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Dublin Pride

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Dublin Pride

The Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival is an annual series of events which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) life in Dublin, Ireland. It is the largest LGBTQ pride festival in the Republic of Ireland. The festival culminates in a pride parade which is held in June. The event has grown from a one-day event in 1974 to a ten-day festival celebrating LGBT culture in Ireland with an expanded arts, social and cultural content.

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The organisation, including the board of directors, is run by volunteers with some paid consultant help. The stated aim of Dublin Pride is to produce a professional pride festival and an annual Pride Day; comprising the parade through Dublin city center, a politically based rally and free entertainment all working for the improvement of LGBTQ communities.

1983 parade

In March 1983, prior to the first pride parade, a march was held from the city centre of Dublin to Fairview Park in the suburb of Fairview, Dublin, protesting the levels of violence against gay men and women in Ireland. In particular, the march was a reaction to the controversial judgement in the Flynn case, when suspended sentences on charges of manslaughter were given to members of a gang found guilty of the 1982 killing of Declan Flynn, a 31-year-old gay man, in Fairview Park, and the subsequent celebrations by some members of the local community following their release.

The first pride parade was held in June 1983. The parade was organised by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation, and followed a route through the city centre of Dublin, from St Stephen's Green to the GPO on O'Connell Street.

1992

A pride parade took place in Dublin on Saturday 4 July 1992.

1993

St. Patrick's Day float

There was a gay float from the National Gay and Lesbian Federation in the 1993 Saint Patrick's Day in Dublin for the first time. However some rotten fruit was thrown at the parade float by members of the public, the Guards arrested the perpetrator. The organisers won a Recognition Award for the float. There was little objection to the inclusion of the float from the St. Patrick's Day organisors (Dublin Tourism), and most members of the public. An Irish-American contingent disapproved.

1994

The Gay Pride parade took place on Sat 24 June 1994. It was the 20th anniversary of the Irish gay movement and 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. It was attended by several hundred people. Marchers chanted "We're gay, we're gay" to the tune of Olé, Olé, Olé. The Lord Mayor, Thomás Mac Giolla, met representatives in the Mansion House as part of the celebrations

1995: Express Yourself

Dublin Pride 1995 was on Saturday 1 July 1995. The then Lord mayor of Dublin, John Gormley, launched "Dublin Pride Week", whose theme was "Express Yourself". The Pride started in the Garden of Remembrance and the party was in The Furnace in Aston Place and were MC'ed by Lilly Savage. It was decided to the memory of The Diceman, Thom McGinty.

1996

Dublin Pride 1996 took place on Saturday 29 June 1996.

1997

The 1997 Dublin Pride Parade was on Saturday 28 June 1998, and was attended by over 2,000 people. Organises criticised the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Brendan Lynch, for not meeting them before the march, after finding previous pride parades were "undignified". Dublin Corporation gave a grant of £200 for the parade, and flew 8 gay pride flags along the banks of the Liffey. The after parade party was in the Civic Offices.

1998

The 1998 parade took place on Saturday 27 June 1998, and started from the Garden of Remembrance. The second international Dyke March took place on Friday 26 June. The organisers met the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Ireland's first Queer Debs Ball took place in Russell Court Hotel in Harcourt Street on Monday 22 June. The RHA Gallery displayed an exhibition of gay and lesbian gay. A gay ceili took place on Tuesday 23 June in the Russell Court Hotel.

1999

The 1999 Dublin Pride parade took place on Saturday 26 June 1999, and went along O'Connell Street. Stephen Gately, singer in famous boy band Boyzone had come out before the parade.

2000

The 2000 Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride March took place on Saturday 24th June 2000, and was attended by 6,000 people. Panti MC'ed the after party, which included performances from Shirley Temple Bar. Marching groups included Gloria, OUTHouse, and Greenbow, a gay and lesbian deaf group, which was their third year in the parade. Events raised funds for OUTHouse and HIV Respite Unit at Cherry Orchard Hospital

2001

The 2001 parade took place on the weekend of 30 June - 1 July and was attended by 6,000 people. Gardai reported no problems. It was at the end of a 2-week Gay Pride Week.

2002

2002 Dublin pride took place on 19 June 2002, and was attendeed by 6,000 people. The Dublin Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade starts on Parnell Square at 2 pm and finishes at the Civic Offices amphitheatre on Wood Quay, where it was followed by the "Pride in the Park" party from 3-6 pm.

2003

The 2003 pride was a celebration of 10 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland, however attendees were campaigning against the lack of state recognition of same sex relationships, with the slogan "Legal Ten, Equal When". The parade took place on the weekend of 5–6 July 2003.

2004

The 2004 parade was held on 3 July 2004, and went from Paranell Square to the Civic Offices at Wood Quay for a free party. There was no trouble, except for a little bit of rain, despite recent robberies targeting gay men. About 3,000 people took part, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Dublin Pride.

2005

The 2005 parade was held on 25 June 2005, and was attendeed by 10,000 people. BeLonG To, the LGBT youth group, took part, along with the usual music, dancing and celebration. The parade was led by an international group waving flags of various countries.

2006

The 2006 parade was held on 24 June 2006, and featured members of political parties, such as Labour and Sinn Féin. About 6,000 people took part. Panti led the post-parade party in the Civic Offices, which featured performances by Shirley Temple Bar, Alternative Miss Ireland winner Joanna Ryde, and Stellar Sound.

2007: "Pride n' Joy"

The theme of the festival was "Pride n' Joy", emphasising the use of celebration as a positive medium to get a message across and to increase the visibility of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community. The grand marshal was Senator David Norris, and it took place on 23 June 2007, with thousands of attendees

2008: "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride"

Grand Marshal – Tonie Walsh

Using the slogan "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride", the 2008 theme highlighted the lack of legal recognition under Irish law of any partnership rights for same-sex couples. The festival was launched by then Irish Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley, TD. Gormley recognised that the proposed partnership legislation was "not the full equality we are seeking, but it is a step towards full equality," and "of real practical value in itself and will make a real difference to the daily lives of many people in committed relationships". Performers at the post-rally gathering included Brian Kennedy, Maria McKee and Tara Blaise.

2009: "Pride and Prejudice?"

The 2009 festival was held 19–28 June. The theme for 2009 was "Pride and Prejudice?" which celebrated pride in the LGBT communities while questioning the community and society in general on attitudes and prejudices. The festival aimed to celebrate diversity and challenge peoples' perceptions of it. This year introduced Dublin Pride's new Arts and Cultural committee to the festival. Turnout figures were estimated at a record 12,500. Performers at the traditional post-parade show at the Civic Offices, hosted by Panti, included, among others, Black Daisy (Ireland's Eurovision Song Contest 2009 entrant), Michele Ann Kelly, Laura Steele, the Kylie Experience, and Katherine Lynch Senator David Norris was Grand Marshal.

2010: "We Are Family Too"

More than 22,000 people marched through Dublin on 26 June 2010. Doctor Lydia Foy was grand marshal. Performers at the Part in the Park at the Civic Offices included DJ Jules in a Lady Gaga tribute act and Niamh Kavanagh, winner of Eurovision Song Contest 1993 who represented Ireland in the Contest again this year. Over 100,000 people participated in the 2010 ten-day Pride festival.

2011: "It's a Human Thing"

With a Garda estimate at over 22,000, more people marched through Dublin on 25 June 2011 than ever before. Michael Barron of BelongTo Youth services was Grand Marshal. Performers at the event in the Civic Offices included Crystal Swing and Niamh Kavanagh, winner of Eurovision Song Contest 1993 returning to perform for a 2nd year in a row. This year seen the introduction of a new event, a Dog Show which was produced as part of the family fun day.

2012: "Show your True Colours"

Grand Marshal – Panti Bliss

The 2012 festival ran from 22 June until 1 July 2012 with the Parade running on Saturday 30 June. That year saw the festival move from Dublin City Council's Civic Offices on Wood Quay to Merrion Square using 3 of the 4 roads around the park and family areas available to use inside the park. It also involved the parade route moving from its traditional route along Dame Street to further south in the city, along Baggot Street to the final destination Event at Merrion Square. The new venue has capacity for up to 15,000 people and space for vendors to sell food and beverages to the public. was Grand Marshal

2013: "Live, Love, Be Proud"

Grand Marshal – Anna Grodzka

2015: "The Future Is Equal"

The parade took place on 27 June 2015.

2016: "Rebel Rebel"

The parade took place on 26 June 2016. Max Krzyzanowski was Grand Marshall.

References

Dublin Pride Wikipedia