Minister Hackett welcomes huge grant for the Midlands LGBT+ Project

Minister Pippa Hackett has welcomed a grant of €98,000 to the Midlands LGBT+ Project for operating costs for the coming year.

“This funding will help Midlands LGBT+ to support LGBT+ people to feel safe, welcome and included in the communities of Laois, Offaly, Kildare and Westmeath. It may be coincidental that this announcement comes during the 16 Days of Action against gender-based violence but it is related. A report on gender-based violence to be submitted to the Offaly Joint Policing Committee today will highlight that LGBT+ people are more likely to feel at risk of gender-based harassment in public spaces and modify their behaviour because of this.

"We need a cultural shift and projects like Midlands LGBT+, the supports they provide and the events they organise are of immense importance in this. I also welcome the funding of projects with a nationwide remit and am especially grateful that rural communities are to be especially supported with this funding. I look forward to seeing LGBT+ inclusion in everything from arts to youth work, advocacy to legal advice over the coming months.“

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced the 27 LGBTI+ projects set to receive funding under the 2022 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call. Through this Fund, a total of €1,209,832.35 will be made available to support organisations across Ireland to assist the development of rural community infrastructure to be inclusive and welcoming of LGBTI+ persons, address gaps in LGBTI+ services and support existing LGBTI+ community organisations.

The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 adopted by Government and launched in November 2019, provides a whole-of-Government framework for identifying and addressing issues which may prevent LGBTI+ people from enjoying full equality in practice in Irish society. The Strategy is based on four thematic pillars providing a vision of an Ireland where members of the LGBTI+ community are visible and included, treated equally, healthy, and safe and supported.

Positive visibility and increased non-stereotypical representation of LGBTI+ identities is vital to support long-term attitudinal change.

The 2022 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call is an important element in achieving overall objective of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy. Successful projects will assist the development of rural community infrastructure to be inclusive and welcoming of LGBTI+ persons, address gaps in LGBTI+ services and support existing LGBTI+ community organisations.

Welcoming the latest announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:

“Every LGBTI+ person deserves to feel safe, visible and included in their community, and that is in every village, town and city across Ireland. This €1.2m in LGBTI+ community services funding, announced today, will support community organisations nationwide to improve access for LGBTI+ people to supports and services which will help to improve their quality of life, and support them in realising their rights.

The organisations behind the funded projects are doing valuable work, providing a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone, and ensuring LGBTI+ people can be visible in their communities. I want to commend the work of those organisations, and the many volunteers who support that work, in making all LGBTI+ people feel welcome and supported.”