Burning Issues 2, the largest ever survey of Irish LGBTs has found that the introduction of hate crimes legislation is their top priority

The Burning Issues 2 report was launched by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald TD today in Dublin. The report is based on a national survey of over 2,600 LGBT people and ten nationwide focus groups in seven cities and towns across the Republic of Ireland, which were conducted in Spring 2016.

A key finding of the consultation requires the Government to introduce hate crimes legislation to protect minority groups in Ireland, as the prevention of bullying and violence is the key concern of the LGBT community.

Respondents also called for the integration of LGBT inclusion within the ministerial brief of the Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht to ensure the needs of LGBT rural people are central to rural policy. More than 85 percent of LGBT people in rural areas do not have enough community supports or services or opportunities to socialise.

Respondents also overwhelmingly sought the ammendment the Gender Recognition Act so that it covers transgender young people and provides for the legal recognition of non-binary and intersex people.

Mandatory LGBT equality and awareness training for all public service providers in education, health, social care, elderly care and parental support services was also a requirement.

According to Olivia McEvoy, Chair of the National LGBT Federation, publishers of the Burning Issues 2 report: “We have always known that recent legislative changes are only a platform for the culture we aspire to, where diversity is really championed and celebrated and where people can live authentic lives in dignity as their true selves. Burning Issues 2 now makes it crystal clear that we still have a long journey to travel before we end sexual and gender oppression in Ireland.”

Established in 1979, the National LGBT Federation is Ireland’s oldest LGBT NGO which campaigns for equality for LGBT people at home and internationally.  The organisation publishes GCN – Ireland’s LGBT publication of record, and the Outmost website – and organises the annual GALAS, LGBT awards.

Read the Burning Issues 2 report here.