Dublin Lesbian Line (DLL) will be celebrating their 40th anniversary with a night of fantastic poetry, talks, and music in the Tara Building on Friday, October 11. This anniversary is a momentous occasion for the charity organisation that has continuously supported and listened to the LGBT+ community throughout the years.

Set up in 1979, the charity is one of the oldest LGBT+ helplines in the world, promoting a team of highly trained volunteers who have diligently offered support for the community. As stated on their website, “Our goal is to provide a supportive, confidential, non-judgmental helpline to those in need and expand our service accordingly.”

Tickets sold out quickly for the 40 Years Fearless Fundraiser event due to popular demand. All funds raised from the event will be going towards the running of Dublin Lesbian Line, helping it to grow further to meet the needs of the community.

For those who grabbed a ticket, there is a night packed full of immense talent in store. Dublin-based singer Molly Sterling, founder of Big Durty Queer Cabaret:Avoca Reaction, spoken word artist and co-creator of GAA MAAD: Vickey Curtis, Irish singer Aibhe Reddy, and founder of Eastrogen Rising: a rebel cabaret: BeRn will all be performing on the night.

Speakers on the night will consist of Irish academic and LGBT+ activist, Ailbhe Smyth, former volunteers, Ger Moane and Patricia Kennedy, and DLL wellness course participant, Joanne O’Connell. The speakers will be looking at the history of the charity and the changes they have seen within the LGBT+ community over the past 40 years.

The event showed a strong push for openness, as the Eventbrite page stated, “We do not want price to be a barrier for people.” Taking place in the stunning Tara Building, there will also be wheelchair accessibility.

The Tara Building has been a beautiful space for events engaging with the LGBT+ community. In June 2019, DLL held Empowering Change in the Building, where they launched the findings from the first Irish research project into sexual harassment of LGBT+ women.

40 Years Fearless Fundraiser will be a fantastic celebration of the history of the charity and the communities they support as well as looking forward to what comes next for both. Dublin Lesbian Line’s 40th anniversary is a truly remarkable occasion for all involved.