Dublin Pride has ended its partnership with RTÉ due to what it described as “extremely harmful anti-trans” discussions aired on Joe Duffy's Liveline on RTÉ Radio One.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Dublin Pride confirmed it will part ways with the national broadcaster. Organisers said they were “angered” and “disappointed” by what they called “unacceptable” and “triggering” discussions on the show.
“Over the past three years, we have worked together with the national broadcaster to increase the positive representation of LGBTQ+ people on TV, radio, and online, and to see the good work of so many people undone is saddening in the extreme and negates much of the efforts made to date,” the statement said.
“It breaches trust with our community and causes untold hurt.”
The statement added: “As an official media partner of Dublin Pride, but more importantly as Ireland's national broadcaster, we expected better than for RTÉ to stoke the flames of anti-trans rhetoric.”
Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride's statement on termination of media partnership with RTÉ. pic.twitter.com/8yfu1rIiQt
— Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride (@DublinPride) June 14, 2022
Dublin Pride said it expected a response from RTÉ on “how they will make amends for this situation and are committed to continuing the fight for equality, fairness and respect for all members of our LGBTQ+ family”.
In response, RTÉ said it was “disappointed” with the decision by Dublin Pride to end the partnership after three years.
“Standing with the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month sends an important signal that RTÉ is here to serve everyone,” the broadcaster said in a statement released on Wednesday morning.
“Public discussion – sometimes uncomfortable, difficult, and contentious – is central to RTÉ’s prescribed purpose. RTÉ is acutely aware that discussions on issues such as gender and identity are deeply personal to many.
“It is important we listen to them, their families and those close to them, and it is also important that we allow our audiences engage with and understand the issues involved.”
RTÉ said it would respond to any formal complaints concerning the broadcasts, and hoped it would once again get the opportunity to continue to develop a partnership with Dublin Pride.
In the context of increasing transphobic and homophobic attacks, this #liveline conversation is incredibly irresponsible.
We stand with trans people today and every day. The fight for equality continues ?
— ICCLtweet ?️? (@ICCLtweet) June 9, 2022
Speaking on Monday, Joe Duffy reacted to criticism from the Irish Council For Civil Liberties over a previous edition of Liveline that focused on gender identity.
“I found it [the criticism] deeply disturbing. Of my 25 years presenting in here, to be told that a debate on Liveline was ‘incredibly irresponsible’ in the context of increasing transphobic and homophobic attacks is just so insulting to this programme and the staff of this programme,” Mr Duffy said.
