Sixty-percent of LGBTI+ people in Traveller and Roma communities have experienced suicidal thoughts and just over half of those have attempted to take their own lives, according to research published by a coalition of Traveller and Roma and LGBTI+ organisations and services.
Funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, "Unveiling Inequality Experiences of LGBTI+ Travellers and Roma" examined lived experiences through peer-to-peer research.
It found they faced homophobia, anti-Traveller, and anti-Roma racism.
Ninety-three-percent had been verbally hurt and 42% reported some form of physical attack.
It also found that 39% of LGBTI+, Travellers and Roma have been disproportionally affected by homelessness.
Just 11% of those involved in the research said they felt safe.
Almost all of the participants feared rejection or discrimination by their communities, including when they accessed services and for many, "managing a minority identity within a minority identity", compounded existing feelings of isolation and disconnection .
The Chairperson of the National Action Group for LGBTI+ Traveller and Roma Rights described the findings as "a sobering reminder" of the steps required to achieve a more equal and safe society.
"As beautiful as the intersectionality of our identities can be, for most it is also a point of great fear and concern of safety with many of the spaces of support proving gravely insufficient or underdeveloped," said Oein DeBhairdúin.
The report recommends greater representation of Traveller and Roma LGBTI+ people in public awareness and education campaigns and has called for an "effective response" to the serious mental health issues impacting LGBTI+ Travellers and Roma nationally.
It is estimated there are potentially 4,000 Travellers on the island of Ireland who are LGBTI+.
Collette O'Regan, a representative of LGBT Ireland on the Action Group, stressed the need for spaces free of racism.
"Every LGBTI+ person needs to know they have a safe space in the LGBTI+ community including our rainbow kin in our indigenous ethnic minority, as well as other ethnic minorities," she said.
The report has also highlighted experiences of "great support" from family and loved ones of LGBTI+ Traveller and Roma involved in the research.
The research, which began in early 2021 was completed in July 2022, is believed to be the largest study of LGBTI+ Travellers and Roma in Ireland to date.
There were 57 engagements in total - 47 through an online survey tool and ten through focus group discussions.
The Unveiling Inequality Research LGBTI+ Travellers & Roma Survey was completed by 51 respondents.
Four responses were excluded, leaving a total of 47.
The research was funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and supported by LGBT Ireland, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Exchange House Ireland, the Irish Traveller Movement, the National Traveller Women's Forum, and Tallaght Travellers CDP, members of the National Action Group for LGBTI+ Traveller and Roma Rights.
