Former general election candidate, Tommy Roddy says Galway Pride organisers should not be “promoting the pro-choice stance” in Ireland’s abortion debate.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Liveline programme on Tuesday, August 16, Roddy (pictured above) said that as a gay man he objected to an event called ‘Galway Pride Festival Btqia+ Tea Party and Reproductive Rights Talk’, which is scheduled to take place this evening, August 18 as part of the Galway Pride Festival.

Roddy , who professes to be pro-life, opined that “Galway Pride community and Galway Pride Festival should not be getting involved in a divisive issue like [abortion].”

“I think for them to be hosting an event like this… is the wrong stance for them to be taking.”

Defending Galway LGBT Pride’s decision to host the event, organising committee member, Sharon Nolan said that the committee had held open meetings over a number of months where potential events for the festival were discussed.

Intersectionality

She explained that no one seemed to raise concern over the event and the committee had taken a unanimous decision to hold it following the open discussion process.

The event, she said, is “about giving the people who wouldn’t usually get their say a platform.”

Roddy argued that a pro-choice group should host the event instead of Galway Pride, or alternatively give a platform to people like himself.

Ms Nolan welcomed the fact the LGBT community was recognising intersectionality between groups in society.

“I’m personally very proud that the committee decided to hold this event,” she said.

Galway Pride runs until Sunday, August 21, click here for our complete guide.