Stand Up Awareness Week, an anti-LGBTQ+ bullying awareness campaign, is kicking off in schools all over Ireland. With this, Belong To, the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation, has released research that shows almost half of students at post-primary school (48%) believe that a classmate would be bullied if they came out as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
Empathy Research conducted the study in December 2025, just a month after the previous Stand Up Awareness Week. The research also found that 52% of students believe a classmate would be bullied if they came out as trans.
“It is incredibly concerning that half of students in Ireland believe a gay, lesbian or bisexual classmate would be bullied if they came out at school, and more than half if a student came out as trans. This is why Stand Up Awareness Week is so important. No young person should have to hide who they are out of fear of being excluded, targeted or made to feel unsafe,” said CEO of Belong To Kieran O’Donovan.
However, the research also found positive results, with 76% of students believing their school provides a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students. This has increased steadily over the past two years, rising from 74% in 2024 and 75% in 2025.
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Returning for its 17th year, Stand Up Awareness Week is the annual anti-LGBTQ+ bullying awareness campaign set up by Belong To, taking place in schools, Youthreach centres and youth services across Ireland. It aims to end anti-LGBTQ+ bullying and foster inclusivity for all young people in education and youth settings. In 2025, 68% of schools in Ireland took part in the week.
This year’s theme is ‘You Belong Here’, a message to all young people that they belong in their education and youth settings. Schools across the country will run activities and events all week, including installing rainbow walkways on school grounds, hosting a Rainbow Jumper Day, art competitions, and conducting LGBTQ+-inclusive lessons across various subjects.
The 2026 campaign launched at Kingswood Community College with students, facility members and parents all getting involved. Also in attendance was comedian and podcaster Emma Doran, who was appointed the campaign’s first-ever parent ambassador.
Doran had this to say about the launch: “As a parent, I know teenagers already have enough to be dealing with between exams, friendship drama and being mortified by absolutely everything their parents do. Worrying about being bullied for who they are shouldn’t be added to that list.”
She added, “When young people feel accepted for who they are, they’re free to focus on learning, making friends and building confidence instead of fearing other students while walking the halls at school. Every young person deserves to be able to walk into school knowing they belong there, exactly as they are.”
For more information on Stand Up Awareness Week, visit the Belong To website here.
© 2026 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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