Tag Archives: LGBTQ+

News

Tralee Man Named As Leading LGBTQ+ Role Model

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Stephen D. Donovan

A TRALEE man has been named as a global LGBTQ+ role model.

Stephen D. Donovan is an Agile Management Office Lead at Bank of Ireland and was recently featured in the global Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model Lists, supported by YouTube,  to showcase LGBTQ+ business leaders and allies who are breaking down barriers and creating more inclusive workplaces across the world.

Stephen moved back to Tralee in 2021 during the pandemic after 20 years in London working in investment banking. He is based in Tralee, but works remotely at home in his role in technology management covering the whole of Ireland and UK with Bank Of Ireland.

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Stephen has been a prominent leader within With Pride BOI’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, serving as the Co-Chair with a solid commitment to the group’s mission and vision.

In this role, Stephen has overseen the execution of the annual strategic plan and worked closely with the Diversity & Inclusion team and Executive Sponsors to advance LGBTQ+ initiatives within the organization.

His visibility as a gay leader has made him a central figure in employee communications related to Pride Month and LGBTQ+ topics. Externally he has also engaged with industry events as a guest speaker, sharing his expertise in various forums.

Stephen has actively contributed to the community by nurturing relationships with LGBTQ+ community organizations such as Kingdom Pride, sponsoring initiatives like the launch of BelongTo’s volunteer eLearning platform, and HIV Ireland’s anti-stigma campaign and World Aids Day events including the Red Ball.

“I’m very honoured to be recognised by INvolve – The Inclusion People on this years list of LGBTQ+ Future Leaders,” said Stephen. “Very proud and testament to all of the amazing work and support of the With Pride committee/members, Allies, Diversity and Inclusion colleagues at Bank of Irelandand the work with community organisations such as Kingdom Pride and HIV Ireland.”

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News

Kerry People Urged Give Nominations For LGBTQ+ Awards

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KERRY people are encouraged to nominate inspiring individuals, companies and organisations for Ireland’s only LGBTQ+ awards.

The Galas are organised by the National LGBT Federation, the NXF, and GCN, Ireland’s leading media outlet and information service for the LGBTQ+ community.

The awards acknowledge the contribution of individuals, companies and organisations and their work to make Ireland, and the world, a better place for the LGBTQ+ community.

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This year the Galas will take place on Saturday, October 7 in the Round Room in the Mansion House, and 2023 will mark a first return of the awards since 2020.

Commenting today, Anna Nolan, Chair of the NXF, said: “We’re encouraging people in Kerry to help us celebrate the community and nominate the individuals, organisations and companies who have had a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community over the past two years.”

This year’s awards will have 12 categories:

·        Community Organisation of the Year – paid staff

·        Community Organisation of the Year – volunteer staff

·        Volunteer of the Year

·        Event of the Year

·        LGBTQ+ Young Trailblazer

·        Sports Award

·        Arts & Entertainment

·        Noel Walsh HIV Activism

·        LGBTQ+ Ally

·        Outstanding Company

·        LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group

·        Person of the Year.

Nominations can be made online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GALAS23_nominations

Further information on the Galas is available here: https://www.galas.ie/

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News

New Countywide LGBT+ Mentoring Programme Launched

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A NEW countywide LGBT+ Mentoring Programme has been launched by Listowel Family Resource Centre.

The LGBT Mentoring Programme is available to all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community over the age of 18, those questioning their sexuality or gender identity, or parents of LGBT+/questioning children, who require information and support in their local community.

The Mentoring Programme is accessible across the county of Kerry ensuring that those living rurally or without access to transport can avail of support in their local community, at a time and place that suits them.

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The Programme will match up trained volunteer mentors with interested mentees. The focus will be on personal development, confidence-building, and social activities, with the aim to increase well-being and quality of life for those involved.

Mentors and mentees will meet weekly to set personal and life goals, and work towards achieving them together.

The Mentoring Programme will be overseen by the dedicated LGBT+ Community Support Worker, ensuring that mentors and mentees benefit from the experience.

Supervision will also be provided to support mentors. All volunteers are assessed for suitability, trained, and Garda vetted to ensure that mentees are receiving a high quality of service delivered by knowledgeable and experienced mentors in a safe, accessible, and confidential manner.

To ensure that all those who would benefit from mentoring can avail of it, this service is offered free of charge, funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth under the Supporting LGBTI+ Community Services Scheme.

Listowel Family Resource Centre (FRC) is one of 121 FRCs nationwide under the Family Resource Centre Programme and is responsible to the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA).

Listowel Family Resource Centre is one of 12 family resource centres in Kerry in this programme, along with two others that are locally funded. The LGBT+ Mentoring Programme will utilise this network to offer support to those in each local community.

For more details check out Listowel Family Resource Centre www.listowelfrc.ie/ www.facebook.com/listowel.frc

ScEEN in Kerry www.sceeninkerry.com/ www.facebook.com/ScEENinKerry/

Trans Kerry Support Group www.facebook.com/transkerry/

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News

Drop-In Service For LGBT+ Community At Tralee Café

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A TRALEE cafe will host a LGBT+ Drop-In service monthly for members of  the LGBT+ community over 18 years of age next Wednesday.

The service is facilitated by Listowel Family Resource Centre’s LGBT Working Group for County Kerry, ScEEN in Kerry .

The first drop-in is scheduled for Wednesday, September 22 from 6.30pm-8.30pm in Maddens Café, Tralee.  It is anticipated that this LGBT+ Drop In facility will operate on the 3rd Wednesday evening of every month.

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The purpose of these Drop In evenings is as follows:

• Alcohol free space
• Fun – board games, cards etc
• Tea/Coffee & biscuits
• Opportunity to meet other people from the Kerry LGBT community in a safe, confidential space
• Share experiences, ask questions, get information & support

These Drop -In evenings will be managed and facilitated by the trained volunteers in ScEEN in Kerry, who all identify as members of the LGBT community.

Going forward into 2022, ScEEN in Kerry wish to hold every second monthly meeting in Tralee and then rotate the other months around the county. This is to ensure that most areas of Kerry will be covered with this county wide initiative.

For more information please contact Listowel FRC 068-23584 / Jackie.landers@listowelfrc.ie or private message the ScEEN in Kerry facebook page.

Entertainment, News, WHAT'S ON

New Play In Support Of Kerry Festival Of Pride To Premiere On Sunday

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Looking forward to the ‘Into-Me-See’ on Sunday night in The Meadowlands Hotel were, seated; writer and director Fidelma Fitzgerald and poet Louise Ward. Back; Pierse O’Brien, Chloe Hood, Namejs Balodis, Katie Moloney, Owen Rua Herlihy, Karen Conway, Regina O’Connor and Joanne Bolton. Photo by Dermot Crean

A TRALEE woman’s play will receive its premiere at The Meadowlands Hotel this Sunday night.

Written and directed by Fidelma Fitzgerald, ‘Into-Me-See’ is a Philomena Dramatics Production and features a talented cast from Tralee and the surrounding area.

The play is Fidelma’s sixth production to date and is in support of the LGBT community here in Kerry.

“The play itself features a diverse set of characters in couples who — through dialogue, dance and beautiful poetry from Louise Ward — come to realise their true identity and shows the emotional journey to love and how difficult it can be for some,” said Fidelma.

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Fidelma thanked Karen Conway for her choreography, Gina O’Connor for lighting and photography, Joanne Bolton for artwork and the cast for their hard work and talent.

The Kerry Festival of Pride committee will be holding the festival in the county on June 12, 13 and 14 with a range of events planned, including a further staging of Fidelma’s play.

Her plays have previously been staged in Tralee, Keel and Killorglin. Fidelma, who is originally from Kevin Barry Villas, has had her work published in Woman’s Way, Ireland’s Own and is soon to publish a book of short stories for children.

The play starts at 8pm and tickets are €10 at the door. There will also be spot prizes on the night and all proceeds raised will go towards the Kerry Festival Of Pride.

Entertainment, News, WHAT'S ON

Exhibition From LGBTQ+ Community To Open At Library This Weekend

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AN art and sound exhibition created by Kerry LGBTQ+ adults and young people will launch on Saturday, March 2 at 1pm in Tralee Library.

The show documents the experience of being LGBTQ+ in Kerry today and explores how it fits into the broader theme of personal identity.

The show will be opened by Kerry County Councillor, Toirѐasa Ferris and the launch will include an interactive performance piece by musicians Martin Scharer, Teresa Galvin and Jade ‘O Connor.

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The show is funded by CYPSC (Children and Young People’s Services Committee) with the intention of supporting LGBTQ+ Young People.  The young people, most of whom attend KDYS youth centre, wrote a short phrase on a canvas documenting a snapshot of their experience.

“It is very important for them to they feel valued and included in their communities,”  says Claire O Toole, Co-ordinator of Kerry CYPSC,  “and this gives them a opportunity to express themselves.”

“What is really interesting about the show is the dialogue between the young people and the adults,” says the show’s Curator Muiríosa Murphy.  “Being LGBTQ+ is just a small part of a much broader identity which includes family life, work, hobbies and friends for most of the adults.”

Adults from the LGBTQ+ community in Kerry recorded short sound pieces which was compiled and edited by Creative Facilitator Rena Blake.  “I was really touched by the enthusiastic and positive responses of the adults who recorded sound pieces,” said Rena.  “They were all so interested in giving back and being able to share some of the wisdom they gained over their life journeys.”