Today is International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), the event is being marked internationally and has grown hugely over the past number of years.  UN agencies and major human rights organisations are invovled in marking the day and launching initiatives, research and policies promoting good practice.

Senior Irish Politicians involved in the education sphere have signed a statement of support of young LGBT’s and the elimination of bullying in schools.

IDAHO 2012 Statement

On this day, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) we Stand Up with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people all across Ireland to let them know that we support the elimination of  homophobic or transphobic bullying from our schools

The theme of IDAHO this year is addressing homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools and this day is being marked all over the world by governments, schools, young people, communities and parents.

We know that homophobic and transphobic bullying can have hugely negative effects on young people’s educational opportunities, and results in heightened vulnerability to self harm and suicide.

Ireland is in the forefront internationally in efforts to eliminate homophobic bullying, which has been described by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a ‘moral outrage, a grave violation of human rights and a public health crisis it is also a loss for the entire human family when promising lives are cut short”.

In marking IDAHO today, we stand together with all LGBT young people in Ireland. We reaffirm our determination to ensure that all LGBT young people will have a safe, supportive and affirming education. Together, we can assign homophobic and transphobic bullying to the history books.

Signed:

Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn TD, Labour

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD, Fine Gael

Brendan Smith TD, Fianna Fail

Sean Crowe TD, Sinn Fein

Finian McGrath TD, on behalf of the Dáil Technical Group

 More information is available from BeLonG To, Michael Barron the founder of the youth service spoke yesterday at the UNESCO launch of a new global manual tackling homophobic bullying in schools.  Resources developed by BeLonG To have been commended by UNESCO previously and the group were asked to contribute resources to the manual.  Michael also has written an opinion piece in today’s Irish Times.

At 10am today LGBT groups will make presentations to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality .  You can watch the committee meeting here (Committee Room 2).