BeLonG To and Minister Kevin Humphreys come together at Dublin Pride Festival
In the wake of their successful marriage equality referendum campaign and while the Gender Recognition Bill is at committee stage in the Dail, BeLonG To – Ireland’s LGBT youth organisation, launches a new resource for transgender young people.
Speaking at the launch BeLonG To’s Founding Director Michael Barron said
“We are so proud that the Irish people voted for Equality for lesbian and gay young people. We are now pushing for full Equality for transgender young people, including a Gender Recognition Bill which is fully inclusive of them. The resource we are launching tonight was written by transgender young people, who have drawn on their own personal experiences to make the process of coming out easier for others”
He continued:
“We are working to make Ireland a society where transgender children and their families have their identities and rights fully recognised. They deserve and need this. This booklet is a step on this journey. Working with government to include proposed amendments so that transgender young people are fully included the the forthcoming Gender Recognition Bill is also vital. We have an incredible opportunity to make Ireland a leading country in the world for transgender youth rights.”
Launching the resource Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection Kevin Humphreys TD, with responsibility for the Gender Recognition Bill said
“This is an important time for the transgender community and I am proud to be centrally involved in piloting the Gender Recognition Bill through the Oireachtas. This resource we are launching here tonight is particularly important. It sets out some very clear messages, Gender identity is personal to each of us and every person is entitled to express that in our own individual way; Gender identity is part of what we are but it is not the only thing that defines us. I am hopeful that the final steps in the Gender Recognition Bill will be completed by Government as soon as possible. This will mean that we will have a very progressive system of gender self-recognition on the statute books.”
BeLonG To runs IndividualiTy – Europe’s oldest transgender youth support group, which was founded in 2007 and which has been signalled out for international recognition. Speaking at the launch Lisa McKenny, who coordinates this group said:
“Recently we have experienced a huge rise in young people accessing the service as well as families reaching out for support . Transgender young people are coming out at a much younger age now and they and their families need support and recognition. That is why we are here and why this publication is so important. We see firsthand the extreme isolation that trans young people and their families can experience– very often facing numerous barriers and all too often report feeling frustrated and left extremely vulnerable. This booklet aims to reach out to these and other young people, their friends, families and communities with a positive and empowering message – that it’s completely ok to be Transgender or to explore your gender identity– we recognise you and are here to support you”
Alex Lawson, who is 19 years old and a member of IndividualiTy said “As more and more young people seek out information on the internet, this booklet provides something that has been lacking – the internet is full of misinformation, but this booklet provides clear bullet-pointed information. It compacts a world of gender-identity into easy terms and emphasises throughout that it’s okay for us to be ourselves. It is so important that transgender young people can access this information and that their society recognises and values us for who we are. Thank you to BeLonG To for supporting us to make this project possible and for pushing for our lives to be valued and respected.”