Pride
From fielding the first openly gay party candidate for Dáil Éireann, to being the first to make equal marriage core party policy north and south, the Green Party is proud to fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.
As we embrace this year’s Pride celebrations 2022, we are mindful that the festival takes place in the shadow of homophobic and transphobic attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic violence aims to instill fear among us, but fear will not win. By coming together on this Pride occasion, we will demonstrate our strength as a community, and our courage. Pride is a celebration of who we are, and allows us to celebrate the genuine progress made to date in the fight for equality. Importantly, we must remember the roots of Pride, the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation. As a Party, we have always been proud to campaign for the rights of LGBTQ+ people, and in Government we are working to advance those rights.
Almost halfway through our term in Government, we have made great strides in advancing LGBTQ+ rights. Though, we cannot shy away from where there have been significant setbacks. Over the coming months and years, we must redouble our efforts to establish a best-practice model of trans healthcare in Ireland, so that individuals are not left waiting on lists that are years long.
Work remains, and we must be honest about what has yet to be achieved. The Green Party has a history of campaigning for radical change and, in Government, we will continue to work to make Ireland a place where all lives are valued and supported, free from hatred and discrimination.
First openly gay candidate for a political party
First to raise equal marriage in Dáil Éireann
First to adopt equal marriage as party policy
First to include gay partnership rights in a Programme for Government
First to legislate for gay partnership rights
First transgender candidate for public office in Ireland
Granted adoptive leave to male same sex couples
Work is ongoing to ban the practice of so-called “conversion therapy”. This is a practice rooted in the promotion of shame and which aims to deny people’s very identity, and we look forward to progressing legislation to ban the practice outright over the next year and, crucially, ensure that no one is left behind.
The Government will soon publish strong and effective Hate Crime legislation, which will create aggravated forms of certain offences which are motivated by hatred. This new law will finally ensure that such crimes are recognised and punished as such.
The first comprehensive review of Ireland’s equality legislation in 20 years is being conducted to ensure the laws are effectively protecting people from prejudice and discrimination. As part of this review, we will amend the legislation in order to protect people from discrimination on the basis of their gender identity.
Equality
The Green Party stands for an equal and just society that upholds rights and values diversity.
