TikTokIn honour of Pride Month, we are spotlighting and celebrating some of the LGBTQIA+ Irish creators who are using their platform to inspire and educate. First up, we have the brilliant Galway-based Irish creator @sarahjmurr.
Q: What does Pride mean to you?
Pride for me is first and foremost a protest. I think that Ireland has done a lot for LGBTQIA+ rights over the last 30 years (this year is the 30 year anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexual activities) but we still have a lot more to do. We have a rise in violence towards LGBTQIA+ people, conversion therapy is still legal and we rank last in European Union for trans+ healthcare. These are all things that need to change for the safety and wellbeing of our community and they are all issues that need to be protested. With that being said, I also love the celebratory side of Pride, where everyone is happy to exist with each other and where lifelong friendships are made. It is such a wonderful feeling being in a space with like-minded people.
Q: What do you love most about the Pride TikTok community
I really love the sense of community that I see with LGBTQIA+ creators on TikTok. Everyone supports each other, we love hearing each others stories and seeing other people experiencing queer joy. It’s always inspiring to see people who are so happy and comfortable in their skin, and who celebrate being themselves daily. Everyone has a different story to share and I love that we collectively listen.
Q: What first inspired you to create content on TikTok?
At first it was a way to keep connected with my friends, the pandemic had just started, I had dropped out of university and moved back to my family home. I’m autistic too so I was really struggling with the change and that affected the communication in my relationships, especially since so many of my friends lived on the other side of the country. I started making videos as a way to show the people in my life that I was okay and existing and everything grew from there!
Q: What other LGBTQIA+ creators are you loving on your For You feed?
Jory @alluringskull is a creator I have loved and adored since I joined Tiktok. I have followed her throughout her transition and even before that but seeing the amount of work she is doing for the trans+ community in the US is incredible. I think in terms of Irish creators I love @bratzrockangel @chrisisanimdom and @wonder_art. I think they all have really unique perspectives & valuable insights.
Q: How do you like to celebrate Pride month?
I just love spending time with my friends, I love the queer community in my city, there are some incredible people and spending time with them is so lovely and affirming. I also went to Dublin Pride which was amazing. I got a bus up with a friend, watched the parade, hung out at Pride village and just celebrated being me along with thousands of other LGBTQIA+ people. I’m also really looking forward to my local pride festival in August, I am involved with the planning of it and I can’t wait
Q: What is your favourite TikTok you have made to date and why?
It’s this video project with Spunout & Accenture called Gen E. It is a video talking about my experiences growing up as a queer, autistic person and how community is so healing. I keep telling people it’s the video younger me would have wanted and I know that that video has the capability of changing lives. Because of it, I got featured in a Gay Community News (GCN) article and was Belong To’s (an Irish LGBTQIA+ youth organisation which supports young people aged between 14–23 years) community champion which are two incredible achievements. It was a wonderful project to be a part of and I love the finished product with all my being.
Q: What is your favourite recent trend on TikTok?
I am loving the floating phone fit checks that Yasmin Hero @yasminheroo has been doing at the minute! They are very pleasing to watch.
