Rainbow News A Portrayal of the Experiences of LGBTQIA+ Professionals in Irish Media

Abstract

This dissertation accompanies a practical project in the form of a short documentary film based on in-depth interviews with five professionals from the LGBTQIA+ community working across various sectors of the Irish media landscape (radio, television, print, digital journalism, and public relations). The primary objective of this research and its resulting product is to explore the personal and professional experiences of these individuals over the past three decades, offering a reflective insight into LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusivity within media in the Republic of Ireland. What emerges from these conversations is a largely encouraging picture. The interviews reveal a generally positive and progressive professional environment for LGBTQIA+ media workers in Ireland. All participants highlighted inclusive workplace cultures, supportive colleagues and employers, and a lack of significant barriers related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Coming out, they shared, was not something they were ever pressured to do. It happened naturally, and was generally met with acceptance and encouragement rather than resistance. That said, subtle challenges were not absent. While the overall narrative is optimistic, the findings also acknowledge the nuanced realities of navigating professional life as a queer person. Some participants recalled isolated incidents, such as being subtly advised to selfmonitor behaviour or tone, people wondering about their sexualities, and encountering occasional differences in treatment. These small, yet still culturally rooted challenges, reflect the ongoing complexities of full inclusion. However, such experiences were limited in scope and do not indicate systemic discrimination, in the cases shown in the film. Overall, both the written and practical elements of this project aim to document and reflect on the evolving role and visibility of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Irish media over the past three decades. It is a portrayal of how far things have come for members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the industry, and where there is still room for growth. Through storytelling and reflection, it offers a hopeful yet grounded perspective on identity, representation, and belonging in professional life. While the experiences highlighted here are largely positive, they also serve as quiet reminders that visibility and inclusion are ongoing, not completed, journeys.