We have a week jam packed with events for you this year, we hope that they spark interest, encourage engagement, and raise the visibility of issues facing the LGBT community.
Event Guide
LGBT Awareness Week is a joint effort by several
community organisations, to bring visibility and awareness
to LGBT people and their families in Northern Ireland.
This year’s theme is Justice and Safety.
Every event listed is wheelchair accessible.
SUNDAY
International Day Against
Homophobia, Transphobia and
Biphobia Service
Changing Attitude Ireland
St George’s Parish Church, High St
5 pm
Delivered by Rev. Paul Jeffery of the
Mountpottinger Non-Subscribing
Presbyterian Church, featuring music from
Saint George’s Chamber Choir.
MONDAY
LGBT Awareness Launch
Cara-Friend, The Rainbow Project,
TransgenderNI, HeRe NI
Cafe Cuan, 161-165 Cromac St, Belfast,
BT2 8JE
10.30 am
Please join us for the launch of LGBT
Awareness Week at Cafe Cuan!
Tea, coffee and scones will be available, as
well as the programme of events.
BELFAST
TUESDAY
Community Talks Back
Changing Attitude Ireland
Belfast Trans Resource Centre, 98
University Street, BT7 1HE
5 - 7 pm
As part of LGBT Awareness Week,
Transgender NI and The Rainbow Project will
be hosting a Community Talks Back session
with Rainbow's Advocacy Officer to discuss
issues within Justice and Policing, and the
impact they're having on trans communities
in Northern Ireland.
This is an opportunity for trans communities
to lead the conversation and raise issues
affecting them relating to justice and
policing in a safe and private manner. The
PSNI has not been involved in organising this
event, nor will any police officers be in
attendance while this discussion is taking
place. We will use the experiences and
issues you share to inform our work with the
PSNI and ensure that your views and
concerns are heard within the justice and
policing system. If you are interested in
coming along, please contact
info@transgenderni.org or by telephone at
0300 302 3202.
TUESDAY
Lady Justice and Social Justice
HeRe NI
109 - 113 Royal Avenue
7 - 9 pm
Hear from a panel of LGBT+ women about
their personal and professional experiences
of the law and social justice.
In partnership with Women’s Regional
Consortium.
WEDNESDAY
Transgender Awareness
Workshop
UNISON
Galway House, 165 York Street, BT15
1GD
10 am - 12 pm
This workshop is being run by UNISON as
part of LGBT Awareness Week and is open to
all. It will give participants an understanding
of definitions, gender identity v sexual
orientation, societal attitudes, pronouns,
legal obligations for employers and service
providers as well as look at how to support
someone transitioning in school or in a
workplace. It will also outline current
pathways and services to signpost
appropriately. It will be delivered by Alexa
Moore, of Transgender NI.
Please book a place at
https://www.unison-ni.org.uk/
education-and-training
WEDNESDAY
Knowing Your Rights
TransgenderNI
Belfast Trans Resource Centre, 98
University Street, BT7 1HE
3 - 6 pm
We're working together with the Equality
Commission and The Rainbow Project to
host a casual information session on access
to rights in Northern Ireland during our
regular drop-in on LGBT Awareness Week.
We'll have lawyers from the Commission in to
advise on what to do if you've been
discriminated against, what legislation exists
to protect you and how to get recourse to
justice, while Aisling from The Rainbow
Project will be there to offer information on
the advocacy services she provides as well
as outlining the options available to victims
of hate crime.
THURSDAY
QUB Prism Information Day
QUB Prism
Queens University Main Tower Site,
Room 02/002
3.30 - 8 pm
Queens PRISM are holding an information day
as part of IDAHOBT.
3.30pm - 4.30pm will be Queer Belfast 1917 at
the Main Tower Site Room 02/002.
5.00pm - 6.00pm Jeff Dudgeon Lecture in
the Physics Building Bell Lecture Theatre
room.
6.20pm - 8.00pm will be a celebration event
in the Queens Film Theatre.
All welcome.
THURSDAY
From IVF to Abortion - why
Reproductive Justice is an LGBT
Issue
Alliance for Choice
Cathedral Quarter Shared Workspace –
First Floor Board Room 109-113 Royal Ave
Belfast BT1 1FF
6.30 - 8.30 pm
Reproductive justice is being used as a
framework by activists to build a broad
intersectional social movement
re-interpreting the meaning and practice of
reproductive rights with multi-issue
perspectives and agenda for action.
Reproductive Justice focuses on outcomes;
how can we ensure better lives for women
and pregnant people, healthier families, and
sustainable communities. Reproductive
Justice provides the opportunity to critique
the status quo through several lenses
including LGBTQI+ struggles and joins the
abortion rights struggle to other health and
social justice movements.
Speakers:
Fiona Bloomer Ulster University
Emma Campbell Alliance for Choice
Naomhán O’Connor Transgender NI
Chair:
Danielle Mackle
Queen’s University Belfast
Refreshments will be provided
To book a place e-mail
alliancechoice4@gmail.com
and use ‘RJ Talk’ as subject line
OUTStanding Youth Work
Youth Action
14 College Square North, BT1 6AS
10 am - 1 pm
If you work with young people and would like
to learn how to better broach LGBTQI+ issues
in a positive and non-awkward way, this
workshop is for you. We developed the
OUTStanding resources in partnership with
CaraFriend.
Please contact
annette@youthaction.org
to attend.
Supporting LGBT+ People in Care
Home & Home Care Settings
UNISON
UNISON, Galway House, 165 York
Street, BT15 1GD
10 am - 12 pm
This workshop is being run by UNISON as
part of LGBT Awareness Week and is open to
all. Research indicates that older LGBT+ are
often afraid to be out in care homes or in
situations where home care workers and
other health professionals come into their
homes. This can impact on their sense of
identity and mental health. This workshop
will introduce participants to guidelines
produced in partnership with RQIA to
support care homes and home care staff to
be fully inclusive in their person centred care
of LGBT+ people. It will be delivered by
Fidelma Carolan, UNISON.
Please book a place at
https://www.unison-ni.org.uk/
education-and-training
FRIDAY
Are The LGBTQ+ Kids Alright?
Belfast LGBT Centre and Belfast Trans
Resource Centre in partnership with the
Equality Comission for Northern Ireland
The Factory @ The MAC, 10 Exchange
Street West, Belfast, BT1 2NJ
9.30 am - 1.30 pm
The goal of this event is to highlight the work
of various LGBT organisations in protecting
young LGBTQ+ people in education.
This issue will be a hot topic following the
discussions considering the 'No Outsiders'
programme in Birmingham around educating
about LGBTQ+ issues. A panel discussion on
the day will consider such issues as; why
creating a supportive and accepting
environment is important in education, what
the effects of prejudice and bullying are, how
to raise awareness of the efforts of the
LGBTQ+ sector to change the education
environment, and practical tips and
measures on how schools/teachers/support
staff can create a more inclusive and
proactive response to the needs of LGBTQ+
children and young people in schools.
There will also be workshop/networking
elements to the conference.
Tickets available via Eventbrite.
Coffee With A Cop for the LGBT+
Community
PSNI
Costa Coffee, Castle Place
4 - 7 pm
As part of LGBT awareness week on the 17th
May there will be several ‘Coffee with a cop
for the LGBT+ community’ events taking
place across the region.
These will be in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry
and Newry. These events have been
organised by local Neighbourhood Policing
Teams.
The aim of these events is to help improve
engagement between the LGBT+ community
the Police and to encourage the reporting of
hate crime, domestic violence and other
issues affecting the LGBT community.
Nail It For IDAHOBIT
HeRe NI
Belfast LGBT Centre
4 - 7 pm
Join us to paint your nails and make a stand
against homophobia, biphobia and
transphobia!
Use your creativity, take some time for self
care, and wear your politics on your nails.
We'll provide the nail polish, you bring the
nails.
Inspired by NAILit4IDAHO 2019
FRIDAY
Film Night - “The Miseducation
of Cameron Post”
Youth Action & HERe NI
Youth Action 14 College Square N,
Belfast BT1 6AS
8 - 11 pm
In 1993 after teenage Cameron is caught
in the backseat of a car with the prom
queen, she is sent away to a treatment
centre in a remote area called God's
Promise. While she is being subjected to
questionable gay conversion therapies,
she bonds with some fellow residents as
they pretend to go along with the
process while waiting to be released.
There will be some time for discussion
after the film.
This is a women only event
SATURDAY
NEWRY
FRIDAY
Coffee with a Cop for the LGBT+
Community
PSNI
Costa Coffee, Damolly Retail Park
11 am - 2 pm
As part of LGBT awareness week on the 17th
May there will be several ‘Coffee with a cop
for the LGBT+ community’ events taking
place across the region.
These will be in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry
and Newry. These events have been
organised by local Neighbourhood Policing
Teams.
The aim of these events is to help improve
engagement between the LGBT+ community
the Police and to encourage the reporting of
hate crime, domestic violence and other
issues affecting the LGBT community.
Equal Families Equal Love
HeRe NI
The 343, 431-437 Newtownards Rd,
BT4 1AQ
10 am - 12 pm
HERe NI are pleased to invite you to the
Equal Love, Equal Families event.
This will be a chance for all families to come
together to hear stories about identity,
difference and acceptance. There will be
story telling and arts and and crafts to
promote discussion and encourage learning
in a child friendly way.
Tickets can be found on Eventbrite.
Family Fun Day
St Columbs Park House
12 - 3 pm
Come along and enjoy the fun with a
creative range of activities for all the
family including a bouncy castle, craft
stalls, outdoor activities and a dog
show!
LGBT Awareness Week
North-West Launch
Holywell Trust
12.30 pm
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Official launch of LGBT Awareness Week in
the North-West. All welcome!
WEDNESDAY
Love Life and Legal
The Rainbow Project
Foyle LGBT Centre
2.00 pm
Need advice with Housing, Benefits, Legal
matters or hate crime? Pop in! Free
advocacy service.
Film Screening
OUT North West & Into Film
Nerve Centre Derry
5.00 pm
OUT North West in partnership with Into Film
present a film screening and discussion
suitable for all ages. Everyone welcome!
FOYLE
THURSDAY
Check Your Cervix - Self
Sampling For HPV
Foyle LGBT Centre
6.00 pm
Launching an exciting new testing method
for HPV which you can do YOURSELF! In
partnership with WHSCT. Rapid HIV &
Syphillis testing also available.
Activism Throughout the Years
#WeAllBelong
Maldron Hotel
7.30 pm
A discussion looking at how LGBTQ+
Activism has progressed over the years from
an intergenerational point of view. Guest
speakers include Jerry Buttimer and local
activists of all ages. #weallbelong
FRIDAY
justLOVE meeting: A Response
to Exclusive Church
Changing Attitude Ireland
The Gallery, The Playhouse Theatre
Derry/Londonderry
1 - 2 pm
A lunchtime event with the Reverend Andrew
Rawding. Helping to create a place for
everyone in God’s Church and overcome the
exclusion experienced by LGBT+ people for
so long. This is a Changing Attitude Ireland
event run to coincide with the Church of
Ireland General Synod taking place this
week. Lunch/refreshments will be available
for purchase during the event. Admission
free. All Welcome
justLOVE Vigil (IDAHOBIT)
Guildhall Square
5 pm
FRIDAY
To remember with love all who have lost
their lives through violence and suicide
on this annual International Day Against
Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and
Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)
Thank you to all the
organisations and individuals
that helped put this calendar
together.
Park Youth Games Night
St Columbs Park House
7 pm
For 14+ - Video games, movies, board
games and team games. Refreshments
provided!
SATURDAY
Derry’s Alternative Eurovision
IPSC, Foyle Pride, Unison
Maldron Hotel
7.00 pm
A fantastic night of cheesy performances
with a tacky trophy for the winner. All money
raised will go directly to Medical Aid for
Palestinians (MAP). Derry says no to Israeli
Apartheid and Pinkwashing of Eurovision.
Can’t make it? No worries – the event will be
streamed LIVE worldwide. Love Eurovision,
Hate Apartheid!
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