In the lead-up to marriage equality we saw unprecedented solidarity within the LGBT community as we came together as a powerful force for positive change. So how do we keep that power harnessed?

In 2017, GCN in association with Outhouse will be running a series of Town Hall Talks at which we’ll discuss the issues affecting LGBT people in Ireland and the world today.

Over the coming months we’ll be covering a range of topics including culture, health, history, politics, pride and identity, encouraging robust discussion, led by specially invited panels of experts ad followed by informal coffee and chats in the Outhouse café.

The first GCN Town Hall Talk will centre on the enormous solidarity built up between LGBT community organisations, individuals and allies in advance of the referendum in 2015, which turned Ireland into the only country in the world to vote for same-sex marriage to be included in its Constitution. As Britain and America swing to the far right, and old and new issues emerge for LGBT people in Ireland post-referendum, we will be asking how the solidarity we harnessed can be further employed as a force for positive change.

The first confirmed panellists for our inaugural Town Hall Talk are:

Ailbhe Smyth, Convenor of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment and Executive Adviser to the YES EQUALITY Campaign.

Robbie Lawlor, Act Up Ireland and Project Manager with Plus Friends, a platform for individuals living with HIV to connect on and offline.

Una Mullally, Irish Times columnist and Chair of the Government’s independent LGBT youth strategy group.

Further panellists to be announced.

GCN in association with Outhouse, presents Town Hall Talks, ‘Ireland’s LGBT Solidarity: What’s Next?’,  at Outhouse on Saturday, January 21 at 2.30pm, tickets are free of charge and available at eventbrite.ie