JUNE, recognised widely as Pride Month, is an opportunity to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community. It is a time to celebrate their experiences, their contributions, and the impact they have had on history, both nationally and internationally.

Pride is celebrated each June in honour of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, led by Marsha P Johnson. This was a seminal event in LGBTQI+ history, which marked a turning point in the community’s activism. It is also a time to reflect and bring awareness on how much more there is yet to achieve. Pride was, and still is, a call for greater rights, equity, and safety for the LGBTQ+ community.

Its underlying sentiment is universal. The freedom to be our authentic selves without shame or fear, and the right to equal treatment and representation, is a right held by all, and given without prejudice.

Need to talk

In terms of mental health, like anyone, LGBTQI+ individuals carry their own unique and personal histories in relation to their upbringing, age, race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, and life experiences. Although the majority lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives, evidence from Ireland and internationally highlights the disproportionate levels of mental health challenges experienced by LGBTQI+ people.

From an Irish perspective, findings demonstrate the continued challenges faced by the LGBT+ community. It highlighted that 80% of LGBT+ people have been verbally abused because of their identity, 40% had been threatened with physical violence, and 25% had been physically assaulted. Given these experiences, it is unsurprising that the study highlighted that LGBT+ people were four times more likely to experience severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

The study reported that 60% of LGBT+ people had considered suicide at some point, and 18% had attempted suicide.

Comfortable

From a wellbeing perspective, the report noted that 81% of participants were now comfortable with their identity, and the majority reported good satisfaction with their lives. Two-thirds of people had come out to all of their immediate family and friends, and 96% were out to at least one person.

While Ireland has become more inclusive of the LGBTQI+ community, older adults have faced challenges associated with their sexuality, gender identity or expression during their lives. Many such individuals have lived through historical, societal, and cultural ideas placed on homosexuality, with the additional fear of the legal constraints and criminality associated with same-sex relationships.

It is important to remember that the LGBTQI+ community was historically marginalised, shamed into secrecy, and socially excluded.

An important report found that 35% of older LGBTQI+ adults still fear that friends will reject them, 7% have never told anyone they are LGBTQI+, just 54% feel part of their local communities and only 50% feel part of the LGBTQI+ community, while 26% of participants had been or were in an opposite-sex marriage and one third are biological parents.

Difficulties

Simply being a member of the LGBTQI+ community does not result in mental health difficulties, and not all mental health difficulties experienced by the LGBTQI+ community are due to their gender and sexual identities. Understanding the root and cause of suffering or challenges allows us to take an active role in easing them.

The mental health difficulties faced by the LGBTQI+ community can, in part, be linked to these factors.

When we consider the challenges that the LGBTQI+ community faces on a daily basis, we can begin to better understand how significant the impact can be. When people’s needs are not met, especially basic needs such as physiological or safety requirement, this can lead to physical as well as mental health challenges.

Be an ally

Knowing the reasons behind the higher rates of mental health difficulties among the LGBTQI+ community allows us to consider how we, as individuals and a society, can support people to live mentally healthy lives. An ally is someone who stands up for, supports, and encourages those around them. Importantly, allyship does not begin and end during Pride. Instead, it is rooted in our everyday actions.

It’s important not to assume that everyone in our lives, family members, friends, and co-workers are heterosexual and cisgender. Don’t assume another person’s gender or pronouns. Noticing a tendency towards assumptions, and mindfully challenging them, can help to create a culture of ‘inviting in’ and not an expectation on LGBTQI+ people to ‘come out’. For instance, rather than asking someone about their boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife, ask about their partner.

Part of being an effective ally means accepting that you won’t know everything, but are open to learning. Being supportive of LGBTQI+ loved ones and friends means taking the time to develop a true understanding of how they experience the world. Take the time to listen. Remember, it is normal to worry about ‘saying the wrong thing’, but approaching conversations respectfully goes a long way.

If you hear someone make homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic comments, name it. This can be challenging, especially when such comments are made by family, friends, or colleagues. Although not always easy, these are the situations where being an ally can really count. While Pride Month is awash with parades and celebrations, and swathes of rainbow flags as far as the eye can see, it is also the other 11 months of the year where being a visible LGBTQI+ ally matters. Having visible signs of openness and allyship in our communities and workplaces (flags, pins, or lanyards) helps to create an atmosphere of welcome, safeness, and acceptance of all sexual orientations and gender expressions.

Supports and resources

BeLonGTo is the national organisation supporting LGBTI+ young people in Ireland.

LGBT Ireland offers a range of services to provide support and information for LGBTQI+ people. The service is also used by individuals questioning their sexuality, as well as the family and friends of LGBTQI+ people, and professionals looking for information. LGBT Ireland runs a confidential helpline for anyone who may need someone to talk to at 1890 929 539.

Outhouse is a community and resource centre for LGBTQI+ people, their families, and their friends. It is based in Dublin city centre.

There are many other groups, including Outwest, ShoutOut and Transgender Equality Network Ireland. Dublin Lesbian Line is a confidential support helpline on Thursday nights from 6.30pm until 9pm, available at 01 872 9911.

Gay Switchboard Ireland is Ireland’s longest running support service for the LGBT+ community. Volunteers are available seven days a week by telephone, email and online chat to offer confidential listening, support and information. It runs Monday to Friday from 6.30pm to 9pm; Saturday from 2pm to 6pm; and Sunday and bank holidays from 4pm to 6pm. Call 01 872 1055.