New Video Launched to Coincide with 10th Anniversary of National Gay Youth Organisation

New Video Launched to Coincide with 10th Anniversary of National Gay Youth Organisation 

Thursday, 27 June 2013 

BeLonG To Youth Services, the national organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people in Ireland has launched a new video to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their foundation. 

Speaking on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary, Michael Barron, Exec. Director of BeLonG To said, “It’s been an amazing ten years and an inspiring experience to spend it with so many young people, parents and allies. We set out to provide safe spaces for LGBT young people and to work together to change Irish society. We wanted our young people would have a fair and equal shot at life.” 

BeLonG To was founded in 2003. In its first year 53 young people accessed its services, by 2013 this number had grown to over 3,000. 

BeLonG To was founded under the understanding that we lived in an unjust society and that LGBT young people were experiencing homophobia and transphobia, in schools, families and communities and that something had to be done about it. A remarkable amount of change has been affected in this time, with LGBT young people coming out at an earlier age, and in larger numbers than ever before. 

Barron continued “What has happened is truly beyond what we had ever expected. Together we became a real activist movement driven by the experiences of LGBT young people and our commitment  to affect deep social change within families, schools, community and government. We have so much more to do to insure than no young person is made suffer in any way because of they are LGBT and we will keep on fighting!“ 

To mark this special occasion we’re launching “Ten Years of BeLonGing”. It’s a short video (5mins) which shares the reflections of some of our allies including Emily Logan – Ombudsman for Children, Niall Crowley – former CEO of the Equality Authority, Senator David Norris (our Patron), Cllr. Anna Quigley (our Chairperson), Donal Óg Cusak – All Ireland Hurling Champion and Minister for Children & Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald TD. 

Speaking on the launch of the Video, Director – Aoife Kelleher said “The team and I are delighted to have produced this video in celebration of BeLonG To tenth anniversary. This is our fourth collaboration with the organisation and it has been a privilege to document the work BeLonG To does and the impact that it has on the lives of young people all over the country.” 

The video also contains contributions from young people (past and present) and staff of the organisation. You can watch the video online here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RfE8JQAGyLs