We are patting ourselves on the back in the U.S. for the fact that we are most definitely going to elect the first Female President who will take over from the country’s first ever African/American President, but Ireland may go just one step more. In an interview with Irish Central today Drag queen Panti Bliss discussed the very real possibility that she may stand to be the Country’s next President in 2018.
Unless you have been living under a stone (and are not a regular reader of queerguru …. shame on you) then you will know that Dr Panti Bliss (the drag alter ego of 47 year old Rory O’Neill) is no ordinary drag performer. Since February 1st 2014 when she walked on to the stage of Dublin’s Abbey Theater for her Nobel Call which was one of the most impassioned and powerful speeches ever delivered about homophobia, Panti has become something of a national treasure. She was at the forefront of the country’s referendum which successfully resulted in legalizing same sex marriage, and has continued to be the most outspoken and articulate activist for the LGBT community. Only last week she starred in a national health campaign promoting education on HIV.
O’Neill as Panti is not just drenched in Irish charm, but he/she possesses a remarkable innate ability to not just be able to succinctly capture the mood of the community, but has an unshakeable and inexhaustible drive to actually get things done and make a real difference, and all with her very infectious humor. Now her reputation is spreading around the world and last year Panti starred in a documentary of her life with the very apt title Queen of Ireland. Such is her fame that is currently being screened in certain movie theaters in the U.S.
Take a glimpse at either the video of the Noble Call or the trailer of the movie and you will easily see that if she allows her name to be put on the ballot paper, then she will walk the election easily …. even in those 4 inch heels.
