Gay Newry

Drop in Centre Opening Times

Administrator — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:47:03 +0000

NRC Drop in Centre

The Newry Rainbow Community Drop in Centre Opening Hours for the first few weeks are:

Monday: 7:00pm-10:00pm
Thursday: 11:00am-5:00pm and 7:00pm-10:00pm
Friday: 7:00pm-10:00pm
Saturday: 2:00pm-6:00pm

They can be contacted during these opening hours on 028 30250528

The Centre is at 82A Hill Street. It really is all systems go with plenty of last minute preparations still under way.

Make sure you call in to say Hello and more importantly for a good look round!

NRC Drop in Centre Opens 1st of September

Administrator — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:07:33 +0000

The Newry Rainbow Community is delighted to announce that we have secured an initial one-year lease on premises in Newry City to establish a dedicated Drop-in, Information, Resource, & Advice Centre from where we can develop and deliver a wide range of projects and services that will address and support the needs of LGBT people.

Committee member Padraig Lynch painting the premises.

The Centre is located at 82a Hill Street, on the first floor above Shooter Property Services – opposite Jack Murphy Jewellers, and will be operational from next week – Wednesday the First of September to be precise!

A dedicated centre will allow us to comprehensively address the needs of the LGBT community through the development and delivery of focused services that will support and develop individuals and our community.

We want to maximise the opportunities that a dedicated Centre now affords us, and by doing that ensure that it is not just a one-year project, but a permanent sustainable resource for LGBT people, and their friends and families.

We believe that the provision of a drop-in, information, resource & advice Centre for LGBT people and their families will make a lasting impact on their lives and their life opportunities.

NRC Chairman Blaine Whitley pours the champagne in the new premises

This will be achieved through increasing the visibility and confidence of LGBT people; promoting the integration and interaction of LGBT people with the wider communities of Newry and surrounding areas; tackling the causes of isolation, discrimination and stigma suffered by LGBT people; providing capacity building and personal development opportunities; providing information and support to LGBT people and their families – particularly those living in isolated rural areas (the location of our Centre is within easy walking distance of Newry’s Bus Depot); providing support and information for those coming to terms with sexual identity and gender issues; the provision of physical and mental health information and support material and through the provision of counselling and suicide and self-harm prevention & awareness information.

NRC Secretary Damian McKevitt outside the new Premises at 82a Hill Street.

Not only will the services and support provided through a dedicated centre be of enormous benefit to LGBT people in terms of promoting equal opportunities but it will also produce positive outcomes for the wider society, and local communities, through building constructive relationships between the wider community and LGBT people; through the promotion of inclusivity, integration, tolerance and cultural diversity and through the promotion of equality and good relations and tackling all manifestations of homophobia and intolerance.

We want to get as many people involved as possible. We want to hear people’s ideas, opinions and suggestions as to the services and support that should be delivered.

Back to School … with A Passion

Administrator — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:10:11 +0000

Passion Back to School August 2010

It’s only a matter of a couple of weeks or so to the Summer starts to draw to a close (Before it has arrived!) and everyones thoughts turn to going back to School or College.

But despair not because Passion is in Ten Days on Saturday the 28th of August and it’s a chance to remind yourselves of your wonderful wonderful school days, so stick that uniform on again!

Never mind that its 3 sizes too small or that the moths have got to it or it has been destroyed with homophobic Grafitti – No one will notice in the midst of Passion!

Mind you if you are like me and always like to be the boss and in control come along as the headmaster or teacher … Maybe Sister Passionetta?

It’s Upstairs in The Brass Monkey as usual from 9.30pm.

Coming out as a Lesbian

Administrator — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:14:39 +0000

I used to think that it was easier for girls to come out of the closet than for guys, after all two girls holding hands down a street seems to be common place whether they are gay or not. Men holding hands certainly wouldn’t go unnoticed as easy!

As time goes on though I see less and less evidence to back this up and experience would indicate that it may be even harder for girls to come to terms with their sexuality in the first instance and then even more difficult to tell anyone.

Perhaps the fact that girls were traditionally expected to quickly settle down with their partner and have children while it was still socially acceptable for men to “play the field” and not rush into settling down could be a contributing factor.

From an NRC perspective it is incredibly difficult to involve girls in the organisation. The group may be seen as “male dominated” but this is very much not through choice! While we could call on quite a few of our members to appear in a publicity photograph in a Newspaper as a gay man, there are virtually no girls that would want to be seen in a paper as lesbian. This strikes me as something very worrying and something that needs to be addressed if we are to move forward. I am always of the opinion that you can’t have a proper informed opinion of something unless you are exposed to it in your day to day life. We certainly don’t want to be in a situation where the NRC are helping to make life easier for the male gay population only.

We really would love to be able to offer more items of Lesbian interest through our group but the conundrum is that we really need the girls to help us organise that. LASI the Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative based in Belfast at present is trying just that and is hoping to set up a group for Lesbian and Bisexual Women in the Newry area. To that end they are organizing a Film Night locally on Monday the 23rd of August. To find out details of location and time email: orlaith@lasionline.org

Pride Pics Up

Administrator — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:37:10 +0000

Party in the Square at Belfast Pride

Well managed to get the Belfast Pride 2010 Photos up just now. Hopefully they sum up a very enjoyable day.

Gay NI

Administrator — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:56:14 +0000

Gay NI

Check out GayNI.net It’s a new Website with Local events, a Directory and Videos and Pictures.

Camping Trip Next Saturday

Administrator — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:36:43 +0000

Eventually got around to finalising details for our Camp Classic next Saturday the 14th of August. It will be at the Yellow Water area between Rostrevor and Hilltown and anyone interested should contact any of the NRC Committee or email us on nrc@gaynewry.com to let us know in the first instance.

Lost..... Who Us? - An earlier NRC Camping trip takes the urban path up the mountain!!!

We are meeting at 6pm in the Corner Bar in Rostrevor. If you want to go earlier it’s up to you.

Everyone going needs access to a tent, a sleeping bag, proper footwear for mountainy terrain, plenty of warm clothing and a change of clothing in case the weather is wet. You also need all food and refreshments to keep you going for the night/ morning. Anyone with musical skills would certainly be a bonus!!!!!

In the event of extreme weather alternative plans will be made on the Saturday.

LASI Film Night

Administrator — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:53:47 +0000

lasi

As part of the work LASI are doing with setting up a group for lesbian and bisexual women in Newry they are running a film night in Newry on Monday 23rd August.

For more info email: orlaith@lasionline.org for information about times and venue.

20th Anniversary Pride

Administrator — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:45:47 +0000

Proudly out of the closet

Well thats Belfast Pride over for another year. Things didn’t work out quite as planned on thefloat front but we still managed to have quite a presence in the parade in our sporting outfits and the crowds seemed to be everywhere.

The Party in the Park afterwards was brilliant as usual and the weather didn’t even dampen the sense of fun. I’ll get a selection of photos up soon.

Belfast Pride Here we go

Administrator — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:58:36 +0000

Well it’s finally arrived after all the months of planning and suddenly it’s

Wonderful what you find. 2003 Pride and look that has to be Malachai O'Hara O'Hara from the Rainbow Project!

tomorrow! Belfast Pride year 20 should be fantastic and we will certainly party party party. Listening and tweaking the music compilation, there’s still so much to be done but we’ll get there.

Hope lots of you are going down for the parade even if you aren’t in it. Really looking forward to getting it on the road… Belfast GET READY!!!

See you there!