This book offers a unique insider perspective from a queer author and activist who was centrally involved in Ireland’s journey from 1993, the year when homosexuality was decriminalised, to 2015, when it became the first country in which marriage equality was enacted by popular vote. It is the first comprehensive study of the impact of LGBTQ+ youth civil society as a leading force on Irish public policy change.
Interdisciplinary in nature, it uses both activist and academic frames to reassess LGBTQ+ activism histories. It draws on personal, historical and policy analysis to provide a comprehensive account of how civil society can drive progressive change in difficult conditions.
Essential reading for understanding the significant public policy changes that have occurred in Ireland, this book provides deep insight into the dynamics of organised social change over long periods of time and offers lessons for future work in this area.
Table of Content
1. Introduction
2. Context: LGBTQ+ Youth in the crosshairs
3. Building a Civil Society Platform
4. Community Youth Work: the Be Lon G To Model
5. A New Narrative : Queer Optimism
6. Alliances and Political Power
7. Self-Organised Community Model for Policy Change
8. Defending Our Civil Society Platforms
9. Conclusion
References
About the author
Michael Barron is an Irish and international social justice advocate, author and social commentator. In Ireland, he founded the country’s first national LGBTQ+ youth advocacy organisation and campaigned for LGBTQ+ youth inclusion in education, health and public policy, marriage equality and the secularisation of Ireland’s education system. He is a Council of Europe expert of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and a human rights grant maker.
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