You are not alone!

This week a member reflects on his personal journey so far and the benefits of getting involved!

– Writing an article on the gay community as part of the broader Newry community has presented me with a much more difficult challenge than I’d initially envisioned, particularly so as I personally am wholly comfortable and confident of my own sexual identity (or at least I believe so). So why the difficulty?
Perhaps it’s because I, possibly like you also, are apprehensive about committing any of those thoughts and feelings to paper – the same thoughts that have caused, and in some cases continue to cause, such an inner confusion.

For even when we do pluck up the courage to confide our inner most selves to a close pal, parent or priest we may never feel entirely, or even remotely, free from the angst of the ‘what-others-will-think’ dilemma. I’ve been here before and have revisited this very unpleasant place in my life on many an occasion, but what is important now is that this needn’t always have to be the case. Other things that have grown or ‘come out’ off my experiences as a gay person in the community around me have been fantastic opportunities of new friendships, lifes journeys taken with these new friends and indeed the prospect of the journeys yet to be taken. Most importantly the help and support gained from listening and learning from others who have been there before me, but above all the new promise and possibility of good things to come.

For me, these opportunities came about when a small number of local people got together to create a group for our community, a place where all gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered individuals could come together and enjoy everything our greater community has to offer. And so the Newry Rainbow Community was born. Having been in existence for almost a year the group has organised all sorts of events, from retreats in Dublin to function nights in Newry, holding monthly meetings and offering referral and support for concerned and troubled people with the help of the GayNewry website.

The Newry Rainbow Community though still in relative infancy would very much like to continue to grow and help others who wish to be a part of this experience. All are very welcome to join us so please come along and get involved in whatever way you wish to. We can be contacted by e-mail at nrc@gaynewry.com or by visiting: www.gaynewry.com

Look forward to talking to some of you soon.