48% of Irish Students Say A Classmate Would Be Bullied If They Came Out
48% of Irish Students Say A Classmate Would Be Bullied If They Came Out
Text: Izzy Copestake
“It is incredibly concerning that half of students in Ireland believe a gay, lesbian or bisexual classmate would be bullied if they came out at school”
New research published by Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland as part of the Annual Stand Up Awareness campaign has revealed that almost half of students at post-primary school (48%) believe that a classmate would be bullied in school if they came out as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
The statistics were published as part of Stand Up Awareness Week, which is the charity’s annual anti-LGBTQ+ bullying awareness campaign taking place this week in Irish schools, Youthreach centres and youth services. Last year, 68% of schools in Ireland took part in the week.
The research also revealed that an even higher proportion of 52% of students believe a classmate would be bullied if they came out as trans.
However, there were some positive changes in the findings. The proportion of students who believed their school provided a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students rose from 72% in 2023, to 75% in 2024 and 76% in 2025.
“Stand Up Awareness Week is about sending a simple but powerful message to LGBTQ+ young people across Ireland: you belong here,” said CEO of Belong To Kieran O’Donovan at the launch yesterday.
“It is incredibly concerning that half of students in Ireland believe a gay, lesbian or bisexual classmate would be bullied if they came out at school, and more than half if a student came out as trans. This is why Stand Up Awareness Week is so important. No young person should have to hide who they are out of fear of being excluded, targeted or made to feel unsafe.”
The research report has been published on the Belong To website and is available to download here.
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