Our Trans-Atlantic Tweet Chat

In April 2020, our Twitter friends @MotherFoclóir offered us their platform to raise awareness about gender minorities.  They are a terrific bunch united under this Twitter handle by their shared love of the Irish language.  They often Tweet as gaeilge (in Irish).  We managed the account for 7 days (13th-19th April) and tweeted about all things intersex.

Our PI, Dr. Tanya Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, DCU School of Law & Government was instrumental in making this happen.

Tanya is a gaeilgóir  herself and contributes to the dynamic development of the Irish language in the C21st.  One notable example of her valuable work was collaborating with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), Transgender Equality Network of Ireland (TENI) and BeLonGTo to produce...

 An Foclóir Aiteach (The Queer Dictionary)

This important work was launched in DCU on 21st March 2018.

So, how does this relate to a Trans-Atlantic Tweet Chat in 2020?

Well, it just so happens that another intersex advocate, Canadian Prof. Janik Bastien-Charlebois, also speaks Irish! 

So, on Saturday 18th April, Tanya and Janik hosted their Trans-Atlantic #Intersex Tweet Chat - as Gaeilge - to talk about what it means to be intersex.  We believe this was the first time that something like this has happened and we are so excited to have had this opportunity.

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Language is such an important bridge on our journey as we move towards a more inclusive society that openly and respectfully embraces all - irrespective of our difference.