GLEN: Phase Two: 1994 - 2005

GLEN: Phase Two: 1994 - 2005

1. Overview
2.  Equality Legislation, 1996 to 2000
3. Civil Marriage/Civil Partnership/Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Couples
4. Poverty: lesbians and gay men : the economic & social effects of discrimination, 1995
5. HIV Prevention Strategies and the Gay Community (1996)
6. Refugee Act 1996
7. Amsterdam Treaty 1997
8.  Gay HIV Strategies, 1997
9. HIV Prevention in Gay Saunas 1998
10. Education: Lesbians and Gay Men: Developing Equal Opportunities, 2000
11. Implementing Equality for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals Equality Authority, 2002
12. NESF, Equality Policies for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Implementation Issues 2003. 
13. LGB Cycle of Underdevelopment
14. Mental Health: Lesbians and Gay Men - Strategies to Promote the Mental Health of Lesbians and Gay Men" 2004
15.  ‘little short of phenomenal’ 

‘Lesbian and Gay Visions of Ireland: Towards the 21st Century’ 1995

Appendix

1. Overview

The second phase of GLEN from 1994 to 2005 is an interesting period when significant progress was made but remains mostly undocumented. This is also a period where there were significant problems and barriers such as a lack of State funding for lesbian and gay projects and a lack of representation on official bodies.

The first phase could be said to be from its founding in 1988 to achievement of an equality-based gay law reform and sexual orientation included as a protecteed ground in the Unfair Dismissals Act in 1993. The third phase is from 2006 on when funding from Atlantic Philanthropies enabled it to employ up to eight staff.

Equality legislation was a key goal of the lesbian and gay movement at least since the early 1980s, and was a key priority for GLEN since it was established in 1988. With Labour in a coalition government,The Employment Equality Bill 1996, and the Equal Status Bill 1997 were introduced by Mervyn Taylor, Minister for Equality and Law Reform. We continued to work with the Campaign for Equality to make sure the employment equality and equal status legislation was as positive as possible. Richard Dunphy has an interesting article on GLEN referring to its attempts to improve the legislation for example in relation to the religious ethos exemption. He also refers to the opposition of Chambers Ireland and the Vintners Association to protection on the grounds of sexual orientation under equal status legislation.

Other major achievements in Phase Two were the Combat Poverty study and the HIV prevention one both carried out when GLEN had no staff or office facilities. Both of these studies were basic resources for the Equality Authority and NESF reports. Nexus Research continued to facilitate us with the free use of their facilities. 

We lobbied the Government successfully for the (re) inclusion of sexual orientation in the Amsterdam Treaty 1997 described by ILGA as ‘a significant milestone for lesbians and gay men in the European Union.’

A particular achievement was the explicit protection on the grounds of sexual orientation in the Refugee Act of 1996 by Joan Burton Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. This was an international first in terms of the explicit inclusion of sexual orientation in refugee legislation.

We continued to lobby for protections for lesbian and gay couples and this was achieved to an extent in the Domestic Violence Act 1996 and the Powers of Attorney Act 1996. Major progress was achieved Finance Act 2000 so that on the death of one person the surviving partner inheriting their home might not have to sell it to pay CGT.

GLENs emphasis on the need for equality legislation bore fruit with the publication of ‘Implementing Equality for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals’ Equality Authority, 2002. And our emphasis on mainstreaming and engagement with the State, the publication by the NESF of ‘Equality Policies for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Implementation Issues’ 2003. Both of these reports recommended legal recognition of same-sex couples.

 There were also setbacks, Fergus Ryan writes of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 which excluded lesbian and gay couples despite this being questioned in the Dail and Seanad and he concludes that this exclusion, ‘was not inadvertent but rather entirely deliberate and intentional’. He also writes of the Civil Registrations Act 2004 (section 2(2) (e)) which stated that ‘For the purposes of this Act there is an impediment to a marriage if—

(e) both parties are of the same sex.’ As far as I can see this exclusion did not appear in the 2003 Bill, was this a result of lobbying from the Right, perhaps alarmed by growing support for legal recognition for same-sex couples in the Equality Authority report and that of the NESF? It is also interesting to note that this was under a FF/PD coalition government, in contrast to progress under Labour in coalition with FF or FG in 1990s. To be fair also Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach delivered a strong speech in favour of progress and equality for LGBT people at the launch of GLENs strategic plan in 2006.

There was also resistance to inclusion of lesbian and gay representatives on State boards, for example on the NESF. There was no publicly out lesbian or gay/sectoral representative Board member of the Equality Authority until 2007. There was no State core funding for lesbian and gay community initiatives under for example the Community Development Programme or local development schemes. This absence of representation and funding was described by GLEN as ‘the Cycle of Underdevelopment’ and was discussed in the NESF report.

Leo Flynn in 2000 concludes ‘The developments in the Irish legal system in relation to sexual orientation in decade are little short of phenomenal’ (p17). Regarding the legal recognition of same-sex couples: ‘It is hard to escape the feeling that such recognition will come in the Irish legal system in the medium term’ and ‘Equally, on past record, it is just as likely that the impetus will be domestic’’

Work continued with the Trade Unions, for example the IMPACT policy document ‘Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men’ February was adopted in 19995. ‘A discussion document on the rights of lesbians and gay men was presented to and discussed at the 1993 Equality Conference’ (Paddy Keating).

1. Equality Legislation, 1996 to 2000

Equality legislation was a key goal of the lesbian and gay movement at least since the early 1980s, and was a key priority for GLEN since it was established in 1988. GLEN built up support for broad-ranging equality legislation including all groups vulnerable to discrimination working with the Employment Equality Agency (1986), ICTU (1987), ICCL (1990), Labour Party on their 1990 Equal Status Bill. GLEN was instrumental in setting up the Campaign for Equality which was an alliance of all groups vulnerable to discrimination including womens groups, people with disabilities, Travellers. The Campaign for Equality was launched in October 1991 in the European Communities offices with speakers including; Monica Barnes, Chair Joint Oireachtas Committee on Women's Rights; Patricia O’Donovan, Assistant Secretary General ICTU; Sylvia Meehan, Chief Executive, Employment Equality Agency; and representatives from GLEN, the Dublin Travellers Education and Development Group; Forum of People with Disabilities; Council for the Status of Women and others. 

 With Labour in a coalition government,The Employment Equality Bill 1996, and the Equal Status Bill 1997 were introduced by Mervyn Taylor, Minister for Equality and Law Reform and passed in 1997. “They were central to the Rainbow Coalition's raft of anti-discrimination legislation and sought to eliminate discrimination on nine grounds including gender, race, religion, disability and membership of the Travelling community in employment and in the provision of services. They were referred to the Supreme Court ([by President Mary Robinson], where both were found to be unconstitutional on three grounds. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/president-has-sole-discretion-to-decide-on-supreme-court-referral-1.287977

 Amended equality legislation was subsequently enacted during the following Dáil term, i.e. the Employment Equality Act, 1998 and the Equal Status Act, 2000. The Equality Authority was set up under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and was established in October 1999, and became a key support for the LGBT communities. In November 2014, the Equality Authority was merged with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to form the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The IHREC played a significant role in achieving equal marriage with its detailed policy document of 2015 which stated that;‘The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission believes that the opening out of civil marriage to two persons, without distinction as to their sex, is a matter of equality and human rights.’ ( https://www.ihrec.ie/documents/ihrec-policy-statement-on-access-to-civil-marriage-febr/

Richard Dunphy has an interesting article (1997) on GLEN referring to its attempts to improve the legislation for example in relation to the religious ethos exemption. He also refers to the opposition of Chambers of Commerce Ireland and the Vintners Association to protection on the grounds of sexual orientation under equal status legislation.

GLEN made a submission to the Constitution Review Group and in its 1996 report it recommend that there should be added to Article 40.1 a section in the following terms:

‘No person shall be unfairly discriminated against, directly or indirectly, on any ground such as sex, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, colour, language, culture, religion, political or other opinion, national, social or ethnic origin, membership of the travelling community, property, birth or other status.’

See separate article; ‘Employment Equality Agency, Sylvia Meehan and the evolution of equality legislation’ 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Byxc3EdJHD9mvnoTgR5WxmSy2hGr3aJXLBovE2dQsAA/edit

1. Civil Marriage/Civil Partnership/Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Couples

In 2005 we made an oral presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Constitution, in its report it noted GLENs position as follows: 

‘Based on the principle of equality of rights, duties and responsibilities, we are asking now that the law on civil marriage be amended so that it is open to any two people, irrespective of gender’ 

In September and October 2005 GLEN meets Michael McDowell Minister for Justice and Equality making case for Civil Marriage, the Minister favoured a limited form of domestic partnership. In December 2005 the Minister established the Colley Group and Eoin Collins was one of its members, along with Eilish Barry from the Equality Authority.

The Colley Groups analysis and its equality-based recommendations were pivotal to progress towards full Civil Partnership and Civil Marriage. 

In 2005 GLEN was preparing ‘Building Sustainable Change’ strategy for Atlantic Philanthropies which highlighted civil marriage, with a Director of Policy Change (Eoin Collins) responsible for coordinating this work. 

We continued to lobby for protections for lesbian and gay couples and this was achieved to an extent in the Domestic Violence Act 1996 and the Powers of Attorney Act 1996. Major progress was achieved Finance Act 2000 so that on the death of one person the surviving partner inheriting their home might not have to sell it to pay CGT.

There were also setbacks, Fergus Ryan writes of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 which excluded lesbian and gay couples despite this being questioned in the Dail and Seanad and he concludes that this exclusion, ‘was not inadvertent but rather entirely deliberate and intentional’. He also writes of the Civil Registrations Act 2004 (section 2(2) (e)) which stated that ‘For the purposes of this Act there is an impediment to a marriage if—

(e) both parties are of the same sex.’ As far as I can see this exclusion did not appear in the 2003 Bill, was this a result of lobbying from the Right, perhaps alarmed by growing support for legal recognition for same-sex couples in the Equality Authority report and that of the NESF? It is also interesting to note that this was under a FF/PD coalition government, in contrast to progress under Labour in coalition with FF or FG in 1990s. To be fair also Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach delivered a strong speech in favour of progress and equality for LGBT people at the launch of GLENs strategic plan in 2006.

The Civil Registration Act was to be quoted in 2006 by Justice Dunne in her judgement in the Zappone Gilligan case that they had a Constitutional right to marry: ‘In this jurisdiction, as recently as 2004, s. 2(2)(e) of the Civil Registration Act was enacted. That Act sets out what was previously the common law exclusion of same sex couples from the institution of marriage. Is that not of itself an indication of the prevailing idea and concept in relation to what marriage is and how it should be defined? I think it is.’

https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230051/https://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2006/H404.html

GLEN made a submission ‘Different Families, Equal Families’ in April 1996 to the Government Commission on the Family. We also made a submission to the Constitution Review Group recommending the need for the Constitution to recognise ‘the diversity of personal relationships which now exist in this country’. In its 1996 report the Group recommended recognition of families not based on marriage.

Christopher Robson represented GLEN on the Family Diversity Initiative from 2002 to 2006. This was an informal group with the objective of extending the understanding of family and included groups such as Children's Rights Alliance, One Family etc.

1. Poverty: lesbians and gay men : the economic & social effects of discrimination

Combat Poverty and GLEN and Nexus 1995

This was ground-breaking and comprehensive research funded by the Combat Poverty Agency and carried out by Nexus Research in association with GLEN. Eoin Collins did the vast bulk of this innovative research. It was an international first in terms of researching the links between sexual orientation.

 It's findings were used intensively by GLEN and other LGBT groups for many years in advocacy and project proposals. 

It was launched by Minister Proinsias de Rossa, however he would not allow lesbian and gay groups to receive funding under the Community Development Programme. GLEN originallly made the research proposal to the Combat Poverty Agency in 1992 but were refused which at the time we considered to be discrimination.

‘The National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) report Sharing in Progress (Government of Ireland, 1997: 71-72), which dealt with issues of discrimination and inequality, recorded that evidence has been documented on discrimination leading to poverty for a number of groups and referred to Travellers (Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community) and lesbians and gay men (Combat Poverty Agency, 1995). It also referred to the "ongoing debate on the extent to which discrimination can increase the risk of poverty for some groups in society". It stated that:

"While homosexuality in itself does not necessarily place one at risk of poverty, the impact, experience and perception of discrimination may limit the full participation of gay men and lesbians in society, and may in some cases place them at risk of poverty"

Reflecting this concern, the Poverty/Equality Proofing Guidelines of NAPS published in 1998 explicitly included sexual orientation. These Guidelines apply to all civil service departments and involve ‘poverty proofing’ in a number of circumstances including the design of policies and preparation of Memoranda to Government on significant policy proposals.’

A digital copy is available on the National Library of Ireland website.

See NLI website, Catalog Record:   

Link: https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000025044

1. HIV Prevention Strategies and the Gay Community (1996)

A detailed research report done by GLEN and Nexus Research Co-op. Funded by the Dept of Health, a breakthrough following gay law reform, political decision by then Minister for Health Brendan Howlin and his political advisors, Health officials were not too happy I recall. Led to funding for Gay HIV Strategies and other community initiatives such as the Sauna Project. 100 pages, very good historical information on Ireland and internationally. An initiative Arthur Leahy pushed GLEN to do. Launched in Aras an Uachtaran by President Mary Robinson. Also the unwritten history of the role of Nexus Research and Eoin Collins in their vital support for LGBT progress in Ireland. Dr Noel Browne's moving talk at the AIDS Memorial Service in St Patrick's Cathedral in May 1995 is included in an annexe. https://www.slideshare.net/kieranrose/dr-noel-browne-talk-at-aids-memorial-service-in-st-patricks-cathedral-dublin-may-21st-1995

‘This is the report of Phase One of an action research project to develop a renewed and integrated HIV prevention strategy for gay men. The objective is to radically reduce the number of new HIV infections so that it approaches zero. The report was commissioned and funded by the Department of Health, co-ordinated by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and carried out by Nexus Research Co-operative. The project is based on the principle that gay community development and measures to promote the self-esteem of gay men are essential to effective HIV prevention work. The research focused on examining the capacity and needs of gay community organisations to carry out such health promotion work. The report also includes the findings of a survey of the statutory sector and other voluntary AIDS groups as well as a survey of relevant Irish and international literature. The report recommends that there should be a partnership between the gay community and the statutory sector.’ (from blurb)

Available on-line: Link to Item https://hdl.handle.net/10147/325026

1.  Refugee Act 1996

A particular achievement was the explicit protection on the grounds of sexual orientation in the Refugee Act of 1996 by Joan Burton Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. This was an international first in terms of the explicit inclusion of sexual orientation in refugee legislation and it made explicit:

“membership of a particular social group” includes membership of a trade union and also includes membership of a group of persons whose defining characteristic is their belonging to the female or the male sex or having a particular sexual orientation;

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1996/act/17/section/1/enacted/en/html 

Yokohama 1991 

1. Amsterdam Treaty, 1997

The Irish Government as part of its Presidency of the Commission got sexual orientation back into the Amsterdam Treaty with Dick Spring as Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1997 and Fergus Finlay as his advisor). Article 13 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and other and this gives the EU a competency in these matters. This was a breakthrough, and Ireland was responsible 

Ireland had the Presidency at the time and GLEN particularly Christopher Robson lobbied Noel Dorr and others to have sexual orientation included. Previously sexual orientation was dropped from the draft Treaty under the Dutch Presidency.

“The Treaty of Amsterdam, which came into force on 1 May 1999, marks a significant milestone for lesbians and gay men in the European Union. The changes introduced by the Treaty include a new clause, Article 13, which covers discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, together with sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion, belief, disability and age. This is the first time that any express reference to discrimination on grounds other than sex or nationality has appeared in the Treaties.” 

https://www.ilga-europe.org/resources/ilga-europe-reports-and-other-materials/after-amsterdam-sexual-orientation-and-european

1.  Gay HIV Strategies, 1997

‘Gay HIV Strategies (GHS) is core-funded by the Department of Health and Children with the objective of facilitating new programmes, resources and linkages of effective health promotion, community development and HIV prevention strategies for gay men. The project arises from a needs analysis study commissioned by the Department HIV Prevention Strategies and the Gay Community: A Baseline Study of Resources, Issues and Needs (GLEN/Nexus, 1996). It employs one full-time worker.

GHS understands the social and economic determinants of health as they affect gay and bisexual men. It has successfully developed a range of initiatives with statutory, non-statutory and non-governmental organisations. This includes Government Departments, Health Boards, and Garda Síochána, Community Development Projects as well as the private sector.

A key objective is to develop demonstration projects which can then be mainstreamed. GHS has been effective in modelling ways in which the gay community can work in partnership with Local Authorities, County Development Boards, Health Boards, regional support agencies, local and community development projects, the Garda and youth services in order to create appropriate and accessible services for gay and bisexual men. This groundbreaking work has taken place in urban areas such as Dublin, Cork, and Waterford as well as more rural communities such as those in Louth and Roscommon.’ (From NESF report)

In 1998 Gay HIV Strategies made a submission to the National Crime Forum and were asked to make an oral presentation and this resulted in the establishment of the Garda Liaison Programme to the lesbian and gay community.

The project director became a member of the National AIDS Strategy Committee which was the first time that a gay community non-statutory representative was appointed, a recommendation of the HIV Strategies report. 

A meeting between Christopher Robson and myself with Pat Mc Loughlin resulted in a fund of c30,000 punts to be made available to gay community groups for HIV prevention-related projects. ‘A partnership process between the Eastern Health Board and all the major gay community service providers was initiated in 1998. The process involved all the gay community service providers and provided for funding for a range of pilot projects and initiatives including the printing of the Parents Support booklet,5 a needs and strategy analysis of OutYouth (a gay youth group based in Dublin)6, technical assistance for the enhancement of HIV/AIDS coverage in Gay Community News, support for Gay Switchboard Dublin and support for OutHouse, the Dublin gay community centre.’

See also ‘AIDS Strategy 2000: Report of the National AIDS Strategy Committee’ in Appendix

1. HIV Prevention in Gay Saunas, 1998

The opportunity to carry out HIV prevention work with the commercial gay sector was identified in the HIV Prevention Strategies report. THis pilot project was funded by the EHB and involved the free supply of condoms, educational material, and educating staff. It was a very successful and these initiatives continued after the pilot project stage hugely improving HIV prevention work and safeguarding peoples health.

https://www.slideshare.net/kieranrose/working-in-partnership-for-hiv-prevention-in-gay-saunas-a-pilot-project-in-two-gay-saunas

1.  Education: Lesbians and Gay Men: Developing Equal Opportunities, 2000

Gay HIV Strategies and Nexus Research (2000) Education: Lesbians and Gay Men: Developing Equal Opportunities, Gay HIV Strategies, Dublin

‘This comprehensive report is the first to concentrate on the difficulties and problems of gay, lesbian and bisexual students in first and second level education in Ireland. It is in part a follow on from the 1996 Combat Poverty Agency study Poverty: Lesbians and Gay Men: the Economic and Social Effects of Discrimination, which documented the extent of educational disadvantage and underachievement among lesbians and gay men.’

‘Education: Lesbian and Gay Students: Developing Equal Opportunities is a welcome and valuable report. Gay HIV Strategies are to be commended for commissioning this research and for their wider work in this area.’ Niall Crowley CEO Equality Authority

https://www.belongto.org/professionals/research/

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A6a1f3396-fe80-45e9-b316-d9a3ba8e08bb

1.  Implementing Equality for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals Equality Authority, 2002

The extent of discrimination and exclusion experienced by the gay, lesbian and bisexual community is clearly established in this report. This hostility, prejudice and anti-gay sentiment takes numerous forms. Gay HIV Strategies had recommneded such an advisory committee and report. Christopher Robson, Eoin Collins, Brian Sheehan and myself were on the advisory group. The term ‘implementing’ in the title was insisted on by Christopher to stress the need for action.

‘The Equality Authority was assisted in the preparation of this report by an advisory committee involving gay and lesbian organisations, the social partners and representatives of Government Departments.

The recommendations made by the Equality Authority provide an agenda for action in addressing gay, lesbian and bisexual disadvantage in such areas as education, training, employment, services, health, support networks and community development.’

https://www.ihrec.ie/landmark-report-on-the-status-of-gays-lesbians-and-bisexuals/

1.  NESF, Equality Policies for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Implementation Issues NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FORUM Report No. 27 April 2003.

This was an important breakthrough at the time, first comprehensive engagement by the State with LGBT communities. It was based on a recommendation of the Equality Authority report. Christopher Robson, Eoin Collins, Brian Sheehan and myself were on the advisory group.

The NESF Terms of Reference were: ‘The Project Team on Implementing Equality for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People will consult relevant Government Departments and other bodies regarding implementation of the main recommendations of the Equality Authority’s recent report – ‘Implementing Equality for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals’.

The Team will, adopting a problem-solving approach, pay particular attention to identifying potential implementation barriers and challenges on the main priorities, as identified by the Team, and comment and advise on how these may be resolved.’

 When the NESF was set up in the 1990s GLEN asked to be included in some way in its consultative structures but were refused by the Minister responsible.

 In 2000s Eoin Collins of GLEN was funded by the Department of Justice and Equality to be liaison officer and carried out a similar engagement process with all Government Depts etc on LGBT issues.

 "Great progress has been made since the gay law reform was introduced in 1993 and we now have some of the most progressive equality legislation in Europe," said Mr Chris Robson, co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN).

 "But the next great legislative change necessary is to provide for lesbians and gay men to have their partnerships recognised in law."

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/campaigners-welcome-report-on-equal-gay-rights-1.484365

It is interesting to note that social partnership was providing opportunities for progress as were our long-standing links with the trade union movement: According to the NESF report: “It should also be noted at the outset that it was agreed in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness that recommendations emerging from the Authority’s report ‘will be considered by the Social Partners to establish how they might be carried forward’”

1. LGB Cycle of Underdevelopment

From NESF report 2003

‘Representation and Funding – the lack of an effective and adequately-resourced infrastructure to help LGB people better inform and input their views into the policy-making process was highlighted as a barrier on a number of occasions during the Team’s consultations. Even bodies well versed in other equality issues may not appreciate the specific concerns and issues arising for other groups such as LGBs. The lack of visibility of LGB groups in policy design and review and the tendency for LGB issues often not to be specifically addressed in policy and practice were main contributory factors in this regard.

The Team concluded that addressing representation and funding is a key requirement to reducing the barriers that exist to policy improvements and effective implementation in this area. This would have beneficial outcomes for LGB people, Government Departments and society in general. 

The Team recommends that:

? All Boards of State Agencies charged with pursuing equality and social inclusion issues should ensure that they have adequate expertise and timely advice regarding the specific needs of the LGB community, particularly those who are cumulatively disadvantaged. ? Disadvantaged LGB people should be explicitly targeted as a vulnerable group under the NAPS, in the same way that women are.

? As an immediate stop-gap response to the needs of LGB groups, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should consider providing funding to LGB organisations to develop their infrastructure and facilitate their input to policy-making.

? In the design and operation of funding schemes under equality, community development and social inclusion programmes, it should be borne in mind that within any group in Irish society (e.g. women, ethnic minorities, and poor people) there will be members who are also lesbian, gay or bisexual. For this reason, organisations representing lesbians, gays and bisexuals should, in principle, be eligible for such funding.’

The report noted that: ‘Six LGB organisations have developed proposals for funding under the CDP, which were submitted to the Department in December last, together with an application for a national support agency.’ It referred to a study by Brian Dillon, (2002) ‘Implementing a Community Development Approach to Tackling Gay and Lesbian Social Exclusion. Dublin: Gay HIV Strategies.’

1. "Mental Health: Lesbians and Gay Men - Strategies to Promote the Mental Health of Lesbians and Gay Men" 2004

‘This is the first Irish report to concentrate solely on the experience of gay men and lesbians with regard to mental health. The impetus for this research initiative came from a number of representations made to both Gay HIV Strategies and the Northern Area Health Board (NAHB) in 1999. The NAHB had been contacted by members of the gay community about concerns regarding the rate of suicide amongst this group. The work completed by Gay HIV Strategies on areas such as HIV prevention and education also identified mental health as a key area of concern. A partnership developed between Gay HIV Strategies and the NAHB that began with the organisation of a number of information seminars.

We believe that the partnership between the Northern Area Health Board and Gay HIV Strategies will continue and can work with other agencies to realise the recommendations identified in this report.’

Gay HIV Strategies and Health Promotion Department (NAHB) June 2004

https://www.lenus.ie/handle/10147/266932?show=full

1. ‘little short of phenomenal’ 

‘Can the Transition to Individual Protection be Extended to Recognition of Relationships?: Same-Sex Couples and the Irish Experience of Sexual Orientation Law Reform Leo Flynn (c2000), Legal Secretary, Court of Justice of the European Communities

 ‘Without being wildly optimistic, it is clear that the legal situation of same-sex coupls in Ireland is on the cusp of major change’ writes Leo Flynn in a paper c2000 referring to the establishment of the Equality Authority in 1999, the Unfair Dismissals Amendment Act etc. ‘Yet less than a decade ago sexual activity between males was still criminalised ….’ There has been a ‘rolling programme of legislative and policy reform’. The recent developments in Irish law are ‘extraordinary’. 

 Regarding the equality-based gay law reform he writes: ‘It is arguable that in the ultimate decision to repeal the legislation the Convention played a relatively minor role’ as by 1993 ‘legislative measures had already been adopted which made sexual orientation a protected status in several fields including that of dismissal’ (p5). He goes on to refer to the work of GLEN with the trade unions and other groups. He quotes Christopher Robson to the effect that ‘the move to equal protection in labour law was a more important development [than gay law reform] would have been the first choice of GLEN, if a choice had to be made’. He refers to a number of articles he wrote on such as ‘Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation’ Employment Law Reports (1993).

 ‘During the periods it has held the Presidency Ireland has pushed forward important advances in making sexual orientation a Community issue’. ‘Ireland held the Presidency in 1990 when the Council of Ministers adopted a Resolution on the Dignity of Women and Men at work which recognised that sexual orientation-based harassment at work might violate Community law’ (p16). Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty was ‘achieved during the Irish Presidency’ 

 He concludes ‘The developments in the Irish legal system in relation to sexual orientation in decade are little short of phenomenal’ (p17). Regarding the legal recognition of same-sex couples: ‘It is hard to escape th feeling that such recognition will come in the Irish legal system in the medium term’ and ‘Equally, on past record, it is just as likely that the impetus will be domestic’’

 ‘Lesbian and Gay Visions of Ireland: Towards the 21st Century’ November 1995

by Ide O'Carroll (Author), Eoin Collins (Author). 

Launched in Aras an Uachtaran by President Mary Robinson.

 Appendix

 Richard Dunphy (1997) Sexual identities, national identities: The politics of gay law reform in the republic of Ireland, Contemporary Politics, 3:3, 247-265, DOI:

 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13569779708449929

‘From Individual Protection to Recognition of Relationships? Same-Sex Couples and the Irish Experience of Sexual Orientation Law Reform’

Leo Flynn, Legal Secretary, Court of Justice of the European Communities, Luxembourg (Lecturer, School of Law, King's College, University of London)

Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Partnerships (2001)

A Study of National, European and International Law

Editors: Robert Wintemute is Professor of Human Rights Law in the School of Law, King's College London. Mads Andenas is Professor of Law at the University of Leicester.

Collins, Eoin (2000) Promoting Equality for Lesbians and Gay Men: Scoping Study on International Best Practice, Nexus Research, Dublin ….. 

Equality Authority?

Gay HIV Strategies, Nexus Research and Waterford Area Partnership (1999) Local Development: Lesbians and Gay Men, 

Gay HIV Strategies in association with Waterford Regional Youth Services and Southern Gay Health Project (1999) Professional Training for Youth Workers on Issues for Gay Youth: An Outline Proposal, Gay HIV Strategies, Dublin

Nexus Research (1998) OutYouth: A Report on the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Youth Group Pilot Project, Gay Switchboard, Dublin

Dillon, B. (2002) Implementing a Community Development Approach to Tackling Gay and Lesbian Social Exclusion. Dublin: Gay HIV Strategies.

‘Access to health services for transsexual people’, Eoin Collins, Brian Sheehan, Equality Authority 2004

https://www.lenus.ie/handle/10147/44869  

AIDS Strategy 2000: Report of the National AIDS Strategy Committee

‘The 1993 Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act which decriminalised homosexual acts provided for equality with heterosexuals and was a fundamental shift in public policy towards the gay community. Research commissioned by The Combat Poverty Agency13 and The Department of Health and Children14 have provided essential data on the experiences of gay men which were not available in 1992. The Combat Poverty report illustrated how the gay community is a marginalised or socially excluded community, a fact which impacts on health status. There has been a developing policy response to discrimination, poverty and social exclusion of the gay community. One example of this is the National Anti-Poverty Strategy and its Poverty / Equality Proofing Guidelines. The further integration into mainstream programmes of responses to gay disadvantage, particularly those aimed at gay men experiencing multiple disadvantages, would be of great benefit to HIV prevention programmes. The initiative launched by the Waterford Area Partnership could be viewed as a model of good practice in this regard. The net effect of policy improvements is to create a healthier environment and reduce the sense of marginalisation of gay and bisexual men and women, which in turn should provide a context for healthier choices.

Gay HIV Strategies, funded by the Department of Health & Children, was formed in 1997 and has played an active role in policy development and capacity building. One of their aims is to gain funding for HIV prevention pilot projects and to build the capacity of the community groups to engage in health promotion and HIV prevention work. They have illustrated the benefits of a partnership approach through the pursuit of another of its aims, which was to improve education and awareness of safer sex in the gay commercial sector. The Sauna Project, as this initiative is called, developed a partnership process between the sauna owners, management and staff, the customers, the various health service providers and the gay community service providers so that effective HIV prevention measures were developed and Implemented.

It is recommended that since partnership and capacity building is an effective strategy for working with marginalised groups, this approach should continue. It is also recommended that funding for appropriate literature should continue’

Men who have sex with men: HIV prevention among those who are HIV positive: a resource paper 2 0 0 5

E O I N C O L L I N S A N D B R I A N S H E E H A N 

https://www.lenus.ie/handle/10147/65305

https://www.slideshare.net/kieranrose/clar-na-mban-irish-queer-equal-2000-belfast

I spoke at this setting out GLENs approach

OutYouth: A Report on the Dublin Gay and Lesbian Youth Group Pilot Project  (O’Brien, 1998)2. Describes the results of a pilot project of support for the youth group sponsored by Gay Switchboard Dublin, supported by Gay HIV Strategies and funded by the Eastern Health Board as part of a HIV prevention strategy development process. The report provides very useful information on the factors constraining the development of a group of this kind. It outlines a broad set of recommendations for statutory and voluntary agencies to meet the needs of young gay people.  

? Professional Training for Youth Workers on Issues for Gay Youth: An Outline Curriculum Proposal (Nexus Research/Gay HIV strategies, forthcoming) was sponsored by Waterford Regional Youth Services and Southern Gay Health Project. The curriculum proposal contained in the report was developed following a detailed literature review, interviews conducted with key personnel in youth services agencies and two pilot professional development sessions held with youth workers on issues of health promotion for gay youth. 

The National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) report Sharing in Progress (Government of Ireland, 1997: 71-72), which dealt with issues of discrimination and inequality, recorded that evidence has been documented on discrimination leading to poverty for a number of groups and referred to Travellers (Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community) and lesbians and gay men (Combat Poverty Agency, 1995). It also referred to the "ongoing debate on the extent to which discrimination can increase the risk of poverty for some groups in society". It stated that: "While homosexuality in itself does not necessarily place one at risk of poverty, the impact, experience and perception of discrimination may limit the full participation of gay men and lesbians in society, and may in some cases place them at risk of poverty"   

A partnership process between the Eastern Health Board and all the major gay community service providers was initiated in 1998. The process involved all the gay community service providers and provided for funding for a range of pilot projects and initiatives including the printing of the Parents Support booklet,5 a needs and strategy analysis of OutYouth (a gay youth group based in Dublin)6, technical assistance for the enhancement of HIV/AIDS coverage in Gay Community News, support for Gay Switchboard Dublin and support for OutHouse, the Dublin gay community centre.

 RTE's screening of its first documentary on being gay in Ireland received a positive response from the public, according to the station.

The documentary, called The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name, was broadcast on RTE 1 on Tuesday night and was followed by the film Beautiful Thing, a gay love story.

While various programmes have touched on the subject this was the first time that an hour-long documentary had explored homosexuality in Ireland.

The programme was described as a "fundamental, seminal broadcast from RTE" by Mr Brian Sheehan, Gay/HIV Strategies director. "It was wonderful to see something like this on RTE at last and it will create a visibility of a different order for gay men and women in Ireland."