Irish in Britain – London Irish LGBT Network

Chair’s Report 2021

Our AGM for 2021 was held on October 25th and our Chair, Vanessa Monaghan, gave her report on the happenings in the group since October 2020.

This was my first full year as Chair of the LGBT Network and I’m delighted with the progress the group has made in that time. I’m also delighted with the feedback we’ve been getting from you about our events.

We started off last year with our AGM and Q&A with Celebrity Masterchef Champion, Riyadh Khalaf. We had great attendance and got someone fantastic press coverage for the event.

After that success we held monthly meet ups with musicians, film directors, activists and we’ve held nights on Housing for Older LGBTQ people and had a night celebrating our Trans Community.

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Our Life Stories

Lee’s Story: Pride is Fcuking Fun!

For Pride month, we asked our members if they would like to share their stories about their lives and what Pride means to them. The response has been amazing and we may continue these after Pride month has ended. If you would like to contribute your story, please send your story to londonirishlgbtnetwork@gmail.com

Thanks to Lee for sharing his story.

Pride is Fucking Fun

by Lee Brophy

I’m very fortunate to have parents who accepted me for my queerness no questions asked. One caveat, I had to come out to my dad twice because the first time he thought gay and bi were the same thing (if he only knew!)

It took me until I was 19 to come out as bisexual due to chronic shyness. I had been bullied for being fat by so many people that it completely destroyed my self esteem and expression. It took years of sarcasm, reverse psychology, and a really big mirror for me to undo the self sabotage. Now I separate the feedback into ‘useful’ and ‘that’s funny, I wish I thought of that’.

I don’t begrudge anyone who was horrible to me growing up. I am who I am today because of everything that has happened to me.

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Events

Virtual Event: Tonie Walsh in Conversation

London Irish LGBT Network are proud to invite you to this FREE event. What a perfect way to finish Pride month. We’re delighted to announce that we will be joined at our virtual meet up on June 28th at 8pm by Tonie Walsh, Archivist, journalist and activist.

Tonie Walsh, has been at the forefront of LGBT civil rights on the island of Ireland since 1979.

He cut his teeth as a journalist at Out magazine, Ireland’s first commercial gay periodical, and in 1988 he co-founded GCN magazine.

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