A secondary school in Dublin cancelled a workshop on homophobic bullying today, just half an hour before it was due to take place, because it was decided that “both sides should be represented”.
Coláiste Eoin in Stillorgan had planned to host a free workshop, which was due to be delivered by voluntary organisation ShoutOut.
The workshop – one of many to take place around Ireland – encourages students not to discriminate against LGBT people, and was scheduled to take place at 11am today in the school.
In a move which has baffled many of those involved, the school pulled the plug on the workshop on the grounds that 'both sides of the argument needed to be represented'.
Declan Meehan, schools co-ordinator for ShoutOut, took to Twitter to address the situation.
“It’s such an unfortunate thing to occur, and proof that much work needs to be done about breaking the silence on LGBT youth in Ireland,” said Mr Meehan.
It's such an unfortunate thing to occur& proof that much work needs to be done about breaking the silence on LGBT youth in Ireland #ShoutOut
— Declan Meehan (@dec_meehan) January 27, 2015
The school in question today has a very pro-LGBT anti-bullying policy, it is very much worth mentioning. #ShoutOut
— Declan Meehan (@dec_meehan) January 27, 2015
Saying that ShoutOut had received an overwhelmingly positive response in the fallout of the incident today, he added: “We are just extremely disappointed and confused over the way things played out, and disappointed that the students didn’t get their workshop.”
These conversations need to happen, so we can identify with ShoutOut’s disappointment and confusion over the cancellation.
What are your thoughts?
