UCD Hosts Third Annual LGBTQI+ Health Symposium to Advance Equity in Health Systems

On Thursday 29th May 2025, University College Dublin’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education and Innovation in Health Systems (IRIS) held its third LGBTQI+ Health Symposium. The event brought together a dynamic mix of researchers, clinicians, students, activists, and community organisations for a stimulating and urgent day of dialogue, learning, and collaboration aimed at advancing health equity for LGBTQI+ communities in Ireland and internationally.

Opening the symposium, IRIS Deputy Director Dr Aoife De Brún welcomed attendees and underscored the importance of systemic approaches to complex issues of inequality and stated that IRIS is committed to creating spaces like this where knowledge and experience come together to drive meaningful change. Dr De Brún invited participants to see IRIS not just as a host, but as an ongoing partner in the effort to reimagine health systems through the lens of inclusion, equity and evidence.

She extended particular thanks to Dr John Gilmore for his leadership in convening the event. Over the past four years, Dr Gilmore has hosted six national and international events focused on LGBTQI+ health equity, positioning IRIS as a key driver of conversation and research in this field. His work bridges policy, education, and frontline practice to help ensure LGBTQI+ health is embedded in broader health systems transformation.

This year’s keynote was delivered by Professor Kath Browne, who presented findings from two major international projects. RESIST explores the rise of anti-gender movements, while Beyond Opposition examines the experiences of people who express concerns or resistance toward contemporary changes in sexuality and gender politics. Prof Browne emphasised the importance of understanding the social and emotional landscapes of opposition, not to legitimise discriminatory positions, but to better grasp the tensions shaping LGBTQI+ rights, health, and policy today.  “It’s not about finding a false middle ground,” she stated, “but about expanding our understanding of where resistance comes from so we can more effectively respond to it.”

Panel discussions throughout the day tackled a wide array of pressing issues, including trans and intersex healthcare, healthcare workers experiences, mental health disparities, sexual health promotion, and intimate partner violence. In the afternoon, a cohort of LGBTQI+ researchers based in the United States shared recent study findings and participated in a candid panel discussion on the realities of conducting LGBTQI+ health research in the current American context.

Closing the symposium, Dr Gilmore reflected on the progress made and the work still to come. “This event isn’t just about knowledge exchange,” he said. “It’s about building networks of solidarity, across disciplines, sectors, and borders, to tackle health injustice together. Equity is not something we can wait for; it’s something we must work for, every day, and with intention.”

He thanked all speakers, attendees, and collaborators for their contributions and reaffirmed IRIS’s commitment to leading and supporting LGBTQI+ health research that is grounded in justice, inclusion, and community engagement.

The event was generously supported by the Fulbright Alumni Project Fund, and it continues to affirm IRIS’s role as a national and international hub for transformative research and innovation in health systems. For more information on UCD IRIS https://www.ucd.ie/nmhs/research/ucdiriscentre/