A new group in the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) is giving gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered teachers a voice. It's a voice that hasn't been heard before. It certainly hasn't been listened to. Louise Holden reports on a struggle for equality

'Our first meeting was a moving occasion because it was the first time that a teacher like me had a public face in the INTO," says David*, a teacher from Dublin who is gay.

"It was an extraordinary show of support by the INTO and it made us feel that we were really valued as teachers and as members of the union."

Back in November 2004, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation hosted the very first meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) teachers' support group. In his address to the group, INTO general secretary John Carr assured gay and lesbian members of their rightful place in the union and expressed the hope that every member might feel "respected and cherished, free from fear of intimidation and prejudice."

The INTO LGBT group is the only support group of its kind for teachers in Ireland. Senior figures in the INTO, led by equality officer Noel Ward, were prompted to set up the group after representations from individual gay and lesbian teachers. This coincided with the publication of a thesis by a MEd student in the College of Education in UCD, the first of its kind to examine the experiences of gay and lesbian teachers in Irish schools.

Fourteen people turned up to that first meeting in Dublin, which was also attended by the president Sheila Nunan, general secretary John Carr, assistant general secretary Tom O'Sullivan and equality officer Noel Ward. One of the major issues affecting gay and lesbian teachers which emerged that night was Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998. This passage enshrines in law the right of schools to discriminate against potential or existing staff on the grounds of sexual orientation. This right had never been granted before this and was deemed a regressive development for gay and lesbian teachers in Ireland.

Part (b) of Section 37 states that "a religious, educational or medical institution which is under the direction or control of a body established for religious purposes or whose objectives include the provision of services in an environment which promotes certain religious values shall not be taken to discriminate against a person . . . if it takes action which is reasonably necessary to prevent an employee or a prospective employee from undermining the religious ethos of the institution". With the great majority of Irish schools under the "direction or control" of institutions which do not include acceptance of homosexuality in their ethos, such as the Catholic Church, many existing and future teachers could be excluded from employment, with impunity.

"While schools are highly unlikely to take a case against an existing member of staff," says David, who is now secretary of the INTO LGBT, "they are, through this legislation, sanctioned to discriminate against gay and lesbian teachers at the interview stage. This protection did not exist prior to 1998. This is a frighteningly backward move. What other professional group has to work with this dagger hanging over its head? Who else is forced to lie to avoid discrimination?"

David believes that there may be a great many teachers in Ireland who are hiding their sexuality for fear of retribution or professional compromise. "It is estimated that 10 per cent of the population is gay. The INTO alone has 32,000 members North and South.

"Lesbians are far more closeted in Ireland than gay men. 80 per cent of primary school teachers are women but they only comprise one third of the LGBT INTO group. This is not representative of the teaching body as a whole. The group is aware of this imbalance. The chairperson and the members feel that we have a long way to go to help LGBT members of the union feel comfortable enough to join the group."

One young teacher I spoke to welcomed the establishment of the group, but said that he would be unlikely to join, in case the move might be seen as an act of defiance against the Catholic management at the school where he is employed.

"We are not a militant organisation," says David. "Our group has no political agenda. We have no agenda beyond giving support to gay and lesbian teachers in Ireland who want it. Neither do we want to put ourselves in opposition to any other groups. That is why we are moving very, very slowly. We prioritise confidentiality because we want new members to feel safe. Coming to a first meeting can be difficult for many teachers."

Gay and lesbian teachers are professionally compromised in schools. They cannot influence the children by promoting a positive image of homosexuality in schools. In short, they can't really raise the issue at all. This presents a real and regular dilemma when it comes to the issue of homophobic bullying in the classroom and schoolyard.

"When a child is being bullied for coming from a broken home I can intervene and talk to the bullies about the realities of family break-up. In my experience no child is 'bad' and most can be brought around to a reasonable way of thinking if someone takes the time to explain issues. When a child is being bullied on the grounds of his sexuality, however, I am not in a position to intervene in the same way. I am not allowed to explain the reality of homosexuality to students."

Homophobic bullying in schools is much worse now than it used to be, despite (or perhaps because of) growing public understanding of different sexual orientations.

"The problem now is that young children have the language of homophobia. When I was in school no one slagged you, using this kind of language and homophobic bullying was negligible," says David. There is no curricular or pastoral recourse for teachers to demystify some of the issues surrounding homosexuality. The subject is not covered in the primary curriculum unless schools opt to cover sexual orientation as part of their Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme - an unlikely scenario in Catholic national schools. Combine this knowledge gap with Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act and it looks like we're moving backwards instead of forwards in our schools.

"In reality I think Ireland is far more culturally advanced than Section 37 or the policies in our schools would suggest," says David. "Most people now have a growing number of friends or colleagues whom they know to be gay. The growing visibility of groups such as the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) and the public's respect for figures like Senator David Norris have all contributed to an attitude shift in Ireland."

David looks forward to the day when gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered teachers in Ireland can feel free to discuss openly the issues affecting them in their professional lives. He hopes that a climate of inclusion will have positive effects not just for gay and lesbian teachers but also for students who feel that they are living outside a heterosexual norm.

He believes that one day he will be able to use his own name in an interview. Until Section 37 is reviewed, however, David can't see an end to the fear and insecurity that continues to shadow many Irish teachers in 21st century Ireland.

* David is a pseudonym

LGBT - Cumann Muinteori Naisuinta Leispiacha, Aeracha, De-ghneasacha, Tras-ghneasacha (The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Teachers Organisation)

WHO?

Ireland's first support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered teachers. The group represents teachers in the primary sector and meets twice a term to discuss issues such as equality legislation and its impact on members, developing positive attitudes towards homosexuality and lesbianism in schools and providing support for gay and lesbian teachers in confidence.

WHY?

An estimated 3,000 primary school teachers are gay or lesbian. Up to the formation of the group, they were an invisible sector in the union. The group is particularly concerned about Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998, which indirectly grants religious schools exemption from charges of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

WHEN?

The group meets twice each term and will convene again on Saturday, January 28th in the afternoon.

WHERE?

You can contact the LGBT by e-mail at lgbt@into.ie, tel: 087-6952839 or through the INTO. All communications are in strictest confidence