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14th Jun 2022

Dublin Pride terminate partnership with RTÉ following Liveline programmes on gender identity

Hugh Carr

“As an official media partner of Dublin Pride, but more importantly as Ireland’s national broadcaster, we expect better than for RTÉ to stoke the flames of anti-trans rhetoric.”

Dublin Pride has announced it has terminated its media partnership with RTÉ.

The LGBTQ+ organisation made the decision in response to two recent episodes of Liveline on RTÉ Radio 1, which focused on gender identity.

“Effective immediately, Dublin Pride is announcing the termination of our media partnership with RTÉ,” Dublin Pride wrote.

“Over the past three years, we have worked together with the national broadcaster to increase positive representation of LGBTQ+ people on TV, radio and online, and to see the good work of so many people undone is saddening in the extreme and negates much of the efforts made to date. It breaches trust with our community and causes untold hurt.

“Dublin Pride is both angered and disappointed by the recent unacceptable, triggering and extremely harmful anti-trans “discussions” that have been given a platform on Joe Duffy’s Liveline on RTÉ Radio 1.

“As an official media partner of Dublin Pride, but more importantly as Ireland’s national broadcaster, we expect better than for RTÉ to stoke the flames of anti-trans rhetoric.

“We are proud members of Trans Equality Together, a new coalition led by TENI, LGBT Ireland and BeLonG To, and we are committed to accepting their lead in this issue. At their request we have not made a statement until now, but have remained in close and constant contact with them throughout the last few days to ensure that any actions taken by Dublin Pride respect the voices and feelings of the trans people in our community.

“RTÉ is our national broadcaster. LGBTQ+ people and our allies make up the majority of people in Ireland. We are the majority shareholders in RTE and we have a right to hold it accountable for its actions.

“We expect a response on how they will make amends for this situation and are committed to continuing the fight for equality, fairness and respect for all members of our LGBTQ+ family.”

The RTÉ logo has since been removed from the partners section of the Dublin Pride website.

The Dublin Pride parade is set to take place in the city on Saturday 25 June.

RTÉ has been reached out to for comment.

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