David Norris (politician)

David Patrick Bernard Norris is an Irish scholar, independent Senator, and gay and civil rights activist. Internationally, Norris is credited with having managed, almost singlehandedly, to overthrow the antihomosexuality law which brought about the downfall of Oscar Wilde, a feat he achieved in 1988 after a fourteenyear campaign. He has also been credited with being almost singlehandedly responsible for rehabilitating James Joyce in once disapproving Irish eyes.

David Norris was born in Leopoldville in the Belgian Congo, now known as Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where his father worked as chief engineer for Lever Brothers. John Norris served in the British Armed Forces during World War I and World War II he died while Norris was still a child. David Norris was then sent to Ireland to be cared for by his mother, Aida Fitzpatrick, and her extended family.

Source: Wikipedia