Consultation with LGBT community discovers hate crimes are going unpunished

Ireland is in need of hate legislation as bullying and violence are the biggest concerns facing the gay community, research recommends.

In the biggest-ever consultation of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community, the National LGBT Federation has joined the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Action against Racism in highlighting how hate crimes based on race, membership of a minority, gender, and sexual orientation are going unpunished in this country.

In the ‘Burning Issues 2’ research, gay people also request that health services, especially mental health services, become more inclusive. They believe public-sector workers in the areas of education, health, social care, and the elderly need to be given LGBT awareness and equality education.