Wicklow Pride has made the decision to postpone its upcoming Rainbow Disco following recent threats and actions from some Newtownmountkennedy residents. The disco, originally planned for Sunday, was advertised as “an LGBTQ+Ally disco for teens aged 13-16” at the Newtown Community Centre. In a statement released on Instagram on Tuesday, June 25, Wicklow Pride organisers said the decision to postpone the event was made to protect younger community members after the team was targeted with a series of “malicious accusations”, including being called ‘pedophiles’ and ‘groomers’.
Additionally, one committee member endured “a horrifying invasion of privacy when someone placed a vile note through their letterbox.” The Wicklow Pride committee said: “Our young people, who look to us for safety and acceptance, must be our priority. We cannot, in good conscience, hold this event under such hostile conditions.
Their safety and mental well-being come first.” The Wicklow Pride team emphasised that their organisation stands for “love, acceptance, and the right to live without fear” and “These actions underscore the very reason we need Pride.” A post shared by Wicklow Pride (@wicklowpride_) Anyone impacted by this latest news is encouraged to reach out to support helplines including Belong To , TENI , The Switchboard , or Samaritans .
Additionally, people are invited to show their support and stand against hate, bigotry, and ignorance at the second annual Wicklo.