Million Dollar Baby - Speakers
Aja The Empress
Aja is a proudly outspoken lesbian activist and women’s rights advocate, known for her unwavering voice in defence of female autonomy and biological reality. A longtime campaigner, she has stood firmly at the intersection of feminism and LGB rights—especially in an era where the voices of same-sex attracted people are increasingly pushed aside or misrepresented. She has spoken boldly and consistently against the silencing of LGB voices, the rewriting of gay and lesbian history, and the weaponisation of our identities to push policies and narratives that do not serve us.
At LGB Interrupted, she will be joining the surrogacy panel to speak candidly about the global industry that turns women’s bodies into commodities and motherhood into a transaction. For Aja, surrogacy isn’t progressive—it’s regressive. It's a billion-dollar industry rooted in exploitation, cloaked in the language of love and equality. And it is unacceptable that gay rights are being used as a smokescreen to justify the commercialisation of women’s reproductive labour.
Senator Sharon Keogan
Senator Sharon Keogan has been involved in politics for over a decade. She made history in the local election in 2019 by becoming the first woman to win 2 municipal area seats in the same County. She subsequently went on to open her 2nd full-time office in Stamullen, complimentary to the one already well established in Duleek. This in itself is a remarkable achievement for an Independent Councillor.
A formidable businesswoman and politician who is straight-talking and effective at delivering for the needs of her constituencies - people matter most. Hard work is a given for Keogan. She has led the way in the fight against crime and drugs with her community safety and drug awareness talks and the successful installation of CCTV installation in her constituency.
Sharon also helped spearhead the success of the No - No Campaign during the 2024 referenda, defending the constitutional recognition of women and families. She was re-elected Senator in 2025, topping the poll in the Industrial and Commercial Panel.
Senator Keogan was one of only two Senators to oppose Ireland’s surrogacy legislation, raising serious concerns about the commodification of women’s bodies, the rights of children, and the international inequalities embedded in the industry
At LGB Interrupted, Senator Keogan will be speaking on the panel “Million Dollar Baby”, where she’ll join other voices exposing the uncomfortable truths behind so-called “progressive” family-building practices, and advocating for the rights of women and children above commercial interests.