Wayne's Story

Our series continues with Wayne, a 23 year old Business Manager from Belfast and openly gay. We asked Wayne about his experiences as an openly gay man and what challenges he had faced because of this. This is his story:

1. Can you tell us, Wayne a bit more a out your own story and what it was like for you when you came out?

I came out at the age of 16 it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, The first person I did tell was my mother. My mum was completely fine about everything and it was the first time I actually felt comfortable about my sexuality. My mum didn't really want to hide anything from anyone because she wasn't ashamed of me and didn't believe that I should have been either. 

My mum started to tell my immediate family which included close family. My brother and father found it very hard to deal with this at first but are now completely fine with me as they now understand that I didn't choose to be gay. Because my immediate family were told, others started to find out e.g School, friends. My school did alienate me and they didn't want anything to do with helping me in the situation that I was in. At the age of 16 I can admit now I didn't really understand about the feelings that I was having, and they brought me and my mother in and asked questions to my mum, for example they asked here if it was something she had done to me, was it maybe a phase that I was going through etc.. No one in the school at the time would give me and my mum the support that was needed, some friends where fine and others didn't understand so they started to drift away from me. My mum had to pull me out of school as I was finding it hard with teachers and also other pupils which really effected my school work. I'm now 23 years of age and I know I've worked very hard to get to where I am with support from my family and I find now looking back that there was never anything to ever be scared of as family and close friends stuck by me while there was questions that did need answered.


2. What challenges, if any, have you encountered due to your sexuality? Do you feel that you have to hide or are people accepting?

I haven't experienced any challenges because of my sexuality, I think I've been rather lucky as people have been very accepting of who I am, I've never hid anything from anyone and if anyone asked I would tell them. The only problems I did have was with some teachers in my school and pupils, but that was taken care of by me being removed from the situation, but I do think I have been very lucky with everyone in my life that has been very accepting.

4. Can you give any advice to young men who may be questioning their sexuality and may be unsure of who to talk to ?

The best advise that I could give anyone on questioning their sexuality would be to go to someone close to them and talk about their feelings, There's no point on bottling something up as the more you hide something the worse you will feel about yourself. By having a chat with someone also it will lift a weight off your shoulders.

5. What do you think, if anything, needs to change in NI for the LGBT community and can you tell us what you would do to help affect that change?

To be honest I think we are moving in the right direction as everything is more open now than what it would have been years ago. I'm just glad I'm living in this day and age now than living years ago and it being more frowned upon.

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Andrew's Story

Andrew Muir, openly gay Councillor for the Alliance Party on North Down Borough Council took the time to speak to us for our 'Their Stories' series for LGBT History month.

1. As a Councillor on North Down Borough Council you were the first openly gay person to serve as a public representative in NI, tell us what the public perception was to that and did you experience any problems?

To date I have not experienced any adverse reaction from my constituents, on the contrary, many people have approached me expressing view that my election was a positive sign of progress and hope that politics is transforming to reflect the modern diverse nature of our society

2. From a personal perspective, do you think it's important that more people from the LGBT community get involved in the political process? Are there any challenges that we might face?

In order for politics and elected bodies such as Local Government, NI Assembly and Westminster to achieve widespread public support and confidence it is important that they are seen to deliver, listen to and respond to the concerns of the general public and be seen as representative of society. Inclusion of more women, ethnic minorities, LGBT people, people with a disability and other sections of our society is therefore fundamental if we are to halt the declining turnout levels and give people hope that politics can be a positive vehicle for change in tune with current concerns.

3. Do you feel pressure to solely represent the LGBT community and what do you think needs to be done to tackle issues affecting our community in NI today?

As first openly gay Councillor in Northern Ireland I am acutely aware of the public focus upon me to deliver for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Since coming out in 1996 I have campaigned relentlessly for LGBT people in many different roles and was delighted to achieve legislation to prevent discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services after successfully lobbying Peter Hain MP, previous Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Today, as an Alliance Party Councillor I strive to represent all my constituents and build a society For Everyone. I will continue to work for this Shared Future rather than any type of Shared out Future where people operate in divided communities, whether this is on the basis of religion, political belief or sexual orientation.  

4. What specific work have you undertaken on behalf of LGBT people and can you tell us a bit more about your own story?

My achievements are wide ranging and include achieving funding from National Lottery whilst Chairperson of Foyle Friend in Derry/Londonderry towards new Resource Centre, working with others to achieve funding for LGBT sector via OFMdFM, goods, facilities and services legislation as described earlier, founding member of Gay and Lesbian across Down. I continue to work with my Alliance Party colleagues at NI Assembly to lobby of change whether this is in relation to Sexual Orientation Strategy, Gay Blood Ban, ban on Civil Partnership’s taking place in religious premises if Church so desires, Same Sex Couples Adoption Ban etc.

5. How do you think NI fits into the larger picture of the UK, Ireland and Europe when it comes to LGBT issues, what needs to be done better?

Whilst social attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have improved drastically since decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1982 lack of strong cohesive leadership from First Minister and DUP Ministers to create a society where LGBT people live as equal valued citizens in a culture of respect and acceptance is regrettable. Irish President Mary McAleese previously referred to the need to de-construct “the noxious apparatus of homophobia”. I look forward to such bold leadership from a future First Minister in Northern Ireland, lifting LGBT people up and ending the Second Class Citizenship we have endured for too long.

Andrew lives in Holywood in North Down and is also a keen cyclist, runner and has an interest in community issues. 

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Claire's Story

As part of LGBT History Month Belfast OutEast will be talking to a number of different openly LGBT role models in Northern Ireland and further afield. Today we caught up with Claire Shields, a 23 year old  successful manager with Barclay's Communications in Belfast and openly gay. We took the time to catch up with Claire and hear a bit more about her story.

1. Can you tell us, Claire a bit more a out your own story and what it was like for you when you came out? My coming out story was actually more of a personal challenge rather than an acceptance issue. I was the person who took it the worst, I didn't want to be gay, I wanted to be the same as all my friends. When I decided to tell my family I realised i was lucky. I have a very supportive extended family, I didn't have any problems telling anyone and no one gave me a hard time about it. My parents and siblings said they already had a hunch, but it doesn't change anything, they love me regardless.

2. From a personal perspective, have you ever experienced discrimination because of your sexuality, either in your work or in public?

I have never been discriminated against in work, partly because I have always worked in quite diverse environments with many other gay people. I have had the odd comment thrown at me regarding my appearance when I was younger. I was a bit of a Tom boy, and this was from other young people, however it didn't annoy me because I was happy with myself and wasn't interested in other people's opinions of how I decided to dress. As long as I was happy and not harming anyone I dressed as I pleased.

3. What issues affecting LGBT people are close to your heart and have you been involved in any campaigns or taken any action yourself to promote awareness of these issues?

I think that in order to mould a society into being truly accepting of the LGBT community changes needed to be made to the schooling system. I had a few issues in school with being gay because other people in my school thought this was strange and unacceptable and a reason to pick on me. Young people need to be taught that families and relationships can come in many forms and that it's not acceptable to treat gay people differently. If local politicians were prepared to target this area I would definitely be interested in getting involved.

4. What advice would you give to any young women who may be questioning their sexuality and don't know who to speak to?

There are some people out there who don't have supportive families or any close friends to be able to talk about their sexuality, and for these people I would suggest going on the Internet and doing some research into local resources in Northern Ireland specifically for LGBT people. There are a lot of community groups and workshops available for young people who don't have any closer support means and I would definitely love to see these services promoted more. Although I have had an easy and accepting time of it I know a few people who haven't, and they have had to turn to these groups for support, which they are extremely grateful for.

5. What do you think, if anything, needs to change in NI for the LGBT community and can you tell us what you would do to help affect that change?

I think a lot of changes need to be made in Northern Ireland to make it a more accepting and loving place for the LGBT people within it, a small but very influential change may be to promote LGBT staff in community services more in the annual gay pride parade. People need to see that LGBT people are around every day providing them with all the essential things that they require, and not just associating them with a colourful and flamboyant display of fun. I also think that churches and places of worship who support LGBT people need to express this more, as our community get a lot of grief from The majority of Christians in this country, and it would be nice to see a more positive opinion on the subject coming from this area.

Claire has been with her partner for 5 years and lives with her in Belfast. She is an avid fan of travelling and cycling.

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Community Update: LGBT History Month

February is LGBT History month and as part of this there are a number of events taking place in Dublin and Belfast listed below:

GAY HISTORY MONTH

FEBRUARY 2013

DUBLIN

Monday 4th February 2013
4.) Irish made Films/Documentaries with an LGBT Theme
Venue: Outhouse

Chaero (1994)
Directed by Matt Hayes
A portrait of two teenagers in Dublin
Starring Vincent Burke, Hazel Dunphy.

Chicken (2009)
Director by Barry Dignam
Two guys play a game of friendly Gay Chicken than it just gets crazy!

A Bit of the Other (2004)
Directed by Edmund Lynch
From its origins as a one-off extravaganza in Sides nightclub in 1987 to 2012 the Alternative
Miss Ireland was a annual entertainment highlight which packed out the Olympia Theatre in
Dublin each March.
A Bit of the Other is a documentary celebration of Alternative Miss Ireland and all its
madness and magnanimity as a highly successful charity fundraiser. The documentary
captures much of the music and mania of 2004’s spectacular tenth AMI, featuring entrants
from all corners of Ireland as well as France, England and the Philippines. Interwoven with
this footage are memories and musings from AMI originators, creators, organisers and
beneficiaries, judges past and present, former winners (and losers!) and AMI groupies and
addicts.
The production won the Audience award for Best Documentary at the 2004 DLGFF.

First TX on 11th February 1980

Stand Up – Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying (2011)
Anti homophobic bullying advertisement, created as part of BeLonG To Youth Services
annual Stand Up!
Organised by LGBT Project

Tuesday 5th – 15th February 2013
5.) Windows of our Lives:
Early gay marchers in Dublin in 1983 against the decision
of Mr. Justice Gannon in the murder of Declan Flynn.
Photographs taken by Derek Speirs

Civil Partnerships
Photographs taken by Shawna Scot

Transgender People
Photographs taken by Louise Hannon and other artists

Pictures of the GAZE Film Festival
Tells the story on their 20th celebrations.
Venue: Atrium Civic Offices
Launch Time: 6:30 pm on Tuesday 5th February
Organised by LGBT Synergy, GAZE and TENI

Saturday 9th February 2013
6.) Telling their Stories (My LGBT Recollections) – Session 1
Members of the LGBT Community tell a memory or two from the old days before 1993 to
camera and in front of a small audience.
Venue: Outhouse
Time: 2.00 pm
This event will be recorded
Organised by LGBT History Project

Monday 11th February 2013
7.) LGBT LECTURE -1
'Was Gaelic Ireland gay friendly'
Presentation by Brian Lacey
Introduction: Louise Hannon
Venue: Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street
Time: 6.15 pm
Organised by LGBT Synergy

Thursday 14th February 2013
8.) LGBT LECTURE - 2
25 Years of GCN – Past and Present
Founder of Gay Community News (GCN), Tonie Walsh, joins current Editor, Brian
Finnegan, to talk about the development of the magazine and its key role in the evolution of
the LGBT community in Ireland, since it was fist published on 10th February 1988.
Presentation by Tonie Walsh and Brian Finnegan
Introduction: Jonathan MacCumhaill-BinRosli
Venue: Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street
Time: 6.15 pm
Organised by LGBT Synergy

Saturday 16th February 2013
9.) A WALK IN DUBLIN’S LGBT’S HISTORY PAST
Host/Guide: Tonie Walsh
Venue: Meet outside Dublin Castle, Dame Lane Entrance
Time: 1.30pm
Organised by LGBT Synergy

Saturday 16th February 2013
10.) A Wilde Reading
The Acting Out group will be reading from one of their best loved performances, The Trials of
Oscar Wilde. The true story, the stage presents & love capture the audience.
Venue: Front Lounge
Time: 4:30 pm
Organised by LGBT Synergy

Saturday 16th February 2013
11.) Outing Exclusion Conference
The first conference in Ireland to examine the issues of poverty and social exclusion in the LGBT
community.
The event will explore how issues relating to poverty, economic inequality and multiple
disadvantage impact upon LGBT people, “those in the LGBT community history has forgotten”.
RSVP by Friday 8th February to: nlgfederation@gmail.com

Keynote International Guest: Anna Grodzka, MP, Poland, trans-rights and LGBT
campaigner
Venue: The Wood Quay Conference Venue
Dublin City Council Civic Offices
Time: 10am – 500pm
Organised by NLGF with the Dublin City Council Social Inclusion Unit and The
Community Foundation for Ireland

Tuesday, 19th February 2013
12.) Stories of Marriage Equality
Marriage Equality, LGBT Noise and NLGF would like to invite you to help document the
history of the marriage equality movement in Ireland to date.
Venue: Seminar Room, National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street
Time: 6:30 pm
Chairperson: Gráinne Healy
Organised by Marriage Equality, LGBT Noise and NLGF

Thursday 21st February 2013
13.) LGBT LECTURES - 3
Transformations: Progress for Lesbians and Gay in Ireland: 1993 -2013
Presentation by Kieran Rose (GLEN)
Introduction: Ailbhe Smyth
Venue: Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street
Time: 6.15 pm
Organised by LGBT Synergy

Saturday 23rd February 2013
14.) Telling their Stories (My LGBT Recollections) – Session 2
Members of the LGBT Community tell a memory or two from the old days before 1993 to
camera and in front of a small audience.
Venue: Outhouse
Time: 2.00 pm
This event will be recorded
Organised by LGBT History Project

Monday 25th February 2013
15.) LGBT LECTURE - 4
The Cult of the Sexless Casement
Presentation by Jeffrey Dudgeon
Introduction: Mark O’Donovan
Venue: Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street
Time: 6.15 pm

Thursday 28th February 2013
16.) Closing Ceremony
Closing words from individuals and organizations, GCN, NLGF, GLEN, Dublin Pride to
mark there anniversaries.
Plus singing from Gloria and piece from Dublin Pride Musical Group
Venue: City Hall
Time: 7:30 pm
Organised by LGBT Synergy

AMONG OUR CONTRIBUTORS ARE:

Jeffrey Dudgeon
He has held office in the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA) since its
foundation in 1975. He was the successful plaintiff at the European Court of Human Rights
in a six-year case whose 1981 judgment on Article 8 relating to the right to a private life led
to the 1982 decriminalisation of male homosexual behaviour in Northern Ireland. This case
was the starting point and foundation stone for a number of other and, in time, more radical
Strasbourg judgments.

Jeff was awarded an MBE in the 2012 New Year Honours List for “services to the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender community in Northern Ireland.” His book on the life of
Roger Casement and the authenticity of his famous diaries was published in 2002, entitled
Roger Casement: The Black Diaries – With a Study of his Background, Sexuality, and Irish
Political Life. It is a 650-page biography with diary transcriptions including the never-before-
published erotic 1911 journal. His website jeffdudgeon.com carries much material on the
continuing Casement controversies and current LGBT issues.

Brian Finnegan
The editor of GCN. Prior to that he worked at In Dublin magazine and GI, a gay fashion and
lifestyle magazine where he was editor and co-creator. He edited a book of gay short stories,
Quare Fellas (Attic Press, 1994) and wrote a non-fiction humour book, Camp As Knickers
(Marino Books, 1995). Over the past 16 years he has been a regular contributor to many of
Ireland's newspapers, magazines, radio and TV channels, writing and broadcasting on gay
politics and culture. He has ghostwritten a number of celebrity autobiographies and his first
novel, The Forced Redundancy Club was published by Hachette Books in 2012. His second
novel, Knowing Me, Knowing You will be published, again by Hachette Books, in May
2013.

Louise Hannon
She has been involved in Transgender advocacy for over ten years. She is Community
Development Director of Dublin Pride Ltd. where she has served now for three years. She
ran her own limited company for a number of years and has been heavily involved in equality
and human rights issues. She is a member of Labour Equality Co-coordinating Council and is
currently co chair of Labour LGBT. She is a professional photographer.


Gráinne Healy
A long time feminist activist with serious involvement in campaign for women's rights
in Ireland, including reproductive health rights, violence against women, prostitution and
trafficking and anti poverty issues. Chair of the European Women's Lobby's Observatory
on Violence against Women for over a decade, she is also former Vice President of the
European Women's Lobby, a former Chairwoman of the National Women's Council of
Ireland; Chairwoman of the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency and a previous
Ministerial appointee to the Board of the Equality Authority and the Women's Health
Council.

A self-employed Projects Manager, Gráinne has devised and delivered numerous EU-
funded social inclusion initiatives with transnational partnerships across the EU, including
the Dignity Project which seeks to support development of Inter-agency service delivery for
victims of sex trafficking and the Equal Project which sought to deliver innovative solutions

to work place inequality thus creating a more equal workplace in the Dublin region. She has
managed budgets in excess of £1m and has also published evaluation reports and strategic
plans for many community and voluntary organisations.

Brian Lacey
Studied Celtic Archaeology and Early Irish History at UCD, graduating in 1974. He obtained
his DPhil from the University of Ulster in 1999 for studies relating to St Colmcille. He
lectured at Magee College, Derry (1974-86), and later founded Derry City Council’s Heritage
and Museum Service, including four museums and an archive service. He directed a series
of salvage excavations at bomb-sites in Derry in the 1970s, and the archaeological survey
of County Donegal 1980-83. From 1998 to 2012 he was CEO at the Discovery Programme
– the Irish institute for advanced archaeological research. He has been editor of: Museum
Ireland, the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland and Discovery Programme
Reports, and is the author of 10 books as well as many booklets, book chapters and articles.
His publications include the book Terrible Queer Creatures; homosexuality in Irish history
issued in 2008. He was a gay activist and a founding member of several gay organisations
and facilities in Derry between 1975 and 1990.

Edmund Lynch
He was one of the founder members (11 people in all) of the Gay Movement in Ireland in
1973 and in 1977 was the researcher on the constitutional action against the Irish Government
taken by David Norris arguing that the laws on homosexuality were repugnant to the 1937
Constitution. He was also a founding member of the IGA now known ILGA (International
Lesbian and Gay Association) and ran its Information Secretariat here in Dublin. He has been
involved in LGBT issues for nearly 40 years.

He started working in Irish Television (RTE) in 1969. He produced and directed CEARTA
DAONNA A SARU (Human Rights Denied) for TG4 in 1996. He was responsible in
2000 for the daily TV programme, 100 YEARS, which told the story of Ireland, its people
and events in the 20th Century. He was responsible in 1999 for the 16 part TV series
REMEMBERING THE CENTURY and the 6 part series IRISH PEOPLE FLYING
WELL TO JAPAN.

In 2003 he produced and directed DID ANYONE NOTICE US? Gay Visibility in the Irish
Media 1973 - 93. It won the audience award for documentary at the Dublin Lesbian and Gay
Film Festival and a jury award at the Cork International Film Festival in the same year.
In 2004 he co-produced and directed A BIT OF THE OTHER, a documentary on the
Alternative Miss Ireland, which also won the audience award for documentary at the Dublin
Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and was subsequently transmitted on RTE 2.
He has just completed a Certificate in Local History for NUI, Maynooth. The paper was titled
The History of the Gay Movement in Ireland 1973-1993.

Mark O’Donovan
He has volunteered for many LGBT organisations! He founded the Dublin Devils FC,
Ireland's only gay football team, in 2005. He was also instrumental in the establishment of
Dublin Pride in 2007. He has worked for Outhouse, the LGBT community resource centre
for a time.

He is a qualified engineer with 15 years experience in the industry. His current role is for
a gaming studio as an iOS designer. He makes games for the iPhone and iPad. He is also a
qualified event manager. He attended to the first leadership course run by LGBT Diversity in
2012. In 2011, he founded LGBT Synergy a community development organisation. With the
LGBT Synergy team, has has achieved some major and minor successes for the community.

LGBT Synergy helped turn around Dublin Pride 2012 and tied in with Europe to bring LGBT
History Month to Ireland.

Dr. Katherine O’Donnell
Director of the Women's Studies Centre in the School of Social Justice, UCD. She has
published widely in Irish literary studies and the history of sexuality. She is currently
Principal Investigator on a number of funded research projects including directing a team
funded by the Irish Research Council: Magdalene Institutions: Recording an Archival and
Oral History. She is a founder member of the Irish Queer Archive Advisory Board. She is a
licensed acupuncturist.

Jonathan MacCumhaill-BinRosli
Born in Dublin in 1983 as the march for freedom was underway for gay rights.
He has been engaged with fundraising and volunteer work from an early age from walking
from Dublin to Galway to co-founding both reach out an LGBT society in NCI Dublin.
He worked in banking for 5 years and in 2012 changed careers to work with Central Dublin
Business Association and other NGOs.
He is a Director of Dublin Pride, North Side Befriends and LGBT Synergy. As director of
finance with Dublin pride he has restored its financial health twice, and has served in that
position for 5 years.
In the international media he is know simple as "Jonathan" as his wedding made him a house
hold name in south east Asia. He and his husband, now an exile, live happily here in the
capital.

Kieran Rose
He is a Senior Planner with the Economic Development Unit of Dublin City Council. He was
rapporteur for the Lord Mayor's Commission on Employment (2010); a political response
to the economic challenges for the city. The final report was titled: Dublin: Working City;
Learning City; Open City; Global City; Liveable City. He drafted the economic policies
for the Dublin City draft Development Plan (2010 - 2017) that stressed issues such as the
challenges of the recession, the need for planning to be agile and responsive, to promote
innovation, regeneration and for Dublin to be globally competitive. He co-authored the
Economic Development Action Plan for the Dublin City Region (2009). He delivered a
paper on 'Diversity Powering Dublin's Success' to a Conference on 'Dublin: A Creative City
Region' (2007) at which Prof. Richard Florida was the keynote speaker. He co-authored a
paper on International Competitiveness and the New Economy: The role of diversity and
equality (GLEN, 2009). He is a member of the Board of the Equality Authority.

Ailbhe Smyth
She has been active in LGBT, feminist and radical politics for many years. She is currently
co-convenor of Feminist Open Forum, chair of the National Lesbian and Gay Federation,
and a board member of Marriage Equality, ERA (Equality and Rights Alliance, and National
Convenor of the People Before Profit Alliance. Formerly a senior academic at UCD, Ailbhe
co-founded the Women’s Education, Research and Resource Centre (WERRC) 1990 and was
WERRC director until she left UCD in 2006. She has published widely on feminist, political
and cultural issues. Ailbhe currently works as an educator and consultant with community
organisations and NGOs, mainly on issues of gender, sexuality and equality, as well as
poverty and substance misuse.

Tonie Walsh
He was heavily involved in the gay civil rights movement from 1979, spending his 20s
immersed in Dublin’s Hirschfeld Centre.
At the age of 24 he became the first openly gay person to stand for election to Dublin City

Council. Although unsuccessful, he was persuaded by newly-formed GLEN to stand for
election to Dáil Éireann in the General Election of 1989 (highlighting the need for law reform
and equality legislation).
A former President of the National Lesbian and Gay Federation, He was staff reporter
for OUT Magazine, Ireland’s first attempt at a mainstream, commercial gay publication.
Although OUT only lasted four years, it encouraged him to establish Gay Community News
in 1988. He edited GCN during its first two years. In 1997 he reorganised NGLF’s archives
into what would later become the Irish Queer Archive (IQA).

Katherine Zappone
Director of The Centre for Progressive Change, Ltd. She is an educator, public policy and
human rights expert. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, appointed Katherine as a Senator to Seanad
Eireann in 2011. She was a Commissioner with the Irish Human Rights Commission for two
terms. Katherine and her spouse, Dr Ann Louise Gilligan are Co-founders of An Cos’n in
Tallaght, one of the largest community education and enterprise centres in Ireland. She has
been involved in the public policy arena since her time as Chief Executive of the National
Women’s Council of Ireland. She has also taught ethics, practical theology and education in
Trinity College Dublin. She has published research in national equality frameworks, effective
children’s services, equal opportunity in education, theology and spirituality, and human
rights.
Katherine holds a PhD from Boston College and an MBA from the Smurfit Business School
at UCD. Katherine and Ann Louise have been in the Irish courts since 2003, seeking the
human right to marry under the Irish Constitution.

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Community News - 22nd January 2013

LGBT News & Updates

• Here NI are holding a Wellness Day on the 9th of February between 10am and 4pm in conjunction with LesbianLine/Cara-Friend. The event will be held in their offices in the LGBT Centre in Waring Street, Belfast. For more information click here.

• The Rainbow Project has launched a new emotional health & well-being survey as part of their 'Through Our Eyes' initiative for LGBT people across NI. It is completely anonymous and all information collected will be confidential. To take part in the survey click here.

• Rainbow Project are also holding their first sexual health clinic in Ballymena at Ballymena Regional College on Monday the 28th of January between 6-8pm. Come along for a full sexual health screen including HIV testing, Hep A/B vaccinations, free condoms and lube and PEP assessment. 

• Cara-Friend, in conjunction with Aware Defeat Depression, are holding their first evening group next Tuesday at 6pm for those in the LGBT community who have issues with depression or who have questions about mental health issues. The drop-in will run every Tuesday night from 6pm to 7:30pm at the LGBT Centre in Waring Street, Belfast. Click here for more info.

East Belfast News & Updates

• East Belfast Community Development Agency are holding a SafeTalk Suicide Prevention Training class at Bloomfield Community Centre between 6pm and 9:30pm next Tuesday the 28th of January. This course is introductory level so you do not need any previous training or experience to attend. This excellent training will help you to recognise someone in crisis and to get them appropriate help. To register please contact Karen Purdy at Bloomfield Community Association via email bloomfield72@msn.com or phone 028 9045 2282, visit their Facebook page for more info.

• On Friday the 1st of Feb, EBCDA as well as a range of other community groups from East Belfast and beyond are holding a 'Message of Hope' event in Exchange Church on the Albertbridge Road, East Belfast. Please see the image below for more details:

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Welcome!

Thank you for visiting our humble little site!

2013 promises to be a great year for Belfast OutEast, we are a new LGBT focused social initative based in East Belfast. We aim to help support, develop and connect the LGBT community of East Belfast and Castlereagh. 

Our reach covers all of East Belfast, though members of the LGBT community from other parts of the city and further afield are more than welcome to join. As an organisation we will promote community events, local charities and provide links to LGBT services in the area. We will also aim to inform by linking relevant news articles, events hosted by fellow LGBT groups and organisations and provide a safe, on-line space for the LGBT community of East Belfast to talk, share and connect.

By checking here regularly you can find updates to events, links to resources, clinics, support services and articles relating to the LGBT community in East Belfast and further afield. You can check us out on our Twitter and Facebook pages too! (Links at the left hand side).

If you would like to get in touch or have a question for us, please contact us at BelfastOutEast@Gmail.com.

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