Plight of LGBT people a ‘waste of potential’

IT is sad and a terrible waste of potential that young people are having to leave rural communities because of their sexual orientation, a Government minister said yesterday.

Minister of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey was speaking at the launch of a national programme to address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT).

The programme — LGBT Diversity, is concerned that people, particularly in rural areas, experienced marked isolation and discrimination because of their sexual orientation.