San Francisco Celebrates Roger Casement Day on October 28th
An Irish hero, pioneering human rights advocate, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer takes his place in San Francisco history.
On October 28th, San Francisco will celebrate Roger Casement Day to honor an Irishman whose courage, compassion, and commitment to freedom left a lasting mark on history.
The annual celebration brings together Irish culture, history, and community. It also recognizes Casement’s place in LGBTQ+ history, with his legacy honored on the Rainbow Honor Walk in San Francisco’s Castro District.
This year, Casements Bar in the Mission District will host an evening of live music, poetry, DJ sets, and panel discussions, with special programming alongside Seánchoíche. The celebration will also mark the beginning of Samhain, the Irish festival that welcomes the start of winter.
Who Was Roger Casement?
Born in Dublin in 1864, Roger Casement was a diplomat, poet, humanitarian, and Irish nationalist. He first earned international recognition for his efforts to expose brutal human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples in Africa and South America.
While serving in the British consular service, Casement investigated atrocities committed under King Leopold II’s regime in the Congo Free State. His 1904 report documented the exploitation, violence, and forced labor inflicted on the Congolese population. He later exposed similar abuses against Indigenous communities in the Putumayo region of the Peruvian Amazon.
His investigations helped bring international attention to these atrocities and established Casement as a pioneering human rights advocate.
But his experiences abroad also changed how he viewed the British Empire. He came to see a connection between the oppression he witnessed overseas and Ireland’s own struggle under British rule.
Casement left the diplomatic service and devoted himself to the cause of Irish independence.
Roger Casement and the Fight for Irish Independence
In 1916, Casement sought German support and arms for the Easter Rising, the rebellion against British rule that would become a defining moment in Ireland’s path toward independence.
He returned to Ireland by German submarine in April 1916 but was arrested in County Kerry before the Rising began. Although he had become concerned that the rebellion lacked the support and resources needed to succeed, his efforts to secure assistance for the Irish Volunteers led to his trial for treason.
Casement was executed by hanging at Pentonville Prison in London on August 3, 1916.
His legacy was further complicated by the circulation of his private diaries, known as the Black Diaries, which contained accounts of his intimate life as a gay man. At a time when homosexuality was criminalized and widely condemned, these revelations were used to undermine public support for him and the campaign to spare his life.
For decades, Casement’s sexuality became a source of controversy rather than a reason to recognize the injustice he faced. Today, his story stands as a reminder of the courage it takes to challenge oppression, whether directed at a nation, a community or an individual.
In 1965, his remains were returned to Ireland for a state funeral and reburial at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
Why San Francisco Reveres Roger Casement
San Francisco has long been a city that celebrates people who challenge injustice and stand up for the rights of others. Casement’s story speaks to that tradition.
His commitment to human rights extended beyond national borders. He championed the dignity and self-determination of Indigenous peoples abroad while fighting for Ireland’s right to govern itself. His life also reflects the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ people whose identities were once used to discredit their achievements and deny them recognition.
In October 2025, Casement was honored with a bronze plaque on the Rainbow Honor Walk in the Castro District. The plaque recognizes his contributions as an Irish patriot, humanitarian, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer.
San Francisco’s recognition of Casement brings together two important histories: Ireland’s long struggle for independence and the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. It ensures that his story remains visible to new generations and that his achievements are remembered alongside the injustices he endured.
The city’s recognition of October 28th as Roger Casement Day offers an opportunity to reflect on that legacy through Irish music, storytelling, poetry, and conversation.
Celebrate Roger Casement Day at Casements Bar
On Wednesday, October 28th, Casements Bar at 2351 Mission Street will host a celebration of Roger Casement Day and the beginning of Samhain.
The event will bring together Irish culture, history, and community for an evening that includes:
Live music and DJ sets featuring Irish folk and contemporary sounds.
Poetry and storytelling, with special programming alongside Seánchoíche.
Panel discussions exploring Casement’s life, human rights work, and place in Irish and LGBTQ+ history.
Samhain celebrations, marking the Irish festival associated with the transition into winter.
A few pints and good company, in the spirit of an Irish community gathering.
Admission and the latest program details should be confirmed through the Casements events calendar.
Full Disclosure: Casements Bar is a valued supporter of the San Francisco GAA and the San Francisco GAA Pub League.
Roger Casement’s story reminds us that Irish identity has never been limited to one place or one generation. It is shaped by a shared history, a commitment to community, and the belief that people deserve dignity, freedom, and a voice.
On October 28th, San Francisco will raise a glass to a man whose legacy reaches far beyond Ireland, and celebrate the culture and community that continue to bring people together here in the Bay Area.
