Council celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility 2020

South Dublin County Council celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility 2020

South Dublin County Council raised the transgender flag at County Hall, Tallaght, today in recognition of International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Visibility is key to developing an inclusive culture and working environment. If transgender people are invisible in the community, individuals will feel isolated. It is our hope that by encouraging observance of this day of visibility that we will contribute to building an Ireland where trans people are understood, accepted and respected, and can participate fully in all aspects of Irish society.

Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Vicki Casserly gave her message: “I believe that all LGBTQ+ people, regardless of age, ethnicity or disability should be free to express their gender identity and sexuality; however, they choose, without fear of discrimination or hate”.

South Dublin County Council has demonstrated a strong commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and the LGBTQ+ community through a variety of actions, particularly over the past decade. For example:

• The Pride Flag is flown over County Hall and Civic Offices Clondalkin in recognition of Pride Week each June.
• Council policies, plans and staff forms are equality proofed on an ongoing basis.
• The South Dublin County Council LGBTQ+ Staff Network was founded in October 2017 and anyone who identifies on the LGBTQ+ spectrum who is directly employed by the Council, or who is a retired or former employee is welcome to join, and membership is free of charge. The Network provides a staff LGBTQ+ information page through the Council’s Intranet. The Council’s Equality Officer supports the Executive of the Network.
• SDCC were active members of the Diversity Champions initiative and through this membership we have forged strong links with the Dublin City Council LGBT+ Staff Network.

Sarah McHugh, Chairperson of the South Dublin County Council LGBTQ+ Staff Network says of International Transgender Day of Visibility: “It’s so important to celebrate the diversity of our communities in South Dublin and to ensure that everyone is welcome through our doors and in our staff. We are allies to everyone who is trans or non-binary and we celebrate and support them for who they are.”

For further information please contact Selina Bonnie, Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer, at South Dublin County Council at 01 414 9041 or sbonnie@sdublincoco.ie

Notes

The trans pride flag was designed by Monica Helms, an openly transgender American woman, in August 1999. Every aspect of the design is carefully chosen to reflect trans identities. Helms describes the meaning of the transgender flag as follows:

“The stripes at the top and bottom are light blue, the traditional color for baby boys. The stripes next to them are pink, the traditional color for baby girls. The stripe in the middle is white, for those who are intersex, transitioning or consider themselves having a neutral or undefined gender. The pattern is such that no matter which way you fly it, it is always correct, signifying us finding correctness in our lives.”

In November 2019 the Council passed a motion to fly the Transgender Pride flag from 31 March (International Transgender Day of Visibility), for seven days each year.