Report: LGBT Communities’ Experiences of Faith and Church in Northern Ireland

Irish Peace Centers

This is the seventh paper in the IPC Experiential Learning series and it contains the personal stories of up to 20 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community who responded to a public call from Irish Peace Centres for stories. The paper is a conversation about diversity and a conversation which wider society frequently finds difficult to engage in. It should be read with care and the respect that any first person reflection deserves. I salute the commitment and courage of the respondents who told their stories for the purpose of investing an often controversial discussion with real life stories of their faith, their life and their hopes. [Continue Reading]

Belfast Telegraph: God save us if this religious lunacy is allowed to triumph

Jim Allister is on the warpath again. This time, he’s riled because a marcher in the Pride parade held up a sign saying ‘Jesus had two dads and he turned out fine’. Jim’s already been on to the Parades Commission and the police and he wants the Pride organisers to be held to account for this “blasphemous” placard. Yet this poster had none of the dumb, provocative crudity of the sign reading ‘Jesus is a fag’ carried by a marcher in the 2006 parade. [Continue Reading]

Photo: Changing Attitude Ireland at Belfast Pride 2011

Changing Attitude Ireland supporters at Belfast Pride 2011. [Continue Reading]

Belfast Telegraph: Advances made but the fight for rights not over

Tomorrow sees the 21st annual Belfast Gay Pride Parade. From nervous and tiny beginnings, it has become a bold and loud celebration appealing to all ages and outlooks (bar one), adding another bright touch to Belfast in July. Its family-friendly carnival alongside the Lagan Lookout on Saturday afternoon is free, and open to all who want to share our enjoyment. Despite the glamour and glitz, the Pride Festival with its numerous events during this week remains true to our concerns for human rights and the future prospects of all GLBT people, and for our society in general. It is also a showcase for the community’s varied artistic and cultural talents. [Continue Reading]