The U.S./Irish Alliance reception for gay Irish Senator David Norris at the Sir Francisco Drake Hotel. State Senator Mark Leno gave a proclamation to Senator Nroris, who spoke about how he had to appeal to a European court for gay rights. Photo by Rink.

Senator David Norris, founder of the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform and the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in Ireland, spoke on July 21 at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in a lively and informative discussion before members of the US-Ireland Alliance. Frequently referred to as the “Harvey Milk” of Ireland and a champion behind homosexuality decriminalization in Ireland, he brought a unique point of view and intellectual prospective on gay and governmental issues. One might make the comparison that as Milk was the first gay man to represent the Emerald City, so is Norris the first gay man to represent the Emerald Isle. Trina Vargo, president of the US-Ireland Alliance, introduced Norris – a delightfully bombastic, witty, eloquent, humorous, white-bearded, bespectacled elder gentleman and stately homosexual. He does not particularly care for the term “queer” applied to himself, but allows others to use the term freely. He said he is British, protestant, and gay – the last being possibly the least offensive. He joked, “I’m of mixed backgrounds, so I can offend everyone equally!” 

Senator Mark Leno presented a certificate of recognition to Norris, as did Mayor Gavin Newsom via his LGBT Liaison Alex Randolph. Norris said, “I am enormously proud to receive these two certificates,” and added, “I am an ordinary person, as was Harvey Milk; but I am deeply respectful and inspired by his drive for equality for everyone, not just gay people.” He said of San Francisco, “You have a magnificent city here and a wonderful sense of community.” 

He told Bay Times of the long, drawn-out process to repeal the illegality of homosexuality in Ireland, which began back in the ‘70s, and continued in the ‘80s. The law was finally actually changed in 1993. Regarding the sodomy laws, he said, “Like Jesus, I came not to bring peace but a sword.” He said his fellow activists ran the whole gay movement out of a discotheque where they made money to fund their activism. “Sixteen years ago homosexuality was criminal in Ireland,” he said, “and that was not that long ago.” 

They first went to the High Court to win a moral victory but the case was found illegal on technical grounds. Then in the Supreme Court they got a negative judgment, where the prevailing judgment by the Chief Justice is now used as an example in law school of defective judgment. “I was just as interested in the whole propaganda element as in the ultimate victory, because I wanted this matter discussed,” said Norris. “It had never been talked about before, and suddenly it was on the front page every day for a week in the High Court and then a week in the Supreme Court, and then all over the news in the European Court.” Mary Robinson (who later became president of Ireland) was his attorney in Norris v. Ireland, scoring a landmark victory, changing Irish law forever. He said the case had nothing to do with sex, but rather was about human justice. 

How did he celebrate the victory? “I was given a bottle of champagne and a bottle of whiskey, and I drank both of them,” he replied. “And the next day was the government marathon that I had entered. I woke up with a splitting headache and hangover, but after ten miles I had sweated everything out.”

He was the last person photographed as he crossed the line, having accomplished this feat in five hours and forty-five minutes. “I didn’t manage to make the five-hour mark, but I did it nonetheless,” he said. He noted gay rights activists similarly need to keep pushing and pushing for civil rights. He calls Don’t Ask/ Don’t Tell “complete rubbish.” 

When asked what is next in Ireland for equal rights, he said, “It’s got to be same-sex marriage, but that isn’t the end of the story, because so many are suffering everywhere.” He mentioned the burden he has for young gay Iranian males who are tortured and murdered for their love. “Those two recently murdered young men probably felt degraded, humiliated, and ashamed in their last moment of life, which is so appalling.” He said he was in Iran recently as a member of the foreign affairs committee where he raised the subject with the leaders, quoting the Koran at them. “These are blasphemous, disgusting people,” he said of the homophobic leaders. “I told them nowhere in their holy book does it say young men are to be tortured and butchered for their love.” He added, “The same goes with Jesus, who never said anything about homosexuality, but people think they are holy when they are homophobic.” He said, “It’s appalling!”  

When asked why he thought back in the Old Testament times the Jews were against homosexuality, he said probably because this little nomadic tribe was surrounded by a very powerful civilization that was strongly homoerotic, and they wanted to distinguish themselves. Also they needed to breed an army of young male soldiers, so sperm was a national asset, “which was wasted by having a wank or riding on a man.” He said, “The church literally had them by the balls.” 

He said another problem to deal with is the overpopulation of the planet. He noted this didn’t used to have anything to do with gay people, “but now they appear to be playing an increasing part in the problem, because to my astonishment they all seem to want to have babies.” He joked, “One of the great things about being an old fairy is you don’t have to get married or have children.” He said he thought parents should be confined to two children. He was NOT at all pleased with the “octo-mom.”  

Norris has a very low opinion of “the disgraceful Pope” who is “always snooping into other people’s sexuality.” He said, “I don’t think we should have to pay for his fantasies.” He said, “He should be on his knees apologizing. This is the man who voluntarily joined the Hitler youth.” Norris said Ratzinger is “a very mean-spirited man - consistently attacking and bullying.” He added, “I get a rather nasty smell from those Catholic administrators.” 

When asked what Americans and Californians and specifically San Franciscans can do to bring about equality, he replied, “I think you have largely led the way, so just continue doing it.” He elaborated, “Overturn Proposition 8, and keep the pressure on President Obama, because he is a wonderful, inspirational, and visionary leader. It is refreshing to have him in America allowing those who love America to continue doing so.” Regarding the “Bushies,” he said, “For a moment your flag was only stripes, not stars; but I believe Obama will put back the stars.” He cautioned, “But Obama has to be watched, because there are others putting pressures on him, and among those pressuring must be the gay people.” Norris concluded, “Like Obama says: ‘Yes we can!’”