LGBT+ people in Ireland still worry about their safety, world's biggest ever LGBT+ survey reveals

Ireland has ranked number 15 on the ILGA's Rainbow Europe map in terms of LGBT+ inclusive policy and laws, highlighting a clear need for further changes.

News . Written by Oisin Kenny.

The torsos of two men inserts and t-shirts holding hands

Discrimination and stigma remain a dominant issue facing the LGBT+ community in Ireland, exacerbated by a lack of much-needed policy reform, according to new findings. 

In the lead up to International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on Sunday, May 17, LGBT+ people have spoken out about a worrying increase of discrimination within their everyday lives. As shown by a recent EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) survey, 43% of respondents felt discriminated against in 2019, which marks a stark rise from 37% in 2012. 

The survey also notes that 60% of trans people opened up about experiencing discrimination in their everyday life in 2019, which contrasts against 43% of respondents in 2012. In one case study, a 19 year-old transgender man said he and his then-boyfriend were attacked in public, “We had bottles thrown at us, a woman spit on us, and a good few people make comments like ‘you two shouldn’t be holding hands’.” 

A 22 year-old queer woman in Ireland said she doesn’t “feel comfortable or safe being open about my sexuality or identity in Ireland.” And a 17 year-old bisexual boy shared that he has “been in the closet ever since I was 13. Since then I was afraid to come out because of being afraid that my family would reject me, fear that I would be kicked out, fear that I would be met with verbal/physical violence from my peers.”

Over 2,300 people in Ireland took part in the largest international LGBT+ report to date, titled A Long Way to Go For Equality. On the FRA website, an overview of the recently published survey states, “Comparing the results of the 2012 and 2019 surveys shows little, if any, progress. In some areas, the situation got even worse. Importantly, the EU averages mask huge differences between countries. In some, over 70% of LGBT people say society is more tolerant while in others, up to 68% say it is less.”

In conjunction with the FRA survey, the 2019 LGBT Ireland Annual Report further highlights the need for robust Hate Crime legislation and a greater push for LGBT+ awareness in the public sector. On Twitter, they wrote, “Our frontline services stats highlight that overcoming stigma and discrimination remains the greatest challenge for those who contact us.”

Workplace discrimination has also become more prevalent as 21% of LGBT+ respondents felt discriminated at work in 2019 compared to 19% in 2012. One person shared, “I am a teacher and I am scared to speak freely about my sexual orientation. I wish my sexual orientation wasn’t an issue in the workplace.”

The ILGA Europe survey also details that in the UK, North Macedonia and Serbia, only one in three believe their government effectively addresses and combats intolerance.

Speaking of Ireland’s ranking on the ILGA Rainbow Map, LGBT Ireland expressed on Twitter, “Ireland has made huge strides on LGBTI+ issues, despite this progress we rank 18th in Europe on LGBTI+ law and policy according to the @ILGAEurope #RainbowEurope. Our annual report will highlight the work which needed for LGBTI+ people who face additional marginalisation.”

Speaking to the Journal.ie, FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty expressed that, “Too many LGBTI+ people continue to live in the shadows, afraid of being ridiculed, discriminated or even attacked.”

The recent findings arrived during a time when the LGBT+ community face a drastic increase in anti-LGBT+ rhetoric amid COVID-19, from Hungary to South Korea. This year’s theme for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is ‘Breaking The Silence’ – a much needed call for action and community voices to speak out against the rise in discrimination.

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