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A mural in support of same-sex marriage on the Falls Road, Belfast. Niall Carson/PA Images

One in five young LGBT people say they still face bullying and harassment

The survey of over 4,000 members of the young LGBT community was part of a national State strategy.

A FIFTH OF young LGBT members have experienced bullying and harassment in recent years, a government survey has indicated.

The results were collected in an online survey of 4,046 people aged between 16 and 25; 3,710 of the respondents live in Ireland.

The survey is part of preparations for a national LGBT youth strategy commissioned by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone. The strategy is thought to be a world-first.

The initial findings of the consultation, hosted by Spunout.ie, include:

  • A lack of ‘full acceptance’ with discrimination through language, non-inclusive sex education and bathroom provision
  • Reports of bullying and harassment in many spaces – including work and school
  • An increased openness and tolerance leading to acceptance and social responsibility.

Ireland's gay marriage vote A woman cycles past a marriage equality mural in the Liberties area of Dublin. PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

A number of recommendations were also made by respondants:

  • Further Law Reform, including hate crime legislation, gender recognition for under-18s and removal of obstacles to adoption and surrogacy
  • Improved sex education to include genders, relationships, sexualities as well as safe sex and consent
  • All healthcare staff to be provided with LGBT awareness training.

The results of the survey have been released to coincide with Pride, the LGBTQ festival.

Responding to the results, Minister Katherine Zappone said the findings were a “a wake-up call” for young people, campaigners and politicians.

“Even with these preliminary results it is clear the National Youth Strategy will require actions across government,” she said.

It will be challenging. However, it is work we must commit to if we are to secure equality, fairness and justice for all.

The Independent Chair of the Strategy, Una Mullally, said that although the research was at an initial stage, a number of themes were emerging.

“There is recognition of the social advances of recent years – however bullying, discrimination and isolation remain a reality for many young people.”

Read: Backpacks banned from Dublin Pride events for security reasons

Read: Why we need to reconsider how we view Gay Pride Festivals

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63 Comments
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    Mute mickmc
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    Jun 24th 2017, 6:33 AM

    Snowflake generation. I think you’ll find most people be it straight or gay have being bullied and harassed at some point in their life. But you know what, you stand up for yourself, you don’t take it and it will make you a stronger person. Stop the crying about it and get on with your life.

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    Mute Stephen Coveney
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    Jun 24th 2017, 7:23 AM

    @mickmc:
    yes id say most people have, but if you are equating being mocked for being short, tall, fat etc to being gay id say you’re not trying to understand. People have been killed and assaulted for being gay and it still happens regularly around the world.
    I can’t remember the last time Russia passed a law demanding tall people not to tell under 18′s it’s OK to be tall.

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    Mute Chef Harold
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    Jun 24th 2017, 8:22 AM

    @Stephen Coveney: How did Russia get into this ….it’s Irish research

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    Mute Sean @114
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    Jun 24th 2017, 8:52 AM

    @Stephen Coveney: people get killed because of their religion, politics, skin colour. Can’t remember the last time somebody was killed in Ireland due to their sexual orientation. People are people and will always dislike others for some reason. Turn a blind eye and get on with life.

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    Mute Stephen Coveney
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    Jun 24th 2017, 8:54 AM

    @Chef Harold:
    russia have a law saying its illegal to talk about homosexuality to a person under 18. Im showing the difference that society around the world has about gay people being bullied than any other form of bullying.
    This is to show the above posters logical thinking is flawed.
    Is that clear enough?

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    Mute Stephen Coveney
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:03 AM

    @Sean @114:
    Turn a blind eye? So slink away and tell yourself its nothing to do with me?
    Do you think that gay people in ireland are treated the same by society than heterosexuals?

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    Mute Sean @114
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:29 AM

    @Stephen Coveney: I don’t see open discrimination of gay people. That’s not to say it doesn’t happen but in my experience and in my social circles nobody cares if you are gay. I’m guessing there is some discrimination as there is against all kinds of people but it will always occur. If you set yourself out to be different under flags, pubs, clubs, parades then it only emphasises a divide that most heterosexuals would be oblivious to otherwise. Vast majority of us simply don’t care. Life’s too short for it.

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    Mute Frank Martin
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    Jun 24th 2017, 11:13 AM

    @Stephen Coveney: stop picking on tall people

    19
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    Mute Paula Hannon
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    Jun 24th 2017, 2:27 PM

    @mickmc: Snowflake as a put down is the stupidest term ever, it really makes no sense.

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    Mute Patrick Kavanagh
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    Jun 24th 2017, 3:09 PM

    @Stephen Coveney: LGBT activism is getting too much. Like the Navalny supporters they yack off an awful lot but they are not the majority. I agree with the Russian position of maintaining the moral standards of the nation as a whole. If anything Russia needs to encourage more hetero relationships as the nation runs very close to negative population growth.

    Homosexuality has been decriminalised in Russia. Those who want to ply their activities can do so in private but advertising and propaganda should be banned.

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    Mute Nick Drake
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    Jun 24th 2017, 3:14 PM

    @Stephen Coveney: But we’re not in Russia.

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    Mute LogicalSarah
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    Jun 24th 2017, 6:58 PM

    @mickmc: Agreed, another nonsense statistic based on bad and inaccurate questioning.

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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Jun 24th 2017, 7:28 AM

    Snowflakes can’t help squawking on about their own victimhood, it helps them feel relevant.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:08 AM

    @Eamonn O’Riain: Bullies can’t help squawking on about their own justification for bulling others, it helps them feel relevant.

    51
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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jun 24th 2017, 7:53 AM

    I just don’t believe that statistic. Some people are just too precious more like. Nobody actually cares these days

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 24th 2017, 5:13 PM

    @Mark Gerard Lochlain: yes, the future of one in five is likely on the side of under estimation.

    Those who discriminate against minorities are oblivious to why they are acting as they do.

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    Mute BrianMcB
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    Jun 24th 2017, 8:08 AM

    Like I said before, Gay people according to this article and the others that theJournal have posted seem to be suffering more than Yazidis or Christians in the Middle East.

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    Mute Luke Campbell
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    Jun 24th 2017, 6:25 AM

    Ok we get it your gay and we accept it. I thought we have been through all this in the 90′s ffs. There is always going to be a small % of fools who give people who are different a hard time.

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    Mute Bairéid Rísteard
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    Jun 24th 2017, 7:04 AM

    @Luke Campbell: creating a victim narrative for this community drives profit for vested interests

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    Mute Stephen Coveney
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    Jun 24th 2017, 8:17 AM

    @Luke Campbell:
    Look at you getting so upset about an article.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:17 AM

    @Luke Campbell:
    1 in 5 small percentage is it?

    5
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    Mute Tommy Browne
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:21 AM

    Una Mulally, Katherine Zappone and Spunout to a lesser degree are all part of a particular agenda seeking to gain control of the Irish education system hence their constant focus on the youth.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:56 AM

    @Tommy Browne:
    Haha. Talk about being Paranoid.

    24
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    Mute Tommy Browne
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:14 AM

    @James Joseph Superior Power:
    Don’t say you weren’t warned James.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:21 AM

    @Tommy Browne:
    Face Palm

    10
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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jun 24th 2017, 11:23 AM

    @Tommy Browne: They’ll be forcing straight kids to attend gay classes and learn about gay. No sky fairies, but real fairies.

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jun 26th 2017, 2:44 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: Well the sky will probably fall in before they get to it seen as we allowed Same sex marriage. Any day now.

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    Mute michael k
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    Jun 24th 2017, 8:42 AM

    An online survey hosted by spunout !!!. Completed by gay politicos who continue to create bigger divisions in society. Be careful of the unintended consequences of dictating to the silent majority. Continuous gay propaganda only serves to be divisive and promotes homeophobia. Maybe the gay politicos should spend more time trying to accept themselves instead of trying to convince us how “normal” ye are. Don’t spend all your effort in trying to get society to adopt your beliefs, a constant barrage of gay propaganda is extremely divisive . Don’t you get it.

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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:41 AM

    @michael k: Tell us more…..actually don’t bother.

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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 24th 2017, 8:01 AM

    An interesting experiment is to replace the word gay with black or even with Jewish. It really helps to expose some commentators for what they are. Oppose them and it suddenly starts an avalanche of alt-right snowflakes.

    39
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    Mute Thinck
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:43 AM

    @Ian Phillip Creaner:

    You could also replace the word gay with “left handed”

    Snowflake generation is right. Like to see how they would get on in 1980′s Ireland.

    33
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:02 AM

    @Ian Phillip Creaner:
    Or replace the word gay with straight. And then tell us all about snowflakes.

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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:38 AM

    @Thinck: not really. But I am too tired to give an obvious dunce a history lesson.

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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jun 24th 2017, 1:57 PM

    @Ian Phillip Creaner: ah Philip. Resorting to insults when things are not going your way. He has not insulted you directly. Very aggressive.. Wonder if your like that in real life.

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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 25th 2017, 11:14 PM

    @Philip Brady: even better. Now off you go and buy a book or…omg, the joy of technology…download a book. And then read it. Gain some knowledge. Stupid is NOT the new intelligent.

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    Mute Siobhan Maguire
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    Jun 24th 2017, 12:09 PM

    People are bullied for all sorts of reasons. The issue isnt about whether a person is gay ginger tall female male trans wears glasses has a hearing aid one parent or is poor or religious. The issue is that a high percentage of people are bullied because some people are the bullying type. Policy needs to address bullies and deal with their issues and try to stop them hurting any person they bully for whatever reason. I had two of my children bullied extensively one who had to have treatment about it. All because he is tall.
    And not a great help when his school principal told me he “attracts” bullies because of his personality.

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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jun 24th 2017, 1:57 PM

    @Siobhan Maguire:

    1
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:40 AM

    The homophobis are out in force today. Shur it’s only one in 5 LGBT children that face bulling and harassment. It should be 3 in 5. How dare they complain. They should sit back and take it and respect the rights of the homophobs to bully them when and where and how they like. Shur don’t the homophobic get bullied for being straight all the time too. Oh wait they don’t.

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    Mute Thinck
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:45 AM

    @James Joseph Superior Power:

    Ginger people probably get “bullied” more than gay people in this country

    54
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 24th 2017, 9:55 AM

    @Thinck:
    Acutely they don’t. I have never heard of a ginger person being bullied for no other reason than they are ginger.

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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:40 AM

    @Thinck: Again, open a history book and actually THINCK.

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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jun 24th 2017, 1:44 PM

    @James Joseph Superior Power: nobody is scared of gays

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    Mute Nick Drake
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    Jun 24th 2017, 3:22 PM

    @James Joseph Superior Power: Booo….. you know what they say about assumptions don’t you…..lol.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:26 AM

    @Philip Brady:
    Really. Judging by some of the comments on here it would seem that a lot of people are sure as hell scared of losing their perceived right to bully gay kids.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:28 AM

    @Nick Drake:
    What is it that you think I am assuming?

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    Mute Andi Black
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    Jun 24th 2017, 1:31 PM

    Well done to the Muslim LGBT community for your participation and support inf this year’s Pride march. A small but significant step forward.

    12
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    Mute Stephen Finn
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    Jun 24th 2017, 2:27 PM

    boring nothing to see here all sorts get hassle every day all over the world they don’t go marching about it!

    10
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    Mute Zx5vZulB
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    Jun 24th 2017, 10:47 AM

    One in five flaming redheads would concur

    16
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    Mute Les J Matt
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    Jun 24th 2017, 12:13 PM

    Given some of the despicable comments on here, “snowflakes”, “everyone gets bullied” ” get on with it” “stop pushing your sexuality in our faces” shows that the report is accurate. Homophobia and snide comments about LGBT people is alive and well. Disgusting.

    24
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    Mute Thinck
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    Jun 24th 2017, 12:52 PM

    @Les J Matt:

    Id be willing to wager that 99% of the above commenters voted in favour of same sex marriage and have absolutely no I’ll feeling toward members of the LBGT community.

    17
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    Mute Les J Matt
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    Jun 24th 2017, 1:23 PM

    @Thinck
    People who show no ill feeling towards others dont make comments like the ones above.

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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jun 24th 2017, 1:47 PM

    @Les J Matt: my brothers gay and I’ve also friends who are gay. And the lgbt community does not represent them, they just get on with there lifes and don’t let there sexual orientation define them.

    10
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    Mute Les J Matt
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    Jun 24th 2017, 4:37 PM

    Philip Brady
    Everyone just wants to get on with their lives. Alas as we can see from the comments above it is very difficult for a LGBT person to get on with their lives without abuse be it verbal or worse

    4
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    Mute John Fergus
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    Jun 24th 2017, 5:42 PM

    People especially young people have been socially engineered to be fragile and to all those consider themselves be the victim.
    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJgDzB_Zc6TI0TeNZrwoX_FzzVvm-JKtJ

    I am sure there are genuine cases of abuse, these are shameful and need to be dealt with. However, they are getting lumped in with all the rubbish claims and are getting ignored.

    3
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    Mute Stephen Finn
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    Jun 24th 2017, 6:42 PM

    wait till later tonight in city centre when the gays start beating up the crap out of each other! but you wont hear about that!

    4
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jun 25th 2017, 1:28 AM

    Is that why bullies try to label there victims gay as well as pedos?

    1
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    Mute Stje Ma
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    Jun 24th 2017, 11:37 PM

    Yes. Just survive the idiots and you will be big. I found something how to survive idiots -> http://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Dumb-People
    https://www.facebook.com/LGBT-and-much-more-1916854278532713/

    1
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