‘I Wanted to Live My Life’: Leo Varadkar reflects on coming out as gay
– 2 min read
Former Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar has opened up about the deeply personal decision to come out as gay in 2015, describing it as a moment driven by a desire for authenticity and honesty during a pivotal time in Irish history.
Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show to mark the release of his new memoir Speaking My Mind, Varadkar recalled the lead-up to his public revelation, which came during a live interview with Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ Radio 1. At the time, he was serving as Minister for Health and the country was preparing for the landmark Marriage Equality Referendum.
“I just wanted to get it out there, be able to live my life, be able to be honest about the referendum campaign that was coming up,” he said. “This wasn’t a technical question about whether other people can get married - it was something personal to me.”
Leo Varadkar on his book ‘Speaking My Mind’ | Newstalk
Leo Varadkar, Former Taoiseach joined Pat this morning to chat about his book ‘Speaking My Mind’.
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Varadkar admitted he was taken aback by the overwhelmingly positive response from the public. “It was a big change, more so than I thought it would be,” he said. “But it helped to make me a bit different and to stand out from other politicians — though that wasn’t what it was about.”
His decision to come out was not only a personal milestone but also a significant cultural moment in Ireland, a country that had only recently begun to embrace LGBTQ+ rights more openly. Varadkar’s openness helped humanise the debate around same-sex marriage, making it more relatable for many voters.
The former Taoiseach also reflected on the impact of his coming out on his family. His father, Dr Ashok Varadkar, revealed in a separate interview that he was unaware his son would be making such a public announcement. “When Leo came out in public it was a shock to me like anybody else,” he said. “But I know it’s not uncommon to be gay, so I’ve supported him fully. As long as he’s happy - that’s the main thing.”
Interestingly, Varadkar has never listened back to the original interview. “I still haven’t listened to that interview. I will one of these days,” he admitted in a recent conversation.
The Irish Marriage Equality Referendum, held in May 2015, was a historic vote that saw the country become the first in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. With a turnout of over 60%, the referendum passed with 62% voting in favour, marking a profound shift in Irish social attitudes. Varadkar’s decision to come out just months before the vote added a deeply personal dimension to the national conversation, helping to humanise the issue and galvanise support across the political spectrum.
