by Aoife Mulford, DIT
Campus.ie Intern


Rainbow Week which is an annual event run by the LGBT society of DIT aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by the LGBT community on campuses across the country.

Studies in the UK show that while 68% of the general school going population has suffered from bullying at some time in school, a higher number of gay and lesbian pupils (80%) have experienced name calling and 69% have experienced open ridicule by other pupils and occasionally teachers.

LGB people face specific challenges, for instance difficulties coming out at school, peer group responses to homosexuality and particular vulnerability if parents react adversely to a young person?s sexual identity. There is a clear lack of positive images and role models and unrelenting pressure from peers and society in general. Individual young lesbian, gay and bisexual people may experience great difficulty in making contact with other young LGB people and consequently may be very isolated

A study conducted by Trinity College Dublin in conjunction with GLEN, (A study of the mental health and well being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people) showed that from the early age of 12, youths can become aware of their sexual orientation. 17 is the most common age to start ?coming out? which means that there is 5 year gap in between, ?knowing? and ?disclosing? their sexual identity. The five year gap could be due to the reaction these youths feel they will experience when they come out, 60% of youths surveyed reported homophobic bullying in their secondary school. 50% had been called abusive names relating to their sexuality, by their peers and a disturbing 35% reported homophobic comments by teachers. Staggering statistics such as these do not encourage the LGBT community to feel safe and secure; they are made to feel like by hiding their true identity will ensure a more comfortable position in society.

The aim of 'Rainbow Week' is to inform and educate students on the issues that negative attitudes such as homophobia can have on the LGBT community and that there is no reason to label anyone as different. Events were organised such as:

• Coming Out Workshop: An interactive session about ?coming out?
• 'Revolting Homosexuals': Tonie Walsh speaks about the use & abuse of stereotypes
• Trans 101 Workshop: An interactive session about Transgender people, with Cat McIlroy
• Gay rights & the law: Senator Ivana Bacik of the Labour Party speaks on legal restrictions on members of the LGBT community.

Activities and events such as these are aimed at aiding the LGBT community but also informing the general public about the effects homophobia can have.

Of course there were also fun events to take the edge off the more intense aspects of the week, events such as Mardi Gras @ Promo: Refreshments in The Dragon, Georges St 8pm, followed by Masquerade ball in Basebar and Space ?n? Veda: Drag Show, student night at The George.

All proceeds of the week were donated to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.