CommieTroll
20th September 2011, 19:05
This is an essay by someone I know, I really enjoyed reading it and I wanted to see what everyone's opinions would be.
Love has no limits, only people do.
Gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual persons in Ireland face discrimination, stereotyping and abuse daily in Ireland. This is a result of early prosecution by the Catholic Church (the predominate religion in Ireland,) the association between the HIV virus and the homosexual community, along with early legislation with made homosexuality illegal within Ireland.
Gay, lesbian and bi-sexual individuals are people who are romantically or sexually attracted to people of the same sex as themselves. This is regarded by most Psychological Associations as a perfectly normal variation of human sexuality and is also widely accepted as part of nature as homosexuality is clearly visible in animals. The official positions of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association are that “same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive.” People’s views on homosexuality range from the death sentence in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, to countries such as Canada, Spain and South Africa were marriage between two people of the same sex has been legalized. In the last twenty years we have taken major steps towards building a tolerant, safe environment, here in Ireland where GLB citizens can live however there are still major discriminations against GLB citizens. This discrimination must be overcome to ensure fair treatment of ALL Irish citizens.
"Our sexual orientation is not an incidental attribute. It is an essential part of who and what we are. All citizens, regardless of sexual orientation, stand equal in the eyes of the law”
This is a quote from the previous Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. A slight exaggeration when you consider the legal restrictions homosexual couples face. Before the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform led to a ruling that laws prohibiting homosexual activities were in contravention of the European Convention on Human rights, homosexual activities were illegal in Ireland. This only occurred in 1988, but homosexual activities were only decriminalized in 1993. The previous laws against homosexuality are dated from 1861, showing exactly how deep rooted the prejudice is.
Although homosexual acts are now legal in Ireland they are still discriminated in many areas, apart from the obvious restrictions in marriage and adoption there are many other discriminating practices, for example the Irish Blood Transfusion Service has banned donations from men who have ever had oral or anal sex with another man. The IBTS acknowledges that this policy causes "considerable offence" and is "clearly discriminatory" against gay men but claims that it preserves the safety of the blood supply. The ban has been described as "unscientific" and outdated, considering claims that HIV is as widespread in heterosexual individuals as in the homosexual community.
A survey carried out (by the Anti-Bullying Centre in Trinity College Dublin) into the experiences of LGBT young people in Ireland provides the following evidence of the seriousness of this issue. Of the respondents of the survey....
· 76% had experienced verbal abuse
· 39% had experienced physical abuse
15% had attempted suicide
21% had self-harmed
42% reported either an eating disorder, alcohol abuse or drug misuse
29% reported having practiced unsafe sex
One in ten left education earlier than they would have wished, with 3.3% dropping out of school early.
Although in 2006 the government suggested steps to revise anti-bullying policies in school, the problem is still widespread. Glen asks only that the educational experiences of GLB young people are no less remarkable than those of a heterosexual individual.
Another problem concerning the education of GLB teenagers’ education is the difficulty for GLB teachers to be visible and “out”. Teachers are positive role models, and GLB teachers would re-enforce the concept that GBL individuals are equal to heterosexual individuals in society. The Irish government commendably has protective legislation from discrimination because of sexual orientation however The Employment Equality Acts of 1998 & 2004 (Section 37) contains an exemption with regard to religious ethos. As many schools are run as religious institutions, many GBL teachers cannot be “out” without causing a severally negative impact on their career.
Taking this into consideration it is generally accepted that a younger generation can often be more open to their peers “coming out” in secondary school. There is a genuine problem within schools concerning how to address homosexuality. Many educators find themselves trapped between equality laws and the school’s religious policy. They are ignorant of the correct way to approach problems such as homophobic bullying or dealing with students who are confused about their sexuality. Many teachers fear that life will be harder for a student if they are open about their homosexuality. Many schools do not address issues of homosexuality when learning about relationships in S.P.H.E at a junior level in post-primary education; this makes it difficult for teenagers to except homosexual relationships and creates ignorance and bias. All these points make it difficult for homosexual adolescents to be open about their sexuality. More effort must be made by the government and school officials to clear up issues on how to address homosexuality which are guaranteed to arise at some point within all schools. All these points make it difficult for homosexual adolescents to be open about their sexuality; educators must remember that for teenagers homosexuality is a discovery not a decision.
However, the difficulty of living as an openly homosexual adult in Ireland varies little from the difficulty faced in secondary school. Especially in relation to homosexual couples hoping to start a family. In Ireland same sex couples cannot access assisted reproduction services such as donor insemination, couples are often forced to travel to the UK to access services there – adding considerable cost to the procedure. Further problems ensue when the couples return to Ireland as lesbian couples who use assisted reproduction services cannot register as parents to any child eventually born; this denies the child a legal relationship with one of the parents. This can cause legal problems for the child in later life.
Homosexual individuals like all unmarried couples in Ireland can apply for adoption as single person to adopt. Only married couples can be considered for adoption as a couple but because same sex marriages are not recognised under Irish law, this avenue is unavailable. However homosexual couples can foster children as there is a large demand for foster parents in Ireland, this is an example of the ability of the government to implement change where and when it is profitable for them to do so. Although in day to day life fostering is essence indistinguishable from adoption, homosexual couples can only partake in the former.
Another serious problem in Ireland today is hate crime against GBL individuals. In a survey of homosexual men conducted in Dublin showed that half the gay population of Ireland have been victims of “hate-crime.” It was also found that in a sample four month period 120 people were attacked because of their sexuality. That’s a violent attack on gay people every single day in Dublin. The injuries and scars received from these attacks can be life altering. That's a violent attack on gay people every single day in Dublin.
As you can see this sort of discrimination, violence and general ignorance make life incredibly difficult for GBL people. If we are to ever accept the GBL community as the significant portion of the Irish population that they have proven to be, we must change the treatment of GBL individuals in education, in the law in society in general. I think the best way to achieve this is through education, once the idea of homosexuality is no longer foreign, people can learn not fear it and hopefully over time we can rid the country of homophobia permanently.
Love has no limits, only people do.
Gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual persons in Ireland face discrimination, stereotyping and abuse daily in Ireland. This is a result of early prosecution by the Catholic Church (the predominate religion in Ireland,) the association between the HIV virus and the homosexual community, along with early legislation with made homosexuality illegal within Ireland.
Gay, lesbian and bi-sexual individuals are people who are romantically or sexually attracted to people of the same sex as themselves. This is regarded by most Psychological Associations as a perfectly normal variation of human sexuality and is also widely accepted as part of nature as homosexuality is clearly visible in animals. The official positions of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association are that “same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive.” People’s views on homosexuality range from the death sentence in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, to countries such as Canada, Spain and South Africa were marriage between two people of the same sex has been legalized. In the last twenty years we have taken major steps towards building a tolerant, safe environment, here in Ireland where GLB citizens can live however there are still major discriminations against GLB citizens. This discrimination must be overcome to ensure fair treatment of ALL Irish citizens.
"Our sexual orientation is not an incidental attribute. It is an essential part of who and what we are. All citizens, regardless of sexual orientation, stand equal in the eyes of the law”
This is a quote from the previous Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. A slight exaggeration when you consider the legal restrictions homosexual couples face. Before the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform led to a ruling that laws prohibiting homosexual activities were in contravention of the European Convention on Human rights, homosexual activities were illegal in Ireland. This only occurred in 1988, but homosexual activities were only decriminalized in 1993. The previous laws against homosexuality are dated from 1861, showing exactly how deep rooted the prejudice is.
Although homosexual acts are now legal in Ireland they are still discriminated in many areas, apart from the obvious restrictions in marriage and adoption there are many other discriminating practices, for example the Irish Blood Transfusion Service has banned donations from men who have ever had oral or anal sex with another man. The IBTS acknowledges that this policy causes "considerable offence" and is "clearly discriminatory" against gay men but claims that it preserves the safety of the blood supply. The ban has been described as "unscientific" and outdated, considering claims that HIV is as widespread in heterosexual individuals as in the homosexual community.
A survey carried out (by the Anti-Bullying Centre in Trinity College Dublin) into the experiences of LGBT young people in Ireland provides the following evidence of the seriousness of this issue. Of the respondents of the survey....
· 76% had experienced verbal abuse
· 39% had experienced physical abuse
15% had attempted suicide
21% had self-harmed
42% reported either an eating disorder, alcohol abuse or drug misuse
29% reported having practiced unsafe sex
One in ten left education earlier than they would have wished, with 3.3% dropping out of school early.
Although in 2006 the government suggested steps to revise anti-bullying policies in school, the problem is still widespread. Glen asks only that the educational experiences of GLB young people are no less remarkable than those of a heterosexual individual.
Another problem concerning the education of GLB teenagers’ education is the difficulty for GLB teachers to be visible and “out”. Teachers are positive role models, and GLB teachers would re-enforce the concept that GBL individuals are equal to heterosexual individuals in society. The Irish government commendably has protective legislation from discrimination because of sexual orientation however The Employment Equality Acts of 1998 & 2004 (Section 37) contains an exemption with regard to religious ethos. As many schools are run as religious institutions, many GBL teachers cannot be “out” without causing a severally negative impact on their career.
Taking this into consideration it is generally accepted that a younger generation can often be more open to their peers “coming out” in secondary school. There is a genuine problem within schools concerning how to address homosexuality. Many educators find themselves trapped between equality laws and the school’s religious policy. They are ignorant of the correct way to approach problems such as homophobic bullying or dealing with students who are confused about their sexuality. Many teachers fear that life will be harder for a student if they are open about their homosexuality. Many schools do not address issues of homosexuality when learning about relationships in S.P.H.E at a junior level in post-primary education; this makes it difficult for teenagers to except homosexual relationships and creates ignorance and bias. All these points make it difficult for homosexual adolescents to be open about their sexuality. More effort must be made by the government and school officials to clear up issues on how to address homosexuality which are guaranteed to arise at some point within all schools. All these points make it difficult for homosexual adolescents to be open about their sexuality; educators must remember that for teenagers homosexuality is a discovery not a decision.
However, the difficulty of living as an openly homosexual adult in Ireland varies little from the difficulty faced in secondary school. Especially in relation to homosexual couples hoping to start a family. In Ireland same sex couples cannot access assisted reproduction services such as donor insemination, couples are often forced to travel to the UK to access services there – adding considerable cost to the procedure. Further problems ensue when the couples return to Ireland as lesbian couples who use assisted reproduction services cannot register as parents to any child eventually born; this denies the child a legal relationship with one of the parents. This can cause legal problems for the child in later life.
Homosexual individuals like all unmarried couples in Ireland can apply for adoption as single person to adopt. Only married couples can be considered for adoption as a couple but because same sex marriages are not recognised under Irish law, this avenue is unavailable. However homosexual couples can foster children as there is a large demand for foster parents in Ireland, this is an example of the ability of the government to implement change where and when it is profitable for them to do so. Although in day to day life fostering is essence indistinguishable from adoption, homosexual couples can only partake in the former.
Another serious problem in Ireland today is hate crime against GBL individuals. In a survey of homosexual men conducted in Dublin showed that half the gay population of Ireland have been victims of “hate-crime.” It was also found that in a sample four month period 120 people were attacked because of their sexuality. That’s a violent attack on gay people every single day in Dublin. The injuries and scars received from these attacks can be life altering. That's a violent attack on gay people every single day in Dublin.
As you can see this sort of discrimination, violence and general ignorance make life incredibly difficult for GBL people. If we are to ever accept the GBL community as the significant portion of the Irish population that they have proven to be, we must change the treatment of GBL individuals in education, in the law in society in general. I think the best way to achieve this is through education, once the idea of homosexuality is no longer foreign, people can learn not fear it and hopefully over time we can rid the country of homophobia permanently.