UNFINISHED BUSINESS LGBTQI+ Politics in the 2020s and beyond by Pádraig Rice As a country, there are many untrue stories that we tell ourselves. One of these stories is that Ireland is a world leader on LGBTQI+ issues. This is a myth of our own creation. Every year, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) rank all the European countries in terms of LGBTQ+ human rights and policy protections. This year Ireland came 16th – slipping down one place on last year’s performance. Malta, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg, Norway, France, Montenegro, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Germany were all ranked ahead of us. And that’s just the European countries. Of the EU states, Ireland was ranked 12th out of 27. This isn’t a world-leading performance – it is the middle of the local league. While progress in Ireland stalls, other countries surge ahead. This year Denmark jumped seven places to 2nd on the back of improvements to anti-discrimination and hate crime laws. In the last 12 months, Iceland recognised trans parenthood, Germany introduced a ban on intersex genital mutilation, and France banned conversion therapy. There were also positive legislative changes in Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Meanwhile, the ILGA report for Ireland points to several worrying incidents in 2021, including: • Dublin Bus being fined for homophobic abuse of a passenger • Pride flags being burned in Waterford • The Minister for Justice questioning the sexuality of asylum seekers • Trans activists receiving death threats • Violent assaults on LGBTQ+ people • Gay men arrested in Garda undercover sting operation • Homophobic teaching materials on the Department of Education website It wasn’t all bad news, however; some progress was made last year in the area of family rights like adoptive leave for gay/bi fathers and parental recognition for lesbian/bi mothers.
“ TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IRELAND ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO BE LGBTQI+”
What needs to be done? The Rainbow Europe report makes very clear recommendations on what needs to be done:
1. “Introducing hate crime and hate speech laws and policies that explicitly cover all bias-motivated crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). 2. Ban so-called “conversion therapy” on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. 3. Implement mandatory fully LGBTQ+ inclusive education curriculum in all schools regardless of ‘ethos’, in particular, but not limited to Relationships & Sexuality Education (RSE).” The report also highlights several other things that need to be done, including ending the restrictions on gay and bi men donating blood, Gardai tracking of hate incidence, legal gender recognition for non-binary people and for young trans people, protections for the bodily integrity of intersex people and better protections for LGBTQI+ asylum seekers.
This is a more expansive agenda and a different way of looking at the task ahead. Take homelessness for example, we know from research in other countries that LGBTQI+ people face a significant risk of homelessness and are overrepresented in the population of people who are homeless. If we can end homelessness, that would be good for LGBTQI+ people and also good for society as a whole. When it comes to healthcare, there are huge gaps in the services. Sexual health services are patchy and under- resourced, and trans healthcare is almost impossible to access. These problems are best solved by fighting for a free and universal healthcare system that meets the needs of everyone in Ireland, LGBTQI+ people included. A similar approach can be applied in terms of income and employment. Too many LGBTQI+ people live in poverty, have insecure jobs or face discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The solution is universal basic incomes, enhanced worker’s rights, better terms and ultimately, a fairer distribution of wealth across society. Safer streets for LGBTQI+ people mean safer streets for everyone. And so on…
Renewing the Gay Agenda I believe it’s time for a collective renewal of the “Gay Agenda”. It’s time we looked seriously and critically at the progress being made. Marriage Equality alone was not enough and will never be enough. It’s time to look beyond our shores and seriously examine and engage with the progress being made in other countries. It’s time we look beyond ourselves and set out a queer agenda for the 21st century that lifts everyone up. That means yes, calling for hate crime legislation, banning so- called “conversion therapy, and introducing LGBTQI+ inclusive education. But it also means ending homelessness, achieving free universal healthcare, and lifting everyone out of poverty. Achieving this will be no small feat, but it must be our agenda for the decades ahead. Together we can make Ireland one of the best places in the world to be LGBTQI+. This can be more than a story. This can be our reality.
Moving Beyond Equality to Liberation
In addition to the outstanding issues identified by ILGA, I believe we need to strive for greater redistribution and liberation. In the opening passage of The Trans Issue, Shon Faye eloquently writes, “The liberation of trans people would improve the lives of everyone in our society. I say ‘liberation’ because I believe that the humbler goals of ‘trans rights’ or ‘trans equality’ are insufficient. Trans people should not aspire to be equals in a world that remains both capitalist and patriarchal and which exploits and degrades those who live in it. Rather, we ought to seek justice – for ourselves and everyone.”
Pádraig Rice is a postgraduate Law student in UCC and the former Coordinator of the Gay Project.
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