Leading Irish human rights activist calls on politicians to 'push back' against hatred of LGBT+ people

Irish Examiner

20-05-2025

Politicians must not 'turn a blind eye' to anti-LGBT+ hate because doing so comes at the 'expense of real people's lives', a leading human rights activist has said.
Speaking 10 years on from Ireland's landmark marriage equality referendum, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights Michael O'Flaherty said the rule of law was in a 'very poor state or in decline in far too many places here in Europe and beyond' and it was 'time to push back'.
In his speech in Malta at a key European forum, the Irish man stressed laws and rhetoric were stripping basic human rights from LGBT+ people by banning protest, recognition, and even discussion of their existence.
'I think also of the perverse backlash against gender identity, in a manner that is both in violation of international law, and in defiance of human realities,' Mr O'Flaherty said.
As you well know, these are just some of the manifestations of the current LGBTI-related assaults on the rule of law.
He linked repressive measures in countries with bids to attain or retain political power, and said countries were using 'populist tools that draw on disinformation and misinformation' that 'scapegoat marginalised groups'.
'We hear lies about not only our contemporary world, but also about our histories and our cultures,' he said.
"And all of this is sometimes exacerbated when otherwise law-abiding leaders stay silent, or compromise in the interests of deal-making or coalition-building."
Mr O'Flaherty said that these attacks were not isolated but signal deeper democratic backsliding and political opportunism.
He called on political leaders to repeal discriminatory laws, call out hate and prioritise LGBT+ rights in foreign policy matters.
'States also need to be very consequent in ensuring that reforms to migration law and practice do not expose LGBTI people to danger, including the risk of refoulement,' he added.
Mr O'Flaherty's speech came as Ireland marks 10 years since a referendum backed marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Writing in the Sunday Times at the weekend, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he believed there would be a 'much harsher debate' if the referendum was to have run in 2025.
On Monday, the Labour Party changed the venue for its event to mark the 10th anniversary over what it referred to as the 'serious threat of protest from the far right'.
Its TD for Limerick City said he would not feel comfortable holding the hand of a loved one in public, due to an increased level of toxicity towards LGBT+ people in Ireland.
Conor Sheehan described the amount of homophobic abuse he receives as being 'absolutely unbelievable'.
'I suppose, as an openly LGBT member of the Oireachtas, I think it's important to reflect that things for LGBT people in the last couple of years have become more uncertain and more unsafe. That's something that we need to reflect upon as a society as we move forward,' Mr Sheehan said.
I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable walking around Dublin City, or any city, in Ireland holding, for example, the hand of a loved one or of a partner or whatever.
'I don't think we were at this juncture 10 years ago.'
He said there had been a 'conscious effort' across Europe and the US by some actors to unpick 'hard-won rights' for LGBT+ people.
'That's something I believe we need to stand firm about because we live in an open, tolerant, compassionate society.
'The vast, vast majority of Irish people are open, tolerant and compassionate and I don't want to live in a society where any sort of hate, regardless of who it's directed towards, becomes sort of tolerated.'