Yesterday, a school on Dublin's southside cancelled a workshop on homophobic bullying at the last minute.
Coláiste Eoin in Stillorgan cancelled the talk by ShoutOut at the last minute, although have today said "it was at all times made clear to Shout Out that the scheduled workshop was not being cancelled" and that will propose to hold the presentation at a later point in the school year.
ShoutOut, a voluntary organisation which offers free workshops on LGBT issues to secondary schools nationwide, said it was left baffled by the last-minute decision to call off the workshop.
“We had arranged with the TY co-ordinator of the school to run a workshop today with around 120 students,” says Declan Meehan, ShoutOut’s schools co-ordinator and communications officer.
“Then we got an email saying it had been cancelled with immediate effect, offering no explanation. One of our volunteers managed to speak to the principal, who said it was about representing both sides.”
In a statement today, Coláiste Eoin said "on this particular occasion however the Board of Management have received written communications from a number of parents outlining their concerns regarding the workshop. In this context it was incumbent on the Board to address all issues and to seek the advice available from Catholic management representative bodies available to secondary schools."
"It was at all times made clear to Shout Out that the scheduled workshop was not being cancelled and it is incorrect on their part to suggest otherwise. It is proposed to invite Shout Out to make their presentation at a future date in the course of the current academic year," the statement added.
Today, Rory O'Neill, better known to many as Panti, spoke to Jonathan Healy on Lunchtime about the cancellation of the workshop and stated: "I think it's pretty clear cut. There's nothing wrong with it at all. Are we going to suggest that bullying is alright? I don't think so.
"I think it's very rare to come across an LGBT person who'll tell you they had a great time in school. It's a difficult time. Anything we can do to help make it better for them can only be a good thing.
"When it comes to bullying, I don't think there needs to be a balance."
Earlier, the Education Minister said she is disappointed that the school called off the workshop.
Jan O’Sullivan says there are no sides when it comes to homophobic bullying:
Originally posted at 10.55
