Dozens of Irish LGBTI+ community projects set to receive grants of up to €100k

Dozens of LGBTI+ community projects across Ireland are set to receive grants of up to €100,000. 

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today (December 5) announced 27 projects are set to receive a share of €1,209,832 funding under the 2022 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call. 

The money will be allocated to successful organisations to 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. 

Speaking about the news, 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 €1.2 million 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. 

"The organisations behind the funded projects are doing valuable work, providing a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone, and ensuring LGBTI+ people can be visible in their communities. I want to commend the work of those organisations, and the many volunteers who support that work, in making all LGBTI+ people feel welcome and supported." 

One hundred thousand euro has each been allocated to Belong To's nationwide LGBTQ+ Quality Mark for Schools project and the GOSHH Rainbow Development Project 2022/2023 for counties Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary. 

The Midlands LGBT+ project for counties Laois, Offaly, Kildare and Westmeath has received just over €98,000, while just under €70,000 has been allocated for rapid and self HIV testing for the transgender and non-binary community in Dublin and the greater Leinster region. 

Ninety three thousand euro has been allocated for a nationwide Trans Awareness Hub, with over €5,500 going towards Galway Traveller Movement's Traveller LGBTQI Visibility Project. 

Almost €60,000 is going towards LINC - Advocating for Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Ireland's LINClusion project, and €8,620 for Dublin Lesbian Line.  

The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021, adopted by Government and launched in November 2019, provides 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 healthy, visible and included, safe and supported and treated equally.