A golden era of empowerment at Trinity As Trinity commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Liberation Movement (SLM), Joel McKeever, Co-Chair of the Trinity LGBT+ Staff Network celebrates the evolution of LGBTQ+ activism within the university 2023 marks a significant anniversary in the storied history of the Irish LGBTQ+ community at Trinity, which is intertwined with the university and our staff and students, past and present. Trinity’s LGBT+ Staff Network, along with the college community, is celebrating 50 years since the establishment of the Sexual Liberation Movement (SLM) at Trinity, and in doing so we aim to reflect on our own evolution and the next steps in enabling an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people. In late 1973, a rising wave of debate about the future of human rights and civil liberties in Ireland led to a conference on human sexuality at the New University of Ulster in Coleraine. Inspired by this, and the many grassroots efforts across the country, ten individuals came together at House Five in Trinity’s Front Square, who would later become known as pioneering activists: Ruth Riddick, Mary Dorcey, Margaret McWilliams, Irene Brady, Michael Kerrigan, Gerry McNamara, Hugo McManus, Peter Bradley, Edmund Lynch, and David Norris. This led to the formation of the SLM, the first such organisation in the Republic of Ireland to explicitly advocate for gay rights, alongside a range of goals, progressive for the time, such as contraception, divorce, and further independence for women. One of their first actions was a trailblazing two-day symposium on homosexuality held in Regents House, Front Square in February 1974. That initial group laid the foundation for successive generations of LGBTQ+ activism and community building at Trinity, which branched out into a student society ‘Trinity Gay Soc’ (now Q Soc) officially recognised in 1982/83, and the Trinity LGBT+ Staff Network, founded in 2016. Echoing the critical mass of progressive action that preceded SLM’s formation, the Staff Network was conceived in the wake of the 2015 Irish marriage equality referendum. As a landmark moment in the meaningful inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in Irish society, it was a profoundly mixed experience – a great achievement and expression of solidarity and tremendous personal effort, but also for many, a deeply challenging and emotional process. From such an irrevocable shift in the country, several staff at Trinity came together with the motivation to work collectively towards the ‘next step’ – to acknowledge that marriage equality was not the end of the road and to continue to advocate for the ability of LGBTQ+ to thrive. Working with the Equality Office, HR, and supportive allies across campus, the founding committee of the Network was formed with the goal of acting as a non-hierarchical representative group for LGBTQ+ staff at Trinity in advocating for and raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and actively collaborating with the college community to enable an inclusive and fulfilling work environment. The Network was launched in a joint event which included Q Soc, which prior to then had counted a number of staff amongst its membership. Speaking at the inaugural event, Senator David Norris reflected on the evolution of the college since SLM’s day by saying ‘I have seen the college and Irish society progress from when I was a lecturer, and I was strongly advised to not be involved in these kinds of explicit or ‘immoral’ activities, to the point where I can be here to launch a network that is actually supported by the college to the highest levels.’ The Network was the only staff association of its kind at Trinity when formed and since 2016 its volunteer committee has worked to establish strong connections on campus and in wider society to further its aims. Within Trinity, the Network works to foster a cohesive ‘One LGBTQ+ Trinity’ community alongside Q Soc, the EDI office, and all interested staff. This includes: Consulting on the design and practical implementation of Trinity’s Gender Identity and Gender Expression Policy, a forerunner in the Irish HE sector. Coordinating an annual ‘Pride in Research’ symposium to showcase academic work by LGBTQ+ researchers and on related themes. As of 2023, this is an all-Ireland event supported by the Dean of Research. Hosting an annual Trinity Pride Celebration in the Provost’s Garden, with the generous support of the Provost’s office, to recognise the LGBTQ+ community and make commitments to specific improvements over the following year. In 2023 we were honoured to have several of the founding members of SLM as guests at this anniversary event. A range of social, networking, and educational events for members throughout the year.
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