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# ‘I Wanted to Live My Life’: Leo Varadkar reflects on coming out as gay
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/i-wanted-to-live-my-life-leo-varadkar-reflects-on-coming-out-as-gay/
- Published: 2025-09-15T14:17:51.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-15T14:19:05.000Z
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: Europe

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’ | NewstalkLeo Varadkar, Former Taoiseach joined Pat this morning to chat about his book ‘Speaking My Mind’.![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/icon/android-icon-192x192.png)NewstalkSquare1![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/thumbnail/a648042f6bdac5c2d426d05ec814c23c.jpg)](https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-pat-kenny-show/leo-varadkar-on-his-book-speaking-my-mind?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

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.