{"id":93356,"date":"2017-06-05T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-06-05T11:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=93356"},"modified":"2017-06-04T11:38:07","modified_gmt":"2017-06-04T10:38:07","slug":"ireland-set-to-have-its-first-openly-gay-prime-minister-leo-varadkar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2017\/06\/ireland-set-to-have-its-first-openly-gay-prime-minister-leo-varadkar\/","title":{"rendered":"Ireland Set to Have Its First Openly Gay Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_93357\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo-Varadkar-gay-prime-minister-Ireland\u2019.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-93357\" class=\"wp-image-93357\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo-Varadkar-gay-prime-minister-Ireland\u2019-1024x513.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo-Varadkar-gay-prime-minister-Ireland\u2019-1024x513.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo-Varadkar-gay-prime-minister-Ireland\u2019-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo-Varadkar-gay-prime-minister-Ireland\u2019-768x385.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo-Varadkar-gay-prime-minister-Ireland\u2019.jpg 1399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-93357\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Brian Lawless\/PA Wire\/PA Images<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Leo Varadkar, a gay lawmaker, was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/news\/fg-leadership-leo-varadkar-elected-fine-gael-leader-1.3105535\" >elected<\/a> the leader of Ireland\u2019s ruling Fine Gael party on Friday [2 Jun 2017], making him the country\u2019s prime minister-elect, set to take power after the Irish parliament reconvenes in 10 days.<\/p>\n<p>Varadkar, a doctor who served as health minister, came out about his sexuality during a live radio interview in 2015. Born in 1979 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/218174882\" >to an Indian doctor from Mumbai and an Irish Catholic nurse from County Waterford<\/a>, he will also become Ireland\u2019s youngest-ever <em>taoiseach<\/em> \u2014 the Irish word for \u201cleader\u201d \u2014 and the first son of an immigrant to lead the nation.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">New leader of Fine Gael Leo Varadkar <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >@PA<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/05613lZGXy\" >pic.twitter.com\/05613lZGXy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Brian Hutton (@magicbathtub) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/magicbathtub\/status\/870694041502887936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>While Varadkar is a member of a center-right party, his election seems to confirm a rapid shift in Irish society away from social conservatism and narrowly defined nationalism.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ireland is on course to have its first openly gay Prime Minister &#8211; Leo Varadkar <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Xy706J4zLo\" >pic.twitter.com\/Xy706J4zLo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Channel4News\/status\/870696263829815296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>After he made his sexuality public, Varadkar campaigned in favor of a ballot initiative that legalized gay marriage the same year. When that referendum <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2015\/05\/24\/world\/europe\/ireland-gay-marriage-referendum.html\" >passed by an overwhelmingly majority<\/a>, the final total \u2014 62 percent in favor and 38 percent opposed \u2014 alerted the world that Ireland had changed dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>Varadkar has been criticized, however, for not moving quickly enough to repeal Ireland\u2019s ban on abortion, which was reinforced in 1983, when 67 percent of the country voted for the Eighth Amendment to Ireland\u2019s constitution, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eighth_Amendment_of_the_Constitution_of_Ireland#Changes_to_the_text\" >adding language<\/a> that made \u201cthe right to life of the unborn\u201d equal to the \u201cright to life of the mother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/news\/politics\/varadkar-backs-abortion-when-woman-s-health-is-at-risk-1.2514362\" >told The Irish Times<\/a> last year that he disagreed with that amendment, but supported keeping right to life language in the Constitution. \u201cWhat we have at the moment,\u201d he said, \u201cis this kind of absolute right to life where the unborn\u2019s life is equal to that of a pregnant mother, I don\u2019t agree with that. I think that is too restrictive.\u201d He suggested that a broader definition of threats to the health of a mother should be considered.<\/p>\n<p>Activists, including Colm O\u2019Gorman, the executive director of Amnesty Ireland, began pushing Varadkar on the issue immediately after victory.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Congratulations @campaignforleo Looking forward to engaging with you on critical human rights issues in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Colm O&#39;Gorman \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@Colmogorman) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Colmogorman\/status\/870696567774117888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Beyond time to get on it with.It would be fitting &amp; proper if you made announcement of referendum to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/repealthe8th?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#repealthe8th<\/a> your 1st act as Taoiseach<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Colm O&#39;Gorman \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@Colmogorman) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Colmogorman\/status\/870698705585790976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Leo Varadkar is the new leader of Fine Gael. Use our template to write to him demanding action on abortion rights! <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/N8gZCtLtxC\" >https:\/\/t.co\/N8gZCtLtxC<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3jdpOua89y\" >pic.twitter.com\/3jdpOua89y<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Abortion Rights IE (@freesafelegal) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/freesafelegal\/status\/870694983140900867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>As the Irish journalist Naomi O\u2019Leary noted, in Ireland, the response to Varadkar\u2019s imminent leadership of the country was far less about his sexuality or background than <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/aherneamon\/status\/870775343346577408\" >his conservative politics<\/a>, which horrify many on the left.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It is frankly pretty cool that Ireland is heading towards having a gay, half-Indian taoiseach, and all anyone is discussing are his policies<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Naomi O&#39;Leary (@NaomiOhReally) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NaomiOhReally\/status\/865913677060427776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >May 20, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">True to the campaign Leo Varadkar&#39;s being gay and having an Indian dad is only news internationally, in Ireland he&#39;s just a politician.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Naomi O&#39;Leary (@NaomiOhReally) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NaomiOhReally\/status\/870740077827301376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Irish Times, which did not mention his sexuality in its own headline on Varadkar\u2019s election, even ran a sidebar remarking on the fact that newspapers outside the country did: \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/news\/politics\/varadkar-set-to-be-first-openly-gay-irish-pm-say-world-headlines-1.3106226\" >Varadkar set to be \u2018first openly gay Irish PM\u2019, say world headlines<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ireland\u2019s state broadcaster, RTE, which did not use the word \u201cgay\u201d in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rte.ie\/news\/2017\/0602\/879755-fine-gael-leadership\/\" >the main news report on its website<\/a>, reported that Varadkar committed to holding a referendum on abortion next year in remarks to reporters after his victory.<\/p>\n<p>He also told an RTE journalist that his top policy priority would be dealing with the implications of the United Kingdom\u2019s exit from the European Union.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Leo Varadkar says <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Brexit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#Brexit<\/a> will be one of his first priorities as leader of Fine Gael <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/as55iFH0Hn\" >pic.twitter.com\/as55iFH0Hn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; RT\u00c9 News (@rtenews) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rtenews\/status\/870714309889806336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn terms of the priorities in the next couple of months, obviously first among those has to be Brexit and Northern Ireland,\u201d Varadkar said, referring to the thorny question of how the island of Ireland will once again be divided, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/resources\/idt-sh\/The_hardest_border\" >along a now invisible border<\/a>, once the British-ruled north leaves the E.U.<\/p>\n<p><strong>________________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Robert-Mackey.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-93358\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Robert-Mackey-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/staff\/robertmackey\/\" >Robert Mackey<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"mailto:robert.mackey@theintercept.com\">robert.mackey@\u200btheintercept.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/2017\/06\/02\/ireland-set-first-gay-prime-minister-leo-varadkar\/\" >Go to Original \u2013 theintercept.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leo Varadkar, a gay lawmaker, was elected the leader of Ireland\u2019s ruling Fine Gael party on Friday [2 Jun 2017], making him the country\u2019s prime minister-elect, set to take power after the Irish parliament reconvenes in 10 days. Varadkar, a doctor who served as health minister, came out about his sexuality during a live radio interview in 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sexualities"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93356\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}