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TWO COMPLAINTS MADE about RTÉ’s broadcast of a trailer for The Queen of Ireland, a documentary film about Panti Bliss, have been rejected by broadcasting authorities.
The complaints were made in March of last year with one complainant referencing the trailer’s broadcast before a Six Nations rugby match and the other saying the programme’s broadcast on Easter Sunday “could be interpreted as mocking those whose religious views”.
The documentary was directed by Conor Horgan and told the story of activist and performer Rory O’Neill and his involvement in the marriage equality referendum.
In its latest report of complaints made to it, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) says the complainant felt the trailer for the programme was inappropriate for the time it was broadcast.
“The complainant states that he was watching RTÉ 2 with his two boys (aged 7 years) when the trailer for The Queen of Ireland was shown.”
He states that the trailer was shown in the afternoon prior to the broadcast of the international rugby match. The complainant states that showing one or more ‘drag queens’/transvestites’ displaying what he states were provocative and controversial sexual behaviour during the afternoon period coming up to the rugby match, was not appropriate.
The complainant goes on to say that he “takes responsibility” for the content his children watches and he belived the afternoon to be “a safe viewing period”. The complainant also said that “he was himself shocked” that the trailer was broadcast.
Angelus
In the second complaint, the individual said that the trailer and film “both promote same-sex relationships” and that the trailer should not be shown before the watershed.
The trailer was broadcast just before the Angelus on RTÉ’s Six One News.
“It offends against the commonly held standard of parents who do not want the promotion of same-sex relationships to their children prior to the commencement of the watershed,” the complaint reads.
The complaint also describes O’Neill’s activism as “radical”.
The documentary itself was broadcast on Easter Sunday last year and although the complainant does not explicitly object to this, he says it may have been “unwise” to do this.
He states that while this decision is a judgement call for RTÉ to make, that part of the trailer which describes the film as being aired on Easter Sunday endorses and promotes to children this triumphalist message, and the message that the religious views of those who were amongst the 38% who voted against the referendum are no longer relevant.
RTÉ response
The national broadcaster made a number of similar responses to both complaints both to the complainants and to the BAI.
RTÉ maintained that the trailer in question was edited so as to ensure there were “no scenes or references of a sexual nature” and that there was no “offensive or harmful language” contained in them.
RTÉ stated that the trailer did not “promote same-sex marriage” as alleged, but rather reported on events that had occurred. In response to the second complainant, RTÉ stated:
The complainant would appear to believe that these factual developments in lrish society should be kept from children and that the wish of a particular parent such as himself.
RTÉ also said that it was not prevented from advertising post-watershed programming during pre-watershed times and that this was “common practice” and “editorially justified”.
“As homosexuality is not illegal in the State, and as the content was neither harmful nor inappropriate, the committee did not agree that the references in the trailer would offend against general community standards,” the BAi said in rejecting the complaint.
Both complaints were rejected unanimously.
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“It promotes same sex relationships” what a ridiculous comment. What they really mean is that it includes or shows same-sex relationships. So what! It’s wall-to-wall opposite sex relationships all day, surely there’s no injustice being done by being representative?
I mean I don’t particularly like Panti and I absolutely reject her as a figurehead or spokesperson for gay people. I think it gives a very misleading impression that somehow gay men are flamboyant / camp / girlie. When the real message should be that gay people are just people who are gay. No big deal.
@Martin Byrne: nicely said Martin and you get to the nub of it.
@Joe Bloggs: ‘She’ is the drag character Panti Bliss – ‘He’ would be Rory O’Neill, the guy who plays the drag character.
@meatyslaps: his gender doesn’t change because he’s in fancy dress.
@John O’Shea: Nobody said it did, but the character Rory plays, Panti Bliss, is female.
@meatyslaps: back to biology class for you meaty
@kevin: What’s biology got to do with it?
Drag queens are FEMALE impersonators. The character Rory plays, Panti Bliss, is female, so we refer to that character as a ‘she’.
@meatyslaps: meatyflaps WTF!!!!
2 complaints isn’t news worthy. This is just click bait.
@Noël: neither is Panti bliss, the name is enuf to make ya cringe.
@Noël: the fact that anyone would bother to complain is a curiosity.
@Slim Browne: you have my sympathy but not understanding.
@Fiona deFreyne: thats ur opinion and ur entitled to it, I also have mine, most gay folk go about their relationships with little fuss , ive no issues with anyones sexuality , whatever makes u happy go for it, didnt he go on a tour of Asia to promote himself as “the queen of Ireland”, well he doesn’t represent me ,and by the way u and I payed for it.As ive said ive nowt against LGBT so u can save ur empathy for the poor sod who gets the shxt kicked out of him because of the way they’re portrayed by his act.
@Slim Browne: I doubt Tony/Fiona paid for it unless he’s taxed on Journal comments.
@Andrew Nolan: Tony’s life seems to be empty judging by the amount of time he/it spends here.
He/it leads a veritable virtual life.
@Noël: same as Hook story yesterday- a couple of people with too much time on their hands
One man in a dress then, loads of men in tight shorts grasping each and putting their heads in certain areas. I ask you in all fairness which is more inappropriate for Sunday evening television.
@Hank_Scorpio: are you referring to Roman Catholic clerical ceremonies?
@Fiona deFreyne: Possibly, but as the old saying goes “Humans see what they want to see”.
@Hank_Scorpio: neither. Do you really find rugby inappropriate?
@Fiona deFreyne:
No, He could be referring to Islamic ceremonies, you know, where 5 times a day a magic carpets gets worshiped.
I was offended by all the political capering that went on over the past number of days and covered live on TV, so I just turned the fcukers off and went to another channel. It’s so simple with a remote control.
Instead of complaining why not teach children about different types of love.
@Johnny Kelly: lol, exactly. there’s only one love.
@Johnny Kelly: And if any of your children are gay, I’m sure you’ll be 100% supportive.
@Johnny Kelly: well we “know” you now. Your reply says it all really. I feel sorry for any kids you may have.
Reactionary conservatives need something to react against.
@Fiona deFreyne: ya mean the two complaints they got, ? Ya had to bring the conservatism into it, couldn’t help yourself,. Because I don’t know any liberal type of folk who get offended,, deep sarcasm there.
@Johnny Kelly: it has a lot of time on its hands and an opinion on everything thats for sure
@Johnny Kelly: I’d say he’s more of a boring old fart. Bit of a Victor Meldrew.
@Johnny Kelly: You seem to be a little triggered yourself there,A bit bi-curious maybe…
We might not agree with some/all of these silly complaints but at least we have the democratic right to complain.
@Maria: Exactly, and we have a democratic right to laugh at them for being so silly and petty in their complaints.
The Angelus is a call to pray,it should be removed from TV
@Brian McCabe: I though it was a signal to put on the kettle before the news started
Under-weight people who self identify as over-weight are treated seriously by society. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa/understanding-anorexia-basics
@Tom Newnewman: what an absolutely ridiculous comparison. They are in no way similar whatsoever.
I met the guy in his pub once. Seemed nice enough. Very normal. I think he is more a drag queen than a trans-sexual. I.e. Not a woman trapped in a mans body, rather a man who likes to dress and act as a woman ( when it suits him to do so.) Just my opinion.
@Anthony Byrne: And he’s found a niche source of income.
@Anthony Byrne: You’re right, as far as I know, Rory is not transgender and lives his life as a man. Panti is just a character he dresses up as for entertainment.
Welcome to click bait central.
I watched Mrs Brown when I was a kid and now I’m gay and sacrifice goats to my pagan gods. It’s not my fault, I’m the product of a broken system ☹️
Don’t like? Don’t watch. Problem solved.
Even though I have probably crossed their paths on here a fair few times,I do hope that they won’t take this rejection by the BAI too hard, and that they will continue to work tirelessly at their self appointed roles as human rights activists…take care,pet.
Just accept it.. straight decent males are a minority group now
Rubbish viewing, rubbish comments, just more Irish broadcasting rubbish. An embarressing persona in a litany of embarressing Irish broadcasting persona’s – one more so what.
2 complaints, hold the front page
That hairy old Queen again.
Those poor children face a tough road ahead.
With parents so moronic, ignorant, bigoted and stupid they are at a disadvantage even before independence.
Poor little snowflake flakes got triggered. Delighted their nonsense claim was rejected.
Ah religion. Last refuge of those with no life. And envious coz they wouldn’t know where to start getting one
@Kevin Slater: obviously you don’t believe in religion after praying to God for a full head of hair.
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