The Irish Congress of Trade Unions and BeLonG To has launched Stand Up at Work, a joint campaign to combat homophobia and transphobia faced by young LGBT people in the workplace.
The campaign was launched just ahead of International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, which falls on May 17. BeLonG To is Ireland's national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people.
The Stand Up at Work campaign encourages people in the workplace to take a stand against homophobia and transphobia and features a specially commissioned video in which young LGBT people speak of the difficulties they have experienced in the workplace. The campaign video and posters will be distributed online to trade unions, employment services and training centres across Ireland.
The video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfesuLQLnzw&feature=youtu.be
Speaking at the Stand Up at Work launch, Congress Equality Officer David Joyce said:
""Decent work sums up the aspiration of people in their working lives, including the right to be free from discrimination and to be treated equally. Non-discrimination is a fundamental right at work as defined by the International Labour Organisation, while the right to equal treatment in the workplace is reflected in Irish law.
"Unfortunately, LGBT people continue to experience discrimination and exclusion at work. The most effective way to tackle such discrimination is for LGBT people to join their trade union, which can provide young LGBT people with freedom to express their concerns, and to organize and participate in the decisions that affect their working lives. On the occasion of International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, we are delighted to be launching this campaign with BeLonG To."
Michael Barron, Founding Director of BeLonG To, said:
""Irish research has established that there is a serious problem with homophobia and transphobia in schools, leading to a devastating impact on the mental health of LGBT young people. LGBT young people have told BeLonG To that they face similar issues at work. These range from feeling silenced and excluded as staff in religiously maintained schools and hospitals as a result of Section 37.1, to losing jobs because of prejudice, to harassment and bullying at work. We are delighted to work with ICTU to bring the Stand Up! don't Stand for Homophobia or Transphobia campaign, which we have been running in schools for many years, into the workplace for the first time. In doing this we aim to empower even more young people to take a stand against homophobia and to make Ireland a safer and more equal place for all"
