Laura Harmon
Laura Harmon | |
---|---|
Born | 1986 |
Nationality | Irish |
Alma mater | University College Cork |
Known for | LGBT activism |
Political party | Labour |
Laura Harmon (born 1986)[1] is an Irish LGBT activist with links to the Labour Party. She is a former President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). She was the first woman to fill the role in twenty years.[2][3][4]
A graduate of University College Cork, Harmon served as Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) from 2012–14. While in this role she co-signed a letter sent to Russia's ambassador to Ireland Maxim Peshkov, titled "Re: Torture of Russian LGBTQ* teenagers".[5]
Harmon would go on to become President of the USI and, in what was described as an "unprecedented move", USI later endorsed her 2016 candidacy for the Seanad.[6] During her tenure as USI president, Harmon played a prominent role in the campaign to legalise same-sex marriage.[7][8][9][10] Following this, she was made a board member of the Higher Education Authority (2014–15)[1]
The Labour Party appointed Harmon as its Women and Equality Officer in September 2015, ahead of the 2016 general election.[1][11] She used this role to work on repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, in which she is also interested.[1][7] Harmon was a candidate for the NUI constituency at the 2016 Seanad election. She announced her decision to contest the election on 2 March 2016.[7] She polled 4,663 votes or 4.1% of first preferences but was not elected.
The eldest of five daughters born to Ted and Mary Harmon in the Gaeltacht of Ballyvourney, County Cork, Harmon is openly gay.[11] She was educated through Irish.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Conneely, Darragh (7 April 2016). "Laura Harmon Profile". Cork Independent. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015.
- ↑ "USI Congress 2014 Elects Laura Harmon as the new USI President". 2 April 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2014.
- ↑ Marnell, Ruth (3 April 2014). "USI elects first female president in 20 years". Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
- ↑ Tyaransen, Olaf (15 September 2014). "Laura Harmon Interview". Hot Press.
- ↑ "Re: Torture of Russian LGBTQ* teenagers" (PDF). 7 August 2013. Article on this (Archive link to same).
- ↑ Heaphy, Edmund (16 March 2016). "In Unprecedented Move, USI Endorses Laura Harmon and Lynn Ruane for Seanad". The University Times. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 McTeirnan, Anthea (2 March 2016). "Former USI president Laura Harmon to run for Seanad". The Irish Times.
- ↑ "Majority Of Students In Favour Of Gay Marriage". 98FM. 20 January 2015.
- ↑ Ryan, Órla (18 May 2015). "There has been a HUGE surge in voter registration". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.
- ↑ "Irish students' fight for marriage equality honoured". The Outmost. 27 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016.
- 1 2 O'Byrne, Ellie (24 March 2016). "We need a Seanad with more diversity". Evening Echo. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016.
External links
- Harmon, Laura. "Yes to marriage equality would show that LGBT lives are valued", The Irish Times, 30 March 2015.
- Harmon, Laura. "The Next Steps for LGBT Equality in Ireland", The Times, 20 October 2015.