Aiteach Zine #5
Accessible version beneath the issuu slides
Must-see Queer Documentaries by Rían Browne
Also parenting, bi, spirituality, Star Trek, and so much more!
Wexford Pride committee report inside.
Contributors Veronica Victor (she/her), John Cunningham-Ryan (he/him), Vic Kelly-Victor (they/them), CC Darlington (they/them), Andrei Boyd (he/him), Rían Browne (he/him), Dorn Simon (she/her).
CONTENTS
Report - Vic Kelly-Victor
Gender - Rían Browne
Bi - Dorn Simon
Film - Rían Browne
Spirituality - Andrei Boyd
Parenting - CC Darlington
Colouring Page - Veronica Victor
Entertainment - John Cunningham-Ryan
Position listing
New events!
Proudly LGBT+
Please send all inquires to Aiteach.wexford.pride@gmail.com
COMMITTEE REPORT
VIC KELLY-VICTOR
It's funny looking back on August: I thought we didn't get up to much, but we actually did a lot, just without the usual immediate publicly visible impact!
One thing that we worked on was the communication with TDs about the appalling lack of proper healthcare available for trans people in Ireland. One TD for Wexford, James Browne, who is also the Minister of State for Law Reform, raised the question in the Dáil, specifically calling out the National Gender (dis)Service (NGS). He received responses from the NGS and the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, and we have been working on our responses to them. We cannot leave it with no response, particularly because the NGS blatantly lied in their response to the Ministers.
Will this have an impact? On its own, probably not. But change is made up of many small actions – unfortunately, the system we live in is very resistant! We're determined to pursue this and keep pushing with the actions we can take.
As some of you know, Wexford Pride members attended the counter protest on the Wexford Quay on August 12. A far right group had a planned action to distribute misinformation about people seeking international protection, trans people, vaccines, and migrants — the usual fearmongering and vicious bigotry. The counter protest went well, with a couple of your committee members helping to organise our presence and safety.
The Gardaà have for some time been asking for someone from Wexford Pride to meet the Diversity Officer for Wexford. That meeting took place in August. We didn't approach it lightly – we are well aware of members of Wexford Pride who've had negative experiences with the Gardaí and we don't want our members to feel unsafe. At the same time, we cannot pretend that the Gardaí don't exist and it seems better to have some line of communication. Vic (they/them) took the meeting with Garda David J. Fitzgerald (he/him).
We also started work on organising new groups and events for our community:
An Ace/Aro Peer Support Group that will run online, one session per month, open to anyone in Ireland who needs support around asexuality and demisexuality
A Game Night, once per month at Mountain Gremlin Games in Castlebridge
An Art Club, also once per month at Mountain Gremlin Games in Castlebridge
These events join the online Book Club, the in-person LGBTQIA+ Peer Support Group, and Tea on the Quay to fill out our calendar from September through December. And we have plans for a couple more events too!
Your committee members are: John Cunningham-Ryan (he/him, Secretary), Rían Browne (he/him, Public Relations Officer), Veronica Victor (she/her, Community Liaison), and me, Vic Kelly-Victor (they/them, Treasurer).
– Vic Kelly-Victor
GENDERED SPACES: WHAT’S IN A HAIRCUT?
RIAN BROWNE
Be it a barber, a hairdresser or a unisex salon – a visit that most may consider quite ordinary and mundane can be incredibly daunting and anxiety-provoking for many trans, non-binary or gender nonconforming people.
Something as ‘small’ as a haircut can have a massive effect on how we feel within ourselves, it can be incredibly validating and create a sense of intense gender euphoria to have your appearance accurately reflect your identity and how you would like to express it, in the same way, certain clothes or accessories can. But oftentimes, the experience can actually cause anxiety and dysphoria.
By design, barbers/hairdressers are incredibly gendered places.
I remember the intense discomfort I felt as a closeted trans person when I made a visit to the hair salon near to where I lived. It was intensely feminine, in terms of decor, pink designs everywhere accompanied by large posters of stylish women. The shop itself would be buzzing with women getting their weekly blow dry, gals getting their nails or tan done, copies of Hello! Or Marie Claire sprawled next to each station.
As a transmasculine person, it created an intense sense of dysphoria. It reminded me of not only how I was expected to behave and present but also the retribution if I didn’t. t I knew I was seen as the ‘queer’ (or ‘quare’ in the Wexford sense of the word) customer compared to the other regular patrons for my choice to wear my hair quite short and in various different shades of the rainbow.
I remember asking for my head to be shaved for charity (and my own gender expression agenda) after a year spent as a peroxide blonde and it became the talk of the salon! ‘Oh I could never do that, ‘that’d look too manly on me’, ‘couldn’t go that short at all sure I don’t have the face shape, I’d end up looking like a fella’. While in my own head, I had my fingers crossed I would (after all it was kind of the point). Of course, there wasn’t anything meant by this, it was purely an expression toward a person perceived as a cis woman breaking the norms expected of ‘her’.
Flash forward a year on, to another experience as a cautiously out baby queer in a new city. After some research, I found myself in a barbershop that seemed I could ‘get away’ with visiting.
It had all the hallmarks of a traditional barber - it was hyper-masculine, with a strong waft of aftershave as you passed by the door, it was small and compact and often overflowing with guys queuing for a fade before a weekend out on the tear. You would think entering into such a space would actually make me feel validated in my identity (because it’s full of iconography that aligned with my own gender expression) but all it really did was remind me of how I was ‘lacking’, how I didn’t really ‘pass’ and I was ‘not enough’ as a transmasculine person and would not be viewed as such. I was counting up the ways in which I could be ‘clocked’ and booted out the door.
It felt intimidating, it took me a good month to work up the courage to darken its door. My palms were sweating, my heart was racing, and I wore the most masculine clothes I could find in my wardrobe to try to look ‘the part’. I received a couple of perplexed stares, I definitely didn’t look or sound like their usual cis customers. But, I took my seat and waited. The only female barber swapped clients with another barber to take me on. An accommodation I’d experienced a lot. I think, in most cases, they feel they’re doing a good thing, in being misgendered as a cis woman they may think you’d be more comfortable with ‘one of your own’ or worst case the male barbers believe they can’t cut a ‘woman’s’ hair. Both of these assumptions are of course ridiculous as the gender of the person cutting my hair makes no difference - hair grows the same regardless of the head it’s on. The female barber then went on to give me the standard back and sides, but made sure to top it off with a very feminising quiff that I definitely did not ask for in order to ‘soften it up a bit’.
Throughout many of these visits, the fear of rejection raced through my head, the pressure of emulating gender just correctly enough to get what I needed to be affirmed in my body, but only by the rules those spaces were governed by.
I’d go to great lengths to try to blend in or emulate what was expected of me by lowering my voice, and adjusting my physicality to avoid anything that even remotely feminizes me. This created deep anxiety around ‘passing’ (which admittedly, I do not have any interest in) in order to access something as simple as a haircut because I knew it’d make the entire ‘ordeal’ easier. I know that if I don’t I would be met with well-meaning but dysphoria inducing small talk, being treated differently to other patrons or being rejected altogether.
While living in the Netherlands I was met with the same experience I had had at home - only with the addition of a language barrier. After some research, I did manage to stumble across a barber that had just established a shop that catered to trans, queer and gender non-conforming people.
I nervously contacted them and booked an appointment. Taking a train to the next city over the following week, I was full of the same anxieties and apprehensions only for them to be entirely washed away at the door.
The barbershop was the antithesis of everything I had experienced before. I was welcomed in minus the confused glances, but instead with bright eyes and a smile. The shop itself was beautifully decorated with plants and pride flags - it was an open and welcoming space. I was immediately included in the conversation, offered some refreshments and made to feel like I was almost visiting a friend for a coffee and a chat. I felt at ease and most importantly, I felt I was accepted as me rather than an anomaly that just walked through the door. My rehearsed facade melted away and I had to understand what it looked like for me to take up space authentically, which I had not been prepared for.
What was most meaningful to me during that visit was the conversation I had with the barber in the chair. They appreciated how meaningful a simple haircut could be in terms of alleviating dysphoria. When I showed them the style I was looking for, we had a short conversation about why that particular cut spoke to me, how it made me feel, and what I hoped to get from it - which sounds like quite a deep conversation for a haircut - but for me, it was massive. Here was this person who got it.
The rest of my time there I was so at ease, I was happy and content and most of all felt validated in who I was. It was powerful and left me incredibly moved. I don’t think any barber visit since has been able to recreate that feeling of pure euphoria in my gender expression and identity that I felt on the train ride home that day, it was something magical.
This is not to say, that only queer people know how to cater to queer patrons. Of course, there’s a shared experience there that is highly beneficial but that does not mean, those who do not belong to the community, but who may find themselves working with us cannot take steps to ensure their service is more inclusive of its trans and queer patrons.
It is also not a mammoth undertaking. I would not expect every barber, hairdresser or unisex salon to transform into a standardised, uncharismatic shop with zero signs of anything remotely gendered. What would be more beneficial to trans and queer clients would be the cultivation of an environment within the space wherein everyone regardless of perceived expression or identity is treated equally with the dignity and respect they deserve. Adopting a culture that supports the building of a space where diversity is not only acknowledged but celebrated, that holds the potential to connect to a deeper sense of significance and community held within them.
– Rían Browne
Adapted from https://rianwrites.home.blog/2020/05/15/gendered-spaces-whats-in-a-haircut/ (15th May 2020)
BISEXUAL, PANSEXUAL, QUEER… AND TRADITIONAL?
DORN SIMON
In Irish style...”wha?” Can this be a thing?
YES!
Odd I know, as it is something I have struggled to come to terms with myself. That moral thinking, coating a traditional mind within a bisexual being, body and yearning.
Here’s the thing, being Bi does not take away your preference for morality, monogamy, or seeking that traditional partnering, even if one is partial to a little kinky play.
One can even add in the constructs of behavioural patterns, such as celibacy, whether intermittently between partners and relationships or by a designated choice of duration.
Traditional:
Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established. "the traditional festivities of the Church year"
Produced, done, or used in accordance with tradition. "a traditional fish soup"
Habitually done, used, or found.
"the traditional drinks in the clubhouse" Wikipedia explains.
How does this apply to a Bisexual individual and their love life?
Well, I would have to say that it means having a solid approach to that love life, regardless of whether it is a Bi coupling, a Bi in a heteronormative relationship, or a single Bi seeking a partner or not.
Wanting that soulmate connection, having a perceived relationship in mind, that incorporates a mutual loving and acting dynamic, a long-lasting partnership, a moral agreement and a ‘going steady exclusively’ type vibe.
Taking the traditional union of the marriage of two people in love, making an oath whether officially or not, to be in a relationship together, solely on the trajectory to growth, union, love and partnership.
Being Bi or even in the scene does not mean one does not wish to have this traditional style of bonding, living and loving.
The variants are of course more complex, as it takes two people with the same goals, on top of the sexuality factors.
I wonder how many others presenting as Bi have this mindset or seek such a union? Not being a scene person per se myself, perhaps it is only a few, maybe not.
As psychology pretty much rules our minds, and how they oft clash with our desires or needs, it is easily recognised that each person has their own set of constructs, their own needs and wants in life, and sexuality or relational dynamics fall into this like any person whether bi, a person with a hetero nature or even through a neurotypical lens, most assuredly so through a neurodiverse one.
Wanting a traditional partnership with an equally traditional person is part of life, not negating their sexuality or nature.
However, it is hard to define ‘traditional’ when being Bi is already so diverse in itself, it truly boils down to the individuals themselves, as people rather than as a label, as we have noted in previous columns, bisexuality is a way of life regardless of the dynamics one finds oneself in, it is far beyond a preference or choice, it is a part of the interwoven molecular structure of the person, creating that polarity regarding sexuality, a Bi person is ‘born Bi’, they find it hard ‘not’ to be bi, they could not change it if they tried, or where society tries to, or churches try using heinous attempts at conversion therapies...it will not work!
Bi is bi, end of.
Bye from one bi to the others, Dorn Simon.
– Dorn Simon
LEGACY, PERSPECTIVE & VISION: THE IMPORTANCE OF QUEER DOCUMENTARIES
RIAN BROWNE
We’re currently living through a moment in time where we have the most access to depictions of queer history, life stories and storytelling than ever before. While queer experiences have historically been subject to censorship, exclusion and silencing, queer filmmaking and documentaries have provided a key outlet to preserve and connect to the culture, artistry, lived experience and storytelling both past and present that comprise the LGBTQIA+ community. Living in a world that seeks to isolate and erase queer existence, documentary films, in particular, hold a deep power in defying those that would others prefer for us to not exist, giving voice to experiences most marginalized while holding a mirror to the community for reflection and growth. What follows is a non-exhaustive collection of some lesser-known, contemporary and international film recommendations you should add to your to-watch list.
Bloodsisters: Leather, Dykes and Sadomasochism (Dir: Michelle Handelman, 1995)
‘Nature delights in diversity, why don’t human beings’. An in-depth documentary that explores delivers an A-Z account of San Francisco’s leather dyke scene. ‘Bloodsisters’ explores and challenges normative assumptions of gender non-conformity and lesbian sexuality within the S/M community and beyond. Toward the late nineties, the documentary found itself at the heart of a censorship debate, attacked in US Congress for its depictions of ‘radical lesbian sexuality’. Interviews with community members and pioneers including Patrick Califia and Tala Brandeis are interspersed with artistic explorations of S/M practices and clips from community gatherings and workshops. Almost 30 years on ‘Bloosdsisters’ captures queer identity and radical sexuality that continues to inform conversations queer expression, sexual fluidity and identity today.
Defiance: Voices of a New Generation (Harry Itie, 2020)
Defiance explores the lives of young queer individuals in Nigeras LGBTQ+ community. It set against the community’s struggle against colonial homophobia, reinforced by the modern wave of social and religious conservativism. Through exploring the laws that impact the lives of LGBTQIA+ people in Nigeria the documentary highlights the stories of bold activism and courageous visibility in defiance of the criminalisation of queer existence. It also explores the laws in Nigeria and how they affect the personal lives of LGBT+ people in the country.
How To Tell A Secret (Dir: Ann Rogers & Shaune Dunne, 2022)
Drawing from director Shaun Dunne's play ‘Rapid’, How To Tell A Seceret this hybrid film blurs a mixture of documentary filming, performance and storytelling to capture a powerful narrative of the experience of living with HIV in Ireland. Thematically the films focus on the process of disclosure and the misconceptions, prejudice and stigma surrounding it with the message of U=U having a predominant presence throughout (undetectable = untransmittable refers to those living with HIV who are on treatment with an undetectable viral load cannot pass it on to a partner). The film features the stories of Robbie Lawlor, an Irish HIV activist and one of the youngest people to come on public television and drag performer Enda McGrattan/Veda Lady who vowed to keep his status a secret. The film also captures stories from a group of Irish and migrant women, who cannot show their faces, but whose voices are creatively incorporated so that their experiences, often silenced and excluded from conversations surrounding HIV, are heard. The film also pays tribute to iconic street performed Thom McGinty, better known as The Diceman who performed on the streets of Dublin through the 1980s and early 90s and was one of the first to speak openly in Ireland about AIDS. The film portrays a powerful message capturing the nuances of the contemporary experience of living with HIV in modern Ireland.
Southern Comfort (Dir: Kate Davis, 2001) (cover image)
‘Southern Comfort’ follows the life of Robert Eads, a 52-year-old trans man living in rural Georgia. The film focuses on the final years of Robert’s life following an ovarian cancer diagnosis which saw dozens of doctors refuse treatment on the basis of his gender identity. The film captures the intimate family dynamic and relationships built by Eads including his romantic relationship with Lola and his sons Max and Cas, younger trans men Robert took under his wing. The film follows their journey toward Ead's final wish to attend Atlanta’s Southern Comfort Conference, a prominent annual gathering for the transgender community. Participation in Davis’ film constituted a great risk for all involved, with Eads's agreement to open up the most intimate aspects of his world to Davis, securing the knowledge he will have passed upon its release. However, the film evades a ‘tragedy porn’ narrative and captures the experiences of trans people navigating medical transphobia, social exclusion and grief through love, courage and humour
Tras (TG4, 2020)
Featured as part of TG4’s ‘Tabú’ series Tras features the story of a young Irish trans couple, Max and Victoria as they navigate the obstacles and challenges in forging their identities as young trans people. Over the course of six months, the film follows the pair in their journey to access essential gender-affirming care and forge their identity as trans people in Irish society. The documentary follows the couple as Max, prepares to travel to Warsaw, Poland to pursue gender-affirming surgery that cannot be accessed in Ireland. The film captures the intertwining personal journies through the nuances and challenges of trans experience including the unique and personal experience of social and medical transition as queer young people. The bilingual film avoids sensationalism and instead frames Max and Victoria's journey through the lens of the importance of support systems grounded in love and trust while highlighting the social and medical inequality trans people in Ireland continue to face.
Flee (Dir: Jonas Pher Rasmussen, 2021)
‘Flee’ is a Danish documentary which tells the story of Amin, who, about to embark on marriage to his partner feels compelled to recount his story that he had kept secret for nearly two decades prior. Through the powerful use of animation Amins’ identity is protected as he shares the story of grappling with self and identity as he makes the treacherous journey with his family fleeing persecution in his home of Afghanistan to Denmark. Amin recounts the extraordinary personal narrative that he has carried within himself until now and grapples with how his past may impact his future as he embarks on a new chapter in building a life with his soon-to-be husband. As Amin opens up for the first time about his family, trauma and sexuality the documentary captures a moving, visceral and dangerous journey of a young gay man navigating identity, self and belonging with a relentless will, strength and determination demanded by a system of conflict, xenophobia and heteronormativity.
Are You Proud? (Dir: Ashley Joiner, 2019)
Combining archival footage and interviews Are You Proud? tracks the historic journey of the UK’s LGBTQIA+ movement. The film calls attention to the historic marginalization of the queer community through successive conservative governments through to historic achievements while highlighting the continued struggle to achieve equality and liberation for all corners of the community and the tough questions of the future for LGBQTIA+ rights in the UK.
Tongues Untied (Dir: Marlon T Riggs, 1989)
This experimental film blends documentary, personal accounts and poetry to ‘“shatter the nation’s brutalizing silence on matters of sexual and racial difference”. The film deconstructs images of black masculinity and black gay identity, challenging the exclusion, and prejudice faced by black gay men in a community that privileges whiteness and often lacks intersectional awareness of race and sexuality. The film addresses the hypersexualisation of black men for the purposes of white pleasure while addressing the ‘silence’ placed upon black gay man due reinforced by the intersections of patriarchial masculinity, racism and homophobia. The radical use of music, poetry and dance articulates the experience of black gay masculinity in the late 80s’ that remains relevant today.
Classics & Honourable Mentions:
Paris Is Burning (Dir: Jenny Livingston,1990)
Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen (Dir: Sam Feder, 2020)
Circus of Books (Rachel Mason, 2019)
How To Survive A Plague (David France, 2012)
The Queen (Francis Simon, 1968)
– Rían Browne
THE CHOSEN ONES
ANDREI BOYD
There is a lot of talk in the spiritual community about being a “Chosen One”. The idea that some souls have incarnated in this lifetime to save humanity from its impending demise. This Saviour mentality is ripe in many, if not all, spiritual ideologies and is one that many spiritualist “newbies” deal with as they embark on their path of healing.
It’s something we often see when a person undergoes change through a new belief system. The need to save everybody else from themselves. I certainly threw facts and figures at the people around me once I became a vegan only to begin eating meat again two years later. I absolutely preached my health and fitness beliefs onto others when I began fasting and lifting weights. And, as so many do, I separated people into low vibrational energies and high vibrational energies. I walked around with a halo over my head and metaphorical flyers to give to anyone that needed enlightening.
You see, I had all of the answers. I knew that if people would just adhere to the teachings that helped me they would find themselves able to heal the things that held them back in their own lives.
I look back in horror as I remember that period of my journey. Now the more I know the more I realise how little I know. How little WE know. There are some deeply powerful and profound practices that trigger phenomenal healing and connection to the self. In my experience the existence of spirit and an all encompassing creator is undeniable. But that’s me. And each day I set the intention to see that power in myself. And as my ability to connect to myself and the greater Spirit develops I can offer those gifts to others in need through psychic readings, healings and activations. This is my highest joy.
We must remember that the spark of Source lives in every person, place and thing. No one, no matter how dark or destructive, is separate from that fact. Whether you believe in Spirit or not, understand that everyone is a person living with their own pain. We must acknowledge the many privileges that often determine the degree to which a person can thrive in our world. This, in my opinion, is fundamental to letting go of the judgment we hold for ourselves and others, spiritual or not.
And so, we must deny the concept that some are chosen or enlightened and others are not. No matter what your belief system, no matter what vyour purpose. We are all ONE. We dance with the light and the darkness each day. Neither is separate from the other. The light you see in another is the the light that exist within you. Just as the darkness you see in another is a part of you also. We are all CHOSEN. We are all NOT. We are EVERYTHING and we are NOTHING.
– Andrei Boyd
BOYS’ TOYS AND GENDER ROLES
CC DARLINGTON
As parents, we just want the best for our children. For queer parents, like me, navigating the complexities of gender expression, identity and roles can be particularly nuanced. My main goal is to raise my child, Móg, in a loving and inclusive environment.
While my partner, Marty, and I have chosen to use he/him pronouns for Móg, respecting his autonomy to discover and express his own identity as he grows, we've also made a conscious effort to create an environment free from gender expectations. It's important to us that Móg is encouraged to explore his interests and passions without the constraints of societal norms. This means providing a wide range of toys, books, and experiences that cater to Móg's natural curiosity and creativity.
However, to our surprise, despite our aim to create a relatively gender neutral experience for our son, Móg's natural curiosity has pointed him starkly in the direction of interests that are traditionally associated with boys. His fascination with trains and dinosaurs can only be trumped by his sheer obsession with tractors. Our drives to the supermarket are soundtracked by squeals of delight as a tractor drives past, followed by desperate pleas for "more" until the next one enters sight.
"But why?!" we find ourselves asking.
Is it possible that some innately masculine quality of a tractor or dinosaur whispers universal laws of gender to the Y chromosome in our 16-month-old son?
Somehow I doubt it…
After a bit of thinking, and a good rummage through his things, we found that most of the toys Móg owns are vehicles. The vast majority of his books feature happy farm animals lounging around tractors. And, while we're lucky enough to still have pink frilly dresses from when I was a toddler (which Móg absolutely wears), 90% of his clothes feature cars, dinosaurs or are blue. So much for a gender neutral approach I hear you scoff!
Turns out, despite your best intentions, you can't control the gifts your child is given by your mainly cis, straight friends and relatives.
Another factor that, when it was mentioned to me by a friend, I was embarrassed to have overlooked is that Móg is living on farmland. He is surrounded by tractors and vans every single time he steps outside or looks out the window.
It's crucial to recognise that a child's interests are shaped by a combination of both nature and nurture. Móg's love for tractors and dinosaurs may stem from a genuine fascination with these subjects. At the same time, of course exposure to these things, coupled with societal influences, will contribute to his undying love for all things with wheels.
So, what do we do about it?
We're becoming more mindful of exposing him to a diverse range of experiences, ensuring he has the opportunity to explore a wide spectrum of interests. Simply choosing not to buy him "boy toys", while passively allowing others to choose his playthings for him, is not enough. Because society's expectations of his gender will always be there. We have to actively challenge them. That means buying and borrowing books about mermaids, sparkly unicorn teddies and bright pink clothes.
At the same time, rather than discouraging Móg's current interests, we choose to embrace them. By doing so, we're sending a powerful message: it's perfectly okay for him to enjoy activities and toys associated with any gender.
As Móg grows, we're committed to maintaining open lines of communication. We want him to know that his interests and passions are valued, regardless of whether they align with societal norms. By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, we hope to empower him to express himself authentically.
Raising a child in a gender-inclusive environment is a journey filled with love, learning, and acceptance. While external influences may shape his interests to some extent, we believe that allowing him the freedom to explore without limitations is paramount. By celebrating his unique identity, we hope to empower him to embrace all aspects of himself, helping him grow into a confident and self-assured human being.
As parents, our role is not to dictate who Móg should be, but to provide him with the love, support, and resources he needs to become the person he is meant to be. In doing so, we hope to create a world where every child, regardless of their gender identity, can thrive and flourish.
– CC Darlington
WHEN DID STAR TREK BECOME SO WOKE? (PART 3)
JOHN CUNNINGHAM-RYAN
One fantastic thing about the next iteration of Star Trek that was aired in 1993 was the fact there was no break between the end of The Next Generation and the next incarnation; Deep Space Nine (DS9). But this was something completely different. Instead of a crew travelling around the universe and encountering new life and civilisations, going where no one had gone before, DS9 was a spacestation where the crew for the most part either stayed on the station or used it as a staging point for some exploration.
The advantage this gave to the series was a more stable environment with recurring species and aliens so it gave an opportunity to develop the main characters. However this didn't mean that Star Trek would give up it's woke credentials. It still struggled with the important themes of racism, war, poverty & discrimination to name but a few. Of the main actors, the leading role; Captain Sisko was black, his second in command a female Commander Kira Nerys, Dr. Julian Bashir a Sudanese actor and of course the person who keeps the hulk of Cardassian metal together is the most amazing Irish man in Star Trek Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney of course). So some diversity in the cast and of the 9 leading characters they represented six different species. Even from episode one we have Kira; a Bajoran who spent all of her life fighting the occupying force of the Cardassians on her home planet. From her POV she was a freedom fighter, from the Cardassians POV she was a terrorist who used any method up to an including indiscriminate bombing to win. But now she is thrust into the position of commanding in peacetime. Will she be able to put her old way of life behind her? Sometimes combatants are unable to operate in the real World!
We had a small introducion to the Trill species in TNG but the main role of Science Officer Jadzia Dax brings the species front and centre. The Trill are fascinating, a small percentage of Trill can carry what is known as a symbiont, a small lifeform that moves from one host to the other. The Dax symbiont has lived in 7 previous hosts, both male and female bringing memories and some characteristics from each host so this is Star Trek's coded version of a Trans person. Jadzia is also attracted to many species, male, female and other.
Curzon Dax was an embassodor to the Klingon home World and made many friends over the years. There is a beautiful moment when Jadzia meets an old friend Kor in Blood Oath (S02E19) and we get an amazing Trans allegory dealt with brilliantly.
From this point on in the episode, Kor always refers to Jadzia by her new name, uses female pronouns for her, and doesn't treat her any differently. She's still the friend he remembers, he doesn't feel any awkwardness, he simply listens to Jadzia's correction on her new identity and instantly takes it to heart.
This episode is one that supports the reading of Jadzia as a trans woman metaphor. It directly addresses the fact that some of her friends previously knew her as male and under a different name, but that the right way to deal with your friend coming out is simply to listen, embrace them as you otherwise would, and make the effort to correct yourself going forward. It's a beautiful template for how to embrace a friend who has come out as trans, aired on TV decades before trans characters in media were becoming a mainstream conversation.
Jadzia also took part in the first same-sex kiss in Star Trek when she met a partner of one of her previous hosts and explored her romantic feelings for her (a taboo thing to do) in the episode Rejoined (S04E05)
The recurring character of Garak (played by Andrew Robinson) whilst not a leading character was in dozens of episodes. He is the only Cardassian on the station, exiled from his home planet (for reasons unknown) and wears many different hats including tailor, sage advisor to Dr Bashir and a possible spy. The actor played the role in a very flamboant manner and in many instances flirted with the young handsome doctor. At the start he was only interested in having sex with Julian but as the series continued the developed a great friendship. Most would consider Garak to be the first gay character in Star Trek however it was never confirmed by the shows creators at the time. To this day the Garak/Bashir encounters are the subject of many memes.
The most delicious character throughout all of DS9 is the Intendant who hails from an alternate universe. This concept was explored in previous series of Star Trek but was expanded on in DS9. Basically there are millions of universes with some of the same people in each one but have taken different paths (some massively different, others not so much). The Intendant is an alternative version of Kira Nerys and quite frankly is a leather clad goddess with an insatable appetite for everything including power and people. She played a bisexual hedonist, had a harem of both men and women and had a relationship with Ezri Tigan. It's a shame however that this character only existed in an alternative universe rather than our universe which suggests of “otherness” rather than acceptance.
It's really hard to pick out specific episodes to highlight in DS9 as there were so many. Unlike series on TV now, especially streaming services where there might be only 8-10 episodes in a series (Yes, Netflix) DS9 consisted of 7 seasons and 176 episodes. The way we watched it back in the day was to buy a VHS tape once a month that contained 2 episodes. None of this series binge watching. For me the first couple of seasons had major production budget limits but from season 4, for me anyway, it really picks up. There is a major story arc throughout seasons 4, 5 & 6 depicting a war between the Federation and the Dominion. It explores the many intricacies & facets of war and coincides with the same time as hugh conflicts in the Middle East. So if I were pressured to chose one episode it would be Way of the Warrior (S04E01). This is when we see Worf joining the DS9 crew (previously on TNG) which eventually leads to him & Jadzia forming a close bond. His stoic demeanor and her vivacious outlook on life provided many fun moments showing us how these opposites attracted each other. For some fun and frolics check out the episode Let He Who is Without Sin (S05E07). How far do those spots go?!
Overall DS9 gave us varied and diverse actors and characters. It was the first Star Trek series to weave a story arc between several episodes (previously episodes were stand alone) which, today is the norm for practically EVERY series, not just Star Trek. It gave us many firsts and developed canon for many species that previously had only been visited on a couple of occassions including Trill, Ferengi, Cardassian, Bajoran, Founder/Changling to name but a few. Although everyone always wanted more Q episodes! For some perfect 1990's SciFi nostalgia get watching this all-time classic and instead of 2 episodes per month try 2 episodes per night from now til the end of the year.
– John Cunningham-Ryan
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LGBTQIA+ HISTORIAN
We’re looking for a volunteer to help with the special project of creating the first-ever record of the history of the LGBTQIA+ community in County Wexford. Passion for the project is more important than past experiences. Contact wexfordpride@gmail.com
TWO NEW EVENTS!
Wexford Pride presents Art Club
Mountain Gremlin Games in Castlebridge.
Wexford Pride presents Board Game Night
Mountain Gremlin Games in Castlebridge.
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AN FOCL’OIR AITEACH / THE QUEER DICTIONARY
LGBTQQIPA/LADTACIPE
Lesbian - Leispiach
Gay - Aerach
Bisexual - Déghnéasach
Transgender - Trasinscneach
Queer - Aiteach
Questioning - Ceisteach
Intersex - Idirghnéas
Pansexual - Painghnéasach
Asexual - Gan-ghnéasach
EVENTS
County Wexford LGBTQIA+ Community Support Group
Fortnightly Mondays 7pm
July 2, 16, 30
August 13, 27
IFA Centre Enniscorthy
There’s always a place for you here.
A confidential, contracted space for offering and receiving peer support. Facilitated by an in-community student therapist.
Wexford Pride Monthly Bookclub
Contact wexfordpride@gmail.com
Last month: Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
Tea on the Quay
at the Trough on Cressent quay
Fortnightly Sundays 2pm
June 4, 18
Funds available for those in need of a cuppa.
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Torrey Peters
Detransition, Baby!, 2021
“In matters of the heart, Reese had one firm maxim: You don’t get to choose who you fuck, you get to choose from among those who want to fuck you.”
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