Pictured are, Cllr John Maher, Deputising for the Lord Mayor and Siobhan O’Dowd, Chairperson LGBTI+ InterAgency Group, at the launch of the 2023 LGBTI+ Awareness Week, IDAHOBIT – Together Always, United in Diversity, at Cork City Hall, Cork. Image: Jim Coughlan.
Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr John Maher launching Cork’s LGBTI+ Awareness Week said:
“2023 is significant as it marks 30 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. It is also a year which saw important hate crime legislation being presented to the Dáil. Much has happened since we were here last year and much has happened over the last 30 years.” He added We have progressed as a society in many positive ways. Rights have been hard won. Rights and equality are even harder to retain and so we must all be watchful and demanding that what is won, is retained and fight harder for LGBTI+ rights and equalitywhich remain outstanding.”
Guests of Honour at this year’s LGBTI+ Awareness Week Arthur Leahy and Luna Lara Liboni were choosen to recognise this important milestone of 30 Years: From Decriminalising Homosexuality to Criminalising Hate Crime’ . Arthur – long time activist spoke movingly of the impact of this legislation on the LGBTI+ Community and the campaign to have it removed from the statute books which he was centrally involved in. Arthur reminded us “of all the progress that has been made, much of it unimaginable 30 years ago” .
Luna Liboni policy officer with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Chair of the Coalition Against Hate Crime spoke of “ hate crime being a message crime – one act can make an entire community feel excluded and unsafe.“ Luna also addressed the current legislation presented to the Dáil and Seanad and ended on the note that “ hate crime hurts us all”.
Choral Con Fusion were present as ever and delighted the large number of attendees at the civic offices tonight.
A full programme of events is scheduled for LGBTI+ Awareness Week and is available on City Council website at www.corkcity.ie/lgbti or the Inter -Agency Social media @CorkLGBTWeek or on FaceBook Cork City LGBT Inter Agency Group.
The programme includes a panel discussion focusing on Public Services and Community Organisations Responding to Hate in Cork City’s Central Library on Tuesday 16th of May at 2pm. Speakers include Adam Long of NXF, Siobhán O’Donoghue of the Hope & Courage Collective and David O’Brien, Cork City Librarian.
This week will also address other issues facing the LGBTI+ Community and in particular the older members of the community. On IDAHOBIT Day, May 17th, a Seminar: Conversations on LGBTI+ Elder Healthcare & Housing will hear presentations from Bob Green -Tonic Housing UK, James Hagan of LGBT Ireland Champions Programme and Fae Fitzgerald of Aisteach Queer Housing Co-op as well as a local panel of housing and healthcare public officials as well as housing bodies, LGBTI NGOs and supportive allies. This is timely as 30 years on from Decriminalisation we have the first cohort of older , out LGBTI+ Community members.
Across the city the Rainbow Flag will be raised in many settings, many for the first time , including Eldercare settings, GAA clubs and at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Collins Army Barracks. Which demonstrates as Siobhán O’Dowd, Chair of the LGBTI+ Inter-Agency said “that challenging hate and discrimination is a role for all of us : Public services, communities and individuals and acts on the IDAHOBIT Day 2023 theme, Together Always : united in diversity”.