At a conference in Galway, Ireland on Thursday, members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) heard of how some openly gay educators were being harassed by students in secondary schools, with administrators turning a blind eye.

“Our LGBT colleagues fight to overcome the huge fears they face in their schools every day,” said Limerick teacher Patrick Hogan. “These fears are not just of losing their jobs, but fears of homophobic bullying they face on the corridors of their schools.”

Hogan told the Irish Independent of one teacher who needed to be transferred because the homophobic bullying was so bad. “She has since been transferred back in there and faces [bullying] on a daily basis.” Hogan said administrators at her school knew of the harassment, but it continued unabated.

The TUI passed a motion to encourage the ministry of education to better protect gay and lesbian teachers.

Photo: APA