RTE say that they’re extraordinarily disappointed to be dumped by Dublin Pride over a discussion to do with transgender people on Joe Duffy’s LiveLine.
The national broadcaster said: “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.”
It comes after Dublin Pride announced it is ending its media partnership with RTÉ, saying it is angry and disappointed by the transgender community’s recent discussions on Joe Duffy’s Liveline radio show.
According to RTE, Dublin Pride said it had worked with RTÉ for three years “to increase 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”.
Pride Dublin said the recent discussion on Joe Duffy’s Liveline show “breaches trust with our community and causes untold hurt”.
Dublin Pride announced it was ending its association with the media with immediate effect and accused RTÉ of fanning “the flames of anti-trans rhetoric”.
As the Dublin Pride Festival runs from 22nd to 28th June the whole month of June is considered Pride Month with a variety of organizations and venues hosting Pride events across the city and county.
The Dublin Pride March and Parade takes place on Saturday 25th June. On its website, Dublin Pride said it was “an opportunity to showcase the many LGBTQ+ organizations working in the community, along with allied groups making visible commitments to LGBTQ+ people”.
Dublin Pride said it was waiting for an answer on how RTÉ would “amends for this situation”.
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