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Rory O'Neill

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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][5]

Rory O'Neill
O'Neill as Panti in 2015
Born (1968-11-16) 16 November 1968 (age 56)[1]
Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland
Occupation(s)Drag queen, activist, publican and businessperson
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

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O'Neill, the son of a veterinary surgeon, grew up in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and went to art college in Dún Laoghaire.[6] Although raised a Catholic, O'Neill is an atheist.[7] 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.[8]

Career

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O'Neill (under his stage name Panti) is considered to be Ireland's foremost drag queen.[6][9] Panti is short for 'Pandora Panti Bliss'.[6] O'Neill's first drag performance was in 1989.[10] He danced on stage in Japan with Cyndi Lauper during her 1994 Twelve Deadly Cyns Tour.[6]

O'Neill (in his Panti guise) regularly hosts the annual Dublin Pride celebrations, which take place in June every year.[11] From 1996 to 2012, he hosted the annual Alternative Miss Ireland pageant.[12]

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.

 
Pantibar on Capel Street, Dublin

On 30 November 2007, he opened the self-titled 'Pantibar' at 7 Capel Street, Dublin.[5] 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.[13][14]

Incidents

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Comments about homophobia on RTÉ ("Pantigate")

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See also: Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland and 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".[15]

Those mentioned threatened RTÉ and O'Neill with legal action.[9] 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."[3][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

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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] As of December 2018 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,[32] Graham Norton, Stephen Fry, Madonna, and others.[33] T-shirts with "I'm on Team Panti" have been sold as a fundraiser for BeLonG To Youth Services,[34] raising over €10,000.[32] 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

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Theatre

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  • 2005 Spurt! Sister! Spurt! as Madame[37]
  • 2007 In These Shoes?, Written and performed by Rory O'Neill as Panti, at the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival[38]
  • 2007 All Dolled Up, Written and performed by Rory O'Neill as Panti[39]
  • 2009 A Woman In Progress, Written and performed by Rory O'Neill as Panti[40][41]
  • 2014 High Heels in Low Places, Written and performed by Rory O'Neill as Panti.[42]
  • 2022 If These Wigs Could Talk, Written and performed by Rory O'Neill as Panti.[43][44]

Media

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Film

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Television

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Radio

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  • 2011: Ireland's Karaoke Klassics, 2FM, Co-presenter as Panti with Arveene
  • 2014: Sunday Breakfast With Dee Reddy, Phantom FM as guest contributor[48]
  • 2016: Pantisocracy a RTÉ Radio 1 four part interview series hosted by Panti[49]

Music

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  • 2014: "Oppression" by Out!rage Featuring Panti Bliss released in aid of BeLonG To
  • 2014: "The Best Gay Possible - Oppressive Dance Mix" by Pet Shop Boys incorporates Panti's speech at the Abbey Theatre[32]

Book

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  • Woman in the Making: A memoir, Rory O'Neill, 2014, Hachette Books Ireland.[50]

Coverage and recognition

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Documentary

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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

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  • Winner of 'Business Person of the Year' – Gay and Lesbian Awards 2009[53]
  • Winner of 'Best Blog Post' – Irish Blog Awards 2010[54]
  • Attitude's Editor's Special Award - Attitude Magazine Awards 2014[55]
  • Award for contribution to Irish society - People of the Year Awards 2014[56]
  • Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse - Presented by the College Historical Society of Trinity College Dublin in 2014[57]
  • Equality Award - Presented by European Law Students Association of Trinity College Dublin in 2014 [58]* James Joyce Award - Presented by Literary and Historical society of University College Dublin[59]
  • Trinity College Dublin, Honorary Degree – O'Neill was awarded with an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2015 for his contribution to LGBT rights and marriage equality[60]

References

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  1. ^ a b Townsend, Michelle (24 November 2018). "Panti Bliss is just as gorgeous as a man". RSVP Live. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  2. ^ Gorman, Sophie. "The high queen of Ireland: Rory O'Neill aka Panti Bliss". Irish Independent. INM. Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b Byrne, Brian (4 February 2014). "Comic Norton shows support for Panti in RTE payout row". The Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Welcome to the Gaybourhood". The Dubliner. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b Barry Egan (6 September 2009). "Glamour queen is not amused". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d Una Mullally (15 July 2013). "Panti Unstitched". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Watch The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne on RTÉ Player". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Aoibhinn and Company Wednesday 8 January 2014 - Aoibhinn and Company - RTÉ Radio 1". Aoibhinn and Company. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  9. ^ a b Cahir O'Doherty (19 January 2014). "Columnist John Waters in a Panti twist over anti-gay claims". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  10. ^ Rory O'Neill (22 April 2019). "My first ever drag performance, 1989". Facebook. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Dublin Pride: Ireland's Biggest LGBTQ Pride Parade". Dublin LGBTQ Pride. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  12. ^ "'Gay Christmas' is cancelled. So long, Alternative Miss Ireland". The Irish Times. 15 October 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011.
  13. ^ Browne, Niamh. "Panti Bliss announced as Grand Marshall for London's St. Patrick's Parade". Hotpress. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  14. ^ Kilraine, John (17 March 2024). "Over 50,000 attend London St Patrick's Day parade". RTÉ Online.
  15. ^ Horan, Niahm (23 February 2014). "'Pantigate' row rumbles on as journalist takes extended leave". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  16. ^ Brian Byrne (16 January 2014). "RTE cuts part of show after legal complaint from Waters". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  17. ^ "RTÉ apologises for 'distress' caused by Saturday Night Show guest's comments". TheJournal.ie. 26 January 2014. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  18. ^ "RTÉ paid out €85,000 in 'homophobe' row". Irish Independent. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  19. ^ Murphy, Catherine (20 January 2014). "Column: Panti Bliss controversy raises major questions about RTE's role in public discourse". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 31 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  20. ^ Clare Daly (20 January 2014). "RTE's Censorship and Double Standards Condones Prejudice". Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Sitting of 2014-02-03". European Parliament. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014.
  22. ^ Suzanne Lynch (5 February 2014). "MEPs call on EU to implement road map to combat homophobia - Social Affairs & News from Ireland & Abroad". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  23. ^ "David Norris and Paul Murphy raise homophobia in Irish and EU parliaments". TheJournal.ie. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  24. ^ Brydum, Sunnivie (5 February 2014). "WATCH: Irish Lawmakers Call Out 'Rampant Homophobia'". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  25. ^ "Taoiseach dismisses call to make RTÉ answerable to the Dáil". The Irish Times. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  26. ^ Ramsey, Nick (2 February 2014). "Irish drag queen gives impassioned speech on gay rights". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  27. ^ Nichols, James (3 February 2014). "Panti Bliss, Irish Drag Queen, Gives Impassioned Speech About Homophobia". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  28. ^ Buckley, Dan (6 February 2014). "Maybe we are not as tolerant as we think". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  29. ^ "Panti's Noble Call at the Abbey Theatre - WITH SUBTITLES". YouTube. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  30. ^ a b Peter McGuire (11 February 2014). "What Makes a Homophobe? Ireland's Debate Goes Global". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  31. ^ Savage, Dan. "Stupid Irish Homophobes and Their Big Homophobic Fail". The Stranger. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  32. ^ a b c Clare Cullen (17 February 2014). "'Team Panti' tshirts sales raise €10,000 for LGBT youth services - Independent.ie". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  33. ^ Fegan, Joyce (10 February 2014). "Panti, Madge is on your side". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  34. ^ Brian O'Reilly (12 February 2014). "'Team Panti' supporters infiltrate Prime Time audience". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  35. ^ "Pet Shop Boys Release 'Slow Mix' and Video of Panti Bliss Dance Track". Towleroad. 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  36. ^ "Panti Bliss' Noble Call speech dress". National Museum of Ireland. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  37. ^ "Irish Theatre Magazine" retrieved 6 March 2009 [dead link‍]
  38. ^ "Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2006 - May 7th to 20th 2007". Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  39. ^ "Irish Theatre Magazine" Retrieved 17 October 2007 Archived 2007-10-31 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ^ "Irish Theatre Magazine" Retrieved 27 September 2009 Archived 2009-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ 'A Woman in Progress' in Fintan Walsh, ed., Queer Notions: New Plays and Performances from Ireland (Cork: Cork University Press, 2009).
  42. ^ "Panti - High Heels In Low Places". Archived from the original on 1 November 2014.
  43. ^ O'Rourke, Chris (18 November 2022). "Haunted/If These Wigs Could Talk". theartsreview. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  44. ^ Logan, Brian (31 May 2023). "Panti Bliss review – forceful account of a remarkable life". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  45. ^ "Seán The Transvestite Farmer". Nighthawks. 9 October 1990. RTÉ. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  46. ^ The Late Late Show [@RTELateLateShow] (4 February 2022). ""I'm buzzin'!" This moment when @Brooke_Scullion was crowned as our #LateLate Eurosong winner 🥳 C'mon @Eurovision 2022! 🇮🇪😍" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  47. ^ "The first four contestants for DWTS have been revealed". RTÉ TEN. 1 December 2022.
  48. ^ "Sunday Breakfast with Dee Reddy". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
  49. ^ "Pantisocracy - RTÉ Radio 1". Pantisocracy. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  50. ^ O'Neill, Rory (2014). Woman in the Making. Hachette Books Ireland. ISBN 978-1444798562.
  51. ^ "See Panti, The Queen of Ireland's first live interview!". Irish Examiner. 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  52. ^ "Queen of Ireland premiere goes nationwide". RTÉ. 2 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  53. ^ "thegalas". thegalas. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  54. ^ "Blog Awards Ireland". www.blogawardsireland.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  55. ^ "Panti Bliss collects Editor's Special Award from Matthew Todd". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017.
  56. ^ "Panti Bliss, Garda whistleblowers named People of the Year". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  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. ^ "Rory O'Neill Receives James Joyce Award". Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  60. ^ "TCD confers honours on McVerry, Norris and Panti Bliss". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
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