The Rainbow Project and LGBT Ireland are delighted to announce the creation of a new All Island LGBTQIA+ Forum thanks to support from Community Foundation Ireland. The purpose of the forum is to bring LGBTQIA+ people and organisations together in a spirit of partnership and cooperation.
25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, it is important that we continue to grow links and connections between all the people on the island.
Pádraig Rice, Policy and Research Manager for LGBT Ireland said:
“There is no better way to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement than to announce the creation of a new north-south initiative. This new project is all about bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to work on common interests in a spirit of partnership and cooperation.
“The challenges we face as LGBTQIA+ people are the same north and south, east and west. We all want to see hate crimes reduced and LGBTQIA+ rights respected and enhanced. The forum will provide us with an opportunity to undertake some of this work together.”
“The future of the Island of Ireland is being forged and enhanced at a community level. LGBTQIA+ Pride festivals and LGBTQIA+ community resource centres play a central role in supporting and celebrating LGBTQIA+ people. The new All Island LGBTQIA+ Forum will help develop and enhance relationships between these important groups.”
Aisling Playford, Policy and Advocacy Manager from Rainbow Project, said
“Attitudes in Ireland towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) people are among the most liberal countries in the world. Ireland is notable for its progressive steps forward in regard to LGBTQIA+ equality with the introduction of equal marriage, lifting of the blood ban and the south of Ireland being the first place in these islands to see the introduction of self ID.
“However, we are seeing the growing rise of anti-trans discourse from the far right and hate crime towards the LGBTQIA+ Community is on the rise across the Island. LGBTQIA+ people are still experiencing abusive conversion practice in Ireland. It is now that we need to see further development of policy, sharing of good practice and united campaigns across the island in regards to highlighting the inequalities that still face LGBTQIA+ individuals.”
“We are delighted to be working with our partners in LGBT Ireland to work towards a better shared island for all.