Harassment, Exploitation and Violence are Top Concerns of Irish LGBT People

Equality in the workplace and marriage equality also top the list of the key priorities of LGBT people in Ireland

Task Force Urgently Required To Advance and Safeguard LGBT Equality

Report Reveals Harassment, Exploitation and Violence are Top Concerns of Irish LGBT People

12th November 2009: Harassment, exploitation and violence are ranked as the top
concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in a new report
launched today by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation (NLGF). Burning Issues:
Listening to the Voices of LGBT People in Ireland sees the concerns of this section of
society assessed for the first time. In tandem with the report launch, the NLGF are calling
for the urgent formation of a taskforce to advance LGBT equality. A full copy of the
report can be downloaded from www.nlgf.ie/publications.

Ailbhe Smyth, Chairperson, NLGF, commented, “Burning Issues is the first report of its
kind, with LGBT people clearly telling us what their top concerns and priorities are.
While equal marriage rights and child protection are the top political concerns, it was
hugely significant that harassment and exploitation in the workplace is the number one
concern.”

Ms Smyth continued, “It is shameful that LGBT people continue to be marginalised in
the workplace due to their sexuality. So many professional LGBT people live in fear that
they will be harassed, exploited, or ever worse, fired, if their sexuality is revealed. This is
unacceptable and a taskforce must be established to ensure Ireland leads in Global LGBT
equality measures.”

Violence against LGBT people was ranked as the number two concern in Burning Issues
at 8.2 out of ten. Speaking on this matter Dr Sean Denyer, Report Co-Author,
commented, “Violence against any individual or group cannot be tolerated. The fact that
young gay or bisexual men ranked this as their number one issue reveals the extent of the
problem and highlights why the establishment of a taskforce is so urgent. Homophobic
violence has lead to deaths in Ireland, it has resulted in the hospitalisation of countless
men and women. The Government must take steps to stamp this out forever.”

Ailbhe Smyth further commented, “Significantly, it is clear from Burning Issues that
transgender people are particularly disadvantaged specifically in relation to equality and
support. While transgender people ranked equality rights at work as number one in
keeping with the report findings, they listed health and mental health services as number
two instead of violence. This gives us a clear message that transgender people feel that
existing provisions are limited and must be made fully accessible.”

Ms Smyth continued, “It must be noted that since the research was conducted the
Government have made steps in progressing transgender rights and must be commended
for doing so. This small step must be advanced significantly though if real progress is to
be achieved.”

Burning issues is one of the largest consultations ever undertaken with the LGBT
community with over a thousand people responding. The report shows a community in a
very positive light, unwilling to accept inequalities, who are keenly aware of the political
situation and won’t accept second best, who will stop at nothing until equality is
delivered.

LGBT people who experiece violence, harassment and exploitation, or simply have
general concerns can contact a local helpline including Gay Switchboard Dublin, (01)
872 1055; Dublin Lesbian Line (01) 872 9911 or Cork Lesbian Line (021) 431 83188;
Galway Gay Line 091 564 134 and the Galway Lesbian Line (091) 564 611; Limerick
Gay Switchboard and Limerick Lesbian Line (061) 310 101; Louth LGB Helpline (042)
935 2915; Outwest Gay Helpline (094) 937 2479.

NLGF Research Report, Burning Issues: Listening to the Voices of the LGBT Community in Ireland 0.69 Mb