GCN Launches Major Exhibition 'Proof: 30 Years Of Gay Community News'

The launch of 'Proof' was a great success and you can catch it in the Gallery Of Photography in Temple Bar until July 1.

News . Written by Peter Dunne.

find GCN magazine The launch of the Proof exhibition

‘Proof: 30 Years Of Gay Community News‘ took over the Gallery of Photography last night, celebrating our three decades as Ireland’s national LGBT+ press and taking a look at the journey our community has made along the way.

A host of friends, supporters and funders turned out in force for a first look at the amazing and moving tribute. Photographer extraordinaire Babs Daly was also on hand, capturing beautiful images of the lovely folk who attended. The album is below, so get tagging!

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Editor Brian Finnegan, who’s been at the helm of GCN for over 15 years, gave an opening speech thanking everyone who had contributed. As he tweeted, “It’s overwhelming looking at the last 15 years of my career editing GCN. What a privilege and honour it is.”

There have been a lot of many talented and passionate people who have graced the pages of GCN throughout the years, which ‘Proof’ recognises and honours with a room containing the names of everyone who has ever contributed.

GCN’s founder, Tonie Walsh spoke next, continuing the tribute. “To all of you involved…I’d like to acknowledge your foresight and perseverance in bringing these ventures to life, too often in the most straightened circumstances and with such limited economic and human resources that is impossible to imagine today.

When mainstream society ignore our stories and civil society and Gov have attempted to expunge any evidence of our lives and the tools we use to communicate with each other, we look to publications like GCN and others before it to be a witness to our struggle. GCN puts value on our struggle as a Rainbow Society. It fills our need to know and understand the journey we took, the heartache of leaving friends and lovers behind. And, if it’s doing its job properly, it cautions us about unfinished business.”

Minister Katherine Zappone delivered a very moving speech, discussing amongst other moments, the move towards marriage equality and the bravery and love of throughout our community. The Minister also highlighted the generosity of the The Community Foundation for Ireland for their generous seed funding. Without them and the generous supporters of our FundIt campaign, the exhibition would not have existed, let alone been the success it was.

 

Wicked Dublin MPU

 

We’ll finish with Tonie Walsh who highlighted the importance of the magazine. “GCN is our national queer paper of record, as these walls so clearly illustrate. It may be free but there’s nothing cheap about it. It costs a lot to look this good (I’m talking about the magazine, not me.) Thank you Team GCN.”

Generous funders of the exhibition will be able to collect their rewards from the Gallery Of Photography. Thank you so much for your support.

© 2018 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

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