Welcome, dear reader, to'The Big Four-Oh', the June 2026 issue of GCN.
Our wonderful cover was photographed by Hazel Coonagh, featuring some of the drag artists and DJs at the heart of The George, which marks its 40th birthday this year. The importance of physical queer spaces is a recurring theme throughout this issue, whether it be Belong To’s youth services, the BI-Monthly social group, parties for queer people of colour, or a Gaeltacht for LGBTQ+ adults
Considering the time of the year, there is also a healthy dose of Pride content, including our comprehensive calendar. The team at Dublin Pride shares insights into this year’s festival, one of the highlights being Mother Pride Block Party. Several DJs, including Peaches, are interviewed by our writers. Organisers from Trans & Intersex Pride and Dublin Dyke March also pen pieces about their movements, and down south, we hear from Cork Community Pride. We also go further afield to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to discover the world’s most northerly Pride.
Additionally featured are Dykes on Bikes, Kindred Clinic, ShoutOut, Mammies for Trans Rights, Queer Spectrum Film Festival and Equality for Children, as well as artists like Jack Haven, Richard Malone, James Mac, Keelin O’Shea and the creators of SMUT Press. There are also a range of activists drawing attention towards key issues spanning healthcare, international protection, ageing, the arts, history, and neutrality. This is just a snapshot of the fantastic array of content in this magazine; dive in to find out more!
This Pride, it is important to be grateful for our physical spaces and in-person communities. So please, get out and march, protest, dance, kiss, or even just have a cup of tea with a friend. Fuel yourself with all the reasons why it’s so important to keep fighting. The beauty of this time of year is that it shows us how special life can be when you refuse to give up.
With that, dear reader, we hope you enjoy this jam-packed edition of GCN. Happy Pride!
