Speech by Senator Jerry Buttimer, Leader of the Seanad, at the opening rainbow flag raising ceremony at the Provincetown pilgrim monument in Massachusetts, USA

Good morning

Welcome

It’s a privilege to be here this morning standing in the shadow of the Pilgrim monument where the first pilgrims landed in 1620. Here overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, an ocean shared by both Europe and the USA, it occurs to me that the common values we share unite us more than an ocean divides us. I’m conscious that on the waters of the same ocean millions of emigrants set sail to pursue a better life, including siblings of my grandparents. Emigrants scattered across the continent of America being welcomed, contributing to the great nation of the USA, enhancing not only their own lives but the lives within their new communities also. I hope America continues to be a welcoming safe harbour for all people but especially for LGBTQ people.

We face many challenges on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, what we must ensure that by events like today, the raising of the rain bow flag, the holding of gay pride, here in Ptown carnival, is that we continue to progress, to promote, to advance the human rights of all people but especially our LGBTQ people.

After all gay rights are human rights.

The last 24 months have been turbulent for many LGBTQ people across the world; increase in hate crimes, homophobic attacks, arbitrary arrests, state sponsored discrimination and a denial of human rights have tragically continued to blight the lives of our gay sisters and brothers.

My friends as we gather today in this wonderful town in many parts of the world our fellow LGBTQ citizens are not equal. I’m proud to be here today, addressing this important event at the commencement of carnival. Like the pilgrims of 1620, we too are bound to stand up for freedom, to challenge those who perpetrate hate crimes, to oppose those who want to deny LGBTQ people rights and entitlements.

That is why today’s event, carnival week, pride month is so important. We must demand of our governments that they work harder to put in place structures to ensure that there is no going back and where they fail to do is, or worse, where they are seen to roll back on our rights, inalienable rights, we, the people, wherever we are, must call them out on this!

The raising today of the rainbow flag, whilst symbolic, is also a clarion call to each of one of us. We have all travelled on personal journeys, so today our job is to continue to be that legitimate voice, sharing our lived experience so that when people question: do we need to have pride? Why have places like Ptown? Why do we need to go to gay bars? We can say it is by the visibility of events like today, by being together, standing united as one voice of a community that we can make change happen and be that stronger counter voice to those who chose to deny human rights.

It is important that we continue to be emboldened to pursue the equality agenda which is at the heart of what we all represent. Some of our fellow citizens speak disdainfully of the “Liberal Agenda”. As if this were a bad thing! The “liberal agenda” seeks to promote nothing more than equality. There is nothing to fear in equality.

Equality can only enhance our society and the lack of equality can only diminish it. That is why it is so critical that we support, campaign for, and elect more LGBTQ elected representatives across the world, at all levels. That is why the primacy of the ballot box is pivotal. May I implore each of you today to join the democratic fight, to use your voice, and to be active citizens in the struggle for LGBTQ rights. Across the world we need more allies, advocates and political leaders. I am proud to be one of 5 members of the Irish parliament to be out. It is by having more elected public officials that we can shape the debate for change and equality.

Provincetown, Inclusive town, has over time has opened her arms to welcome so many of us, to offer us a safe peaceful harbour where we are free to be ourselves, to be equal and unapologetic, to be gay, or bi, or whatever, Provincetown has flourished because of this, we have flourished because of this.

Today we raise the rainbow flag in Provincetown as a beacon to rest of the world. Where equality flourishes, society flourishes.

Today we shine a light on our advocacy.