LGBTQ+ activists and community members from Ireland and abroad gathered in Dublin on May 13 to take part in an international conference marking 10 years since the Marriage Equality Referendum. Titled ‘Defending Freedoms: Advancing Human Rights’, the event focused on the progress made so far and what still needs to be done to protect LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland and beyond.
Taking place at the Printworks in Dublin Castle, the conference was organised by the team behind the Yes Equality campaign and Marriage Equality. It brought together members of the public, government representatives, academics, journalists, activists and private sector leaders to reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights.
Speakers reflected on the progress made so far and what still needs to be done to protect all members of the community. The conference also focused on new threats faced by LGBTQ+ people nowadays and how we can protect equality and human rights for future generations.
Among the high-profile speakers at the event were Dr. Graeme Reid, UN Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity; Tánaiste Simon Harris; CEO of LGBT Ireland Paula Fagan; Chairperson of NXF Anna Nolan; Co-Director of the Yes Equality Campaign Brian Sheehan; Executive Director of Transgender Europe (TGEU) Ymania Brown and many more.
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Speaking at the conference, CEO of LGBT Ireland Paula Fagan said the Marriage Equality Referendum changed lives across Ireland, giving LGBTQ+ couples the recognition and protection they deserve. She then warned that such progress is not the finish line.
“We must stand firm in the face of rising hate and those seeking to roll back hard-won rights,” she said. “From the banning of Pride in Hungary to the ongoing inequalities facing LGBTQI+ parents, trans and non-binary people here in Ireland, we cannot be complacent.”
“At a time when our young people are looking to us for leadership and hope, we must double down on our commitment to diversity, inclusion and equality – for now, and for the future,” Fagan concluded.
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Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley also addressed the conference, saying: “In May 2015, ten years ago, Ireland made history. We became the first country in the world to vote for equal marriage in a Referendum.”
“This was a momentous and powerful occasion for the entire country. It represented the coming together of a nation, in a most profound way to show solidarity, kindness and understanding for our fellow citizens,” Foley said.
The ‘Defending Freedoms: Advancing Human Rights’ conference was organised by the team behind Marriage Referendum +10, a campaign to mark 10 years since Ireland’s Marriage Equality Referendum.
The campaign is organising a series of events, including a community festival in Collins Barracks on May 24. To find out more, visit their website.
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