GCNnewvoices in partnership with BeLonG To will platform the opinions and thoughts of LGBTQ+ young writers from across the country, speaking about issues that matter to them.
Joe Drennan talks about his journey of self discovery and the effects of toxic masculinity. Where I’m from, there are a few totems for what is deemed normal: playing sports, keeping to yourself and being straight.
This is probably synonymous with every other small town in Ireland, possibly even around the world. Today, I can categorically say that I do not identify with any of these ideals.
Although in the past I did, despite not wanting to. It would be fair to say that I conformed to these ideals as a safety blanket due to prevalent toxic masculinity.