Midlands LBGT+ Project to host events in Offaly
Sarah Slevin
The successful Midlands LBGT+ Project is set to bring events and meet-ups to people in Westmeath and Offaly.
Midlands LGBT+ started off as a Laois group last year but grew in numbers to become a Midlands group within a year.
The interest in such a group has been noted in the region and they have decided to form an Offaly/Westmeath group.
After a virtual meet-up on February 2, the group plan to have a physical meet-up somewhere in the locality within the next couple of weeks.
Andrew Gannon, Development Assistant with Midlands LGBT+ is spearheading the Offaly/Westmeath group launch and explained how important such groups are for those in the community.
“Over the course of the pandemic, a survey was done with adult LGBT+ people, and it found that 90% of those in rural places said their mental health had decreased due to the lockdowns meaning they couldn’t reach out to communities that were further away,” Andrew said.
“Since we set this up, we have had people reaching out to us saying it has been fantastic for them to have people that are like them nearby that they can reach out to,” he added.
The growth of Midlands LGBT+ has been huge and Andrew said they had to quickly adapt and expand to include all nearby areas.
“When we started off as the Laois group, there were just five members, and now Midlands LBGT+ has grown to have up to 50 members. It massively exploded,” Andrew said.
“Quite quickly, as the news got around and other LGBT+ people who were suffering the same things, such as rural isolation, and community isolation started reaching out to get involved,” Andrew said.
Andrew explained that the idea behind the groups is to make connections, and they are not a place of judgement.
“Our groups are a free place for people to come and be themselves. Nobody is ever asked questions; one thing I hear from people who are nervous is that they’re sometimes not sure themselves where they fit in, they didn’t want that forced upon them by other people,” Andrew said.
“But the entire vibe of our groups is laid back, we are there, we have all gone through similar experiences in coming to terms with sexual orientation,” Andrew explained.
Midlands LGBT+ has been working closely with local Westmeath schools, doing LGBT inclusivity workshops and sending out information packs.
The Midlands LGBT+ group is organising a large event for April 23 in Offaly which will include family events as well as an over 18s evening, with more information to follow.
To find out more about the group, visit their Facebook or Instagram pages at midlandslgbt, their website at midlandslgbtproject.com or email help@midlandslgbtproject.com.