Students across Ireland are sending a mixed message: most see their school as a potentially supportive place for LGBTQ+ classmates, yet many still expect bullying if someone comes out. The findings, shared alongside Belong To’s Stand Up Awareness Week, underline why everyday actions by schools and families matter. The campaign’s message, “You Belong Here”, is simple, but the work behind it is not.
Many students still fear what could happen after coming out
Nearly half of students surveyed believe a gay, lesbian or bisexual classmate would face bullying if they came out at school. The expected risk is higher for a trans student, according to the research published by Belong To - LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland and reported by the Irish Mirror. That gap is a stark reminder that feeling safe isn’t simply a matter of being allowed through the school gates. [2], [5]
There is a more encouraging figure, too: 76 per cent of students said they believe their school would offer LGBTQ+ students a safe and supportive environment. That’s up from 72 per cent in 2023 and 75 per cent in 2024. The figures can sit side by side; a generally supportive school climate doesn’t guarantee that every student feels confident about being open. [2], [5]
Stand Up Week turns belonging into action
Belong To’s annual Stand Up Awareness Week brings schools, Youthreach centres and youth services together to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ bullying and promote inclusion. This year’s theme, “You Belong Here”, puts the emphasis on a basic but powerful idea: young people should be able to take part in education and youth settings without hiding who they are. [3], [4]
Activities can make that message visible, from rainbow-themed events and art projects to LGBTQ+-inclusive lessons. Last year, 68 per cent of schools in Ireland took part, while Belong To said more than 75 per cent of Irish schools would take action during this year’s campaign. A bright walkway or a day in a rainbow jumper won’t solve bullying on its own, of course, but it can open the door to a more meaningful conversation. [2], [3], [4]
What makes a school feel genuinely supportive?
A campaign week can help start the discussion, but students need to see support in daily school life, too. Belong To’s education resources offer materials for post-primary settings, including guidance that can help schools approach LGBTQ+ inclusion and respond to bullying. [6]
For families, the practical first step is often a calm, open question rather than an assumption: does your young person feel safe and accepted at school? Listen without pressing for details, and ask what support they would find useful. Schools can reinforce that message by making clear how students can report bullying and what will happen next. [5], [6]
Why the figures matter beyond one campaign week
Belong To’s chief executive, Kieran O’Donovan, said the findings were concerning, particularly the expectation that a trans student could face bullying. At the campaign launch, he stressed the importance of creating environments where LGBTQ+ young people feel seen, supported and valued. [2]
Comedian and podcaster Emma Doran, the campaign’s parent ambassador, also urged parents to help young people recognise the harm caused by LGBTQ+ bullying. It’s a useful reminder that inclusion isn’t only a school policy: the cues teenagers pick up at home, among friends and in youth settings matter as well. [2], [3]
The rise in students who believe their school can offer support is encouraging, but confidence has to be earned in the corridors as much as in campaign materials. When students know adults will listen and act, “You Belong Here” becomes more than a slogan. [2], [4]
Small, consistent steps can change the atmosphere
Schools taking part can use the week to review their approach, make support routes easy to find and invite students to shape activities. Families and youth workers can help by responding thoughtfully when bullying is reported and by making clear that a young person doesn’t have to explain or defend who they are to deserve respect. [3], [6]
The figures don’t mean every school is unsafe, nor that every student expects the same experience. They do show why visible support and reliable follow-through matter. A student’s sense of belonging is built through ordinary moments, and those moments are within reach of an entire school community. [2], [5]
Belonging is strongest when students can see it, hear it and count on it every day.
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