Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

Two years ago, Ireland celebrated the 30th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. We saw further incremental progress after that through the civil partnership process, which was a stepping stone to full marriage equality following the passing of the thirty-fourth amendment to the Constitution of Ireland. This year, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the legislation implementing that amendment. What was once defined by others in society as shameful has become a growing and vibrant source of pride for members of the LGBTQI+ community.

As others have said, however, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. In Ireland, as in other parts of Europe, basic freedoms are under threat and hatred is on the rise. The evidence of that is sometimes recorded in the official statistics, sometimes hidden within other Garda statistics and, many times, unfortunately, it is not reported at all.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has done three surveys, conducted every five years, on the LGBT community in the EU. The findings make for interesting reading. The latest information, from last year, shows that while discrimination against what the agency describes as LGBTIQ people remains high, it is gradually declining in most European countries. Schools are dealing with LGBTIQ issues more positively and proactively and, in general, young people feel more supported by their teachers and peers. There is progress in most, but not all, countries. At the same time, bullying, harassment and violence have reached high levels, even in countries that like to pat themselves on the back for how progressive they apparently have been.

In this context, there are several key findings in the survey worth noting. The first relates to openness. One in two LGBTQI+ people within the European Union are now open about their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. Unfortunately, however, most would still avoid holding hands with a same-sex partner in public for fear of being attacked. That is a sad indictment of how things are, including here in Ireland where many people feel similarly.

One in three people still face discrimination in their daily life because of who they are, which is a slight decrease from 2019. Such discrimination is not often reported in Ireland and, in Europe as a whole, only one in ten people report instances of it. One in ten survey respondents said they experienced violence in the five previous years. This is up on the 2019 figure and seems to show there is some sort of societal acceptance of this type of violence. More than one in three intersex people were attacked, which is shocking. One in two respondents reported being a victim at some stage of hate-motivated harassment, up from one in three in 2019. Two in three intersex and trans people were harassed.

More than two in three people, across all generations and in all EU countries, said they were bullied in school. This is a steep increase on the one in two figure in 2019. Schools are now more progressive and are addressing LGBT issues more often than previously. More than one in five LGBTIQ pupils, to again use the survey term, now say their school positively addresses issues raised.

As other speakers noted, mental health continues to be a major issue, with more than one three European respondents having contemplated suicide. More than half of trans, non-binary and gender diverse people say they have suicidal thoughts. One in four said they were forced to go through some form of conversion therapy practice to change their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. That might be much higher in certain countries. Only one in four of those surveyed considered that their government was combating prejudice and intolerance against LGBTIQ people, compared with one in three in 2019.

The survey reflects various experiences across Europe. Countries such as Hungary must be called out, as colleagues have done, for the Orbán Administration's political attempts to reverse fundamental human rights and freedom of expression for nothing more than populist political gain. Rights are also under threat in other countries. There is slight positive progress in countries such as Poland, where officials recently abolished what was described as the country's last remaining LGBT ideology-free zone. However, the freedoms restored following the most recent Polish election could equally be diminished in due course.

In that context, it was great to see tens of thousands of people defy Hungary's ban and take part in a Pride match in protest against Orbán and his collective. I congratulate the Irish elected representatives who were there on the day showing solidarity. The crackdown on Pride is part of an effort to curb democratic freedoms ahead of what will be one of the tighter elections in Hungary's recent history. The people, supported by Budapest's mayor, came in dignified unity as he urged them "calmly and boldly to stand together for freedom, dignity and equal rights". There was a record attendance for any such march, with four or five times the expected 40,000 attendees. Deputy O'Gorman mentioned a figure of 200,000, which I do not query. Of course, the protest segued into a mass demonstration against the Government but it showed the LGBTQI+ community in Hungary has many allies, as, indeed, does the community in Ireland. However, everyone will need to be vigilant in the face of a more blatant and fearless attempt to denigrate and dehumanise the community.

I wholeheartedly support the Government's LGBTQI+ inclusion strategy, which, as the Minister stated, covers the four pillars of safety, health and well-being, participation and inclusion and equality and non-discrimination. As the Minister of State, Deputy Butler poignantly added, there is also the pillar of compassion and dignity. I support inclusion and diversity. I support an Ireland where everyone is safe to be who they want to be, as long as they do not hurt anyone else in the process.

I also support freedom of speech and expression, even if I disagree with what someone else is saying. As a democrat, I believe it is possible for various policy issues to be debated without actively or otherwise encouraging hatred towards people because of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic origin, descent, disability, gender, sex characteristics or sexual orientation. It is not a either-or situation, but with freedom comes responsibility.

The Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 was one step in protecting our citizens dealing with crimes motivated by hatred. We now need a clear definition of what constitutes hate speech. We must ensure marginalised groups are not targeted in word or deed just for being themselves and that hateful misinformation and disinformation are not allowed to be spread without consequences.

As others have stated, Pride is not just a celebration of identity; it is an ongoing and relentless protest for equality and acceptance. We must learn from the past, celebrate what has been achieved and never go back to where we were before, either here in Ireland, in Europe or especially in those many parts of the world where basic human rights are still denied to so many members of the LGBTQI+ community.

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