The President says members of the LGBTQ+ community are faced with homophobic comments and slurs 'far too regularly'.
Michael D Higgins says it is 'heart-breaking' that some in the community are uncomfortable holding hands in public.
He's called on the public to do better in accepting expressions of a person's sexuality socially as it is accepted in law.
The President has also asked communities to consider what individual and collective actions can be taken to provide a free, diverse and inclusive society.
