Organisers of a teenage Pride event in County Wicklow says they were forced to postpone it after receiving ‘absolutely appalling’ threats and abuse.
Organisers cancelled the ‘Rainbow Disco’ in Newtownmountkennedy after people threatened to protest outside the venue.
The event, for 13 to 16-year-olds, was originally scheduled for June 30th and is now due to be held at a later date.
Organisers said the decision was "not made lightly" and their priority is on the "safety and well-being" of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly young people.
Wicklow Pride Vice-Chair Grainne Fennell told Lunchtime Live the Rainbow Disco was her son's idea.
"Bee talked about his two experiences going to teenage discos where he tried to fit in by wearing all the clothes you're supposed to wear and the makeup and all that," she said.
"He didn't feel comfortable so the next time he went as himself and really did face an awful lot of abuse.
"So it was his idea to have this safe space - and there was awful lot of work put into it by Bee and by the committee."
A poster for the Rainbow Disco event in Co Wicklow. Image: SuppliedMs Fennell said she was "shocked" by the reaction of some people to the Rainbow Disco.
"It's heartbreaking and really disappointing - I've always been comfortable in Newtown, I presumed my child was safe," she said.
"I don't necessarily feel that way anymore."
'We were called paedophiles'
Wicklow Pride Chair Patrick Bracken told the show people were making aggressive comments on social media.
"At this time of year, we tend to get a lot of comments made, through social media in particular, about the Pride events," he said.
"This time round, it was a lot more aggressive - we were being called paedophiles and groomers.
"The threat of a protest [outside the venue] was mentioned through social media [and] that really got our attention".
'We just can't risk that'
Mr Bracken said some of the rhetoric was being ramped up.
"I did notice one or two of the comments on social media... were kind of [saying], 'I'm all up for a protest but this shouldn't be happening with teenagers'" he said.
"It was being ramped up and ramped up; there was a strong possibility that this was going to go ahead.
"We just can't risk that for young people".
'The nail in the coffin'
Mr Bracken said to have people protesting outside would defeat the purpose of the Rainbow Disco.
"What we do as a group is to advocate for everyone but it's also to clear the way for the younger generation to live in a safe place," he said.
"It was a teenage disco for teenagers to just feel comfortable and not feel like they're being watched, stared and judged and being whispered about".
'Absolutely appalling'
Mr Bracken said an offensive note was also put in the home letterbox of one of their committee members.
"It was the nail in the coffin for us," he said.
"That was just disgusting... this person came on to their private property and put a note in with the word 'Paedo' on it.
"It was just absolutely appalling."
Mr Bracken said they are determined to hold the Rainbow Disco at another time.
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