An LGBTI+ Ally for 21-Years
We are proud to have been a long-standing and sometimes lone supporter at key moments for the LGBTI+ Community.
As a foundation we helped a community grow, find its voice and fight for its rights. A community which was fledging and often disjointed has been provided with strategic support to come together, unite and grow.
Donors are providing vital health and well-being supports, combatted discrimination and advocated for reforms which have strengthened the rights of LGBTI+ people and their families.
Our LGBTI+ support is nationwide, covers all generations and includes those who fear they cannot come out to friends, family or their entire community.
The Beginning
We were an LGBTI+ ally from day one. The second grant issued by The Community Foundation for Ireland was to one of many small organisations..In those early days supports services were few and far between, often operating on very-limited hours and disconnected from those in other parts of the country. A feasibility study commissioned with support of local groups Identified a need for greater collaboration and co-ordination.
The result led to the establishment of LGBTI Ireland with a single helpline for people right across the country. Funded by The Community Foundation the service offered longer hours of support, greater anonymity and greater access. From this service LGBTI Ireland grew to become an advocate and a voice to deliver real change – work which continues today.
Each year the groups website has more than 120,000 visitors while people of all ages who feel the need for a advice, or even a supportive and friendly voice can contact through a variety of platforms including the national helpline. LGBTI Ireland is a living legacy of the early strategic support offered by the foundation and its donors.
Crossing the Generations
Informed by its work with partner organisations The Community Foundation for Ireland recognises that there are groups within the wider LGBTI+ Community who have specific needs and vulnerabilities.
Older people can be vulnerable to being left isolated and alone, in particular away from the bigger towns and cities where there maybe no local support network. Recognising and responding to this need has seen support provided in 23 of the 26 counties with supporting topping €1 million.
Coming Out can be a difficult time for any person no matter what their age.
It is telling that one of our partner organisations, BeLonGTo reports that six out of 10 young people still fear telling their family and friends about the sexual identity. We are supporting the work of the organisation in reaching and supporting young people with particular needs, including those living in rural areas, those with a migrant background and youth with diverse gender identity.
Ethnic Communities
As we were supporting the advancement of LGBTI+ Rights the population make up of the country was going through radical change. New communities were arriving, becoming established and calling Ireland home. Many arrived from countries where homophobia and transphobia was not only widespread, but was often encouraged, supported or even endorsed by police and Government.
The groups we work were quick to identify the challenges faced by LGBTI+ migrants as an emerging issue and one which needed a response. The Community Foundation for Ireland and its donors responded.
Organisations working with asylum seekers vulnerable to discrimination in Direct Provision centres have been supported to reach people at risk of isolation, depression and harm. Supports have been developed to highlight opportunities for advocacy, to access employment and to integrate into wider society.
Transgender Rights
True equality means leaving no-one behind. While Ireland maybe recognised as being a leader on gay rights – the same cannot be said on those for members of the Transgender community. Since 2005 The Community Foundation for Ireland has supported the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) with 16-grants.
We have built up a regional presence, increased awareness and developed information supports for the health and well-being of the community. Parents of transgender children have also been given access to information and supports, including workshops.
Marriage Equality
No telling of recent LGBTI+ history in Ireland is complete within referencing Marriage Equality. The scenes from the Dublin Castle Courtyard beamed around the world in 2015 sent a powerful message. Ireland had made its mark, the first country to recognise same sex marriage as the result of a popular vote.
However, that support was not always there. Just six years earlier such a result would not have been guaranteed, indeed with the exception of a small group of campaigners few could imagine it. The Community Foundation shared the vision of those campaigners and when the group Marriage Equality was formed provided its first ever funding. That support continued up until the calling of the referendum and was pivotal in providing a launch-pad for history.
The Future
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Covid-19, its impact and indeed the recovery will present their own challenges. The LGBTI+ Community like other minority groups is particular vulnerable following a prolonged period of lockdown and isolation.
The Community Foundation has been in a position to support digital infrastructure to move some supports online, nevertheless with our partner organisations we need to respond to any health and wellbeing impacts. Regional services, which were never as strong as those in Dublin, will need to show resilience and that needs support. The fight to end discrimination, to combat hate and ensure all rights are recognised and protected which existed before the Pandemic needs to resume. These are issues which have not gone away or ceased.
Over the past 21-years The Community Foundation for Ireland has been on a remarkable journey with the LGBTI+ Community – however it is a journey which has yet to reach its goal of equality for all in thriving communities
How You Can Help
We are ready to engage with people who want to join us on taking the next steps towards equality.
Visit our Giving section to explore how you can strategically fund the advancement of LGBTI+ rights in Ireland. Alternatively Support The Dublin Pride Fund.