An EU-wide survey has found that support for the LGBT+ community in Ireland has dropped for the first time since the marriage referendum four years ago.

The new Eurobarometer report reveals that 83% of Irish people agree that LGBT+ people should have equal rights when compared with heterosexuals.

The Irish result is 7% higher than the EU average of 76%, and it is the tenth highest rating among the 28 EU member states.

The figures indicate a 4% drop in the proportion of the Irish population who support LGBT+ rights since a similar poll was carried out in May/June 2015.

In the Irish people who took part in the survey, there was also a 2% drop from 82% to 80% in those that believe that there is nothing wrong with a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex.

In 7 of the 28 countries surveyed, less than half were in favour of same-sex couples having equal rights with the majority of those surveyed in Slovakia, Romania and Croatia opposing same-sex marriage.

53% of Irish people surveyed believed that people should have a third identity option besides male or female, with the EU average at 46%.

A majority of people surveyed in 12 countries opposed adding a third gender to public documents.

In rising acceptance, however, is a growing acceptance of public affection from same-sex couples.

60% said they would be comfortable with two men kissing or holding hands, with 63% saying they would be comfortable with two women holding hands or kissing.

Call It Out

Earlier this year, ‘Call It Out’, a new civil society campaign led by the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland (TENI) and the team from the Hate and Hostility Research Group at the University of Limerick, was launched.

"We're all part of the same team. We must all come together to help bring homophobia, biphobia and transphobia to an end."@jackshaunmurphy , @MariaWalshEU and @BrendanCourtney joined the #CALLITOUT campaign. https://t.co/t5C8kLjB0H Panel discussion: https://t.co/Q53kXPuVTj pic.twitter.com/IfmB7UV2iW

— Gay Community News (@GCNmag) May 31, 2019

‘Call It Out‘ highlighted and addressed the harm caused by homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Ireland by sharing stories from LGBT+ members of the community.

The results of a survey conducted by HHRG showed that while only 36% of respondents believed that violence against the LGBT+ community is a severe problem in this country, it reported that in actuality, one in five, or 21% of those surveyed, have been punched, hit or physically attacked in public for being LGBT+.