BeLonG To Launches an Exciting New Initiative with Restaurants – Bullying Bites!

BeLonG To Launches an Exciting New Initiative with Restaurants – Bullying Bites!  

Monday, 01 October 2012 

Restaurants throughout Ireland will join BeLonG To for the month of October to help raise funds to end Homophobic Bullying. 

Bullying Bites will ask customers to add €1 to their bill to help BeLonG To bring hope to a lot of very vulnerable young people in Irish schools. 

Every year BeLonG To runs a campaign called Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying – an initiative that has been supported by Colin Farrell, President Higgins, Minister Ruairi Quinn and the European Commissioner for Human Rights. 

It’s a simple enough idea. Stand Up! is about making homophobic bullying and transphobic bullying everyone’s issue and encouraging everyone – gay and straight alike – to take a stand against it. As part of the campaign  secondary schools and youth organisations throughout Ireland are issued with Stand Up! packs which include background information on homophobic bullying and transphobic bullying for teachers, an educational DVD, fun and interesting learning activities for students and posters. Funds from Bullying Bites will go to directly support this urgent campaign. 

Stand Up Awareness Week 2012 was officially launched at an event in City Hall, Dublin by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD. 

Launching the campaign Minister Quinn said, 

“I commend BeLonG To for the crucial leadership role that they play in combating homophobic bullying and the vital support they provide to LGBT young people across Ireland. My Department greatly values our important working relationship with BeLonG To and I urge all post-primary school to participate in Stand Up! next week. Homophobic bullying can have very serious affects on young people’s health and education. In line with the Programme for Government my Department and myself and committed to developing a roadmap towards eliminating homophobic bullying from our schools. We believe that all young people have the right to a safe and equal education.” 

Many restaurants have already signed up for Bullying Bites. “We are very grateful that Irish restaurants are giving their customers the chance to stand up against bullying,” said Carol-Anne O’Brien, Director of Services at BeLonG To. “We’re thrilled that people who know our work are already asking their favourite restaurants and cafes if they would sign up to the campaign.” 

For a list of restaurants that have signed up, and more information on the Bullying Bites and Stand Up! campaign visit www.belongto.org