Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious that the time is a little bit off. I might be taking someone else's time. With the indulgence of the Chair, we will be able to fit people in. I thank the Chair for the opportunity to make a contribution.

During this month, as we celebrate Pride, it is important to reflect on the successes as well as focus on the future of LGBTQI+ equality. Unfortunately, in recent years the position of the LGBTQI+ community has regressed in this State. As much as we made incredible progress, there were leaps and perhaps a period of stagnation and slippage.

Maybe that was to be expected but I do not think we should be complacent about it.

I believe many progressive human rights and equality causes have been under sustained attack during this recent period. We saw that in the documentary on TV3 last night with members of An Garda Síochána. A young man called Evan was assaulted in a vicious and disgusting homophobic assault while having a night out, something which we are all perfectly entitled to do. Bones were broken in his ankles and his eye socket was fractured. It was a disgusting and horrible attack. It is not just what happened to him but it is the message that it sends to people. The message should be that we must never be complacent and never rest on our laurels or think that because we passed a referendum, we have all done our bit. We have not, and we need to be vigilant and that vigilance needs to be constant.

In Ireland in 2023, I feel that some of the strides we have made have been undone by regressive actors, polarisation and a coarsening of debate online and in public, and through a sidelining of the importance of equality at a political level. Figures released by An Garda Síochána show that hate crimes reported in Ireland rose by 29% last year. Of those crimes, hate-motivated attacks and incidents due to a person's sexuality accounted for 22%. Central Statistics Office, CSO, research has also shown that 33% of LGBTQI+ people experienced discrimination in the previous two years, the highest of any group in Irish society. Further research has revealed that 75% of LGBTQI+ people have been verbally abused and one in five has been punched, hit or physically attacked in public for simply being who they are.

As politicians, we must show leadership in this area, both domestically and internationally. We should not shy from advancing the cause of equality because we will receive abusive emails, texts, phone calls and social media posts from people who want to spew hate. We should not be afraid of those people. We should treat them with the disdain they deserve. We should ignore them. We should not do that thing where we think something is an issue because it is all over one social media platform or another or we get a couple of emails. We know what is the right thing to do. We should not pander, yet sometimes people in this House do so. We should not do so; we should be stronger and better than that. We should be able to look in our inbox and when we see hate identify it for what it is. We should not allow it to divert us from our course but we should use it to make us more resolute to do what we know is right.

What is most frustrating to me sometimes is the minimisation of attacks on the LGBTQI+ community. In nearly all cases, this abuse is minimised by people who are not from that community. What constitutes abuse and the necessary solutions should be decided by those who are targeted for this abuse, namely, those in that community. We do not need people who do not suffer this abuse equivocating, minimising or trying to play both sides of any situation. Violence and discrimination impact on people's mental health. We know LGBTQI+ young people are twice as likely to self-harm, three times more likely to attempt suicide and have four times the level of severe stress, anxiety and depression than is present in the general population. I should not have to state this as a reason that we must advance equality. We should do it because it is the right thing to do but in case anyone needs motivation, that is enough motivation for me. Young people growing up, afraid to be who they are is not right. Being afraid to be open about who they love is not right.

We should absolutely celebrate Pride month. Let us celebrate with those people who are marginalised. Let us love them. Let us be their best friends, their brothers, sisters, allies, mothers, fathers, grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts. All of us, together, can make a real difference.

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