“Suicide Is Not The Answer” Pleads Gay Offaly Traveller
Written 2 weeks ago by Angel Croitor
Darren Collins, from Tullamore and a gay man in the traveller community, has been working with young teenage travellers to get a clear message across to them. To those suffering from a stigma of being homosexual amongst the traveller communities of Ireland – suicide is not the answer.
“My life has changed big time – it’s made me stronger and better – at the age of 18 I started to realise that I was gay and I couldn’t accept it especially as being a traveller – I didn’t know how to tell my family – the only light I could see was suicide.”
Darren attempted suicide twice in the space of four weeks before being brought to the hospital in Tullamore, then the psychiatric unit in Portlaoise. He attended one session of talk therapy and he was told that they will have to notify his parents. Darren ripped up the file and ran out of the place crying.
His boyfriend, at the time, told him that he deserves to be happy and he can’t keep it away from his family.
On a Sunday evening, Darren made first contact with his family regarding his sexuality. He was having a few beers before texting his sister saying there was something wrong with him. She had to suss it out of him but eventually he revealed that he was gay.
That Monday, he came out to his parents and was met by acceptance from his father. His mother, on the other hand, took a little longer to accept her son was never going to give her grandchildren and for his safety out on the streets. When his mother saw how strong coming out had made Darren she finally came around and now they both support him 110%.
“Three years on – my family have been brilliant support. They’ve pushed me to my limit to do what I’ve wanted to do – they’ve stood behind me through everything I’ve done.”
What could’ve happened to Darren happens to a lot of young traveller men who have suffered worse at the hands of the stigma homosexuality has in the traveller community. That is why Darren wants to be the example of what could happen if you stand strong with who you truly are inside.
Darrens says that the traveller community is split down the middle with accepting others like him. He tells us that there are extreme ends on either side of the spectrum.
“You have the good and you have the bad. You meet some who call you names and you meet the other 50% who are brilliant to you. When something new comes into their community like LGBT – all they know is to discriminate – all they’ve known their whole life is discrimination.”
Why has Darren put himself in the spotlight? Find out in the interview down below.
