Ferguson’s acclaimed documentary, “Nothing Compares,” released in January 2022, offers a glimpse into the life of the Grammy-Award-winning artist and activist during the pivotal years between 1987 and 1993. During this period, O’Connor achieved critical acclaim with her debut album, “The Lion and the Cobra.” However, her public exile from mainstream pop stardom came in 1993 when she famously tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on “Saturday Night Live” in protest against child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Throughout her career, members of the LGBTQ+ community consistently stood by O’Connor, admiring her fearlessness and showing solidarity with her as she faced ostracization for her unwavering commitment to her beliefs.
Speaking exclusively to PinkNews, Kathryn Ferguson, recently announced as one of the 2023 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, highlighted O’Connor’s profound connection with the queer community. Ferguson explained, “She was an absolute ally. From the very beginning, when she was a teenager arriving in London in the late ’80s, the community she immersed herself in was the queer community.” O’Connor actively engaged with figures such as filmmakers John Maybury and Jerry Stafford. She also took on the role of an HIV activist, using any opportunity to speak out about the crisis.
In 1990, O’Connor participated in the fundraising album “Red Hot + Blue,” which raised nearly a million dollars for the direct action group ACT UP, known for its efforts to improve the lives of those living with AIDS and challenge legislation and public perceptions of the illness. O’Connor’s involvement in the music video for her song on the album, a cover of Cole Porter’s “You Do Something to Me,” underscores her commitment. The video featured O’Connor standing amidst people holding candles, with phrases like “Silence = Death” and “Action = Life” appearing on screen, encapsulating the urgency of the cause.
O’Connor’s allyship extended beyond the AIDS crisis. In 1988, just one month after the enactment of the controversial Section 28 law in the UK, banning the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools, she headlined a Pride event. Her support for the LGBTQ+ community continued in 2017 when she donated clothes and unused makeup to trans youth in Ireland through the charity Transgender Equality Network Ireland.
Kathryn Ferguson emphasized O’Connor’s unwavering commitment, stating, “She kept showing up, and she kept doing it,” a testament to the enduring legacy of an LGBTQ+ icon.