QueerSpace is a
volunteer-led organization based on collective planning and action
which serves the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community of
Belfast and Northern Ireland by raising its visibility, supporting its
activities, providing it with
resources and
facilitating
communication
while adhering to the principles of community orientation, freedom of
identity, ethical funding and accessibility.
Foyle Pride 2008 is set to run in the North-West from
Monday 18th to Sunday 24th August (the Bank Holiday weekend).
A
packed programme is planned, with events ranging from the artistic to the
political with plenty of partying thrown in too! And for the first time,
Foyle Pride extends into County Tyrone with Strabane hosting its first
Pride event.
The finale will be the Foyle Pride Ball on Sunday 24th
August in the City Hotel, Derry.
Quire will be
performing, alongside other entertainment including dancers and DJs.
Tickets are now available priced £10 and with many pre-booked, are sure to
sell quickly. Call into
The
Rainbow Project to buy your Pride Ball ticket - we'll see you there!
Thanks to everyone who joined us in Dubarrys Bar on Friday
25th January for our 10th Birthday Party - the first of a series of
special events to celebrate 10 years of QueerSpace!
It was
fantastic to catch up with so many people who've played a part in our
history (including a number of our illustrious Queers of the Year). We
were treated to music from the
Quire, nibbles and
some yummy birthday cake.
The evening saw the recognition of two very special people
- our Queers of the Decade, Mairéad
McCafferty and Gareth Lee - for their enormous contribution to the lives
of LGBT people in Northern Ireland over many years.
On Friday 25th January, during our 10th
Birthday Party, QueerSpace was delighted to launch a new service with the
help of the
Information Commissioner's
Office - a Community Information Line.
The Community Information Line is a phone
line with a regularly updated recorded message containing details of
forthcoming LGBT community events.
QueerSpace has joined the
YouTube age! Well done
to Ken for putting together this movie which charts the history of
QueerSpace and gives you a flavour of what we're all about - volunteering,
collective action, events, LGBT activism and above all, FUN!
Feel free to share the movie on your own social networks,
whether Facebook, Bebo, MySpace etc and help spread the message. There's
more video in our new Belfast Pride
2007 photo gallery.
Ulster
Titans RFC is Northern Ireland's first rugby team open to all men
regardless of age, experience, race or sexual orientation. The team
identifies with gay men and is committed to equality, inclusion and the
greatest sport in the world.
Training takes place every Tuesday and
Thursday at 6.30pm and Saturday at 1pm at the PEC, Stranmillis Embankment. Anyone willing to HIT, RUN and HAVE FUN?
The team is always looking for new members. Whether you're experienced or
a complete novice, join the guys at training and have some fun while
getting fit!
Have
you suffered an assault or attack because you are gay? Did
you know you can report it to the police as a homophobic incident? You
didn't? Well you can.
If you are the victim of any crime and you
think you were targeted because of your sexuality, then the police want to
know about it. When you report the crime to the police in the normal way,
make sure you tell them that you want them to fill in a Form 80 about the
incident. If you don't want to report it to the police
directly, or you want to remain anonymous then you can report it via
Cara-Friend,
GLYNI,
Lesbian
Line,
Rainbow or
NIGRA (visit our links page for full contact details).
All incidents should be reported as this will
help the police and the community to spot any patterns in the crimes and
could also help ensure that more resources are given to combat homophobic
crimes in Northern Ireland.
As part of Belfast Pride 2003, the
Institute for
Conflict Research launched its study: An Acceptable Prejudice? Homophobic Violence and
Harassment in Northern Ireland at Clanmil Housing on Tuesday 29th
July. One of the authors, Neil Jarman, appeared on various media outlets
during the day, highlighting the findings of this important report.
You can download a copy in Adobe
Acrobat (PDF) format
here.
QueerSpace
is a member of the Coalition on Sexual Orientation.For more information, visit the CoSO
website.
The
appearance of anyone’s image on this website is not an indication of their
sexual orientation.
Last updated:
14 July 2008
Want more info, to pass on a compliment or
complaint or to
volunteer? Email QueerSpace
and let us know. We want to hear from you - make QueerSpace your space.