A EUROPEAN lesbian and gay association conference in Dublin will
celebrate lesbian and gay rights in Ireland while drawing attention to
countries with poorer records in the area.
The economic benefits
of robust rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
groups during economic downturns will also be highlighted at the
international event, which started yesterday and runs until Sunday.
Tiernan
Brady, chairman of the organising committee, said LGBT rights are
sometimes seen as a luxury which slips down the political agenda during
economic recessions, but “they have a role to play in economic
recovery”.
He added that “companies all around the world”
recognise that tolerance in the workplace leads to increased
productivity and creativity.
This is the first time Ireland has
hosted the conference, which will be addressed by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore
on Sunday.
Mr Brady said the address highlights how far Irish LGBT
rights have come since the decriminalisation of homosexuality 19 years
ago.
He said the example of Ireland could be held up to such other
European countries as Russia, Ukraine and Hungary, where LGBT rights
are “standing still or going backwards”.
He added, however, that
transgender rights in this country are still inadequate. Transgender
people lack the same “protection in law” that lesbian and gay people
have, he said.