Hundreds of LGBTQ+ young people lead Dublin’s 50th Pride parade  

Over 400 young LGBTQ+ people from across Ireland led the Dublin Pride parade today through Dublin City Centre on the event’s 50^th anniversary.  

The young people, from 14 to 23 years old, who travelled from as far as Donegal and Kerry, marched with Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland which was chosen as Grand Marshall for the parade this year.  

Belong To was selected by Dublin Pride as the 2024 Grand Marshall in recognition of the charity’s work with young LGBTQ+ people and their families across Ireland, delivering support services from crisis counselling and family supports to running anti-LGBTQ+ bullying campaigns and inclusion programmes in education settings and youth groups.  

In 2023 alone, the charity trained 6,790 professionals across the education and healthcare sectors on providing inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ young people; supported 89 LGBTQ+ youth groups nationwide to create spaces for fun, connection and community and trained 188 youth workers in LGBTQ+ inclusion through as part of the Rainbow award initiative; and delivered it’s 18-month accreditation program, the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark to over 100 hundred schools.  

The young people marched in the parade following a breakfast hosted by Belong To at Wood Quay, Dublin City Council Offices, which was also attended by Government Ministers, TDs and Senators, Dublin City councillors and a range of partner organisations.  

The Belong To event was designed and produced in partnership Dublin Pride, Avcom,  

Limelight Communications and Dublin City Council to provide a safe and fun space for the young people to mark the day and celebrate as a community.  

Speaking at the event today, Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO of Belong To commented:  

“Today, we are delighted to embody the Dublin Pride 2024 theme and ‘Shine’ alongside hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth. This is a very special day for them and for all of us – a chance to celebrate in all of our diversity. For many of the young people, this is their first time being out and proud, joining the community to celebrate their authentic selves.  

“Unfortunately, this is still not the case for the other 364 days a year, as revealed in our recently published research with Trinity College Dublin which showed a stark deterioration of the mental health of LGBTQI+ young people. The recent incidents of hate here in Dublin and a general trend towards extreme anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric online and in public spaces highlight how Pride is just as important today as it has ever been. It is a chance to voice how we urgently need the Government to implement hate crime and hate speech legislation, to ban conversion practices, to review the Gender Recognition Act and to create access to healthcare for the trans community. 

“We were told in 2015 that it was safe for us to walk down the aisle – now many members of our community don’t feel safe walking down the street. In this context, Pride even more crucial as an opportunity for young LGBTQ+ people to come together in celebration of themselves and each other, surrounded by community and acceptance. We’re proud to stand with them today and throughout the year. The work continues to make LGBTQ+ using people feel safe, equal and valued. But for today – we shine in a display of support and love.”  

Also speaking today, Eoin, a 16-year-old member of the Belong To youth advisory panel who travelled from Co. Mayo to march said: “Marching at Pride for the first time and leading the Parade is an incredible honor. Being here with so many other young LGBTQ+ individuals is truly special. Pride is profoundly important to me. It symbolises the progress we’ve made in securing our rights, but also serves as a powerful reminder of the work that still needs to be done. There are still places where I can’t travel safely because of who I am, and conversion therapy continues to exist. Being LGBTQ+ can sometimes feel lonely and isolating, but today, I feel connected and valued. I feel safe in my community and proud of myself and all of us. This is a memory that will stay with me forever.” 

Belong To is the national organisation for LGBTQ+ young people in Ireland. More information about all the services and supports offered by the charity to LGBTQ+ young people and their families is available at www.BelongTo.org.  

Notes to editors:  

Contact:  

A panel of LGBTQ+ young people and CEO of Belong To, Moninne Griffith are available for interview. To arrange an interview, please contact: 

• Darragh McGirr, Belong To | 086 259 9369 or darragh@belongto.org   

• Sinead Keane, Belong To | 087 768 0389 or sinead@belongto.org 

Belong To is the national organisation for LGBTQ+ young people in Ireland. Since 2003, Belong To has works with LGBTQ+ youth to create a society where they are equal, safe, and thriving. Belong To offers advice, information, and crisis counselling for LGBTQ+ youth, and supports LGBTQ+ youth groups across Ireland. Through training, they ensure LGBTQ+ young people are met by professionals, organisations, and services who are educated to meet and support their needs. The organisation also campaigns to ensure policy formation and practice is informed by the voice and experiences of LGBTQ+ young people. www.belongto.org