Community news/listings

Countrywide

BeLonG To

BeLonG To are a leading support service helping LGBT+ youths feel heard and visible in Ireland. Their response to the lockdown saw changes to their services as they made the move online, from launching great new virtual workshops to reach newer members looking for their community, and partnering with Dublin Bus for a great campaign promoting inclusivity.

Bi+ Ireland

Bi+ Ireland develops spaces where bi+ people can make friends, access peer support and reduce any isolation they may experience. They are hosting a range of Zoom meetups to help keep the community in touch and sharing a ‘We Exist’ series of stories from Bi+ people in Ireland to celebrate Bi Visibility Day 2020 online due to social distancing.

Dublin Lesbian Line

Dublin Lesbian Line are a confidential helpline operated by a group of enthusiastic female identifying (LGBT+) volunteers who provide support to the LGBT+ community. During lockdown, the group launched a fantastic new podcast Women STAR, which shines a light on mental health, emotional resilience and what it’s like to be queer in Ireland.

Equality for Children

The Equality for Children Campaign gives a voice to same-sex parents and their children in their fight for equality. They continued their advocacy for full recognition of families across Ireland throughout lockdown.

Gay Switchboard Ireland

Gay Switchboard Ireland have provided an LGBT+ helpline since 1974, available by phone, email and online chat. They have continued providing their helpful and welcoming support service throughout lockdown for those who want to talk with someone.

Greenbow LGBT Society of Ireland

Greenbow is a non-profit organisation providing monthly events, educational workshops, and other services for all Deaf/Hard of Hearing LGBT+ people in Ireland. The team moved all their services online during lockdown and even hosted a wonderful Dublin Pride breakfast over Zoom.

HIV Ireland

HIV Ireland advocate for individuals living with HIV, preventing new HIV infections and combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Across their social media accounts, they provide vital information and advice on sexual health and LGBT+ life in Ireland.

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation LGBT+ Teachers’ Group

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) LGBT+ Teachers’ Group offers support for LGBT+ teachers in Ireland along with advocating for their inclusion and visibility in education. The group have been diligently working on providing support to the LGBT+ community through their online platforms and introduced new initiatives for parents, students and teachers, such as the Different Families, Same Love Competition.

LGBT Ireland

LGBT Ireland provides support, training, and advocacy with the aim to improve the lives of LGBT+ people across Ireland. Their response to the current lockdown saw the launch of new initiatives keeping the community connected, such as the LGBTI+ Older and Bolder community group and their LGBTI+ life in lockdown survey.

LGBT Pavee

LGBT Pavee are an extension of Pavee Point with their focus being on working towards promoting, celebrating and protecting the LGBT+ Traveller and Roma community in Ireland. A mental health carebworker spoke at the first Traveller Pride, a week of celebrations aiming to “create change and overcome racism and discrimination”.

Gay Health Network (and Man2Man programme)

GHN has worked in partnership with the HSE to promote consistent and sustained HIV and STI prevention messages.” The Man2Man Programme serves as the national HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Awareness programme connecting with the GBT+ community across Ireland. In response to the pandemic, they partnered with BeLonG To in bringing the sexual health and healthy relationships course In The Know online as well as released guidelines to help people reduce risk of COVID-19 while maintaining healthy sexual relations.

Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland

Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) are a grassroots group formed by people seeking asylum united in their campaign to end Direct Provision. They have continued their mission amid COVID-19 on their social media accounts, demanding better living conditions, lifting up the voices of those living in Direct Provision, and calling on the State for much needed change.

MPOWER Programme

The MPOWER Programme was launched as a peer-led response to the sexual health and wellbeing needs of the GBT+ community in Ireland. The team have been developing new research into how COVID-19 impacts people’s sex lives, access to sexual health services, and negotiating risk as well as recommencing their Rapid HIV Testing service.

Origins Eile

Origins Eile are a community organisation centring and celebrating queer people of colour in Ireland. In response to lockdown restrictions, they are holding a range of exciting virtual events, which was launched with a very special celestial online gallery exploring Queer Black Futures.

Sex Workers Alliance Ireland

Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) advocates for the human rights and equality of sex workers in Ireland as well as campaigning for safer work conditions. During lockdown, they supported sex workers who lost their source of income along with submitting a critical collection of experiences in the Department of Justice’s review of the Nordic Model.

Shout Out

Shout Out are a community driven group who are dedicated to ensuring every school in Ireland becomes a safe place for LGBT+ students. They have moved all their LGBT+ workshops online, continuously update their social media pages with news and advice for the community, and released new Protect Queer Youth t-shirts, tote bags, and notebooks.

Sporting Pride

Sporting Pride is committed to making sport a more inclusive environment for queer people as well as highlighting the positive benefits of fitness and exercise on one’s own physical and mental health. They maintained their dedication to supporting and uplifting the LGBT+ community across lockdown.

This Is Me

Trans healthcare campaign This Is Me went digital as it continued advocating for adequate, safe and best practice access to healthcare for all trans and non-binary people in Ireland. Amid COVID-19, it shared advice and support for taking care of one’s mental health in lockdown.

Trans Equality Network Ireland (TENI)

Throughout lockdown, TENI were committed to keeping the trans community connected. From celebrating Trans Day of Visibility with a fabulous online video project, to online guidance and advice, the service adapted to the new virtual landscape. GCN partnered with TENI for a special online event - Gender Rec: 5 Years On celebrating the anniversary of the passage of gender recognition legislation in Ireland.

Youth Work Ireland

Youth Work Ireland develops the potential of young people and fosters a sense of community across Ireland through their support services. They provide a space for queer youth to meet in a safe environment, which has continued throughout lockdown with promoting great Zoom clubs and offering help with college alternatives.

Regional

ACT UP Dublin and Cork

ACT UP are committed to direct action to end the HIV crisis. Throughout lockdown, their social media accounts have amplified the voices of other support services and advocated for political change.

Amach LGBT+

Amach LGBT+ are a volunteer run organisation helping the LGBT+ community based in Galway. Although the group’s time in Teach Solais has sadly come to an end due to a lack of funding for the space, the team are now operating online and still provide the same great support service.

Ciarrai Amach

Ciarrai Amach provides a volunteer-led LGBT+ focused service formed by the local community in Kerry. They joined in on the online Pride Inside celebration, a massive cross-Ireland festival organised by Kerry Pride, Killarney Pride, Black Pride Ireland, Galway Pride, Limerick Pride, Mayo Pride, and Sligo Pride.

Emerald Warriors

LGBT+ rugby team Emerald Warriors took part in GCN’s In And Out Digital Festival of Creativity to help keep the community active during lockdown. Workout Like a Warrior shared the team’s training sessions in a fun and challenging way as they promoted fitness and wellbeing in a digital

The Gay Project

The Gay Project ensures GBT+ men feel comfortable participating fully in each sector of Irish life, whether it be on a social, economic, political, or artistic level. Amid COVID-19, they provided the community with vital informative and riveting workshops, such as ‘What Next for All Inclusive Rugby in Cork?’

Gender Orientation Sexual Health HIV

Operating in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North, Gender Orientation Sexual Health HIV (GOSHH) provides a welcoming environment where the well-being of everyone is promoted and sexual rights are respected. During lockdown, they have been expanding their team of friendly volunteers as well as continuing their Friday LGBT+ group for youth aged 14 and up over on Zoom.

LGBT+ Health South Tipperary

LGBT+ Health South Tipperary provides a confidential and friendly service supporting the wellbeing of LGBT+ people. In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, they moved their services online, now offering support via text and WhatsApp, hosting online Zoom support groups, and a virtual coffee and chats meeting.

LINC

Throughout the years, the team at LINC have worked to empower the quality of life, health and wellbeing of all women who identify as lesbian or bisexual in Ireland. Lockdown proved no diff erent as they continued their wonderful and entertaining outreach programmes, including taking part in Culture Night with LINC in Lockdown, Art, and Activity.

Loving Our Out Kids

Loving Our Out Kids off ers support for families and friends of LGBT+ people. Their social media accounts are helpful sources for information on topics such as coming out. If a parent or relative of an LGBT+ person wishes to speak with another parent, they can contact this group.

Outcomers Drogheda

Outcomers Drogheda are an independent support organisation who provide a safe space along with information, integration and advocacy for LGBT+ adults in the Drogheda area. The team have transferred their informal, confidential monthly drop-in sessions onto Zoom, helping LGBT+ adults from the surrounding areas who are looking for support, information, and socialisation.

Outcomers Dundalk

Outcomers is a social and befriending support group for LGBT+ people based in the North East of Ireland. They maintained their focus on friendship and connection throughout lockdown by promoting other support services across Ireland and celebrating Dundalk Pride with a lovely video filled with uplifting messages from the community.

Outhouse Dublin

Outhouse are a community centre based in Dublin that provides a safe space facilitating the growth of services and supports of the LGBT+ community. See previous pages for a full list of services.

Rainbow Project Belfast

Rainbow Project serves as a health organisation encouraging and empowering the wellbeing of LGBT+ peoples in Northern Ireland. The team are still working throughout lockdown across their social media accounts and have recently celebrated LGBT+ Awareness Week with a range of events, talks, training and social activities.

Small Trans Library

The Small Trans Library is a lending library of trans-authored books for trans people, with branches in Dublin and Glasgow. In response to the current crisis, both branches of the Library raised groceries and supply funds for trans people who are out of work or struggling.

Trans Greystones

Trans Greystones aims to create a safe space for trans and non-binary people, allies and their families in Wicklow. In response to COVID-19, they moved their services online and recently celebrated the trans flag flying over Wicklow County Buildings for the first time.