Out in the World: GLBT Historical Society exhibit shows the impact of the queer Irish diaspora globally
Irish diplomats came out to the Castro earlier this month to mark the opening of a new exhibit exploring the history and influence of the LGBTQ Irish diaspora.The traveling exhibit, "Out In The World," shows the importance of, and sheds light on, the untold history of Ireland's queer diaspora and queer Irish people's impact on the world.
The exhibit, at the GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco's LGBTQ Castro District, explores six themes of the diaspora: exclusion, community, love, defiance, solidarity, and return. (The exhibit's name is not associated with the Bay Area Reporter's international news column.)Around the globe, there are 70 million Irish people.
In the United States, there are 33 million. In California, there are 2.2 million, almost half as many as there are in Ireland itself, with 5.04 million people.Catherine Martin, Ireland's minister of tourism, culture, arts, gaeltacht, sport, and media, called Cork and San Francisco "Rainbow cities," speaking at the May 14 event at the museum. (Gaeltacht is the term used to refer to those areas of Ireland where the Irish language — Gaeilge — is still spoken as a community language.)She noted how the rainbow flag flies over Cork City Hall during its annual Pride celebrations as it does at San Francisco's City Hall during Pride Month in June.Cork and San Francisco are sister cities.
Cork's mayor, Colm Kelleher, visited the historical society's museum earlier this year. Last year, the two cities flew twinned versions of the Progress flag in observance of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia."The Irish diaspora played an important role in securing this victory for LGBTQ+ rights," Martin said."Out In The World" features 12 stories.
