BeLonG To Youth Services Welcomes Relationships And Sexuality Education Review

Statement

BeLonG To Youth Services Welcomes Relationships And Sexuality Education Review

Wednesday, April 4th, 2018

“We are delighted that Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is being reviewed to reflect the needs of young people in Ireland today, including our LGBTI+ young people. For too long information about same sex relationships, safe sex and LGBTI+ matters has been taught in just a small minority of classrooms in Ireland.  

Our young LGBTI+ people have been calling for improvements to sex education for many years now. They are frustrated with the lack of information available to them and eager to see significant improvements. With this review process, we hope that the implementation of RSE will be mandatory for all schools, and that schools will receive the encouragement and support they need to talk about sexuality and relationships.

Our work with schools and the education sector over the past decade as part of Stand Up LGBTI+ Awareness Week has focused on bringing conversations and information on sexual orientation, gender identity, and equality into classrooms across Ireland. In 2017, some 43% of second-level schools nationwide took part in the week-long event. We look forward to the next generation of LGBTI+ young people receiving relevant, realistic information about relationships and sexuality to better equip them for the real world.”

Moninne Griffith, Executive Director, BeLonG To Youth Services

ENDS

Contact: To arrange interview or for further information, please contact Sinead Keane, Communications Officer: 087 768 0389/ 01 670 6223/ sinead@belongto.org

Notes for Editor

• In 2013, BeLonG To worked with the Professional Development Services for Teachers (PDST) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the creation of ‘Growing Up LGBT’ a RSE resource for teachers to use in their classrooms.
• BeLonG To Youth Services is the national organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland.