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• Up-to-date information on HIV in Northern Ireland including; rates of transmission, available preventative measures (such as PEP or PrEP), current options for HIV treatment and Undetectable=Untransmittable.
• Discussion about HIV stigma, its impact, and how you might be able to ensure people living with HIV do not encounter similar issues within your service.
• Opportunity to ask questions and listen to the experiences of both people living with HIV and those who provide services for people living with HIV.

The post World AIDS Day: Conference for Professionals appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

Support for trans young people and their families is vital. Parents and families need to be provided with the space to process, ask questions, and talk to people who have been through it all before. Young people need to know that they aren’t alone, and that they and their families will be supported throughout what can be a challenging time.

Rainbow’s new Trans Family Support Service – SAIL – will be there, with dedicated support for families from professionals who have been working with trans communities and their families for years.

SAIL will ensure a continuity of support for transgender young people and their families in Northern Ireland.

You can get in touch with SAIL @ The Rainbow Project through our usual channels – email sail@rainbow-project.org, or call our Belfast office at 028 9031 9030.

The post Announcing SAIL The Rainbow Project’s New Trans Family Support Service appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

It involves a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes, as opposed to a grief support or counselling session.

The objective is to increase awareness around death, help encourage people to make the most of their lives and support individuals who are going through loss or have lost someone.

Why is it important?
Death, dying and bereavement are a part of life, but this is often a taboo subject and can be difficult to talk about.
Death Cafés offer connection, friendship, friendship, kinship. We know from our previous cafe’s that there are things that come up for LGBTQIA+ folks in a safe space around end of life care, complex grief, funerals, partners, family…we are here to share and to listen.

They are a great way to connect with new people who can understand what you’re thinking, feeling and going through. This allows you to validate your own experiences and remind you that you aren’t alone!

Do I need to have come to a Death Café before?

Not at all, everyone LGBTQIA+ is welcome to attend, regardless of your experiences with death, dying and bereavement. You might be curious about the topic, or just want a dedicated space to discuss it.

Who runs the event?

This event will be externally facilitated by Patricia Lübeck, Birth and Death Doula. It is hosted by the Cancer Champions, a partnership pilot project between The Rainbow Project and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event will be in Belfast city centre, held in Paperxclips new venue, 162 North Street, from 6-8pm.

Note: This event is strictly for LGBTQIA+ (18+) attendees to ensure that it remains a safe space for service users. 

Register for free below so we can contact you with any changes or updates to the event.

The post LGBTQIA+ Death Café – Belfast appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

Alexa Moore, Policy Campaigns and Communications Manager at The Rainbow Project, said, “All of our young people are entitled to and should enjoy the best possible education that we can offer them – including LGBT pupils. The Minister’s removal of this guidance at the very start of the school term hasn’t been good for pupils, for teachers, or for parents. We urge him to reinstate the guidance and meaningfully engage with the young people affected by his decisions.”

The joint statement references the Department’s own research published in 2017 after it emerged this morning that the Department has removed the publication from its website. The report showed that, at the time, around two thirds of LGBT pupils did not feel safe and supported in school, and that trans pupils faced key issues addressed in the guidance including access to toilets, flexible uniform policies, and appropriate use of name and pronouns.

Susan Neill, vice-chair of NIC-ICTU’s Education Group, which “represents thousands of dedicated education workers from teachers to support staff,” expressed that they are “gravely concerned that this important guidance has been withdrawn and would ask that the Minister immediately publish the legal basis for the withdrawal.”

Susan added, “Given the legal uncertainty as to how the Supreme Court judgement applies to Northern Irelands devolved institutions, we believe that this is at best a premature move on the part of a Minister who would be better to focus on delivering educational outcomes for every child in every school across Northern Ireland. We are also concerned about the absence of discussion or consultation with stakeholders, and we urge the NI Assembly Education Committee to seek the legal basis for the Minister’s decision, and to seek the restoration of the guidance to the EA website.”

The detailed guidance, which placed no legal obligations on schools, explored issues including appropriate use of name and pronouns, access to facilities, and safeguarding considerations in depth. It has been replaced by a page long ‘Policy Statement’ which outlines the Department’s legal position but provides little advice to teachers for supporting young people.

Cohen Taylor, Chairperson of the NI Youth Forum has said, ”In its most recent report, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child made it clear that our government must act to protect LGBTQIA+ young people. The NI Youth Forum is committed to securing a Bill of Rights that guarantees safety, equality and dignity for every young person, including LGBTQIA+ youth. Restoring the existing guidance on supporting transgender and gender diverse young people is a necessary step towards that goal.”

Read the full statement below:

We the undersigned LGBTQIA+, human rights organisations and education unions are disappointed and concerned by the Education Minister’s decision to remove guidance which provided information to schools in relation to supporting transgender and gender diverse pupils.

Transgender young people in school are entitled to compassion, acceptance and support. The removal of guidance for supporting these young people, with no replacement guidance, is a step back for those young people struggling in school, as well as their parents and teachers seeking to support them.

The previous guidance from the Education Authority was non-statutory and non-binding, meaning schools already had scope to support pupils in a manner that suited the individual school. It is vital that schools are an inclusive, welcoming and empowering space for all pupils. This decision, taken without any meaningful consultation with the children and young people it will impact upon, is contrary to that goal.

The Department’s own 2017 research identified that appropriate access to toilets, changing facilities, and flexibility with uniform policies were key issues trans young people faced, and the key issues that caused over half of LGBT pupils to not feel supported in schools.

The Minister has clearly misunderstood that to consider children’s best interests is to consider the best interests of each individual child, including children and young people who are developing their own understanding of their identity. We are in no doubt that his decision will have direct consequences for pupils. It will affect their ability to fully participate in school life, to thrive in their educational environment, and will have knock-on impacts on other services including CAMHS.

The Minister has a responsibility to prioritise the education and wellbeing of all pupils over stoking political culture wars. We call on him to reinstate this guidance and to meaningfully engage with the young people, parents and school staff this directly affects.

The post Education Unions, Children’s Rights Groups and LGBTQIA+ Organisations call on Education Minister to Reinstate Trans Guidance appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

What’s included?

Free health checks, and information sessions on how to reduce your risk to cancer with some tips around nutrition, self-care products, alcohol, and smoking – plus refreshments.

Who’s it for?

LGBTQIA+ folks, allies and friends/family aged 50+. Come along and enjoy an empowering afternoon focusing on looking after your health!

The post Health and Wellbeing Day (50+) appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

Hosted by the inimitable Pure Bent, EUPHORIA will showcase some of the finest drag and cabaret Derry and Northern Ireland have to offer – with act announcements to come over the next month.

Doors are at 8, show starts at 8:30 and we’ll round the night off with a DJ set – keep an eye on our socials to find out who!

Come along, have a ball and support Rainbow’s work to deliver equality for LGBTQIA+ people and their families across Northern Ireland. This event is strictly over 18s.

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