dot ie

Exactly. The opportunities presented by the invitation and acceptance are greater than by the minister not being involved at all. Especially for a minister from the constituency of the Gay Metropolis of Dublin South East.

(I dinnae know where he is)

by mags Tue Jul 19, 2005 14:00

STATEMENT: Look Out! 13th Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
19-07-05 - Look Out!

The Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival has a long history of bringing films and documentaries to our audiences which provoke debate and awareness of issues affecting our communities and the diversity within our community.

Often the Festival is the only public forum in which issues the films raise can be discussed and debated. A major theme of this years festival is ‘Family Values’.

While there has been significant progress in equality legislation in the last decade in Ireland, implementation of equality remains a significant issue, and not just for LGBT people.

Recognition and protection of our family relationships remain as key areas of inequality for us, particularly in relation to the lack of civil marriage or partnership provisions for same sex couples and the lack of recognition of same sex partnerships in immigration and residency regulations

There has been increasing public discussion on these subjects over the last year, and there is a growing consensus that change is required. The challenge for LGBT people is to ensure that policy and legislative changes in these areas are implemented on the basis of full equality.

In this context, to open the Festival, the DLGFF invited the Minister charged by the Government with the responsibility for Law Reform in the key areas of partnership and immigration. This Minister has huge responsibilities to our community. The Minister will be presenting on behalf of the government the Bill to establish our civil rights to partnership and as such should meet a wide membership of our community, at a time when we can at least remind him of the urgency of our concerns.

The Minister and the Department are also responsible for other key areas of concern to our communities including childcare, the Gardai and the Equality Authority. To have the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform address a mainly LGBT audience, for the first time, in the context of the major theme of the festival is a small but constructive step in our dialogue with the government.

The decision to invite the relevant government minister has been criticized by members of our community on the basis of opposition to actions and proposals by the government and by the Minister. Our communities have had to engage with successive governments whose policies in many areas we may not have agreed with; it is a political judgment then whether we should isolate ourselves or should engage with the government, including with the relevant ministers.

In this case, it is our view that this year’s festival provided a significant opportunity to engage with the relevant Minister at a very important time for the community.

by hmmmmmmm Tue Jul 19, 2005 14:15

curious, does one normally seek or expect political representation of a minority community from whomever has the dvd collection?

So on the basis of the dvd collection, it would appear that these self-appointed representatives of the LGBT
community in Ireland are hoping for an Irish equivalent of the French PACS law enacted in 1999 which french LGBT now wish to see extended under their 2005 pride march banner:- "Couples et parentalité: l'égalité maintenant" [ couples and parenthood : equality now ].
But the French LGBT are representative of their community, their political game involves members and support from mainstream parties not just dvd nights...

Curious, that they look to French legislation, and not the other comparative legislative models, the Swiss passed by referendum this year, the Spanish proposed by the Zapatero government and finally enacted this year. Why?

Maybe they are aware of the subtle differences in politics and lobby groups in those states, of the secular state of France, of the clash with Catholicism and subsequent containment of rightwing conservatism to consolidate a longterm socialist mandate in Spain, of the balance between liberty issues and secularism in Switzerland's cantons ...

Oh well, they've got the dvds. They must know what they're doing. Pity they can't count on the support of their community. Has anyone seen "Mcdowell's draft legislation"? Is it for 2005? 2006? 2007? 2008? Will Mcdowell face down the "rightwing of eire"? Will he still be in coalition with them?

People who organise DVD nights are generally remarkably stupid when it comes to politics.

by - Sat Jul 23, 2005 16:58

from today's Belfast Telegraph

by Mary Fitzgerald

NORTHERN Ireland is ready to host the United Kingdom's first ever gay wedding - because of differences in the legislation which will usher in such unions in December.

The Civil Partnership Act will come into force on December 5 - allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally register their relationship for the first time.

And while the legislation falls short of describing such unions as a 'marriage', it means same-sex couples will be able to make a legal commitment giving them the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual married couples.

This includes pension and property rights, exemption on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits and next-of-kin status.

After the law comes into effect, there is a 14-day notification period (15 days in the rest of the UK) before any registrations can take place, making December 20 the first day on which same-sex couples in Northern Ireland can legally be bonded.

Gay and lesbian couples in the rest of the UK will have to wait until December 21.

A spokesman for the province's General Register Office confirmed the difference between notification periods in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, explaining that similar rules apply to marriage laws here.

The civil partnership legislation has proved controversial, with Unionist MPs opposing the move at Westminster.

So far, some 12 couples have provisionally booked a civil partnership at Derry's registry office while five couples have made a provisional booking with the registrar in Belfast.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/

any Northern Irish LGBT dvds?

by % Fri May 26, 2006 16:09

He was prevented from speaking earlier today by a group of people who perhaps don't like migrants, perhaps don't like poor people, perhaps aren't interested in prison building, perhaps aren't in favour of sex education, perhaps think all virginity is lost over 18 years of age, but know one thing -
How to use the P-e-r-v-e-r-t word.
Mc dowell has long been the greatest liability to re-election prospects of both government coalition partners, his own PD party & that of FF. He's been the greatest liability for many reasons - his love of bluster and bluff, talking tough, (something even Bush now claims to see the mistake of) and most of all his constant use & manipulation of media to boost his perceived moral authority when dealing with difficult issues or his just as regular disappearance acts. But one set of people who he really should known better than to annoy (or have annoyed) are :- "the angry mammies & daddies of lumpen intolerance land". They are a very scary bunch. Thats why we have parental guidance.

It remains to be seen how the various LGBT lobby and representative groups in Ireland continue their campaigns for "full equality". But they are very capable people, growing to self realisation in a society where "the angry mammies & daddies of lumpen intolerance" set the agenda of cat-calling, bullying, stereotyping and background rumour, hones their abilities.

It is my opinion, (& I'm not one of the LGBT community) that they will win their agenda in the future, and ironically contribute to ending the political career of Mc dowell. We need to adress gender education and diversity issues in Ireland. They go together, and the PD's have very little to contribute to that.