Strategy and Society

Six submissions referenced government LGBTI+ strategies and how their implementation will be key to supporting the inclusion of LGBTI+ communities within the wider society (BelongTo; CPPN; GHN; Ibec; INTO LGBT+ TG; LGBTI).

GHN recommended that the SoS “should build on and continue the work of previous and on-going strategic documents”. They requested that the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy aims and actions be incorporated into the SoS, as part of a broader rights and equality-based approach, in particular those actions relating to “equal access to services and opportunities”, such as sexual education and sexual and mental health services. They recommended actions to tackle high rates of alcohol consumption in Ireland, particularly among LGBTI+ communities. They also recommended that LGBTI+ populations are considered as a matter of course when Government develops legislation and policy.

Ibec also recommendation incorporating the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy into the Department’s SoS, to support the “inclusion of marginalised groups in our society” and address social inequalities, thereby helping to build more “inclusive workplaces”. According to the INTO LGBT+ TG, this is required in the education sector, as:

…little to no progress appears to have been made and from our personal experience as LGBT+ teachers, the education system (especially the primary school sphere) is an area of Irish civil society which is sorely in need of greater efforts for LGBT+ inclusion.

They recommended a commitment to the provision of additional supports for LGBT+ teachers, such as CPD for school staff in the area of LGBTI+ inclusion, as well as ensuring that “each school has a policy on LGBTI+ inclusion for staff, families and pupils and that this policy and its implementation is examined as part of the inspection process”.

Implementation of the National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy, and incorporation of this into the DCEDIY SoS was recommended by BelongTo, GHN and the INTO LGBT+ TG. BelongTo suggested that implementation of the actions outlined therein would help improve young LGBTI+ people’s lives by strengthening inclusion, feelings of safety and belonging within wider Irish society.

In their submission, LGBTI recommended consideration of “a strategic objective to progress comprehensive legislation that reflects the reality of Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) in the 21st century”. The submission referenced the forthcoming publication of a report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection and advised that the Department implement the recommendations contained therein.