Like half the world we’ve been in love with Panti Bliss since we first watched THE speech about homophobia on Ist February 2014 in Dublin’s Abbey Theater that blew our socks off and immediately went viral. When Stephen Fry later presented her with a People of The Year Award he succinctly said ‘I thought it was one of the most moving and eloquent calls against oppression of any kind. It was like any great speech, it was suppressed rage but utterly controlled.’

Panti aka Rory O’Neill, is Ireland’s most famous and fabulous Drag Queen and gay activist  and was at the forefront of the successful movement that legalised same-sex marriage in the country earlier this year. Amongst all her other activities she is also hosting the  World’s First Ever LGBT Matchmaking and Music Festival in Lisdoonvarna later this month.  Now Irish filmmaker Conor Horgan has just finished his documentary on Panti with the apt title ‘Queen of Ireland’ which traces how a small gay boy from the tiny town of Ballinrobe in County Mayo became this strapping fearless man in a dress who so perfectly articulates what we as an LGBT community want to hear, and would try and say if we all possessed Panti’s passion.  The movie gives us a glimpse too of the man behind the woman : ‘When I breath life into Panti, she breaths more life into me.’

Universal Pictures have just released this trailer, and the movie will open in Irish cinemas on October 21st, although no date has been set for its international release.  Watch this space as we will so be tracking this one daily.