Wednesday 27th January 2021
Winter Pride, Pride at Work
Remarks by Denise Charlton, Chief Executive
The Community Foundation for Ireland
Friends,
The fact that Pride at Work and Winter Pride is up and running is important, for our community not just across Ireland but also in an increasingly hostile world.
As change-makers the insights, contributions and conversations we are having virtually are a beacon of hope to those who face discrimination, inequality and even danger.
We gather as allies to those trapped in the LGBT free zones in Poland, the new Anti-LBTGI+ policies in Malaysia and those forced to live in secrecy in Russia, Turkey and Iran, because the alternative is to risk injury or death.
I mention these global events because they have a trickle-down effect. They risk undermining the decades of progress we have seen since Stonewall in New York, decriminalisation and the Global march towards Marriage Equality.
While Ireland may have largely escaped the rise in right wing politics there is no doubt that those who want to undermine our rights here are feeling emboldened.
We see this on social media. Public figures frequently targeted and abused. We have seen it manifest too during some on-street demonstrations.
We see it when Irish youth group, BelongTo, report that for six out of 10 LGBTI+ young people ‘Coming Out’ is the biggest issue they face.
Nothing can be starker in highlighting the need for our community to have allies than the voices of our young people who fear rejection by parents, family and in some cases even their friends.
Six years after Marriage Equality sent a wave of hope sweeping across our country – it is unfortunately true to say that the journey to full equality is not over.
Philanthropy
While many of you will be aware of my own campaigning for equality – today I come as an ally, to highlight partnerships which have already delivered real change and can deliver so much more.
We are here to discuss philanthropy.
As Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland I am here to proudly speak for our team, our strategic partners who are committed to change and an exciting new development which will see us unite again to achieve the ultimate goal – equality for all in thriving communities.
The Foundation, its frontline and advocacy partners as well the donors whose generosity makes this work possible, are no strangers to finding solutions to the many challenges faced by LGBTI+ people.
In a moment I will outline our future plans – and the roles I will be inviting you all to play so that we can re-invigorate our partnerships, work together as changemakers and deliver impact by offering strategic supports which transforms lives.
Track Record
First I want to highlight the track-record of The Community Foundation for Ireland, the organisations we work with and those who through donations, legacies and gift-giving make all this possible.
In our almost 21-years in existence The Foundation has provide over €1 million to groups working with the LGBTI+ groups, campaigns and causes – including those I am sharing a platform with today.
We have been there for frontline groups at both a local and national level as well as advocates who have been to the forefront of the change agenda.
Early grants going to a lesbian collective and to GCN Magazine, a long-standing voice which has chronicled our recent history in this country.
With each step forward towards the equality, the issues, the campaigns and the needs may have changed or been tweeked – the one thing that never changes is our support.
We have worked with TENI and the Cork Counselling Centre to fund the production of an information guide for councellors and psychotherapists to provide appropriate supports for Transgender people.
In Drogheda, the organisation Outsiders is with our support utilising digital to move vital support workshops online. The first just last week was on the very important issue of mental health and wellbeing – a key issue for people who feel isolated during the Pandemic.
The move to digital has been a challenge for all our organisations – and Outcomers are not the only ones we have supported. Another example is ShoutOut which has been running LGBTI+ workshops in schools for eight years. As they move online – The Community Foundation of Ireland is proud to have their back.
We are also there for those in new communities – providing funding for immigrant groups and youth organisations like BeLonGTo so that materials and services can be provided in languages including Polish, French and Lithuanian.
In addition The Foundation has been there whether it is sporting pride, the arts or indeed our festivals.
In addition to these inspiring local projects which are so important to keep people connected, informed and most importantly safe and well, our approach which is to provide strategic, sustainable and longer-term support is also helping the big national organisations.
Often when they need IT, digital infrastructural support or other investments which provide the backbone of their work, our donors are the very partners who deliver.
Incidentally, The Community Foundation for Ireland was also there to provide the first ever funding for Marriage Equality – not a huge sum but enough to provide a spark for what was to follow.
The Future
The bond between The Community Foundation for Ireland and this community has been strong – however, it is also true to say that whenever we open applications for funding, demand always outstrips the resources available.
Covid-19, its impact and the issues it has brought to the surface including isolation, mental health as well as discrimination have only added to that demand.
As we gather it also seems clear that even when its gone, the Pandemic will cast a long shadow. Whenever our country faces such pressures it is always the vulnerable, the marginalised and those who struggle to be heard who get left behind.
Many of our family, our friends and our colleagues fall into those categories.
With this in mind The Community Foundation has decided to act. We will not wait for whatever may lie ahead, we will start forming our response now.
I can confirm today that we are going to re-invigorate our commitment with a new Fund for the LGBTI+ Community.
It is important to get this right from day one. So, we will be consulting community representatives, our grantee partners and indeed donors on every aspect of our plans and we have already had fantastic support from Dublin Pride for this initiative.
Having said that we cannot consult indefinitely so our hope is to be in a position for a public launch in June – the month of Pride worldwide.
Get Involved
We are looking for participation with this new Fund from the get go.
In addition to our consultations it is also true that like all our strategic, sustainable and long-term work we need partners.
People, families and corporations who share our mission.
Our team is always ready to talk to people about donations, private and public, as well as the often overlooked vital role which legacies can play.
A gift in a will can ensure that someone who has striven or supported equality through their life can ensure the good work goes on after they are gone.
This is going to be exciting, it will be a vehicle to push the change and equality agenda – at times it may also be challenging.
Actions taken now can help ensure that when we move Post-Covid we will be ready together to respond to the needs in terms of health and wellbeing, re-booting our sports and arts and to continue to reach out to those who are marginalised and alone.
Today we start issuing the invitation to come and join us on that journey.
Conclusion
It is true that difficult times bring out the best in people.
As one of the team of The Community Foundation for Ireland I can tell you that we witness that every-day. Our involvement in RTÉ Does Comic Relief, the Late Late Toy-Show and our Covid-19 relief fund has shown us that.
Over the coming weeks it is our hope that as well as the days getting longer, warmer and brighter – that our new fund will start forming – and that come the days of Summer as restrictions allow us to gather again that we will have good news to share.
On that upbeat note – let me wish everyone Happy Pride.