‘The thing that people pick on now will be valued later,’ Panti tells the next generation
PANTI Bliss has called on young people to embrace their differences and acknowledge that we are all “misfits”.
The star, aka Rory O’Neill, was addressing the Zeminar at the RDS, which has attracted hundreds of students from all around the country.
She advised students that being different is good.
“In time, that thing that people pick on now is actually the thing that later in life people value most,” she said.
“It makes you different and difference is good.”
Panti said that over the last 35 years, Ireland has changed dramatically, and she described the same-sex marriage referendum result in 2015 as one of the greatest days of her life.
And the activist will celebrate turning 50 on Friday with a massive party in Dublin.
She had decided to throw a big party this time round because she never did it before on her birthday.
So far 350 people have sent their RSVP to say they will attend, “but there will probably be a few more”, she laughed.
“I never did the big birthday party before,” she told the Irish Independent. “On my 30th, I was working in a night club at the time, so we opened a bottle of Champagne. My 40th was at home with my family and maybe 10 friends. I thought, I’ll do it. So, I’m having a massive party.”
There will be performers, and 10 DJs on the night helping to entertain the invitees at a city centre venue that has been hired out for the occasion.
The three-day Zeminar event, which opened yesterday, is aimed at “Generation Z” and catering to 15 to 20 year olds, focussing on development and well being.
Also speaking was Mayo All-Ireland winner Cora Staunton who told about difficult times in her life, including the death of her mother from cancer when she was 16. “There will be tough times along the road, but make sure that you never give up,” she said.