In advance of Global Pride 2020 and the virtual Dublin Pride Parade taking place this weekend, Social Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and T.D. for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan has called for a renewed commitment to progressing LGBTQI+ issues including sexual health services, trans healthcare and the defence of LGBTQI+ people internationally.
Cian O’Callaghan said:
‘The annual Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride is a time to celebrate the progress we have made and to protest the continued injustices. Winning the marriage equality referendum five years ago was a significant achievement for the LGBTQ+ community; however, it solved just one issue, which was the right to marry. We now need robust hate crime legislation, sexual health services that are accessible nationwide, gender recognition legislation that includes young people and non-binary people, and the creation of inclusive trans healthcare pathways.’
‘In the last year, we have seen the publication of the Government’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy. That policy now needs to be adequately resourced and rapidly implemented.’
‘We also need to show solidarity with others around the world. I’m increasingly concerned that the Government has been silent about the persecution of LGBTQI+ people internationally. Within the EU, we have seen the creation of appalling so-called ‘LGBT free zones’ in Poland and the removal of gender recognition rights in Hungary. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. must stand with his EU counterparts in calling for an end to these attacks on European fundamental freedoms.’
[ENDS]
26 June 2020