Series

Irish PRIDE: Equality in Ireland

There have been persistent stereotypes of Ireland and the Irish as being mired in the 19th century and dominated by the Catholic Church. For many Americans, Ireland is the dichotomy of economic depression and picture-perfect vacations. The films of Irish PRIDE: Equality in Ireland will focus on the LGBTQ+ experience in Ireland. As a country with strong ties to the Catholic Church, the LGBTQ+ community has historically struggled in Ireland. In recent years, the nature of this struggle has changed as Irish society has benefitted from membership in the European Union and experienced emigration and immigration in new ways. In 2015, the Republic of Ireland voted to legalize same-sex marriage. The campaign to accomplish this outcome made the world take notice of people and subcultures that had been pushed to the fringes of Irishness. This film series will expand the nature of the dialogue that often happens around Irish identity by including cinema and centering the voices of marginalized groups. By screening these films during LGBTQ History Month, we endeavor to honor the Irish and Irish-Americans who help bring about positive change for all. This partnership is supported through IU Cinema’s Creative Collaborations program.

This series is sponsored by the Irish American Community of IU, the IU LGBTQ+ Culture Center, and IU Cinema.