PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
LINC and Gay Project join national call to avoid playing ‘play politics’ with LGBTQI+ lives ahead of general election
A collective of 18 leading LGBTQI+ organisations, including LINC and Gay Project has today (06.11.2024) launched the first ever LGBTQI+ sector wide manifesto ahead of the upcoming Irish general election.
The collective of organisations set out its priorities for the new Government, calling on election candidates to commit to ensuring support for and safety of LGBTQI+ communities in Cork and across Ireland, and not to ‘play politics’ with LGBTQI+ people’s lives.
The manifesto was launched at an event today at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, attended by representatives of LINC and Gay Project and the 16 other collective members, as well as wider stakeholders invested in promoting the rights and wellbeing of LGBTQI+ people.
Priority Areas for LGBTQI+ Sector
The manifesto published today includes five key priority areas of action for a programme for Government, including:
- Strengthening LGBTQI+ rights, including treating all families equally under the law, introduction of a ban on conversion therapy practices and updating the Equality Acts to protect all LGBTQI+ people.
- Investing in LGBTQI+ health, including a new model of healthcare for trans people and regulation of mental health services with improved access and waiting times.
- Implementing LGBTQI+ inclusive education, including representing LGBTQI+ identities in school curriculums, training and resourcing teachers on LGBTQI+ inclusion and address LGBTQ+ phobic bullying in schools.
- Tackling extreme hate speech through fit-for-purpose legislation.
- Supporting LGBTQI+ communities across the country through the expansion of LGBTQI+ community services and supports in every county in Ireland, including Cork.
The launch event was hosted by Síona Cahill and featured discussion of each of the five key areas of focus called for in the manifesto with discussion on the timing of the election, in a year when An Garda Síochána reported an increase in recorded hate crimes for the second year in a row.
Speaking today about the launch of the manifesto, Kate Moynihan, Manager at LINC commented:
‘We call on our elected representatives to envision Ireland as the best place in Europe for LGBTQI+ people to live openly and freely. We urge every candidate to commit to the priorities we’ve outlined and take a stand for an inclusive Ireland. Now is a critical moment for LGBTQI+ rights and recent surges in hate and misinformation have only strengthened our resolve to unite, protect, and empower our community. We ask all our families, friends, allies and every voter across the country to stand with the LGBTQI+ community and reflect this commitment in your vote. Together, we can build a safer, more inclusive Ireland for all’.
Konrad Im, Manager at Gay Project commented: “As the election approaches, we call on our community and allies to challenge election candidates on their stances on supporting and promoting LGBTI+ rights and inclusion and to consider this when they go to the voting box. We urge candidates to commit to supporting the manifesto that highlights some of the core issues facing the LGBTI+ community in Irelnd, and to also engage with the local LGBTI+ community organisations to address local issues”.
The full manifesto is available to download here: PDF
Collective Members
The collective which developed the manifesto is comprised of:
- Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland
- LGBT Ireland
- Transgender Equality Network
- National LGBT Federation
- Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre
- Dublin Pride
- ShoutOut
- Outcomers
- Midlands LGBT+ Project
- Gay Project
- HIV Ireland
- OutWest
- LINC Advocating for Lesbian and Bisexual Women
- Gay Health Network
- Intersex Ireland
- GOSHH
- Switch Board
- Mammies for Trans Rights
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Contact: For media requests for interview or more information, please contact:
- [Kate Moynihan], [LINC]] | [086-8758053], [kate@linc.ie]
- Konrad Im, Gay Project, 085-1281458 konrad@gayproject.ie
LINC is the only NGO working exclusively with women (cis and trans) who identify as lesbian or bisexual in Ireland. With over 20 years’ experience, our aim is to improve the quality of life, health and well-being of our community and to do this with the principles of feminism, social justice and community development at the centre of our work. Our vision is an Ireland where LBTQ women are celebrated; where the values of diversity, inclusion, social justice and equity are championed
Gay Project is a Cork based organisation supporting LGBTQI+ people across Cork City and County with over ten and a half thousand engagements with their services annually, providing a wide range of support including social, health and sports activities.