FROM THE TEAMKeep up to date across our socials: @gaycommunitynews

A NEW STRATEGYI have been Chair of the NXF (the National LGBT Federation) for nine months now. It has been a busy time working alongside my fellow board members to create a new strategy.

HOMEWORKS CLIMATE ACTION TOOLKITDuring their time together, 25 people united to look at how queer experience - the skills, resilience and history of community activism - could inform new means of community and climate action.

UNITE IN HOPELast month, schools returned, and across the country students and teachers set their alarms and packed their backpacks in preparation for a new year.

Inside SLMIt’s been a hard month for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community as Edmund Lynch, one of the founders of the country’s first Sexual Liberation Movement, passed away earlier this month.

The Passing of a GiantIreland’s Rainbow Society has lost one of its ‘founding brothers and sisters’. Edmund Lynch, who died recently at the age of 76, leaves behind an extraordinary, rich legacy as a civil rights activist and LGBTQ+ archivist.

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The Galas LGBTQ+AwardsThe GALAS Awards made a triumphant return on Saturday, October 7, taking over Dublin’s Mansion House for an evening honouring LGBTQ+ activists and everyday heroes.

RANAE VON MEDINGRanae von Meding, a fierce activist and CEO of Equality for Children, was amongst those shortlisted for this year’s LGBTQ+ Person of the Year award. She spoke to Joe Drennan about what the nomination means and why she does what she does

SENATOR ANNIE HOEYIn April 2020, Annie Hoey made history when she became the first out bisexual member of Ireland’s national parliament. She has continued to serve in the Seanad, acting as a voice for young people and the LGBTQ+ community. Beatrice Fanucci spoke to her following her nomination for Person of the Year

DOCTOR EL REID-BUCKLEYAfter their Person of the Year nomination, Dr El Reid-Buckley shared with Nicole Lee their ground-breaking work in Limerick, what it means to free oneself from heteronormative expectations, and the advice they’d give to queer community organisers.

YOUNG TRAILBLAZERAWARD RECIPIENT Christine O’Mahony

LGBTQ+ ALLYAWARD RECIPIENT Staff of Cork City Libraries

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONVOLUNTEER STAFF AWARD RECIPIENT Kingdom Pride Kerry

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTAWARD RECIPIENT John Mathenge Mukaburu

NOEL WALSH HIV ACTIVISM AWARDAWARD RECIPIENT Poz Vibe Podcast

OUTSTANDING COMPANYAWARD RECIPIENT SSE Airtricity

LGBT+ EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPAWARD RECIPIENT Boston Scientific Clonmel ERG

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTAWARD RECIPIENT Aireach Aiteach Gaelach

SPORTSAWARD RECIPIENT Giulia Valentino

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEARAWARD RECIPIENT Lisa Daly

LGBTQ+ EVENT OF THE YEARAWARD RECIPIENT Bród na Gaeltachta- Donegal Gaeltacht Pride Festival

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:Thank you to all of the sponsors who supported the GALAS.

In Memorium, Joe DrennanWe can’t believe we are writing this. It is Sunday, October 15 and this morning we found out our Joe is gone. There are no words to describe the cold shock each of us received when we got the news.

CREATING A HOMEA worthy winner of the GALAS Person of the Year award, Beryl Ohas spoke to Joe Drennan days before finding out she was the recipient. Theirs was a conversation about journeys - from new homes, to becoming an activist, and growing as a person

bewitchedThroughout its history, Ireland has always had a bewitching relationship with magic. We are, after all, the land that produced the pagan festival of Samhain. Sarah McKenna Barry discusses our country’s relationship with witchcraft and speaks to LGBTQ+ people who have found themselves drawn to it.

OUR SHARED PROGRESSIt’s been three months since I upped sticks and moved to Northern Ireland to become the Director of the Rainbow Project. While I may be new on this particular scene, I’m no newcomer to the fight.