While International Pride Month takes place in June, Laois Pride is taking place from September 8 to September 14, with organisers and allies proudly raising the flag on Monday to mark the start of celebrations.

To mark Laois Pride, the Leinster Express / Laois Live is featuring a series of 'Pride Profiles', where we speak to well known Laois locals within the LGBT+ community on their experiences.

Independent Laois County Councillor Aisling Moran took her father's seat on the Council in 2019, ten years after coming out as a gay woman.

"I was late coming to the show," Cllr Moran laughed. 

Pictured: Cllr Aisling Moran launching her General Election bid in Christy Farrell's pub, 2024

"I was 35 when I came out, and I was married with three kids. I had everything I wanted; I was married to a man I loved, I had three gorgeous children and a lovely house, and I knew I wasn't happy," she said.

Born and raised in the Killeen area, the Portarlington / Graiguecullen Cllr explained that she felt a lot of shame in her sexuality from an early age.

"I'm from a small rural community, and my father was the local Councillor. Any thoughts that came forward in my head, I pushed back; that's what being gay was in Ireland, I felt I had to hide it," she said.

"I hid it in myself, it was something that never got the chance to shine. I went to Australia and lived in Sydney before I was married, and it opened my eyes a lot, how acceptable it was there."

The Killeen Cllr runs a travel agency with her wife Fiona, whom she has been with for over ten years. They are now excitedly waiting for the arrival of their first grandchild.

Pictured: Cllr Aisling Moran

"It was very important that my kids would like my potential partner. My life changed when I met Fiona, and the kids loved her. We all got on so well, I found that it calmed me down and my mind was at rest. Then, I went for the Council," she laughed.

Cllr Moran was involved in Laois Pride at its inception, and believes it is an important event to support.

"I think that Laois Pride is fantastic. When people go on asking about why we need pride, it drives me insane. Just because things are better here, it's still very horrible in other countries," Cllr Moran argued.

"Our travel agency specialises in tours, and we will do tours for prides, but we will not be going to these countries where we are second class citizens, and where woman are treated that way too," she said.

Pictured: Laois Pride 2024

The Killeen woman shared that she experienced very little bigotry in her campaign for a seat on Laois County Council.

"When I said I'd run, my Dad said to me, "you'll find it difficult to get elected because you're gay." It was not said maliciously, it was said as kind advice going into the campaign. We all know someone who is gay, I find that gay women hid it a lot more in the past," she said.

"When I was in Australia I had a lot of gay friends, and I still buried it. I found myself drawn to people who were gay, not because I wanted to be with them, but because we were all alike.

"From fourth class to secondary school, any of the little kids that were drawn to you, ended up being gay as adults. It's like we sense it in each other," she laughed.

"It was like I had carried someone on my shoulders all my life, and as soon as I openly said the words, it was a weight off that felt like a physical relief," she said.

"Things are getting a lot better. I'm proud to say I'm from Ireland, the first country to vote for same sex marriage. The people stood up and spoke. Even still, we need more Prides and safe spaces," Cllr Moran stressed.

"There has been a big hatred coming into Ireland since Donald Trump's election. The Government needs to bring in legislation to stop this- I shouldn't be able to hide my name and post vile comments on social media," the Cllr finished finished.

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