Event in city to help families support LGBTQ+ young people
“Growing up can be tough for any young person and growing up LGBTQ+ can bring additional challenges. But families play a crucial role.”
Those were the words of Carmel Walsh, Director of Youth Services at Belong To, ahead of a Cork event to equip families on how to best support LGBTQ+ young people.
Belong To, Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ youth organisation, will host the workshop in Cork city centre for parents, guardians and foster parents designed to help families best support LGBTQ+ young people on Saturday 24 January from 12-3.30pm.
Ms Walsh added: “With the right tools, parents and guardians can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of their LGBTQ+ young people. Parents and caregivers know their children best.”
This event is designed to provide additional information on the current challenges facing LGBTQ+ young people in Cork and across Ireland today and offer guidance on navigating these as best as possible with their young person, as well as offering a space for connecting with other parents of LGBTQ+ children.
The event, which will be led by Dr Ray O’Neill, Assistant Professor of Psychotherapy at Dublin City University, will cover the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ young people in Ireland today and offer guidance on strengthening family relationships, supporting young people’s wellbeing and looking after oneself as a parent or caregiver.
In 2024, the Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland research revealed that LGBTQ+ young people in Ireland today experience higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression than their peers. However, evidence also highlights a powerful truth: parental love and acceptance can be both life‑changing and life‑saving.
Parents and caregivers at the event can connect with support services and meet other families navigating similar experiences.
The workshop will include an accessible introduction to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and why parental support is essential for young people’s wellbeing.
It will provide some insight into the realities facing LGBTQ+ young people today, including bullying, social isolation and increased mental health pressures.
There will be support and guidance on responding with care when a young person comes out, including practical communication strategies and common pitfalls to avoid.
The workshop will also teach parents how to mind their own wellbeing, advocating for their child in school and community settings, and connecting with national and local support networks.