This received a big welcome gesture from humanists but angered the homophobes. The new new Albanian anti-discrimination legislation is intended for joining the European Union, whose members are required to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. Add to these the ever-present hostility of neo-Nazi extremists who fight any effort of gay Europeans to display Pride in public. The result is frustrating and risky for LGBT citizens who want to move ahead to a progressive "Gay Life in Albania" of better human rights but are caught in retrograde religious (Muslim and Catholic) opinions and resistant old traditions. They face intolerance, physical and psychological violence – often from the police – and discrimination in the workplace." However, on the negative side, according to, ".ingrained attitudes among the public leave Albanian gays and lesbians on the fringes of society. On one hand, in February 2010, the Parliament of Albania unanimously approved an all inclusive anti-discrimination law which bans discrimination in on the grounds of various characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Open for Business is on RTÉ1 at 7pm tonight.Introduction: Albania is a mixed situation for gay and lesbian citizens. All in all it’s a great place to star spot. Gavin Friday actually got the inspiration for his song, Mr Pussy, from hanging out at the George. Mind you her boyfriend Dan McGratten’s nephew is a regular performer there as their alter ego Veda. It has also played host to the likes of Bono, Sinead O’Connor, Paul O’Grady, Erasure and EastEnders star Jessie Wallace was a regular while she was filming in Ireland. It was the venue chosen to announce Lesley Roy as Ireland’s Eurovision representative back in 2020 and the first place she performed her song Story of My Life. Disco Diva Jocelyn Brown nearly brought the newly refurbished house down on reopening night in the late nineties. Sophie Ellis Bextor sang in The George long before she sang in her kitchen. Numerous stars from RuPauls Drag Race have performed on the famous stage.Ĭonchita Wurst played there after she won Eurovision in 2014.
#GAY BAR SONG GOT PULLED OVER BY A COP TV#
He still presents it to this day although the draw has moved from mainstream TV to YouTube.Ī wealth of world class performers have strutted their stuff here. It also led to Buckley getting a role as presenter of the National Lottery’s Telly Bingo.
#GAY BAR SONG GOT PULLED OVER BY A COP FULL#
Indeed the show has progressed from just bingo to a full on drag show featuring some of The George’s most popular Drag Queens including the likes of Dolly Grip, Sophia Harte and Davina Devine who features in tonight’s show.
Speaking during the George’s 25 th anniversary celebrations in 2010 Buckley said: “Back then it was just me and a couple of bingo book sellers, it’s now a cabaret show with a cast of thousands.” Declan Buckley was invited to be the club’s resident bingo caller on Sunday afternoons after winning the Alternative Miss Ireland competition in 1997. Hosted by Shirley Temple Bar for the past 24 years Bingo in the George has become a huge weekly event. The club venue extends over two floors and before they were forced to shut due to CoVid restrictions they boasted a drag act almost every night. In 1998 they extended again into the building next door, which had originally been an Indian restaurant which allowed them to welcome far larger numbers and create the performance area and stage that play host to their hugely popular shows. It provided and still provides) a safe space where gay people could socialise with their friends without fear and prejudiceįollowing the decriminalisation in 1993 there was an explosion of numbers onto the gay scene and for the first time The George expanded.
It was only the second bar in the city to be owned by a gay proprietor and to be opened specifically as a gay bar (the other was the long defunct The Viking on Dame Street).
It was just the corner bar downstairs, which is today known as Bridie’s Bar (or colloquially as “Jurrassic” in reference to the older clientele), and the space above it which was a gay disco bar called The Loft that featured a multitude of mirrors. Originally it was much smaller than the spacious venue people know today. It was established by Co Kerry businessman Cyril O’Brien who ran one of the city’s first and most commercially successful gay saunas, The Gym, on Dame Lane. It first opened in 1985 - eight years before homosexuality was legalised in Ireland. It pre-dates the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland Here’s everything you need to know abut the legendary gay nightspot. But just what makes the George so special.