From May 13 to 19, Cork has planned a series of events across the city to celebrate LGBT+ Awareness week, chosen to coincide with the date of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biophobia which takes place on 17 May.

The proceedings began yesterday with a launch hosted by the Lord Mayor, Tony Fitzgerald, accompanied by Cork’s LGBT Community Choir – Choral Con Fusion. 

As part of awareness celebrations, civic leaders and representatives of the city’s business community will symbolically raise the rainbow flag over Cork County Hall and Cork Chamber. This is also to highlight the fact that Cork was the first place in Ireland to formally raise the flag or a civic or public building.

There will be a series of discussions over the course of the week. These include, ‘Being Gay And Grey’; addressing the needs of older LGBT+ communities in an aging Ireland, ‘House of STEM presents’; speaking of LGBT+ people and their allies in the field of science, and the Community Health Network informing of new groups initiated for the parents of LGBT+ children, with Kate Moynihan of LINC and Padraig Rice of Cork Gay Project.

There will also be a screening of the documentary ‘The 34th – The Story Of Marriage Equality In Ireland’, with post-screening discussions by Minister Katherine Zappone, DYCA, lm director Linda Cullen, Grainne Healy and Denise Charlton of Marriage Equality and Kevin Donoghue of Forsa/former President USI 2015.

The week will conclude with a Rainbow Picnic in the People’s Park; a family fun day with food stalls and musical performances.

The organisers stated, “LGBT+ organisations, public agencies, elected representatives and community organisations within the city have flown the flag for LGBT+ inclusion, this year we invite you to join us as an ally and fly the flag too to help create a city that is truly a republic of equals”.