Kayle Crosson | Contributing Writer
A new wave of government support for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) youth community has emerged following a strong statement from Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, calling for more support for Ireland’s young LGBT population in his presentation to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health & Children.
Dr Shannon argued that homophobic attitudes begin in a person’s childhood, and in order to eliminate homophobia in society, the issue must be dealt with in primary school.
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In Dr Shannon’s emotive speech delivered earlier this week, he called for a “targeted response” to help solve the pressing issue of the needs of homeless LGBT people, who he suggests represent a large portion of Ireland’s total homeless population. Executive Director of BeLonG To, the national service in Ireland for the LGBT youth community, David Carroll, welcomed Dr Shannon’s words in taking strong action against this current and pressing social issue.
In a press release following Dr Shannon’s statement, Mr Carroll encouraged a joint government effort to address this prevalent problem: “In line with Dr Shannon’s recommendations, we call on the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to work with us to research nationally the extent of LGBT youth homelessness and to develop a strategic national response to the situation.”
“We call on the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to work with us to research nationally the extent of LGBT youth homelessness and to develop a strategic national response to the situation.”
In Dr Shannon’s statement to the Joint Committee on Health and Children, he also emphasised that the Child and Family Agency should work with BeLonG To for the first time to support LGBT young people and their families He argued that homophobic attitudes begin in a person’s childhood, and in order to eliminate homophobia in society, the issue must be dealt with in primary school. David Carroll also backed this proposal, and presented a new government solution to tackle homophobic bullying, in a campaign known as “Stand Up Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying”, commencing in March 2014.
From a legal aspect, Dr Shannon’s also called for the removal of section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act, an act which permits a certain degree of discrimination in schools with a religious ethos. This Act has been blamed for many occasions of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender teachers.
