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Child Item

FF TD Jack Chambers announces he is gay

dublincc2

I just got a notification on my phone from RTÉ News that Jack Chambers, a junior minister, is gay.

Why is this considered an important enough story to send out a news alert? Why is it a story in the first place? I am struggling to describe just how little I care for the sexual preference of a government minister. I just don’t understand this at all. Who the **** cares?!

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AllForIt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616582#Comment_121616582

I've never heard of him till today.

But I do know of him now. Which has got me thinking - is that really why he made the announcement?

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616612#Comment_121616612

I doubt he’s ever heard of you, so I’d say no. That’s not why he made the announcement.

CalamariFritti

In fairness people weren't making jokes because he's gay. They were making jokes because he had to 'announce' it and even moreso because it was deemed majorly newsworthy by our state broadcaster.

In the light of that most of those jokes were consequently the opposite of being homophobic, because they were implying that they/we have long moved on from that.

So I'm not sure what all the excitement is about.

Of course the thread title being changed by a mod giving the thread a whole different slant isnt helping either IMO.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616626#Comment_121616626

I agree with this, all the faux outrage over a few jokes about a news headline that isn't actually news.

Ten of Swords

The thread title was changed because it gave no clue as to what was actually being discussed without clicking into it.

As for changing the slant, that's subjective I guess but the text of the opening post hasn't been changed at all and op clearly questions why the story/announcement is newsworthy

backwards_man

The day this topic is not a thread is the day we have turned a corner. Leave the man alone.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616530#Comment_121616530

Didn’t know much about him tbh. I see on Wikipaedia he qualified as a doctor. His father is a consultant in Mater Private. Must be some kind of intellect in him. I’d say he wanted his profile raised for one anyway.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616602#Comment_121616602

Nice to see ya this side of boards

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616121#Comment_121616121

There is a significant growth in all crime over the last couple of years here….

that said being gay is not an issue for most right thinking people. Now certain religions here, including one which is becoming rapidly more prevalent, certain countries on the Arabic peninsula where those religions are prolific and domineering , have actually executed homosexuals. That’s something I’d be worried for and about. Are those views and attitudes being imported ?

a certain Muslim Sheikh here is on record as criticising homosexuals and homosexuality….so it’s a question that deserves to be asked / answered !

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616551#Comment_121616551

I think this government spin on words and lies will say what helps them so even spin something as homophobic

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616702#Comment_121616702

True that and now theres 'Gay Tavellers' nowadays which shows 'all' society's are moving on but things will be difficult

Vicxas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616675#Comment_121616675

You can’t cure Fianna Fáil I’m afraid

JupiterKid

This is not really newsworthy these days, and thankfully so.

As a gay guy myself, out and proud since the age of 22, I’m happy that Jack Chambers (a guy I always thought looked ultra straight-laced... yes, there is an unintended pun there) is happy to declare his gay sexuality, but the Fianna Fáil party membership is just something I cannot accept as normal. 😐😁

Chambers is also a Dublin West TD. The constituency I grew up in and where I still live in currently. It’s rather interesting that of its four current sitting TDs, three are gay men - Leo, Roderick O’Gorman and now Jack Chambers. This IMO is the most interesting aspect of Jack’s public coming out.

I therefore declare that Dublin West is Ireland’s gayest constituency! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Connorcc

Lol, wow.

G_R

Some of the comments here are actually mad.

No one is gonna come out to raise their profile, or get more publicity, or deflect from something else. No one. Anyone saying that has clearly never had to come out, or spoken at any length to someone who has.

Coming out is one of the most terrifying things a human can do. The absolute fear that people will start treating you differently, or talk about you being your back, or feel sorry for you, or even worse openly be a dick is horrible. And sure, most of the time, it's absolutely grand, but it doesn't change the fear that something could happen.

The reason people come out is to be open with themselves. You (potentially, I don't know Jack Chambers personal situation, can only speak for myself) spend years denying who are, and you eventually get to a point where you are able to admit it to yourself. Then fast forward another while before you're comfortable telling family and friends.

What you want is a "I don't care, I still love you for who you are" (or in the case of a stranger "I don't care, I will still treat you the same as I always have") reply. What you absolutely do not want is "why did you need to announce that".

It IS important that people in public life come out - it shouldn't be, but it is. It's important that young LGBT people (even more so if they have an unsupportive family) can see "look you can be gay and still get elected as a TD - even though I'm having a **** time now it will get better". That is important. Representation is important.

And until the day where there is zero homophobia anywhere, it will continue to be. And we are, unfortunately, no where near that yet.

lawred2

My first and only reaction, who the **** cares!

lmimmfn

Guess he's looking for those left bonus points but he should read the room, we don't give a f*** about leftist ideologies anymore.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616853#Comment_121616853

I'm glad the people of Dublin West are happy people.

I came out as a brick recently. It was an open secret. People kept telling me I was a chip off the old block.

When I revealed my identity, they came telling me not to be so square. I'm now a pebble.😱

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616853#Comment_121616853

Got to be the water supply! 🤣 Or a nearby factory 🧐

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616874#Comment_121616874

And quite frankly we won’t be with some of the changing demographic.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616853#Comment_121616853

Jack Chambers (a guy I always thought looked ultra straight-laced

Whereas if you had looked closely all along you would see he was sporting

AllForIt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616626#Comment_121616626

I think the blame lies with RTE making it one of their top headlines. I don't think what he said on Instagram particularly qualifies as an 'announcement' the way RTE reported it. He just made a personal comment on Instagram and I think that's fine. RTE should have put it in their Entertainment section :D

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616874#Comment_121616874

Coming out is one of the most terrifying things a human can do.

My god you've got the melodramatic gene don't you. Personally I find going to the dentist far more terrifying.

^blame

G_R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617015#Comment_121617015

Maybe you think so, and that's cool. Personally, I just know it was something that genuinely crippled me for years. Possibly my own issues, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it did. 🤷

SeanW

All I know about the gobshite is that he's at least one of those who want to wallpaper the country with those ridiculous 30kph speed limits so we all have to crawl everywhere. No idea why anyone would care about his private/personal preferences. That's his business.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616612#Comment_121616612

A moderator changed the title of this thread. It was originally why RTE thought coming out as gay was worthy of Headline News and a Push Notification on to the RTE New App.

SynBin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121616853#Comment_121616853

"... straight-laced..." :) I thought that was quite a funny pun. But was it intentional? It's "strait-laced".

SEPT 23 1989

In days gone by the only reason someone would do this is to get out ahead of some scandalous story that was about the be released about them

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121617060#Comment_121617060

Yes trying to stop clowns speeding and killing others is such a terrible thing

maybe the gobshite is the ones in the cars who keep killing each other? Ever think of that?

machiavellianme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121614941#Comment_121614941

One to press Ctrl+c, one to press Ctrl+v