David Norris (politician)

David Norris
Norris in 2011
Senator
In office
25 April 1987 – 22 January 2024
ConstituencyDublin University
Senior Lecturer of English
Trinity College Dublin
In office
1968–1996
Personal details
Born (1944-07-31) 31 July 1944 (age 80)
Léopoldville, Belgian Congo
(now Kinshasa, DR Congo)
Political partyIndependent
Education
Alma materTrinity College Dublin
Profession
Websitesenatordavidnorris.ie
David Norris' voice (1:38)
Norris recites a speech by W. B. Yeats on the topic of divorce

David Patrick Bernard Norris (born 31 July 1944)[1] is an Irish scholar, former independent Senator, and civil rights activist.[2][3][4][5] Internationally, Norris is credited with having "managed, almost single-handedly, to overthrow the anti-homosexuality law which brought about the downfall of Oscar Wilde", a feat he achieved in 1988 after a fourteen-year campaign.[6] He has also been credited with being "almost single-handedly responsible for rehabilitating James Joyce in once disapproving Irish eyes".[7]

Norris is a former university lecturer and was a member of the Oireachtas, serving in Seanad Éireann from 1987 to 2024.[8] He was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in Ireland.[9] A founder of the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform, he is also a prominent member of the Protestant Church of Ireland.

He was a candidate for President of Ireland in the 2011 election. He topped numerous opinion polls and was favourite among members of the Irish public for the position but withdrew from the race months before the election,[10][11] before returning to the race in September 2011.[12][13] In January 2024 he retired from the Seanad after 36 years service, making him the longest serving senator in Irish history.

  1. ^ "Happy Birthday David Norris!". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ^ "David's Story". Senator David Norris. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Can a former IRA commander lead Ireland?". Salon.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Can David Norris still become Ireland's first gay president?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018.
  5. ^ "David Norris wins Irish presidency nomination". The Guardian. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Reformer Recognises the Importance of Being Earnest". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 October 1988.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference roddydoyle-ulysses was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "David Norris". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  9. ^ "Norris meets with pols, LGBT activists in New York". The Irish Emigrant. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Norris tops President poll". Irish Independent. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012.
  11. ^ "David Norris ahead in Red C presidential poll". RTÉ News. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  12. ^ "David Norris planning Aras comeback". The Belfast Telegraph. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
  13. ^ Payne, Jonny (18 September 2011). "David Norris re-enters Irish presidential race". Pink Paper. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012.