Irish gay man shares the impact that losing queer friends had on his life
Looking back at the past, Irishman Colin Daly reflects on the importance of queer friends and the impact that losing them can have on our lives.Since I started delving into my personal Irish LGBTQ+ history, I have discovered that at least four people I knew have passed away in the last couple of years and one has passed away since I started writing about it, which is not that long ago.
This makes me extremely sad when I think about it.Losing a queer friend can be extra devastating because their friendship acts as a protective barrier against those who wish to harm us.
Because of who we are, this friendship can act as a confessional of sorts where we can reveal our inner selves in intimate detail and know we will not be judged for being “different”.
It’s the kind of relationship where we can get “forgiveness” for any “sins” against the prevailing heteronormative narrative.It could be said that I didn’t know any of these people really well and yet their passing has really touched my soul and dimmed the light on the horizon slightly.
