Press release
Search for Ireland’s LGBTI+ Welcome Symbol
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
A national competition to find a welcome symbol to allow sports, arts, youth clubs and businesses to show solidarity with young LGBTI+ people has been announced by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.
The new public recognition marker was recommended by young people who helped form the world’s first LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy, launched last June.
The Minister is calling on young people up to the age of 24 to get creative and submit an original design. Services, clubs and groups which work with young people in every community will then be encouraged to display the symbol.
Announcing the competition Minister Zappone said:
“The mission of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy is to ensure that all young people are visible, valued and included so entries to the national competition should take this as their inspiration."
"The submissions will be assessed by a selection committee and the winning design will be widely displayed in organisations and services throughout Ireland. A prize will also be awarded to the winner and honorary mentions will be given to other designs in select categories."
"To achieve the mission of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy, a number of goals, objectives and actions have been outlined to further enhance the lives of young people. The design of a public recognition marker is one of the actions under Goal 1 of the Strategy, which is to create a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTI+ young people."
"The realisation of this Goal will see the continued improvement of safe, supportive and inclusive spaces across all walks of life so that young members of the LGBTI+ community feel widely supported."
"It will give them confidence to be themselves and actively participate in all aspects of society without fear of harassment and discrimination."
"Step by step Ireland is again taking the lead on equality by turning the world’s first national LGBTI+ Youth Strategy into reality so it can have a real positive impact on the lives of young people.”
The deadline for submissions of art work is Monday 14th January 2019.
ENDS
The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy was published on 29th June 2018 and is a world first. It is a key commitment for DCYA as part of the 2016 Programme for Partnership Government and will make a significant contribution towards the government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society. It is a 3 year Strategy that is strongly action oriented with the mission to ensure all LGBTI+ young people are visible, valued and included.
A number of significant changes have taken place in Ireland in recent decades which have resulted in substantial progress and improved outcomes for LGBTI+ people. The Strategy seeks to put measures in place to address some of the remaining challenges faced by LGBTI+ young people, so as to ensure that they can achieve the same positive outcomes as all other young people.
The Strategy and its future governance lie within the framework of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The Policy Framework for Children and Young People and as such will contribute to achievement of the five national outcomes for children and young people:
The expected outcomes from the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy will: