Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone today launches a questionnaire which will inform Ireland’s national LGBT youth strategy.
The launch will be live streamed from Facebook’s Dublin offices at 3pm, a move which could help to engage more young people who tend toward being ‘digital natives’ – people who are adept at digital technologies like social media.
Minister Zappone is taking a modern, technological approach by urging citizens to fill out an online questionnaire which will inform the strategy’s development.
“Today we invite young people across Ireland to be part of history,” Minister Zappone said.
“Through Facebook Live and an online consultation with Spunout.ie they will help form the world’s first LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy.”
Roadshows
Young people in Ireland are being encouraged to participate and express their ideas surrounding the strategy over the next few months, with roadshows scheduled to take place in Cork, Galway, Waterford, Sligo and Dundalk.
In addition to online consultation, there will be a meeting for all young people who would like to be involved in this process on May 6 in Dublin.
“I look forward to hearing the views of young people. Their input in the coming months will directly impact our policies, regulations and laws in terms of equality, fairness and justice for all,” Minister Zappone said.
Young people aged between fifteen and twenty-four will be consulted about all parts of their lives to help inform policy in particular areas.
YES Vote
Minister Zappone recalled the iconic moments from Dublin Castle in 2015 after the Marriage Equality referendum results were revealed, indicating that she wants to put Ireland on the map for LGBT rights once again.
“Images of the Dublin Castle Courtyard with a sea of Rainbow and Irish flags flashed across the globe two years ago as a beacon of hope after Marriage Equality. Now with this strategy we are once again taking a lead,” the minister said.
LGBT activist and journalist Una Mullally was appointed by Minister Zappone as the Independent Chair of the national LGBT youth strategy group in December 2016.
At the first GCN Town Hall Talks, Mullally laid out the timeline for the publication of the national LGBT youth strategy, disclosing that it will be published in December 2017.
What issues and concerns do you think should inform the Irish LGBT youth strategy? Fill out the online questionnaire to have your say.
© 2017 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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