A grant of €98,000 has been awarded to the Midlands LGBT+ Project for operating costs for the coming year.
Confirming the government funding, Minister of State, Deputy Pippa Hackett, stated that the grant will help Midlands LGBT+ to support LGBT+ people to feel safe, welcome and included in the communities of Westmeath and wider Midlands region.
“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 Hackett said.
The grant award of €98,000 is a portion of the €1,209,832.35 to be made available to 27 LGBTI+ community service based projects across the country, the news also positively received by Midlands-North-West MEP, Maria Walsh.
Reacting to this afternoon’s announcement, MEP Walsh said the grants will be a great help to organisations and communities to assist in 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 was adopted by the Government and launched in November 2019, providing 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.
“There have been far too many examples of exclusion, abuse and hate crimes against the LGBTI+ community this year and today’s announcement is a positive step in the right direction. Every LGBTI+ person should feel safe, secure, welcome, visible and included in their communities, villages, towns and cities. This is a basic human right and one that is often taken for granted.
“It is vital that positive visibility and increased non-stereotypical representation of LGBTI+ identities are built upon to support long-term attitudinal change. This funding is an important element in achieving the overall objectives of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy and I am delighted to see such wonderful projects and organisations across the Midlands-North-West, and beyond, included on the list. These groups are doing amazing work in their communities to provide a safer and more inclusive environment for everyone, and I will do whatever I can to support these initiatives,” MEP Walsh stated.
