Seanad debates

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Homophobic Bullying: Statements

 

4:05 pm

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Coghlan for sharing time with me. I did not give notice to speak on this issue but decided to come to the House and contribute to the debate because of the pervasive and endemic affect which I believe homophobic bullying is having on our society. In 2010, I compiled, with the Educational Research Centre, an Oireachtas education report on early school leaving.

We picked groups of kids at risk of dropping out of school. One of those groups were lesbian, homosexual and transgender youngsters. I had the honour of interviewing some of the children and one interview with a boy sticks in my mind and is the reason I am speaking on this topic. He was a kind and gentle 16 year old boy and his humanity remains with me. It was very difficult for him to stay at school and he said that GLEN and BeLonGTo helped him. His self-esteem had taken a beating and suicidal thoughts were common. He said that physical education was particularly difficult for him, especially in the changing room. We need to be alert to those areas and we need to give guidance to physical education teachers. This is not a school problem but a societal problem. I have a teenage son and I heard a group of his peers in a shop recently speak about homosexuality in a very negative way, saying that if they had sons who were homosexual, they would kill them. It is not just coming from these fine young people, it is an attitudinal problem. We need an information and promotional campaign in a positive way to promote tolerance of sexuality and acceptance of all sexuality. This must be in people's faces in order that the issue is not spoken about in silent tones. It is a wider issue than school and if we expect schools to solve it, we will fail. We have a long way to go on this issue but it is helpful and healthy to have this debate.

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