Gay Visibility in the Irish Media 1973 to 1993.

On the occasion of LGBT History Month, the IFI is proud to present Edmund Lynch’s award-winning documentary Did Anyone Notice Us? as part of a programme of two screenings offering fascinating perspective on the development of gay rights culture in Ireland.

On 15th February, 1974 the Irish State Radio, Radio Éireann, broadcast the voices of two openly gay people, Hugo McManus and the late Margaret McWilliams, speaking about a meeting to be held by the Sexual Liberation Movement which was founded in 1973. This was the beginning of visibility for Irish lesbians and gay men in the Irish media.

This documentary looks at archival records of 20 years of individual courage and campaigning from 1973 to 1993, culminating in the passing of the law decriminalising sex between men.  
 
It includes the Fairview Park protest against the queer bashing and murder of Declan Flynn (1983), the first interview with David Norris (1975), the Access programme made by members of the Hirschfeld Centre (1984), various appearances of lesbian and gay men on the premiere live Talk Show, Late Late Show (1980-1989), a profile of a Cork gay couple (1980) and all the TV coverage in 1993 leading up to the decriminalisation of the acts of homosexuality between consenting 17 years or older.
 
This documentary was made with the active co-operation of the RTÉ Television and Radio Archives, the Irish Queer Archives and private collections in the lesbian and gay community across Ireland.
 
Voted the Best Documentary by the audience at the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (August 2003) 
Winner in the OUTLOOK Section at the 48th Cork Film Festival (October 2003)

As part of this programme, we will also present footage from the RTÉ archives (February 3rd, 12.00).