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Rory O’Neill’s Pantibar receives ‘firebomb threats’

VIPIRELAND.COM

Rory O’Neill has revealed that Pantibar receives regular hate mail and firebomb threats.

Rory, also known by his stage name Panti Bliss, admitted that his popular gay bar Pantibar is subject to homophobic threats every year.

“We get hate mail often saying we’re going to hell, scribbled in funny handwriting and always anonymous.

“Occasionally the threats get more sinister like firebomb threats but we don’t take them too seriously,” he told Independent.ie.

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Despite recent events, namely the shooting that took place at a gay bar in Orlando earlier this month, Rory won’t spend his life worrying about threats.

“Even after Orlando there’s no point in being any more concerned. Dublin isn’t Orlando. Even if someone was disturbed enough to do something like that they wouldn’t have the same access to guns.

“You can’t live you life worrying about threats. I’m in Brussels at the moment which had terrorist attacks recently. You can’t stop living your life.”

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Rory also admitted that he’s been forced to hire more security due to the threats.

“We’re in the city centre, so in general we need a lot of security but we have a little more than if we weren’t a gay club,” he said.

Speaking about a study that found that over 85 percent of gay people living in rural areas in Ireland don’t have enough support, Rory said it doesn’t surprise him.

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“It doesn’t surprise me. We have some hate-crime legislation but gay people often feel isolated and alone, especially if they’re far from big urban areas.

“Ireland has made some amazing changes with the passing of the same-sex marriage referendum.

“Of course homophobia still exists. There is always work to be done, in particular helping young people in the LGBT community,” he added.

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