Regional planning and developments to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) population in Northern Ireland has taken great strides in 2013 as the Rainbow Project, Here NI and Cara-Friend held Northern Ireland’s first LGBT Health conference on 27th March 2013.
This event took place in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast to explore key issues for LGB/T children, young people and their families including the barriers to monitoring sexual orientation, mental health and educational needs of young people sexual health, and transgender issues. There were a number of workshops to address these issues and they were supported by a number of prestigious speakers from the LGBT community who highlighted the range of issues evidenced through research findings which are affecting LGB/T Families and the mental health of the LGB/T population.
The event was supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA) who stated that “the PHA recognises the importance of addressing the Health and Social Wellbeing Inequalities experienced by LGB&T and were delighted to be able to support the event. The PHA was delighted to see such a great interest in the event and commend Rainbow Project, Here NI and Cara Friend for working in partnership to make the conference happen”.
Hopefully the first of many, the conference will prove to be vital for increasing the visibility of the LGB/T population in Northern Ireland. Many of the issues will also aid the recently established CYPSP LGB/T multi-agency group, led by the PHA, as they continue to plan what difference they can make to the outcomes of this group of children and young people.