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List of LGBT politicians in Ireland

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The following is a list of individuals who have been elected to a political office in Ireland, who fall under the umbrella of LGBT identities, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender individuals.

Taoisigh

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Portrait Name Party Years in office Sexual orientation/
gender identity 		Notes Ref
Leo Varadkar
(1979–) 		Fine Gael 2007–2024 Gay First gay Taoiseach
First minister to come out 		[1]

Dáil Eireann

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† Came out after serving

Portrait Name Party Years in office Sexual orientation/
gender identity 		Notes Ref
Pat Carey
(1947–) 		Fianna Fáil 1997–2011 Gay [2]
Dominic Hannigan
(1965–) 		Labour 2011–2016 Gay Joint first openly gay TD [3]
John Lyons
(1977–) 		Labour 2011–2016 Gay Joint first openly gay TD [3]
Jerry Buttimer
(1967–) 		Fine Gael 2011–2016 Gay First openly gay Fine Gael TD [4]
Katherine Zappone
(1953–) 		Independent 2016–2020 Lesbian First openly lesbian TD
First member in a recognised same-sex relationship 		[5]
Jack Chambers
(1990–) 		Fianna Fáil 2016– Gay [6]
Cian O'Callaghan
(1979–) 		Social Democrats 2020– Gay First openly gay Social Democrats TD
First openly gay mayor 		[7]
Roderic O'Gorman
(1981–) 		Green 2020– Gay First openly gay Green TD [8]
Malcolm Byrne
(1974–) 		Fianna Fáil 2019–2020, 2024– Gay [9]
Pádraig Rice
(1990–) 		Social Democrats 2024– Gay [10]
Conor Sheehan
(?–) 		Labour 2024– Gay [11]

Seanad

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Portrait Name Party Years in office Sexual orientation/
gender identity 		Notes Ref.
David Norris
(1944–) 		Independent 1987–2024 Gay First openly gay person elected to public office [12]
Colm O'Gorman
(1966–) 		Progressive Democrats 2007–2007 Gay First openly gay Progressive Democrats senator [13]
Fintan Warfield
(1992–) 		Sinn Féin 2016– Gay First openly gay Sinn Féin senator [14]
Annie Hoey
(1988–) 		Labour 2020– Bisexual [15][16]

European Parliament

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Portrait Name Party Years in office Sexual orientation/
gender identity 		Notes Ref.
Maria Walsh
(1987–) 		Fine Gael 2019– Lesbian First openly lesbian Fine Gael politician [17]

Sub-national level

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Mayors

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Name Party Years in office Sexual orientation/
gender identity 		Notes Ref.
John Moran
 Independent 2024– Gay [18]

Councillors

[edit]
Name Party Years in office Sexual orientation/
gender identity 		Notes Ref.
Francis Timmons
(?–) 		Labour 2014– Gay [19]
Patrick McKee
(1988–) 		Fianna Fáil 2014–2019 Gay [20]
Emma Murphy
(?–) 		Fianna Fáil 2016– LGBTQ+ First LGBTQ+ woman elected as mayor of local authority [21]
Alan Edge
(?–) 		Independent 2019– Gay [19]
Owen Hanley
(?–) 		Social Democrats 2019–2023 Gay [22]
Aisling Moran
(?–) 		Independent 2024– LGBTQ+ First openly LGBTQ+ person elected in Laois [23]
Paul O'Brien
(?–) 		Labour 2019– Gay [24]
Chris Pender
(?–) 		Social Democrats 2019– Gay [25]
John Sheridan
(?–) 		Fianna Fáil 2019– LGBTQ+ First openly LGBTQ+ person elected in Louth [26]
Darragh Adelaide
(?–) 		People Before Profit 2024– LGBTQ+ [27]
Luke Corkery
(?–) 		Fine Gael 2024– Gay [28]
Laura Harmon
(1986–) 		Labour 2024– Lesbian [29]
John Maher
(?–) 		Labour 2024– Gay [30]
Declan Meehan
(?–) 		Independent 2024– Gay First openly gay man elected in Donegal [31]
Glen Moore
(?–) 		Irish Freedom Party 2024– Gay [32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Armstrong, Kathy (2 June 2017). "'Significant step for equality'- the world reacts to Leo Varadkar becoming the new Fine Gael leader". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Pat Carey criticises FF over same-sex marriage campaign". Irish Times. 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b "First openly gay TDs are proud to blaze a trail". Evening Herald. 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Cork Fine Gael deputy Jerry Buttimer comes out saying: I'm a TD who just happens to be gay". Irish Independent. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Ireland's first lesbian TD hopes to represent LGBT community in Dáil". Breaking News. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Cabinet minister Jack Chambers announces he is gay". RTÉ News. 14 January 2024. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  7. ^ McLysaght, Emer (22 June 2012). "Ireland's 'first openly gay mayor' elected". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Out of Touch". Irish Independent. 14 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  9. ^ Lynch, Dónal (27 September 2020). "Senator Malcolm Byrne: 'I knew I was about to be outed. It was a terrible moment'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  10. ^ @PadraigRice (11 March 2020). "After two years as a gay community organiser one observation stands out: homophobia is rife. We are all affected by it. Most gay men have some negative feelings about our own sexuality. It impacts our self esteem and relationships. We must continue to love & support each other 🏳️‍🌈" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Gay Limerick councillor highlights dangerous culture of homophobia". Limerick Post. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Norris meets with pols, LGBT activists in New York". The Irish Emigrant. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  13. ^ Hogan, Jen (20 April 2021). "Colm O'Gorman: Our daughter had to deal with people saying negative things about her family". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  14. ^ "New mayor of South Dublin says he's proud to be 'an openly LGBT mayor'". TheJournal.ie. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  15. ^ @hoeyannie (11 October 2020). "Senator Bisexual signing in for duty on #ComingOutDay Bisexuals exist (we even walk the hallowed corridors of Leinster House!) The Gay Agenda™ is not complete until LGBTQ+ people across the world are free and exist peacefully. Trans women are women. TERFs can go suck coal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ Nolan, Larissa (3 May 2022). "Senator Annie Hoey tells of bisexual pride: 'I'm the only 'out' woman in Irish politics'". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  17. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (25 August 2014). "Rose heartened by response to revelations that she is gay". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Mayoral Candidate John Moran Says Splitting Dept Of Finance Was Wrong". Business Plus. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  19. ^ a b Riaz, Azmia (10 June 2024). "LGBTQ+ candidates celebrate local election win during Pride Month: 'It's a real victory for inclusivity in South Dublin'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  20. ^ Brophy, Daragh (13 May 2015). ""This is about fear...": Renua candidate's poster defaced with anti-gay slurs". The Journal. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  21. ^ Wilson, Jade (24 June 2022). "Fianna Fáil councillor becomes first LGBTQ+ woman elected as mayor of local authority". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  22. ^ Keena, Colm (4 January 2023). "Galway SocDems councillor Owen Hanley resigns following allegations". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  23. ^ Lynda, Kiernan (26 May 2019). "Local election candidate would be first openly LGBT Laois councillor". Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  24. ^ Eoin, Mac Raghnaill (21 June 2024). "First openly gay Wicklow County Council Cathaoirleach elected after lottery decides tied vote". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  25. ^ @ChrisPenderKE (7 April 2023). "Ive know I was gay from a very young age but I was terrified to speak about it, at 17 I felt unloved, terrified & unwanted & tried to take my own life. I knew who I was long before then but people like this made me think there was something wrong. I'd have been dead by 18" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Roddy, Margaret (10 June 2024). "Local Elections 2024 – Louth: John Sheridan says 'hard work pays off' as he's re-elected in Ardee". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  27. ^ @Taiwo_Oifigiuil (15 November 2021). "I can't speak for every lgbt person, but Varadkar definitely isn't representing me here, begging at the feet of sauds on behalf of Irish capitalists. A disgusting regime who treat gay people, women and Yemeni civilians like sub-humans" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Linehan, Alice (9 May 2023). "Fine Gael LGBTQ+ publishes 56 recommendations to government for developing a more inclusive Ireland". GCN. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  29. ^ O'Byrne, Ellie (24 March 2016). "We need a Seanad with more diversity". Evening Echo. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  30. ^ Maher, John (4 August 2019). "Cllr. John Maher's post". Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  31. ^ McLaughlin, Rachel (9 June 2024). "Election 2024: Meehan makes history – first openly gay man elected in Donegal". Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Profiled: Meet Ireland's new far-right councillors". TheJournal.ie. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
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