Children's Express takes a look at what the future might hold for young gay people now that legislation affecting the rights of gay people in Northern Ireland is going through a period of change.
| Hopefully this will create the first rights-based piece of legislation for gay people. |
Earlier this year the homosexual age for sexual consent was lowered and brought in line with the heterosexual age of consent of seventeen.
Changes are being made to both national and local policies, which could offer gay people more protection.
"At the moment the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minster are in the initial stage of producing a Single Equality Bill. The Bill deals with anti-discrimination in the Province and will extend to cover sexual orientation because that is enshrined in European law," said Irene Kingston of the Equality Commission.
"But it will be debated as to how far our local legislation will go. European law only extends to employment and training. But this doesn't cover things like getting insurance or bank loans," she added.
The Coalition on Sexual Orientation (COSO) an umbrella organisation for gay rights groups was set up to work on equality legislation.
Currently Section 75 of the Belfast Agreement imposes a duty on public authorities to ensure that different sections of the community are treated equally. All policies must be equality-proofed.
"This doesn't actually protect you because you are gay, stronger legislation is needed," said the Coalition's James Knox.
Miriam Titterton, a member of staff of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, working on the Bill of Rights consultation, pointed in the same direction. "There has already been a commitment by the Human Rights Commission to protect the rights of lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
"The draft advice of the Commission to the Secretary of State on the Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, which will be circulated for responses this autumn, will contain sections on equality and on protecting people from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation," she said.
Ms Titterton added: "When the Bill of Rights is passed by Westminster, this will mean greater protection for everybody, including gay people."
COSO representative Ms Barbary Cook said: "Hopefully this will create the first rights-based piece of legislation for gay people." According to Ms Cook certain legislative milestones could herald positive changes for the gay community here but warns against celebrating too soon.
"I am not the kind of person that thinks when the law changes, life changes. Inside the gay community, there are more young people around; they have far more energy, that is a sign of increased self-confidence and is an incredibly fabulous thing, but I am wary of overstating it," she said.
Prejudice and cultural attitudes, which have been reinforced from generation to generation, need to be more tolerant, more open and more honest, she added.
Mr Knox agrees that advancements in legislation have lead to new-found confidence among young gay people. "I think it makes people more aware of themselves at a younger age and may even cut down on suicide rates in the young gay community," he said.
Changes in the law must be accompanied by a shift in society's attitude. Education has a huge part to play in demystifying issues held by the general public around homosexuality.
Earlier this year, a Children's Express and Save the Children survey asked: "Should sex education be taught in school, including all types of relationships, straight, lesbian and gay." Three quarters of young people surveyed agreed all relationships should be included in sex education, while less than an eighth did not care.
Ms Cook agrees. "It is not only in sex education that the issue of being gay needs to be discussed, it is in all subjects. History is taught to be straight, no one ever mentions that Alexander the Great was gay or talks about Oscar Wilde's sexuality," she said.
About the team
This article was produced by Colin Moore, 18 and Amy Magowan Green, 12. It was published in Scope magazine.
