OUT IN UL-The University of Limerick’s Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Society presents ‘QUEERBASH V’



Out In UL, the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Society in the University of Limerick, will be hosting the 5th Annual Queerbash event on Friday 22nd February 2008 in Baker’s Place & Underground, Limerick. ‘Queerbash’ is a fundraising and social event for the LGBT community in Limerick and the Mid-West.



Queerbash 5 is geared up to be another success, as it has been for the previous 4 years. It will build on these achievements by continuing to use the event as a means for Outreach within the Lesbian, Gay & Bi-Sexual Community in the Mid-West, but also to those who are straight who just want to come along for a fantastic evening of fun in a safe and controlled environment. There will be 2 DJ’s downstairs battling it out, whilst a Charity Auction will take place, with all proceeds going to Rainbow Support Services-an LGBT resource Centre in Limerick City.



Out In UL, provides support for the LGB students on the campus of UL, as well as an active awareness program of LGB issues, chief among which lies the concept of Violence towards the Gay community. The title of the event, "Queerbash", represents a recognition of this violence, which is still ongoing within our society-Some 41% of people in a 2006 survey on Hate Crimes claimed to be a victim. Of that group, nearly 50% suffered a Physical Attack. (Source: Johnny, Hate Crimes Report 2006, Dublin: 2006). Queerbash is about raising the profile of such attacks and reneging the victim status which becomes attached to a person who has been attacked because of their sexual orientation.



The Society is also involved with other LGBT's across the country, many of whom will be in attendance at this event which is one of the longest run & premier student-run LGBT events in the country.



The Event will be run this year in conjunction with “Baby Blue Training” Conference, which is another LGBT event being hosted by Out In UL, with support from NUI Maynooth and Kildare LGBT this year. This Conference will feature workshops, discussions on various LGBT issues arising in Ireland including city vs country life, Civil Marriage Rights and Health Issues.



Tickets cost 5EUR before 11pm and 8EUR after. For further information contact outinul@yahoo.ieThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Joseph Johnson, Out In UL on 086 4094499. See http://heaven.skynet.ie



Key Facts:

Date: 22nd February 2008.
Venue: Baker Place/Underground, Limerick.
5th Anniversary of ‘Queerbash’ which grows more successful and bigger every year.
Event is for all persons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual or Straight, of an open mindset.
Being run as part of ‘Baby Blue Training’, an LGBT Conference with NUIM & Kildare LGBT.

TG4 NEED GAYS!
16 October 2007
The producers of TG4’s hit fashion and dating show, Paisean Faisean are finding it difficult to get participants for a gay episode. The show’s producers vowed to do a gay show after ex-presenter, Aoife Ni Thuairisg refused to film one.

Ni Thuairisg said that she would be unwilling to film a gay show because of her Jehovah’s Witness faith. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that homosexuality is wrong.

Ni Thuairisg has left the show since the controversy over her refusal to film a gay show arose.

The producers of Paisean Faisean say they are definitely looking for a male couple to be part of the new season.

The show will be recorded in Dublin on November 1 and 2 and it involves two half days shooting for the contestants.

“It's all just good fun and each contestant would get €250 at the end of filming,” says a member of the production team.

Paisean Faisean can be contacted at 086 854 6824 or 091 569142 or at paiseanfaisean@hotmail.com

To explain how a lesbian, gay or bisexual student ‘comes out of the closet’ you first need to know what ‘the closet’ is. The closet is simply a metaphor used to describe the idea that LGB students keep their sexual orientation hidden- whether that place is within themselves, within a college LGBT group, or within the Larger LGBT community.
At college, LGB students have to decide whether or not to be "out" about their sexuality. This does not necessarily infer being ashamed of being LGB but is because society assumes everyone is heterosexual. How many straight students ever have to come out to their parents? The same principle applies to T students – how many other students have had to question their gender and then inform their family and peers of how they feel? LGBT students come out in order to be themselves, not what society assumes they are. They do it to be honest and to avoid the exhausting and often painful process of being "in the closet".
The process of coming out is what you make it and can depend on the situation. You may stand in the middle of your campus and scream "I'm gay!", you may tell friends or colleagues out of the blue or you may just let it come out naturally in conversation, "Yeah, that concert was excellent - my boyfriend/girlfriend managed to get tickets". Often, the subtle approach is to be recommended: you may find that if you don't make being it an issue, it won't be one.
When you do come out, you can experience a variety of reactions. Positive: it's not seen as anything out of the ordinary, people are supportive. Negative: people are shocked or treat you as a different person. Unfortunately, you have to be prepared for a bad reaction because they still sometimes happen. Therefore, it is vital to carefully weigh up the pros and cons of telling particular people and have a plan of action in case things go badly: e.g. have a supportive friend with you, arrange alternative accommodation.
Coming out is a lifelong process. As long as society continues to presume that we will be forced to ‘come out’ to deny that myth. We are in the closet to every new have to make the decision every time we move house, start a new job, or start a to whom we should come out. Many people will come out more than once in their life- perhaps as lesbian first then as a bisexual, or as bisexual and then as gay. Coming out once may not be the end of the story.
When you come out to someone, you may be the first LGBT person they have ever met and they may have questions they want to ask. It's a very positive thing to promote understanding of homosexual, bisexual or transgender lifestyles but remember: at the end of the day, your life is personal. Just because people find being queer fascinating does not give them the right to invade your privacy.
A final word on coming out: it is up to the individual - you should come out because you want to, not because someone else thinks you should.

from: http://www.ucc.ie/en/SIN/welfare/Use...