Rory O'Neill explained

Rory O'Neill
Birth Date:1968 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland
Occupation:Drag queen, activist, publican and businessperson

Rory O'Neill (born 16 November 1968),[1] also known by his stage names Panti, Panti Bliss and Pandora Panti Bliss,[2] is a drag queen and gay rights activist from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland.[3] [4]

Early life

O'Neill, the son of a veterinary surgeon, grew up in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and went to art college in Dún Laoghaire. Although raised a Catholic, O'Neill is an atheist.[5] O'Neill talked to Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin about having been diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1995 on the RTÉ Radio 1 series Aoibhinn and Company.[6]

Career

O'Neill (under his stage name Panti) is considered to be Ireland's foremost drag queen.[7] Panti is short for 'Pandora Panti Bliss'. O'Neill's first drag performance was in 1989.[8] He danced on stage in Japan with Cyndi Lauper during her 1994 Twelve Deadly Cyns Tour.

O'Neill (in his Panti guise) regularly hosts the annual Dublin Pride celebrations, which take place in June every year.[9] From 1996 to 2012, he hosted the annual Alternative Miss Ireland pageant.[10]

For a number of years, O'Neill (as Panti) hosted a weekly karaoke show, The Casting Couch, at The Front Lounge pub, Dublin. He occasionally appears as Panti at Shirley Temple Bar's weekly drag queen Bingo show in the Dublin gay bar The George.On 30 November 2007, he opened the self-titled 'Pantibar' at 7 Capel Street, Dublin.[11] Later, he took over the nearby Pennylane cocktail bar in 2020 at 2 Great Strand Street. In 2023, he took part in the sixth series of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Ukrainian dancer Denys Samson. He finished the competition in 6th place on 5 March. In 2024 O'Neill was the Grand Marshall of the London St Patrick's Day Parade.[12] [13]

Incidents

Comments about homophobia on RTÉ ("Pantigate")

See also: Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland. On 11 January 2014, O'Neill appeared on RTÉ's The Saturday Night Show with Brendan O'Connor, where he and O'Connor discussed homophobia, and O'Neill alleged that some specific people involved in Irish journalism were homophobic. This became known as "Pantigate".[14]

Those mentioned threatened RTÉ and O'Neill with legal action.[15] RTÉ subsequently removed that section of the interview from their online archive.[16] On 25 January episode of the Saturday Night Show, O'Connor issued a public apology on behalf of RTÉ to those mentioned by O'Neill in the interview held two weeks previously.[17] RTÉ paid €85,000 to those named by O'Neill.[18]

The payouts were later discussed by members of Oireachtas.[19] [20] The incident was also discussed in the European Parliament.[21] with Irish MEP Paul Murphy, calling the payout "a real attack on the freedom of speech" and stating "When John Waters says that gay marriage is 'a kind of satire', that is homophobia. When Breda O’Brien says 'equality must take second place to the common good', that is homophobia. When the Iona Institute campaign against gay marriage because it is gay marriage, that is homophobia."[22] [23] [24] RTÉ's head of television defended the €85,000 payout stating that it saved RTÉ "an absolute multiple" in the long term.[25]

Noble Call Speech

On 1 February 2014, O'Neill (as Panti) gave a Noble Call speech at the Abbey Theatre in response to the events surrounding the RTÉ controversy,[26] [27] which garnered over 200,000 views in two days.[28] the video has nearly 1 million views.[29] The speech was described as "the most eloquent Irish speech" in almost 200 years by Fintan O'Toole[30] and garnered the support of Dan Savage[30] [31] RuPaul, Graham Norton, Stephen Fry, Madonna, and others.[32] T-shirts with "I'm on Team Panti" have been sold as a fundraiser for BeLonG To Youth Services,[33] raising over €10,000.[34] In March 2014, English electronic pop duo Pet Shop Boys released the speech, backed with their music, as "Oppressive (The Best Gay Possible)", they followed up with a "slow mix" of the track, and accompanying video with a "montage of homophobia-related clips".[35] O'Neill later donated the dress he wore at the Noble Call to the National Museum of Ireland, where it was put on display about LGBTI+ history in Ireland.[36]

Works

Theatre

Media

Film

Television

Radio

Music

Book

Coverage and recognition

Documentary

O'Neill and his alter ego Panti are the subject of a documentary about his early life, the events surrounding comments O'Neill made about homophobia and Panti's role during Ireland's successful campaign for marriage equality. Filmed over a number of years, the documentary was directed by Conor Horgan.[51] The Queen of Ireland premiered on 21 October 2015, followed by its planned nationwide release in Ireland from 23 October 2015.[52]

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Townsend . Michelle . 2018-11-24 . Panti Bliss is just as gorgeous as a man . 2022-12-31 . RSVP Live . en.
  2. Web site: Gorman . Sophie . The high queen of Ireland: Rory O'Neill aka Panti Bliss . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20141201155103/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/theatre-arts/the-high-queen-of-ireland-rory-oneill-aka-panti-bliss-30773368.html . dead . 2014-12-01 . Irish Independent . INM . 20 March 2017 .
  3. News: Comic Norton shows support for Panti in RTE payout row . https://archive.today/20140204232228/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/comic-norton-shows-support-for-panti-in-rte-payout-row-29976200.html . dead . 4 February 2014 . 4 February 2014 . Brian . Byrne . The Irish Independent . 6 April 2017 .
  4. Web site: 19 November 2007. Welcome to the Gaybourhood. https://web.archive.org/web/20090318193249/http://www.thedubliner.ie/the_dubliner_magazine/2007/11/welcome-to-the-.html. 18 March 2009. The Dubliner. 5 September 2010.
  5. Web site: Watch The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne on RTÉ Player. RTÉ.ie. 2014-05-12. 2014-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20140518194642/http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10282040/. live.
  6. Web site: Aoibhinn and Company Wednesday 8 January 2014 - Aoibhinn and Company - RTÉ Radio 1. Aoibhinn and Company. 25 July 2014. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062353/http://www.rte.ie/radio1/aoibhinn-and-company/podcasts/. live.
  7. News: Panti Unstitched. 15 July 2013. Una Mullally. The Irish Times. 26 January 2014. 16 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140116210300/http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/poplife/2013/07/15/panti-unstitched/. live.
  8. Web site: My first ever drag performance, 1989. Rory O'Neill. Facebook. 22 April 2019. 23 April 2019. 5 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220205221614/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpanti%2Fphotos%2Fa.655209091156009%2F2390852284258339%2F%3Ftype%3D3%26theater. live.
  9. Web site: Dublin Pride: Ireland's Biggest LGBTQ Pride Parade. Dublin LGBTQ Pride. en-US. 2016-12-01. 2016-12-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20161210163452/http://dublinpride.ie/. live.
  10. News: 'Gay Christmas' is cancelled. So long, Alternative Miss Ireland. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015231920/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/1015/1224305819763.html. 15 October 2011. The Irish Times. 15 October 2011.
  11. Web site: 6 September 2009 . Barry Egan . Glamour queen is not amused . https://archive.today/20120804000727/http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/glamour-queen-is-not-amused-1879486.html . dead . 4 August 2012 . Irish Independent . 5 September 2010 .
  12. Web site: Browne . Niamh . Panti Bliss announced as Grand Marshall for London's St. Patrick's Parade . 2024-06-24 . Hotpress.
  13. Kilraine . John . 2024-03-17 . Over 50,000 attend London St Patrick's Day parade . RTÉ Online . en.
  14. News: 'Pantigate' row rumbles on as journalist takes extended leave . https://archive.today/20140223204349/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pantigate-row-rumbles-on-as-journalist-takes-extended-leave-30033801.html . dead . 23 February 2014 . Niahm . Horan . 23 February 2014 . Irish Independent .
  15. Web site: Columnist John Waters in a Panti twist over anti-gay claims. Cahir O'Doherty. 19 January 2014. 1 February 2014. 2 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202115851/http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/cahirodoherty/Columnist-John-Waters-in-a-Panti-twist-over-anti-gay-claims.html. live.
  16. Web site: RTE cuts part of show after legal complaint from Waters. Brian Byrne. 16 January 2014. Irish Independent. 1 February 2014. 17 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140117072200/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/rte-cuts-part-of-show-after-legal-complaint-from-waters-29921034.html. live.
  17. News: TheJournal.ie. RTÉ apologises for 'distress' caused by Saturday Night Show guest's comments. 26 January 2014. 26 January 2014. 27 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140127125510/http://www.thejournal.ie/rte-saturday-night-show-panti-comments-1283699-Jan2014/. live.
  18. News: RTÉ paid out €85,000 in 'homophobe' row. Irish Independent. 2 February 2014. 2 February 2014. 3 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203104009/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rte-paid-out-85000-in-homophobe-row-29971734.html. live.
  19. News: Column: Panti Bliss controversy raises major questions about RTE's role in public discourse. TheJournal.ie. Catherine. Murphy. 20 January 2014. 30 January 2014. 31 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140131071756/http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/panti-bliss-controversy-rasies-major-questions-about-rtes-role-in-public-discourse-1289256-Jan2014/. live.
  20. Web site: RTE's Censorship and Double Standards Condones Prejudice. 20 January 2014. Clare Daly. 31 January 2014. 1 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161101164034/http://claredaly.ie/rtes-censorship-and-double-standards-condones-prejudice/. dead.
  21. Web site: Sitting of 2014-02-03. European Parliament. 2014-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20140304031302/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getVod.do?mode=unit&language=EN&vodId=1391456569218. live.
  22. News: MEPs call on EU to implement road map to combat homophobia - Social Affairs & News from Ireland & Abroad. Suzanne Lynch. 5 February 2014. The Irish Times. 6 February 2014. 6 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140206031846/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/meps-call-on-eu-to-implement-road-map-to-combat-homophobia-1.1679690. live.
  23. News: David Norris and Paul Murphy raise homophobia in Irish and EU parliaments. TheJournal.ie. 4 February 2014. 6 February 2014. 22 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222153345/http://www.thejournal.ie/david-norris-paul-murphy-homophobia-1299707-Feb2014/. live.
  24. News: WATCH: Irish Lawmakers Call Out 'Rampant Homophobia'. The Advocate. Sunnivie. Brydum. 5 February 2014. 6 February 2014. 9 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140209021956/http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2014/02/05/watch-irish-lawmakers-call-out-rampant-homophobia. live.
  25. News: Taoiseach dismisses call to make RTÉ answerable to the Dáil. The Irish Times. 5 February 2014. 5 February 2014. 23 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140223030444/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/taoiseach-dismisses-call-to-make-rt%C3%A9-answerable-to-the-d%C3%A1il-1.1680214. live.
  26. News: Irish drag queen gives impassioned speech on gay rights. MSNBC. 30 November 2016. Nick. Ramsey. 2 February 2014. 19 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170419054156/http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/irish-drag-queens-moving-talk-homophobia. live.
  27. News: Panti Bliss, Irish Drag Queen, Gives Impassioned Speech About Homophobia. Huffington Post. James. Nichols. 3 February 2014. 30 November 2016. 1 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161101165114/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/03/panti-noble-oppression_n_4717909.html. live.
  28. News: Maybe we are not as tolerant as we think. Buckley. Dan. 6 February 2014. Irish Examiner. 6 February 2014. 22 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222060358/http://www.irishexaminer.com/analysis/maybe-we-are-not-as-tolerant-as-we-think-257766.html. live.
  29. Web site: Panti's Noble Call at the Abbey Theatre - WITH SUBTITLES. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/WXayhUzWnl0 . 2021-12-21 . live. . 2 February 2014. 30 November 2016.
  30. News: What Makes a Homophobe? Ireland's Debate Goes Global. Peter McGuire. 11 Feb 2014. Huffington Post. 9 March 2014. 9 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309174823/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-mcguire/homophobia-ireland_b_4745967.html. live.
  31. Web site: Stupid Irish Homophobes and Their Big Homophobic Fail. Savage. Dan. The Stranger. 9 March 2014. 9 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309174403/http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2014/02/05/stupid-irish-homophobes-and-their-big-homophobic-fail. live.
  32. News: Panti, Madge is on your side . https://archive.today/20140310100126/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/panti-madge-is-on-your-side-29992782.html . dead . 10 March 2014 . Fegan . Joyce . 10 February 2014 . . 9 March 2014 .
  33. News: 'Team Panti' supporters infiltrate Prime Time audience . https://archive.today/20140310100032/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/team-panti-supporters-infiltrate-prime-time-audience-30000711.html . dead . 10 March 2014 . Brian O'Reilly . 12 February 2014 . . 9 March 2014 .
  34. News: 'Team Panti' tshirts sales raise €10,000 for LGBT youth services - Independent.ie . https://archive.today/20140310100045/http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/ThreeTrending/blog/team-panti-tshirts-sales-raise-10000-for-lgbt-youth-services-30016267.html . dead . 10 March 2014 . Clare Cullen . 17 February 2014 . . 9 March 2014 .
  35. Web site: Pet Shop Boys Release 'Slow Mix' and Video of Panti Bliss Dance Track. 14 March 2014. Towleroad. 18 March 2014. 16 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140316175807/http://www.towleroad.com/2014/03/psbslow.html. live.
  36. Web site: Panti Bliss' Noble Call speech dress. 2020-06-24. National Museum of Ireland. en. 2020-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20200626125753/https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/Collection/Resilience/Artefact/Panti-Bliss%E2%80%99-Noble-Call-speech-dress/80ce1200-dd17-41b2-a0aa-e21b12e898e8. live.
  37. http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/home/fringeArchive05.html "Irish Theatre Magazine"
  38. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20070512182003/http://www.gaytheatre.ie/html/2007_in_these_shoes.html. 12 May 2007. 30 November 2016. Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2006 - May 7th to 20th 2007. Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.
  39. http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/home/fringeRevLinks.htm "Irish Theatre Magazine"
  40. http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/Reviews/Dublin-Theatre/The-Blue-Dragon.aspx "Irish Theatre Magazine"
  41. 'A Woman in Progress' in Fintan Walsh, ed., Queer Notions: New Plays and Performances from Ireland (Cork: Cork University Press, 2009).
  42. Web site: Panti - High Heels In Low Places. https://web.archive.org/web/20141101205851/http://entertainment.ie/show-Comedy/Wexford-Spiegeltent/Panti-High-Heels-In-Low-Places/Comedy-2723759.htm. 1 November 2014.
  43. Web site: O'Rourke . Chris . 2022-11-18 . Haunted/If These Wigs Could Talk . 2024-06-24 . theartsreview . en.
  44. News: Logan . Brian . 2023-05-31 . Panti Bliss review – forceful account of a remarkable life . 2024-06-24 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  45. 9 October 1990. Nighthawks. RTÉ. Seán The Transvestite Farmer. 20 September 2016. 8 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160908165010/http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1862-before-fame/814844-panti-the-transvestitve-famer/. live.
  46. RTELateLateShow . 1489750225849835524 . . 4 February 2022 . "I'm buzzin'!" This moment when @Brooke_Scullion was crowned as our #LateLate Eurosong winner C'mon @Eurovision 2022! .
  47. News: 2022-12-01 . . The first four contestants for DWTS have been revealed . en.
  48. Web site: Sunday Breakfast with Dee Reddy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140203192342/http://www.phantom.ie/shows/190.191.196.332/1402/1/Sunday_Breakfast_with_Dee_Reddy . 3 February 2014 . Wayback Machine.
  49. Web site: Pantisocracy - RTÉ Radio 1. Pantisocracy. 2016-08-31. 2017-09-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20170916085833/http://www.rte.ie/radio1/pantisocracy/. live.
  50. Book: 978-1444798562. Woman in the Making. O'Neill. Rory. 2014. Hachette Books Ireland .
  51. Web site: 7 October 2015 . See Panti, The Queen of Ireland's first live interview! . Irish Examiner . 18 June 2021 . 24 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195852/https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/technology/arid-20358023.html . live .
  52. Web site: Queen of Ireland premiere goes nationwide. RTÉ. 2 October 2015. 14 October 2015. 24 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160124055850/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2015/1002/731993-queen-of-ireland/. live.
  53. Web site: thegalas. thegalas. 2014-01-31. 2017-02-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226050208/http://galas.ie/?page_id=198. live.
  54. Web site: Blog Awards Ireland. www.blogawardsireland.com. 2021-09-23. 2017-09-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20170915123459/http://blogawardsireland.com/. live.
  55. Web site: Panti Bliss collects Editor's Special Award from Matthew Todd . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170226045827/http://attitude.co.uk/panti-bliss-collects-editors-special-award-from-matthew-todd/ . 2017-02-26 . Wayback Machine.
  56. News: Panti Bliss, Garda whistleblowers named People of the Year. . 2014-12-07. 2014-12-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20141208062432/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/panti-bliss-garda-whistleblowers-named-among-people-of-the-year-1.2028917. live.
  57. https://www. https://trinitynews.ie/2014/03/back-out-of-my-life-panti-is-honoured-by-trinity-societies/
  58. https://www. https://trinitynews.ie/2014/03/back-out-of-my-life-panti-is-honoured-by-trinity-societies/
  59. Web site: Rory O'Neill Receives James Joyce Award. 2015-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20170611104427/http://www.universityobserver.ie/news/rory-oneill-receives-james-joyce-award/. 2017-06-11. dead.
  60. News: TCD confers honours on McVerry, Norris and Panti Bliss. . 2015-11-28. 2017-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630180723/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/tcd-confers-honours-on-mcverry-norris-and-panti-bliss-1.2446578. live.

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