Trinity LGBT
Encyclopedia
The Dublin Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Society, also known as Q Soc - Trinity LGBT is a society which supports the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their friends in Trinity College Dublin
. The LGBT organises social and community events while offering help and support for LBGT students and providing a safe space for LGBT students on campus. Trinity College recognised the society in 1982 making it the oldest student LGBT society in Ireland.
in 1973, Trinity LGBT was created in 1974 as Dublin University Gay Society or "Gay Soc", emerging directly from the Sexual Liberation Movement of David Norris
and other Irish gay rights pioneers who were active in Trinity by 1974. While the SLM had split apart into other groupings, the Gay Soc emerged as one of the few remaining splinters from the SLM, and carried out activities for the next near-decade to raise awareness and consciousness among the radicalized student body on campus.
The organization was officially recognized by the Central Societies Committee, on behalf of the Board of Trinity College Dublin, in 1982, and a permanent office was granted to the Gay Soc for the first time. It served as an ideological heart of the movement for liberalization of laws regarding gay and lesbian citizens in Irish society. Besides the Gay Soc, the original SLM also bore the roots of the largely-Trinity-based Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform
, which succeeded in overturning Ireland's sodomy laws by 1987; Trinity alum and law professor Mary McAleese
was its first legal advisor, and fellow alum and professor Mary Robinson
was its second.
By the 1990s, the name of the society was changed to incorporate lesbian and bisexual members, and by the early years of the 2000s, it was changed to its present name to incorporate transgender members.
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. The LGBT organises social and community events while offering help and support for LBGT students and providing a safe space for LGBT students on campus. Trinity College recognised the society in 1982 making it the oldest student LGBT society in Ireland.
History
Following the death of Archbishop McQuaidJohn Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid, C.S.Sp. was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland between December 1940 and February 1972.- Early life 1895-1914:...
in 1973, Trinity LGBT was created in 1974 as Dublin University Gay Society or "Gay Soc", emerging directly from the Sexual Liberation Movement of David Norris
David Norris
David Norris may refer to:*David Norris , Irish Senator, civil rights activist and James Joyce scholar*David Norris , British admiral...
and other Irish gay rights pioneers who were active in Trinity by 1974. While the SLM had split apart into other groupings, the Gay Soc emerged as one of the few remaining splinters from the SLM, and carried out activities for the next near-decade to raise awareness and consciousness among the radicalized student body on campus.
The organization was officially recognized by the Central Societies Committee, on behalf of the Board of Trinity College Dublin, in 1982, and a permanent office was granted to the Gay Soc for the first time. It served as an ideological heart of the movement for liberalization of laws regarding gay and lesbian citizens in Irish society. Besides the Gay Soc, the original SLM also bore the roots of the largely-Trinity-based Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform
Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform
The Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform was an organisation set up to campaign for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the 1970s...
, which succeeded in overturning Ireland's sodomy laws by 1987; Trinity alum and law professor Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
was its first legal advisor, and fellow alum and professor Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
was its second.
By the 1990s, the name of the society was changed to incorporate lesbian and bisexual members, and by the early years of the 2000s, it was changed to its present name to incorporate transgender members.