Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish everyone going to attend Dublin Pride this Saturday a happy Pride. When I attended my first Pride, about 28 or 29 years ago now, there was no marriage equality, no discussion of marriage equality in the country and even no discussion of things like civil partnership. These things were not talked about. As others have noted, this was just a year or two after homosexuality had been decriminalised. In fact, we lived then in an Ireland that had only recently made contraception widely available. It had been available on a restricted basis before that, but it had only recently become possible for people to get contraception from a vending machine in a nightclub, pub, etc.

Many things have changed since then, but some things have stayed the same, as others have also noted. I wish to talk about some of the things that still need to change in this regard. It has been noted by others that according to ILGA Europe, Ireland has now slipped to 16th in Europe in terms of LGBTQI+ human rights and policy positions and this is highly regrettable. According to information from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, 33% of LGBTQI+ people have experienced discrimination in the last two years. Some 75% of us have been verbally abused simply because of who we are. One in five of us, myself included, have been punched, hit or physically attacked in a public place just because of who we are. LGBTQI+ young people are two times as likely to self-harm compared with others. Additionally, we are over-represented in the homeless community, as others have noted. There are also huge challenges in terms of mental health.

We have only to look at the employment figures for our trans community to see the huge challenges they face in respect of getting employment. This is extremely worrying.

Bizarrely, they were invisible in the census that was carried out. The census decided not to collect data, which is way out of step with other countries. If we do not collect and measure data how can we address different policy positions?

There is a lot that needs to be done. The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill needs to be progressed and enacted. Beyond that Bill, we need an all-of-government approach and action plan to prevent and reduce hate crimes. In addition, the national LGBTQI+ inclusion strategy needs to be renewed. We need to have proper resources in place for LGBTQI+ support services. Without that, they cannot do their work.

I welcome the comments from the Minister regarding international protection. It is important that the system is reformed in line with the recommendations in the Believe Me Or Not But I Am Who I Am report. I welcome his comments about reform in that area. It is important that supports for LGBTQI+ Travellers are enhanced and that trans healthcare is improved. I very much welcome the announcement and comments from the Minister on the legislation around banning conversion therapy. That is important.

If we are being honest about it, a huge amount of the opportunity we had over the past eight years since marriage equality was voted on has probably been squandered. We have not made the progress in those eight years that we should have. What the referendum showed beyond any doubt was that there is a large majority of people in Ireland who want full equality and inclusion. The work that was done over several decades by activists campaigning for equality and inclusion goes on.

Regarding the attacks we have seen in recent years on the trans community, it is important to send out a strong message that the trans community is not on its own. It has the full support and solidarity of the wider LGBTQI+ community and society beyond that. In last year's Dublin Pride parade, the message from multiple organisations, speaker after speaker in the park in Merrion Square and performer after performer at an event hosted by Dublin Pride was strong support for and solidarity with the trans community. Speaking of Pride, I want to acknowledge the huge work done by volunteers in Dublin Pride and across the country in running Pride events and supporting LGBTQI+ services around the country. It is incredibly important work that is highly valued.

When we talk about all of the challenges and what needs to be done, it is also important to make the point that, ultimately, for a huge amount of us coming out, being who you are and participating fully in society is a massively liberating experience. I can say with absolute confidence that, without a doubt, I would not for a second change who I am. I have memories of fun, laughter and meeting resilient people and some of the best people I could meet when I came out. I would not change that for a second. The challenge we have as legislators and national politicians is to ensure that everybody who is LGBTQI+ in this country is able to say the same all of the time, namely that they would not want to change it for a second and that being who they are is something they are able to celebrate fully during Pride without any worries or fears. That is what we all need to work together on.

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