On May 22nd 2015, the Marriage Equality Referendum changed what it meant to grow up LGBT in Ireland. We told young people and their friends and families that it was safe to come out, that they #BelongToTheFuture. Young people now feel confident to come out, and demand for services from BeLonGTo, has literally doubled since the referendum.

LGBT Youth organisation ‘Comes Out’ with May 22nd as #BelongTotheFuture day

BeLonG To, the national LGBT Youth Organisation provides critical support services such as peer support, advocacy, schools outreach and suicide and harm prevention. With the overwhelming new demand for these services it is in urgent need of additional funding.

Yesterday’s launch of the LGBTIreland report showed that we still have much to change to make if we want young LGBTI people to grow up in a safe and supportive environment. We don’t want LGBTI people spending their 20s, 30s and 40s recovering from traumatic childhoods and resulting mental health problems. We can wipe out homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools and build young people’s resilience. We can show the rest of the world once again how to make Ireland the best place in the world to grow up LGBTI.

BeLonGTo is declaring May 22nd as #BeLongTotheFuture day to fund these services that nurture and support Ireland’s young LGBT people.