Last month HSBC Ireland staff were treated to a sneak preview of BeLonG To’s upcoming Stand Up 2017 videos, reports Rob Buchanan

A preview of a video campaign for the annual BeLonG To Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week was hosted in May by HSBC Ireland CEO Alan Duffy for staff and other corporate and individual donors as a thank-you to those whose generosity will help make the anti-LGBT bullying campaign a success later this year.

Speaking at the event, BeLonG To Executive Director Moninne Griffith reminded the audience that whilst the battle for marriage equality may have been won, the challenges BeLonG To face in helping young LGBT people continue.

“Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week directly tackles homophobic and transphobic bullying by increasing awareness, friendship and support for LGBT students by other students,” she said. “Young people’s reaction to marriage equality was incredible. BeLonG To has seen 100 pecent increases in young people coming out.

“The youth of Ireland played a crucial role in the referendum, not only those of voting age but on their influence on family and friends.

“This power for progress is at the heart of what the Stand Up! Campaign is all about. It encourages and empowers teachers, parents and youth workers to engage young people in fun and educational activities. It builds bonds of trust and empathy whilst increasing awareness of the dangerous, destructive and all too often fatal results of homophobic or transphobic bullying.”

Teachers, parents, youth workers or student allies can contact BeLonG To to get directly involved in the 2017 Stand Up! LGBT Awareness week programme. Others who wish to offer support can do so by donating money. As little as €5 can print 12 information booklets, €21 can provide an anti-bullying pack for teachers, €47 can pay one-to-one counselling sessions, and €100 can facilitate a half-day LGBT youth space each month in a rural area.

For more information on BeLonG To’s Stand Up! campaign, visit belongto.org