World Wide Wave

14 Oct 2013

Northern Ireland

Europe

This month, the Irish Minister for Education and Skills has launched a mandatory program requiring ALL schools—including Catholic—to address homophobic and transphobic bullying.

“Over the last 17 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993, Ireland has made radical strides,” says Brian Sheehan, director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) of Ireland.

The country is undergoing radical change—the younger population is booming and the church is falling out of favour. Ireland has shifted for economic, social and demographic reasons, but overall there has been a shift away from “old-fashioned, ancient, controlling of other people’s homosexuality.”

Mr Sheehan is hoping for a referendum on human rights and a shift to passing laws that focus increasingly on families.

Conor  O’Kane, Mr Gay North Ireland, is keen to transform Ireland into a beacon for other countries. Belfast pride has grown over the last few years. “Both Prides in Belfast and Dublin are growing at the moment.” There’s been incredible progress.

“I want to start a domino effect. If Northern and Southern Ireland have changed as much as they have in the last few years.” Mr O’Kane dreams of exporting Ireland’s success to other countries. “I want to change other countries, like Russia…”

“I want to be the gay that makes the change worldwide.”

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