This afternoon on Twitter, co-founder of waytoB Talita Holzer made the announcement that they have decided to withdraw from the event after learning that LGBT+ groups were denied a paid stand on the grounds of a lack of space.

waytoB is a smart tech solution to enable people with higher support needs to get from A to B independently while providing peace of mind to loved ones.

An email was released by We Are Church Ireland earlier this week which they received from an anonymous source within the World Meeting of Families (WmoF).

It includes a copy of a circular from WMoF sent out towards the end of July to selected groups, offering them free exhibition stands at the RDS from August 22 to 25.

While free exhibition stands are being offered to certain groups, We Are Church Ireland, which promotes LGBT rights among others, have had their paid application for a stand ignored.

Talita said that waytoB was amongst those offered free exhibition space by WMoF organisers. Speaking to GCN she said:

“We were approached by email about 2 weeks ago. They were looking for groups for their ‘Tech Zone’ and they offered us free space to showcase waytoB during the 3-day event.”

Following the revelation that LGBT+ groups were having their paid applications ignored, wayToB made the decision to withdraw from WMoF.

“We have decided to withdraw ourselves from the World Meeting of Families, after learning they’ve denied LGBT+ groups a paid stand claiming lack of space, and then offered selected groups (including @waytoB_) a free stand. I hope others do too,” Holzer announced on Twitter.

We have decided to withdraw ourselves from the World Meeting of Families, after learning they’ve denied LGBT+ groups a paid stand claiming lack of space, and then offered selected groups (including @waytoB_) a free stand.

I hope others do too. #popeinireland https://t.co/Gr6Ir3d3J2

— Talita Holzer (@talitaholzer) August 16, 2018

As a member of the LGBT+ community, Talita said she could never take advantage of the opportunity to exhibit at WMoF and that the decision was completely supported by her co-founder.

“As part of the LGBT+ community myself, I would never take advantage of this opportunity while LGBT+ groups were discriminated against.

“I felt it would be completely unfair to take advantage of this opportunity while groups like We Are Church Ireland and The Global Network Rainbow Catholics were denied a paid stand in the event. I immediately sent a message to my co-founder saying I’d like to withdraw waytoB from the event, and he supported me fully.”

Fianna Fáil Representative for Dublin Rathdown, Justin McAleese thanked waytoB for standing against this discrimination.

Thanks to @waytoB_ for standing in solidarity with the LGBT community. The discriminatory and no gays need apply approach that WMOF appear to be following needs to be challenged at every turn. Will others follow?

https://twitter.com/justin_mcaleese/status/1030085370782928896