Panti Bliss is a ‘gender discombobulist’ and an ‘accidental activist’ after being catapult onto an international stage last year as a result of an incredible speech on homophobia in the Gaiety Theatre that went viral.
In this TEDx Talk, which was shot in Dublin back in September, the 2014 Irish ‘People of The Year’ award winner managed to capture the audience yet again with another powerful speech on homophobia in society.
“I am 45-years-old, and I have never once unselfconsciously held hands with a lover in public”, Panti begins.
“Gay people do not get to hold hands in public without first considering the risk. Gay people do not get to put an arm through another arm, or put a hand on a boyfriend’s waist without first considering what the possible consequences might be. We look around to see where are we… and if we decided ‘okay, maybe it is okay’, well then we do hold hands, but the thing is that now, those hands are not casual and thoughtless; they are now considered and weighed”.
“Our society is homophobic. It is infused with homophobia. It is dripping with homophobia; and when you are 45 years old and you have spent 30 years putting up; 30 years absorbing all of those small sleights and intimidations and sneers and, occasionally, much worse, you just get tired of it.
Panti continues by pointing out the real issue some people have with gays. “We are nothing more than walking sex acts”.
The 19-minute video, which was uploaded just a few days ago, has garnered over 44,000.
“I am 45 years old and I am not asking anymore, I am just being. Human being,” Panti concludes.
Watch the moving video in full below:
Video via YouTube/TEDx Talks
At the beginning of January, we put together six inspirational women and their TEDx Talks to help motivate and encourage the changes you need to make in your life this year. Check them out here.
