Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has announced that 27 LGBTI+ projects are set to receive funding under the 2022 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call.
A total of €1,209,832 will be made available to support what the Minister describes as organisations across Ireland that assist 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.
This includes funding of €93k to TENI, the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland for a ‘Trans Awareness Hub.’
Funding of €100k will be allocated to BelongTo for an initiative called the ‘LGBTQ+ Quality Mark for Schools.’
The organisation, ShoutOut, will receive €88k for ‘educational workshops in schools and youth groups.’
The funding is being delivered as part of commitments made under The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 adopted by Government and launched in November 2019.
The strategy aims to provide ‘a whole-of-Government framework for identifying and addressing issues which may prevent LGBTI+ people from enjoying full equality in practice in Irish society.’
Welcoming the latest announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:
“Every LGBTI+ person deserves to feel safe, visible and included in their community, and that is in every village, town and city across Ireland. This €1.2m in LGBTI+ community services funding, announced today, will support community organisations nationwide to improve access for LGBTI+ people to supports and services which will help to improve their quality of life, and support them in realising their rights.”