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30th Apr 2019

“It was just bullshit homophobia.” Rory O’Neill on the backlash to Leo Varadkar’s infamous letter to Kylie Minogue

Alice Kiernan

“It’s because he’s a gay and it was Kylie Minogue. And I’m sorry, it was what it was.”

This week on Ireland Unfiltered, Dion Fanning was joined by gay rights activist and stage performer Rory O’Neill, also known as drag queen Panti Bliss.

Known for his work in the LGBT community, Rory discussed what he describes as the “bullshit homophobia” in the backlash following Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s letter to Kylie Minogue prior to her Dublin gig.

Rory: If Enda Kenny had written a letter to fucking Pink Floyd across the road and gone to the concert…

Dion: Enda, he played air guitar at Bruce Springsteen, didn’t he?

Rory: Exactly! And did anybody complain about that? Did anybody worry if he’d gotten a free meal out of Bruce Springsteen? Or laugh about it, or whatever? No. But it’s because he’s a gay and it was Kylie Minogue. And I’m sorry, it was what it was. And when you really think about it, it was just bullshit homophobia. I’m sorry and I know I shouldn’t be.

Rory: Oh by the way, can I just say: if he had NOT written that letter to Kylie Minogue, I would quiz that weirdo! Because what gay man, has Kylie Minogue across the road from your office, you have this job and one of the perks is possibly getting to meet Kylie Minogue. If you don’t take that fucking perk – get out!

Ireland Unfiltered, brought to you in partnership with Carlsberg Unfiltered, will be available everywhere you get your podcasts and on YouTube every Tuesday.