"We've always existed - you may think us unnatural, but we think we're fabulous". "I think this is a small group that are expressing their views publicly, but under the guise of darkness, because probably they know that the majority don't agree with them necessarily.Īsked what his message would be to the people who burnt the flags and put up the posters, he said: "Your opinions can stand, but we're going nowhere. "And I really don't think it speaks for the people of Waterford, either. While Shane said: "It's a true shock to me, it's not something I've seen or heard in the city before. "You could call it somebody spreading a message that they believe in, but the message is homophobic. "But that kind of messaging spreads an idea, that there's something wrong with being LGBT - which we know is not true".Īsked if she saw it as a homophobic attack, she said: "Yeah, it's definitely an expression of homophobia. "There's many, many LGBT families across Ireland now and in Waterford. 'We think we're fabulous'ĭebbie O'Rourke and Shane O'Sullivan are from Pride Of The Deise.ĭebbie said: "It's usual messaging that's used against the LGBT community - so attacks family values - which is not fair or true. "I don't like that we are being represented like this now I'd rather have people not think that we're all homophobic or anything like that".Īnother man said he believes the people behind it were "foolish, I think it's very ignorant and it's just very sad to see".
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One woman suggested: "Are people really that jealous that the LGBT community are getting attention that they need to put up Straight Pride and they need to feel important themselves? "It just so happened to be publicised by the flags". "There's stuff like this that goes on all over the country, all over the world - it's not just Waterford.
"But unfortunately these things happen, and it was just disgraceful that it was put up. "It would just intimidate you and it would just make you feel uncomfortable, especially because you're living here. One man said: "I do have a family member that is gay, so the instant reaction that I had was 'I hope that they don't see it'. These people on the streets told Barry Whyte for The Hard Shoulder they do not support those behind this. One of the posters put up in Waterford city for 'Straight Pride'.