From The Editor

The reaction to our newly-redesigned GCN magazine and website has

Esteemed Contributors

What’s your favourite queer movie and why? We got some eclectic answers

Focál Up!

This month we’re having words about…

Amuse Bouche

Joe Barrett has been in the restaurant business for most

Made ‘n’ Shade

Mr Taoiseach has made the cover of Time magazine. It’s

Queer View Mirror

There’s nothing like an unfair law imposing itself on the

The Book Guy

What’s on Stephen Boylan’s besdide table this month?

Bi+Ireland Network

Motivated by a desperate need for a judgement-free space to explore issues relating to bi-identity, the Bi+Ireland Network was born. Here some of the members talk to Ciara McGrattan about inding acceptance and promoting visibility

Shirley’s Burn Book

This month Bethany Byrd has an amazing ability to suppress her gag reflex, and…

Modern Anthem 001 Charting The Songs We Love So Well

Ten years ago, ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’ became a mega-hit, turning queer-underground American rockers Gossip, and lead singer Beth Ditto into mainstream stars. It’s a queer anthem that’s more relevant than ever, says

Loving Ann Louise

In June we lost the powerful force for positive change that was Ann Louise Gilligan. Together with her wife, Minister Katherine Zappone TD, Ann Louise began Ireland’s journey towards marriage equality in 2004 when they took a case against the Government to have their Canadian marriage recognised by the State. Here, Katherine shares the beautiful speech she gave at Ann Louise’s life celebration, while Grainne Healy of Marriage Equality pays tribute to a woman who helped change Ireland

Dave Roche

At GCN we were deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of veteran LGBT+ and animal welfare activist, and beloved Cork native, Dave Roach on July 1. In a moving tribute to Dave, his partner Paul O’Sheah remembers the man he loved, and celebrates his legacy

Lesbian Rep

Directed by a queer woman, with an all- female crew, the ilm Below Her Mouth has been lauded and panned for its graphic female sex scenes, but is it a step forward for lesbian representation, or just more of the same? Róisín McVeigh charts the evolution of the modern lesbian on screen, and inds it’s still a straight, white man’s game ater all

In Conversation: Nan Goldin & Vivienne Dick

Legendary queer photographer Nan Goldin agreed to do just two interviews when visiting Dublin for the opening of her exhibition with Irish feminist lmmaker, Vivienne Dick at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. One of them was with GCN, and we decided it would be good to get the two women together for a conversation. Mary Nally took just about a minute to agree to put it on the record

U=U

When we heard about this new campaign that’s radically changing HIV positive lives for the better, we knew we had to help spread the word. But its subversive message makes some people very uncomfortable, according to creator Bruce Richman. Words by Andrew Leavitt of ACT UP Dublin. Photo by Alina Oswald

Adam Shanley

We need to dismantle so much of what we have believed about what it means to be HIV positive

The Varadkar Paradox

With the election of Leo Varadkar to Taoiseach, Ireland has become only the fourth country in the world to have an out gay prime minister. While the Irish mainstream media have celebrated the fact, the response from many in the LGBT+ community has been cautious at best. It’s a paradox that would have been unimaginable in 2007, when Varadkar irst entered politics

Adam Long

The elevation of an openly gay person to the office of Taoiseach should be seen as a positive development in its own right

Oisín McKenna

It doesn’t matter what Leo Varadkar is or symbolises; it matters what he does

Inside Out

Linda Cullen irst came to prominence in 1990 with the irst Irish lesbian novel, The Kiss. Since then she’s become one half of the powerhouse behind Coco Television, which includes First Dates Ireland amongst its diverse roster of productions. Her latest project, The 34th, the story of the Marriage Equality organisation in Ireland, will debut as the opening ilm at this year’s GAZE