LGBT activist slams "abhorrent" incidents in Dublin and Waterford as shocking new survey reveals 97% of youths struggle with mental health

An LGBT activist has hit out at the "abhorrent" incidents in Waterford and Dublin which saw homophobic graffiti daubed on a popular bar and Pride flags burned and cut down.

Panti Bliss, the owner of Pantibar and Penny Lane in Dublin, took to Twitter to show people how someone had drawn an arrow alongside the words "Pedo Bar" near the iconic venue.

While in Waterford city, Mayor of Waterford Cllr Damien Geoghegan said he was "disappointed" after a number of homophobic signs were put up on windows in Waterford just days after flags celebrating Pride were burned and cut down outside the city's council offices.

Speaking on Morning Ireland, Monnine Griffith, CEO of BeLonG To Youth Services, urged that these views did not represent the majority in Ireland.

She said: "These are extremists, they do not represent the majority of people in Waterford and it just sad that the young people who put all this effort in and work in to celebrate LGBT Pride and to make people feel valued in the city"

The flags had been put up in support of the LGBT community in the area (Mayor Damien Geoghegan/Twitter)

When asked about the homophobic graffiti that was daubed on Panti Bar, Ms Griffith noted that it highlighted the work that still needs to be done

"(That) is a stark reminder that there's still a lot of work to do to dismantle homophobia and transphobia. The majority of people are abhorred by these actions, but we have to tackle the unconscious bias and homophobia in our schools and our sports to make sure that young people feel valued and respected."

A recent survey about LGBTI+ life in lockdown by BeLonG To Youth Services had some stark findings

• 97% of LGBTI+ youth are struggling with anxiety, stress, or depression.
• 63% of LGBTI+ young people are struggling with suicide ideation (2020: 55%).
• 50% of LGBTI+ young people are struggling with self-harm (2020: 45%).
• 83% of young people are feeling acute loneliness throughout the pandemic (2020: 60%).
• 58% of young people described their mental health as “bad” or “very bad” (2020: 48%).

Ms Griffith added: We need to let LGBTI+ young people know that they are not alone. We need to show LGBTI+ young people across Ireland know that there are spaces for them to come together, be who they are, and receive the support they need.