LABOUR Party TD Conor Sheehan told the Dáil that he would not feel comfortable as a gay man walking the streets of Limerick, or any other part of the country, holding the hand of a partner.
Deputy Sheehan raised concerns over the worrying rise in attacks on the LGBTQI+ community, including a suspected homophobic attack in Limerick City in recent weeks.
He told Tánaiste Simon Harris the issue is a very real problem which is getting significantly worse.
“In Limerick recently two young students were hospitalised after they were set upon in a homophobic attack,” he told the Dáil, mentioning also drag performers Krystal Queer and Lucina Schynning who were assaulted in Cork.
The Labour TD’s words came following reports from this newspaper that two young students were hospitalised after a suspected homophobic attack in the city on October 29.
It is understood a group of men began shouting homophobic slurs at a group of 11 young people walking on William Street at around 11.30am before proceeding to kick and punch several members of the group.
“As a gay man, I would not feel comfortable walking the streets of this country holding the hand of a partner. I do not think many LGBT people would. Homophobic violence is a crime; we know that. It is under-reported and significantly on the rise.
“We know government has the LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy. Will it commit to a national action plan to address hate in all of its forms, particularly hate against LGBT people?” Deputy Sheehan asked.
“What would the Tánaiste say to any LGBT person who is afraid to live their life in the fullest sense, to walk the streets of this country and hold the hand of a partner to express a symbol of love in public?”
The Tánaiste said he would say to them that “love is love and they live in a republic where equality must be at the core of all that we do”.
The Fine Gael leader said that “homophobic attacks and violence are crimes and there needs to be zero tolerance of them”.
Deputy Harris added that “we have made good progress in this country but I sometimes think that when we have a referendum, people think that is it done. I am very proud of the progress we have made on things like marriage equality but we clearly have more work to do. The idea that anybody would feel unsafe expressing their love in public or on our streets is not acceptable,” he concluded.