Panti Bliss,Ireland’s famous drag queen activist, has been named in the Politico 28, a list of the most influential Europeans of 2015.
Politico’s new European list, based on their similar U.S. list, is their “version of the ‘chapeau’ or ‘hats-off’ magazine in which [they] acknowledge women and men of consequence, those who caught [their] attention this year and bear watching closely into the next.” Each person on the list is considered to be “shaping, shaking and stirring Europe.”
Panti Bliss, alternatively known as Rory O’Neill, has been named in this year’s EU list for her outstanding activism against social conservatism in Ireland, a country with a deep Catholic history. Following a late night talk show scandal and Panti’s amazing 10-minute response follow-up speech (watch below), homophobia in Ireland was forced to the forefront of media conversations. As the conversation grew, so too did Panti’s popularity and influence.
In May, Panti used her growing voice to help pass Ireland’s gay marriage referendum, a feat that made international headlines and helped land her a well-deserved #12 place on the Policito 28.
Panti tweeted her response to being selected last week, saying, “There I am, “shaking” Europe #12. (Though my corset is doing the “shaping”).”
For her next challenge, Panti plans to bring the fight for LGBT rights outside Ireland. “Is Putin ready for a Russian drag queen extraordinaire?”, Politico asks.
Brian
Why do gay-identifying men need to hide behind drag queens to achieve their rights? It’s sad. It reeks of this other disturbing trend where gay-identifying hide behind women’s skirts in order to achieve their rights. The whole thing ends up with gay-identifying men feminizing themselves in the process.
Male homosexuality has been feminized enough. No more, thanks.
ingyaom
I think to “top” a list, you have to be #1, which, in this case is a guy named Viktor Orbán:
http://www.politico.eu/list/politico-28/viktor-orban/
Philigree
@Brian: Because they know that it pisses off assholes like you. Hope that clears it up, girl. 🙂
Tobi
Who?
martinbakman
Awesome.
Wil Maclachlan
She was 12 on the list she didn’t top it
But you at queerty do that often
You change things or over elaborate to get people to read the story
How about some honest journalism
519
@ingyaom: As a Hungarian I find it most disturbing and sad that our jerk prime minister can top a list like this…
RobvR
I only know her from her speech “all the little things”. So well spoken…….
AtticusBennett
@Brian: only closet-cases who remain disappointments to their sh**Y bigoted dads say things like that. which is to be expected. as you’re a closeted wimp who will only ever be a disappointment to your bigoted dad 😀
AtticusBennett
“stop feminizing gay male sexuality!” scream the closeted losers who are so cowardly that they hide behind their computer screens, like the anonymous wimps that they are 😀