Published: Tuesday, 23rd June, 2009 2:00pm

Town Council leader out

by Helen Sweeny

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Ruth Illingworth.

While the national media has dubbed her the first openly gay council leader, Ruth Illingworth. The newly elected town council cathaoirleach is nonetheless is standing resolutely out of "the closet" and says she will provide a voice for those gay people who feel that they have none.

'The most interesting reaction of all was that of my colleagues Gabrielle McFadden and Peter Burke who said "why is this an issue?".

While I agree with them and have not sought to make it an issue, it has some benefit because there are many people in this town and in this county who don"t feel secure in who they are. If being open about being gay can help one person who feels that they are totally alone, then that"s okay with me,' she said.

Councillor Illingworth told the Westmeath Examiner that she is not sure if she is the first openly gay council leader in Ireland and hasn"t 'the time or inclination' to find out. But she is certainly the first openly gay public representative in the history of politics in Mullingar.

The fact that Councillor Illingworth is gay is not really news; she came out publicly in a radio interview three years ago when the debate over civil marriages first started. The subject is something that the councillor still feels strongly about and will continue to campaign for.

'The bill on civil partnerships is to come before the Dail this year and while I would accept it as a good place to start I feel that it doesn"t go far enough,' she said.

'Ireland is a very conservative country but it is a republic and in a republic everyone is entitled to equality. We should look to countries like Spain and Canada and how they have dealt with the issue.'

Speaking yesterday (Monday) the councillor was also heavily critical of the Catholic church and said that it had allowed homophobic bullying to continue in schools by virtue of its teachings on the subject.

'I believe that the Catholic church is very wrong on the issue of being gay and that bullying because of sexuality in schools must be stopped. But, as a councillor I will represent everybody in the community, even those who believe that being gay is a sin.

'I feel that people in public life who are gay should come forward and would echo comments made by Eamon Gilmore who opened Gay Pride in Dublin last week where he said that more gay people should get involved in politics.

'Being gay is just one part of me. I am a woman, I am Irish, I am left-handed and I am gay. It"s an important part but it"s not everything,' she said.