Shout out: everyone across Ireland’s LGBTQ+ communities is being asked to help map rising hate and discrimination , a new national survey by the Sexual Health Centre in Cork wants your anonymous experiences to shape policy, services and community responses.

Essential Takeaways

  • Who can take part: Adults 18+ living in the Republic of Ireland, anonymous and confidential.
  • What it asks: Short, 15‑minute survey on hate, discrimination, online abuse, housing, services and belonging.
  • Why it matters: Findings will inform government, public services, health, education and community organisations.
  • Who’s especially wanted: Trans and gender‑diverse people and those from underrepresented groups (ethnic minorities, Travellers, disabled, neurodivergent, migrants, rural residents).
  • How it feels: Quick to complete, optional questions, and usable as a community advocacy resource.

Why this survey arrives at a crucial moment

There’s a real, gritty smell of urgency to this project , people have been reporting more hostility and online abuse in recent years, and those experiences aren’t just abstract stats. According to the Sexual Health Centre in Cork, the CROSSROADS research is designed to capture how rising hate and disinformation are affecting everyday life and to point toward practical changes. For anyone who’s felt excluded or unsafe, this is a chance to turn frustration into evidence for reform.

Who’s running it and what they want to do with the data

The Sexual Health Centre in Cork leads the study, working with NB Social Justice Studio and supported by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC). That mix of community practice and policy expertise means the results are likely to be taken seriously , organisers say they’ll use findings to recommend improvements to public services, health and education, and to strengthen how LGBTQ+ organisations respond locally. It’s both research and a road map for action.

What the survey covers , practical detail for busy people

This isn’t a marathon. The anonymous questionnaire takes around 15 minutes and covers safety, belonging, discrimination, online spaces, housing and access to public services. You can skip questions or stop at any time, which makes it easy to fit into a lunch break or a quiet evening. For those cautious about privacy, the confidential format and adult‑only eligibility are reassurances that responses won’t be traced back.

Why organisers are asking for diverse voices

Researchers are explicitly encouraging participation from groups often missing in studies: trans and gender‑diverse people, Travellers and Roma, ethnic minorities, migrants, disabled and neurodivergent people, and those in rural areas. That matters because policy shaped by a narrow sample can miss real harms , including intersectional issues like how discrimination combines with housing precarity or lack of local services. The hope is a fuller, fairer evidence base than what’s existed since 2022.

How the results could change things on the ground

Expect practical outputs: recommendations for government and public bodies, resources for community groups, and evidence that can be cited in campaigns or funding bids. Organisers want the survey to be usable by LGBTQ+ communities themselves to set priorities and build better support systems. So if you want services that actually meet your needs, taking 15 minutes to contribute could help push that along.

It's a small step that could shift the conversation and change services for the better.

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