Table of Contents ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................ 3 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Structure of the Document ...................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Limitations ............................................................................................................................... 5 2 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................. 6 2.1 LGBTI+ History & Legislative Developments .......................................................................... 6 2.2 Quantifying the LGBTI+ Population ......................................................................................... 9 2.3 Acceptance & Support ........................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Health & Wellbeing ................................................................................................................ 18 3 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................................... 22 APPENDIX 1: BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................... 22 APPENDIX 2: LGBTI+ GLOSSARY OF TERMS .............................................................................. 28 2 ACRONYMS AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome BeLonG To BeLonG To Youth Services BOBF Better Outcomes Brighter Futures CPD Continuous Professional Development CSO Central Statistics Office DCYA Department of Children and Youth Affairs DES Department of Education and Skills GIRES Gender Identity Research and Education Society GLEN Gay and Lesbian Equality Network GMHS Gay Men’s Health Service HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HSE Health Service Executive HPSC Health Protection Surveillance Centre ILGA International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association ISSHR Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships LGB Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender LGBTI+ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex LOOK Loving Our Out Kids MISI Men who have Sex with Men Internet Survey Ireland NOSP National Office for Suicide Prevention NXF National LGBT Federation OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights PULSE Police Using Leading Systems Effectively (An Garda Síochána’s computer database) SAIL Support, Acceptance, Information and Learning SPHE Social Personal and Health Education SRE Sexual and Relationship Education STI Sexually Transmitted Infection TENI Transgender Equality Network Ireland TIE Time for Inclusive Education Trans Transgender 3 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND In 2014, DCYA launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures [BOBF] The national policy framework for children and young people 2014-2020. As part of this Framework, five national outcomes have been identified for young people. These five outcomes aim at ensuring that children: 1) Are active and healthy, with positive physical and mental wellbeing; 2) Are achieving their full potential in all areas of learning and development; 3) Are safe and protected from harm; 4) Have economic security and opportunity, and; 5) Are connected, respected and contributing to their world. As part of the Programme for Government, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) is tasked with developing a three-year LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy aimed at young people aged 10-24. The context of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy is defined within the overarching BOBF Framework. It is envisaged that this strategy will support DCYA in identifying and implementing additional measures to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) young people can achieve the same outcomes as all young people in Ireland. Irish legislation relating to the rights of children and young people has developed significantly since the introduction of the Child Care Act in 1991. Prior to this, the Children’s Act of 1908 set the legal framework regarding the care of children and children’s rights. The Child Care Act 1991 states that, in any court proceedings concerning a child, the Court must regard the welfare of the child as the principle guide in its decision making. Since then, Ireland signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, introduced the National Children’s Strategy, Our Children, Their Lives, in 2000, enacted the Children’s Act into law, set up the National Children’s Office in 2001 and established the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011. The National Youth Strategy published in 2015 aims to address the needs of children and young people from 10-24 years of age. This strategy identifies LGBTI+ young people as one of the specific groups to be considered in the context of focused provision for marginalised young people. The LGBTIreland Report found that 12 years of age is the most common age that people discover their LGBTI identity, with 16 being the most common age that people usually tell another person for the first time that they are LGBTI. Research published in Northern Ireland in 2013 suggests that transgender youths develop a strong self-awareness that their gender identity is different from their assigned birth sex between the age of three and five, but typically do not discuss it with others until anywhere between six and 16 years later, which can result in a significant feeling of isolation for transgender youths.1 In Ireland, a number of organisations were set up in recent decades to promote LGBTI+ and to ensure visibility for policy reform as part of the national agenda. Organisations such as the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), BeLonG To, the National LGBT Federation (NXF), and Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), amongst others, have played a role in highlighting LGBTI+ issues, commissioning and carrying out research, supporting the LGBTI+ community and raising awareness of the struggles faced by LGBTI+ people. Media has also played a vital role, including RTE’s Growing Up Gay documentary, which sought to alleviate the stigma around various expressions of sexual identity. GLEN, one of the earliest organisations established in 1988 to campaign for gay and lesbian rights, announced in May 2017 that it would be winding down and its services would be spread across a number of organisations, a significant blow to the community. The work carried out by each of these organisations varies, however the underlying ideology and raison d’être of each is similar; to promote equality and wellbeing of all LGBTI+ people in Ireland. 1 Santiago McBride, R. (2013). Grasping the nettle: the experiences of gender variant children and transgender youth living in Northern Ireland. Belfast: Institute for Conflict Research. 4 1.2 OBJECTIVES This environmental analysis is intended to aid the strategic planning consultation process and to inform the development of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020. Mazars were contracted to carry it out on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The review took place from May to July 2017 and includes analysis of national and international LGBTI+ research. A full bibliography of sources is listed in Appendix 1. 1.3 STRUCTURE OF THE DOCUMENT The review of literature outlined in Chapter 2 is structured as follows: LGBTI+ History & Legislative Developments provides an overview of the significant changes that have taken place in Ireland in recent decades across a range of LGBTI+ related issues. Quantifying the LGBTI+ Population summarises the available quantitative data on the LGBTI+ population. Following an initial review of national and international LGBTI+ research, the following areas were identified as the overarching themes of the review. Acceptance & Support: Research suggests a broad range of challenges relating to acceptance and support within society, family, school, work and sporting environments. This section considers the challenges for LGBTI+ individuals in coming out, with fear of rejection, discrimination, bullying and harassment being significant issues. It considers the community context, and highlights the various youth services in place to support LGBTI+ young people. It highlights the increased risk of social exclusion, homelessness and poverty among the LGBTI+ population. Health & Wellbeing: This section considers health and wellbeing of LGBTI+ young people from a mental, physical and sexual health perspective, and considers the challenges faced in accessing the necessary health services. 1.4 LIMITATIONS A number of challenges were encountered when completing this environmental analysis. The following limitations are noted: Limited availability of quantitative LGBTI+ data Reliance on survey information Limited availability of trans- and intersex-specific data Differing pace of change by the individual LGBTI+ cohorts Limited evaluation of effectiveness of