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Gay and Lesbian Issues in Community Development: Supporting the 10% in Your Community
Ireland
now has significant equality legislation in place that provides
protection against discrimination in employment and in the provision of
services on a number of grounds including sexual orientation.
The Equality Authority will shortly be producing an action plan
to promote equality for lesbians and gay men.
Community Development will form a central part of this plan.
The
promotion of equality is also a key objective of the National
Anti-Poverty Strategy and recent initiatives under the strategy have
included provision for equality/poverty proofing on the basis of sexual
orientation.
In
line with these important developments, this course is designed to build
on the skills already held by those working to address disadvantage, by
allowing for discussion and exchange of ideas on issues faced by
lesbians and gay men in the communities in which they work.
This form of disadvantage has been documented by the Combat
Poverty agency report Poverty: Lesbians and Gay Men, which among other things documented
the additional problems faced by poorer gay people. These included homelessness, harassment and violence, family
breakdown and early school leaving.
On
Completion of this Workshop, participants will know how to:
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Recognise
some of the issues facing gay men and women
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Access
the supports available to lesbians and gay men
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Use
existing and new skills to work with lesbian and gay people
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Implement
some practical steps to break down barriers towards
accessing lesbian and gay service clientele
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Build
a framework towards making your service appropriate and
accessible for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
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Gay
HIV Strategies (GHS),
an NGO core funded by the Dept. of Health and Children, works to build
the capacity of the gay community to respond to gay disadvantage and
marginalisation. We
facilitate new programmes, resources and linkages between gay community
organisations and statutory bodies, community development and other
support agencies. We have been actively involved in supporting State
agencies, the Waterford Area Partnership, Health Boards, the Gardaí and
Youth organisations in developing initiatives for gay men and women.
Please
contact the LDTI office if you would like further information about this
workshop (01) 230 0640 or email ldti@gofree.indigo.ie
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