Gay in NI

Being a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender young person in Northern Ireland can seem kinda tough, but there’s plenty of stuff going on that you might not know about. In fact, LGBT young people have never have never had it so good. Thanks to recently passed legislation LGBT people are all but entirely protected by the law. There are plenty of clubs and bars that cater to the LGBT community, as well youth groups, sports teams and even an art festival and a parade. If you live in a rural area, it can be especially difficult, but there a number of LGBT youth groups across Northern Ireland and even if you can’t make it to one of them, there are loads of online communities that can offer support.

The Law and Rights

Thanks to the Goods and Services Act, Civil Partnership act and the Gender Recognition act LGBT people are now treated almost entirely equally to anyone else in the eyes of the law. This means it’s now illegal to discriminate against a person based on their sexual orientation or gender, whether you are applying for a job or doing course at school you have the right to be treated fairly.

Bars, Clubs, Groups and Associations

When you are just coming out as being LGBT it can sometimes feel like you are the only one, but trust me you’re not. There are plenty of places where you can meet other LGBT people in Northern Ireland. Though the clubs and bars are often the first place people go to, they usually aren’t the best place to make friends or just hang out. That’s why we have groups like GLYNI, where you can come and chill out, meet new people and work on community projects like art workshops and volunteer training.

Rural Areas

It can be really tough if you are young, LGBT and live in a rural area, small towns often breed small minds and it can be hard to find other LGBT people your age. There are quite a few groups around Northern Ireland so you shouldn’t find it too difficult to travel to one of them, but if you can’t then there’s always our website and message boards. Why not sign up and get in contact with young people all across Northern Ireland.

Local Gay Culture

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Gay Community News (GCN)
http://www.gcn.ie
Irish gay news and lifestyle magazine.

Other LGBT Groups

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Belfast Pride
http://www.belfastpride.com
Organises Belfast’s annual gay pride celebrations.

Belfast Butterfly Club
PO Box 210, Belfast, BT1 1BG
(028) 9267 3720
http://www.belfastbutterflyclub.co.uk
A social/support group for transgender, transvestite and cross-dressers regardless of sexual orientation.

Belfast Out Resource Centre (BORC)
64 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2GT
http://www.borc.org.uk
Community-based organisation whose objective is to establish and provide a resource centre in Belfast to serve the LGBT community.

Cara-Friend
64 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2GT
(028) 9089 0202 [admin]
http://www.cara-friend.org.uk
Cara-Friend operates Northern Ireland’s gay & lesbian helpline services providing confidential information and support. It also operates an LGBT youth project called GLYNI.

Gay & Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland (GLYNI) Youth Groups
Email: inbox@glyni.org.uk
http://www.glyni.org.uk
GLYNI is a youth group for young lesbian, gay & bisexual people aged 16-25 years. You are on our website right now! Find out more about us by using the 'About Us' link at the top of your page, or contact us for more information.

Causeway LGBT Network
07910980314
http://www.causewaylgbt.co.uk
A social and support group for the LGBT community in Portrush, Portstewart, Coleraine, Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Castlerock, Bushmills and Limavady.

Changing Attitude Ireland
Email: changingattitudeireland@hotmail.co.uk
www.changingattitudeireland.org
A network of people, gay and straight, working for the full affirmation of LGBT persons within the Church of Ireland.

Coalition on Sexual Orientation (CoSO)
64 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2GT
(028) 9089 0201
http://www.coso.org.uk
An umbrella organisation for LGBT groups in Northern Ireland representing their views in government legislation and debates.

Gay Police Association (GPA)
07841 538 972 (Vincent Creelan)
Email: vincecreelan@btopenworld.com
http://www.gay.police.uk
Offers advice & support to gay police service employees.

Guys & Guys
The Rainbow Project
2-8 Commercial Court, Belfast, BT7 1HP
(028) 9031 9030
http://www.rainbow-project.org
A social/support group for gay and bisexual men who have learning disabilities.

L+
http://www.lplus.org.uk
L+ is a social and activity based group for older LGBT people.

Ladz Project
The Rainbow Project, 12a Queen Street, L’Derry,
BT48 7EG
(028) 7128 3030
http://www.rainbow-project.org
A youth group for young gay and bisexual men in the North-West.

Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative (LASI)
PO Box 3, Ballymena, BT42 9AA
(028) 27641463
http://www.lasionline.org
Works to improve the quality of life and enhance the voices of lesbian and bisexual women in Northern Ireland.

Limavady Gay Men’s Support Group
Email: reid65@hotmail.com (Contact person: Mervyn Reid)
Support/social group for the LGBT community in the Limavady Area.

Live and Let Live Group
2 Dacre Terrance, L’Derry, BT48 6JU
Contact Sean Morrin @ The Rainbow Project for more info – (028) 7128 3030.
An AA support group for LGBT people. Meets every Wednesday @ 8.30pm.

Men of the North
http://www.menofthenorth.com
Social group for gay/bi men 25 years and over that offer an alternative scene.

Newry Rainbow Community (NRC)
http://www.gaynewry.com
Information, befriending, support and advice for the LGBT community in the Newry area.

National Union of Students (NUS) LGBT Society
http://www.nusonline.co.uk/lgbt/
Lesbian, gay, bisexual & trans (LGBT) Organisation in Northern Ireland.

Gay & Lesbian Across Ards (GLAD)
07813 945411 [contact person: Andrew Muir]
http://www.ndalgbt.com
A social/support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual people in the North Down/Ards area.

Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA)
64 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2GT
(028) 9066 5257 or 07913 224163
LGBT equality issues, consultation, legal advice & 24 hour support for hate crime victims.

Out & About Walking Group
http://www.outnabout-ni.org.uk
Belfast-based group who arrange monthly walks, occasional nights out and weekend trips for the LGBT community and their friends.

Out in the City
http://www.gaynewry.com
Youth group for 16-20 year olds in the Newry area who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. Meets in the Magnet Centre, Hill Street.

Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) LGBT Society
http://www.qublgbt.org.uk
Society in Queen's University for supporting and empowering LGBT students and the wider community.

Queerspace
64 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2GT
http://www.queerspace.org.uk
Community/social group for all members of the LGBT community.

Quire
http://www.quire.org.uk
Belfast’s first and only LGBT choir, performing at various events throughout Northern Ireland and beyond.

shOUT
YouthNet, 5th Floor, Premier Business Centre, 20 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GD
(028) 9033 1880
http://www.youthnetni.org.uk
Email: info@youthnet.co.uk
Researching the needs of young lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender people in Northern Ireland.

Strabane LGBT Group
Email: stephen.birkett@btinternet.com (Contact: Stephen Birkett)
Support/social group for the LGBT community in Strabane.

Sunday Scene
64 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2GT
(028) 9023 8668
http://www.lesbianlinebelfast.org.uk
Social group for lesbian and bisexual women. Meets on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

The Gathering (Gay Men’s Spiritual Group)
http://www.gathering05.co.uk
For Gay/Bisexual men who wish to explore and develop the spiritual aspect of they are.

The Rainbow Project (Belfast)
2-8 Commercial Court, Belfast, BT1 2NB
(028) 9031 9030
http://www.rainbow-project.org
Email: manager@rainbow-project.org
Counselling, support, information, advocacy, youth project, groupwork & workshops. We promote gay and bisexual men’s health & wellbeing by providing professional counselling services, support, information, advocacy, groupwork, outreach, drop-in, training, homophobic incident reporting, volunteering opportunities and research.
We have a centre in Belfast and one in Foyle, L’Derry.

The Rainbow Project (Foyle) (The LADZ Project)
12a Queen Street, Derry, BT48 7EG
(028) 7128 3030
http://www.rainbow-project.org
Email: manager@rainbow-project.org
Counselling, support, information, advocacy, youth project, groupwork & workshops. We promote gay and bisexual men’s health & wellbeing by providing professional counselling services, support, information, advocacy, groupwork, outreach, drop-in, training, homophobic incident reporting, volunteering opportunities and research.
We have a centre in Belfast and one in Foyle, L’Derry.

The HIV Support Centre
The Warehouse, 7 James Street South, Belfast, BT2 8DN
(028) 9024 9268 or Confidential Freephone Helpline: 0800 137437
http://www.thehivsupportcentre.org.uk
Information / support / advice on HIV & AIDS for men & women regardless of sexual orientation.

Trans Foyle Group
Contact The Rainbow Project in Foyle or shout for more information.
A support group for young male-to-female (MTF) and female-to-male (FTM) trans people based in L’Derry.

Traveller & Gay
Contact The Rainbow Project in Foyle for more info.
Support service for the gay travelling community in N. Ireland.

Ulster Titans RFC
Email: ulstertitans@hotmail.co.uk
http://www.ulstertitans.com
Northern Ireland’s Gay Rugby Team.

UNISON LGBT Group (N. Ireland)
Contact Sean Morrin @ The Rainbow Project for more info (028) 9031 9030
http://www.unison.org.uk/out/
Committed to working for LGBT rights at work.

Union of Students in Ireland (USI) LGBT Campaign
http://www.usilgbt.org
A resource to Welfare Officers, LGBT Societies and students in relation to LGBT Rights, Sexual Health, Mental Health and other LGBT issues.

Support Groups and Helplines

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Support Groups

Gay & Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland (GLYNI)
Email: inbox@glyni.org.uk
http://www.glyni.org.uk
GLYNI is a youth group for young lesbian, gay & bisexual people aged 16-25 years. You are on our website right now! Find out more about us by using the 'About Us' link at the top of your page, or contact us for more information.

Gay Police Association (GPA)
07841 538 972 (Vincent Creelan)
Email: vincecreelan@btopenworld.com
http://www.gay.police.uk
Offers advice & support to gay police service employees.

Limavady Gay Men’s Support Group Gay is OK!
Email: reid65@hotmail.com (Contact person: Mervyn Reid)
Support/social group for the LGBT community in the Limavady Area.

Strabane LGBT Group
Email: stephen.birkett@btinternet.com (Contact: Stephen Birkett)
Support/social group for the LGBT community in Strabane.

The Men's Project
Floor 4, Franklin House, 12 Brunswick Street, Belfast, BT2 7GE
Tel: (028) 90 310891
Fax: (028) 90 312475
Email: colin@mensproject.org
http://www.mensproject.org

Trans Foyle Group
Contact The Rainbow Project in Foyle or shout for more information.
A support group for young male-to-female (MTF) and female-to-male (FTM) trans people based in L’Derry.

Traveller & Gay
Contact The Rainbow Project in Foyle for more info.
Support service for the gay travelling community in N. Ireland.

Helplines

AIDS Helpline Northern Ireland
Daily: 09:00-17:00 and 19:00-22:00
0800 137 437

Broken Rainbows – Domestic Abuse
Mondays & Thursdays 2pm - 8pm, Wednesdays 10am - 1pm
08452 60 44 60

Cara-Friend Gay/Bi Men’s Helpline
Mon-Wed: 19:00-22:00
(028) 9032 2023
http://www.gayhelplinebelfast.org.uk/

Lesbian Line
Thurs: 19:30-22:00
(028) 9023 866
http://www.lesbianlinebelfast.org.uk/

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard
Daily: 10am – 11pm
020 7837 7324

Samaritans
24 hours
08457 90 90 90

Transexual Helpline – Butterfly Club
Wed: 20:00-22:00
(028) 9267 3720

Family and Friend Support

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Parent's Advice Centre Family and Friends
Floor 4, Franklin House, 12 Brunswick Street, Belfast, BT2 7GE
0808 8010 722
http://www.parentsadvicecentre.org
Parents Advice Centre (sometimes known simply as PAC) has, since 1979, provided help and support to parents facing any family difficulty.

Family and Friends of Lesbians And Gays
7 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8HQ
0845 652 0311
http://www.fflag.org.uk
A continually growing national voluntary organisation and registered charity with 18 telephone helplines across the UK and parents' groups which hold regular meetings.

Health / GUM Clinics

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GUM Clinics
Genitourinary medicine clinics deal with sexually transmitted infections and many other genital and sexual problems. These clinics are sometimes called ‘GUM clinics’ for short. Most people are worried about attending a clinic for the first time, but they usually find it totally fine.

Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast
(028) 9063 4050

Altnagelvin Hospital Londonderry
(028) 7161 1269

Causeway Hospital Coleraine
(028) 7034 6028

Daisy Hill Hospital Newry
(028) 3083 5050

Thanks to The Rainbow Project for providing a foundation for this list of groups. You can download a PDF version of their group list here.