It’s been difficult not to notice that Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht affairs Pat Carey has hit the ground running in terms of visiting community projects around the country and trying to offer soothing words to the decimated sector. Minister Carey has a lot of making up to do given the bad relations which have existed with other ministers in a number of departments in the past three years.
For LGBT groups the area of community development is still rather new, or at least the national recognition and co-ordination of initiatives is still new .
Minister Carey earlier today launched the LGBT Diversity initiative which aims to support lgbt organisations and communities throughout Ireland. Currently there are nine organisations involved in the programme and a number of staff have been appointed throughout the country to work in supporting the development of programmes which support LGBT people, build sustainable communities and support voluntary and statutory bodies at local and regional level in how they work in the area.
Merrionstreet.ie were there to cover the launch and the Minister’s speech – which included his views on gay marriage. (Merrionstreet.ie is the Government’s new online portal/news service with video, ‘blogs’, tweeting etc. It’s cost €40,000 so far and there is no way for the voters to engage back with their socially mediaesque elected officials.)
The Minister believes that same sex marriage will happen ‘sooner rather than we think’ but will be difficult and require further lobbying. Interesting to see him take up the issue in a speech and he also spoke about homophobia and suicide in the LGBT community. I can’t find the full text of his speech yet but will include it when it is published. Thanks to the speech genie you can read the Minister’s speech here.
Well, I must say that not being able to give feedback to the merrionstreet.ie does speak volumes about the government’s lack of interest in hearing the concerns of citizens and its focus on power.
While LGBT_Diversity is a welcome initiative, I am concerned that government will (further) co-opt leading activists/organisations. The reports (linked on the website) are mainly for expert readers rather than citizens, so more accessible materials are needed. Finally, I feel we need to see a more coherent approach to homophobia that goes beyond the useful reports – we need an active politics of equality and tolerance.
That’s becoming a theme for Minister Carey. He went off the script at the launch of the Equality Authority’s annual report to say something similar.
Thanks for the input on that Tipster. If Carey went off script in the launch context, it might be more about FF placating lobbyists “going forward” rather than anything concrete.
IMO we need strong action on homophobia and support for kids in school, people experiencing homophobic violence, etc., not privatised launches behind closed doors. I read over some of the publications about how some folk were still isolated and/or suicidal, and I was completely mortified that more isn’t being done as a matter of course …
ah pat carey the useful compassionate conservative for FF, no more believable then cowen