Gay activism in Northern Ireland, 1970s-1990s

Abstract

This thesis explores the history of gay activism in Northern Ireland between the 1970s and 1990s. The existing history of Northern Ireland during this time period has focused overwhelmingly on the civil unrest and violence of the Troubles, to the exclusion of other political and social histories. This thesis seeks to address this gap through an examination of political, social and cultural activism during the Troubles, using the Gay Liberation Society, the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association, Cara-Friend and Gay Star as case studies of gay activism. These four separate and distinct case studies of different manifestations of gay activism, undertaken primarily by gay men, demonstrate that in the context of Northern Ireland, the politics of respectability dominated gay activist discourse from the mid-1970s onwards. Although other political ideologies also influenced the character of gay activism in Northern Ireland, such as the countercultural gay liberation movement of the early 1970s, this thesis will demonstrate that the conservative, religious climate of Northern Ireland demanded a different approach to gay rights. This thesis explores early campaigns for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland, which was excluded from the 1967 Sexual Offences Act that legalised sex between men in England and Wales. Additionally, the role played by social and cultural activists in promoting the visibility of the gay community, which has generally been overlooked by queer historians, has also been explored here. By delivering social outreach and befriending services, as well providing gay men with vital communications about the gay community, both locally and internationally, activists fostered a sense of Gay Pride in Northern Ireland. This research is based on extensive archival research using the records of various gay rights organisations and community groups which have included annual reports, minutes of meetings, financial records, publications, posters and correspondence. This thesis has also utilised local newspapers and magazines, as well as parliamentary records, such as Hansard, in order to contextualise gay activism against the wider political crises of the Troubles.

Thesis is embargoed until 31 December 2028.

Date of Award	Dec 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	Northern Ireland Department for the Economy
Supervisor	Kieran Connell (Supervisor) & Sean O'Connell (Supervisor)