Peter Nugent, the founder of the Drogheda LGBTQ+ group and one of the main organisers of the Drogheda Pride Festival, says he has never before received so much hate mail as he has over the last weekend.
The torrent of vile abuse is coming mainly via social media from groups of people who are objecting to certain books on topics such as sex education including LGBTQ issues which are available in libraries throughout the country including Drogheda library.
Peter says that staff in Drogheda library have also received abuse over the availability of these books.
Peter called in to the library earlier today to express solidarity with staff members who he says have been very supportive of the LGBTQ community in Drogheda.
“I am passionate about providing a safe space for people where they can be themselves” he said.
“Libraries are a vital resource, they are warm and welcoming places for all members of the community to meet and share in activities and benefit from resources such as books and computers.
“Most importantly, a library is a free space in a town where everyone is invited to engage with culture and literature.
“It is deeply concerning that there is an attempt by certain fringe groups to hijack these community spaces for their agendas of division.
“Libraries are safe spaces for children and adults, and protests which alienate LGBTQ+ members of our community should be condemned in the strongest terms.
“We stand in absolute solidarity with all our community and resist any attempt by a small group to sow seeds of chaos and undermine the safety and inclusivity of our libraries.
“We are confident these views are not shared by the people of Drogheda and that our library will remain the inclusive space of learning and culture it has always been.”
