Stand Up! LGBTI+ Awareness Week 2017

This week is BeLonG To’s Stand Up! Awareness Week 2017, an annual campaign to address homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools. Over the week, schools across Ireland will take part by displaying posters, holding activities, and starting conversations. The campaign asks young people in Ireland to stand up for their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender + (LGBT+) friends and let them know they support them.

Homophobic and transphobic bullying is still a widespread issue, and BeLonG To are asking schools all over the country to educate themselves and their students on LGBTI+ inclusion and to create a positive and welcoming environment for LGBTI+ students.

How can I take part?

This year, BeLonG To are asking people to take part in the #StandUp2017 social media campaign by sharing a story of when a friend stood up for them. It doesn’t have to be LGBTI+ related.

Ways to join the #StandUp2017 Social Media campaign

1. Share a photo of yourself and a friend who stood up for you during a hard time.
2. Tag your friend and let them know how much it meant to you that they took a stand for you.
3. Use the hashtag #StandUp2017and tag BeLonG To in your post (@BeLonGToYouthServices on Facebook, @BeLonG_To on Twitter, @belongtoyouthservices on Instagram.)

Here are some suggestions for what you can include in your post:

• Stand up for your LGBTI+ friends!
• Take a stand against LGBTI+ bullying.
• Stand Up Week tackles homophobic & transphobic bullying by increasing, friendship and support for LGBTI+ students across Ireland.
• 70% of LGBTI+ students don’t feel safe at school. Stand Up!

If you take part in any activities for Stand Up! Awareness week, you can send pictures to [email protected].

For more information visit www.belongto.org.