Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

June is Pride month and it is also Gypsy, Traveller and Roma History Month. It is important to remember as we celebrate that LGBTQI+, Traveller and Roma people have always been with us. It is important to remember activism and support must be intersectional. The national action group for LGBT+ Traveller and Roma people understands that. It needs to be supported in the vital work it does. This national group is supported by most Traveller organisations. All the organisations recognise a need for supports and services to be provided in a specific way through working with LGBTQI+ Traveller and Roma communities.

When organisations say there is a need but do not have the resources to support LGBTQI+ people, the Government needs to step in. If a young Traveller LGBTQI+ person comes out and is put out of their family home, who will give them a job? Where will they get accommodation? What are their options? It is important to say this is not an issue for the Traveller community alone but Travellers face other barriers that add to the pain. It is hard being a member of the Traveller community. It is harder when one is a member of the community and is LGBTQI+. Where is their lifeboat? The response to those questions must be mindful of Traveller history and culture. I know Travellers who had no problem coming out to their family and being accepted within the Traveller community but they did not feel accepted within the LGBTQI+ community. They felt the rainbow did not extend to them because they were not only a Traveller but a member of the LGBTQI+ community and the intersectionality that goes with that. I call on the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, to support this national group. The Government announced last week that €700,000 would be made available for LGBT+ services. I ask the Minister to support the national action group for LGBT+ Traveller and Roma people.

I would like to follow on from what other Senators said and congratulate the Cathaoirleach on being a year in his role. I have found him to be fair and a very good support to me. I would like to thank every Member of this House and the Dáil for all their support in the past year in helping me to come to terms with understanding how the Oireachtas works. I would also like to thank Oein de Bhairduín and Colette Kelleher for all the work they have done on the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill. It will come before the Dáil this Thursday. I ask all Members of the Dáil to support it. It is vital we do not only recognise Travellers in a tokenistic way, as we did in 2017. Thursday is an opportunity to value young Travellers within our society in the education system and give my child and other Senators’ children the opportunity to learn about Traveller culture. I call on every Member of the Dáil to take part in the debate and support this Bill on Thursday and in that way to have meaningful representation and meaningful value of the Traveller community and Traveller children.