BeLonG To

BeLonG To is an LGBT youth organisation in Ireland which caters for young people aged between 14–23 years.[1] It is a registered charity and is supported by the Irish Department of Education. The service was set up in March 2003.

BeLonG To Youth Services
MottoSupporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex young people in Ireland
PredecessorOutYouth
FormationMarch 2003 (2003-03)
TypeNGO
Legal statusCharity
PurposeLGBTI+ youth service
HeadquartersParliament House, 13 Parliament Street, Dublin 2
Region served
Ireland
Membership
Anyone from the ages of 14-23
CEO
Michael Barron (2003-2013)

David Carroll (2013 - 2015)

Moninne Griffith (2015-)
Head of Operations and Fundraising, Corporate Secretary
Oisin O'Reilly
Communications and Advocacy Manager
Sinead Keane
Youth Work Manager
Gillian Brien
Main organ
Board of Directors
AffiliationsILGA, ILGYO, NYCI
Budget
€1,314,781
Staff
14
Volunteers
74
Websitebelongto.org & standup.ie
Formerly called
LGBT Youth Project

The group received funding from the European Refugee Fund in June 2011 to provide support to young refugees who seek asylum in Ireland due to persecution because of their sexual orientation.[2] In January 2012, the group was praised by the Head of Office of the UN High Commission for Refugees in Ireland for its work with LGBT refugees and was described as a "global model for best practice".[3]

History

BeLonG To has its origins in an earlier Dublin-based youth group called OutYouth, which was run by youth volunteers in conjunction with the Gay Switchboard Dublin. Due to the voluntary nature of the group its operation was sometimes sporadic. In the final years of OutYouth, the group met with other LGBT organisations in Dublin and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board to seek funding for a new youth service project. The project secured funding from the Irish Department of Education and BeLonG To was formed in March 2003.[4]

Groups

Dublin

  • BeLonG To Sunday for 14- to 17-year-olds.
  • IndividualiTy for 14 to 23-year-olds who are trans or questioning.
  • Over 18's for 18- to 23-year-olds.
  • Ladybirds for 14- to 23-year-old women who are lesbian, bisexual, trans or non-binary.

See also
  • Gay rights in the Republic of Ireland

References
  1. "About us: What is BeLonG To". BeLonG To. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  2. Burke-Kennedy, Eoin (21 June 2011). "Group wins funding for LGBT refugees". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  3. Holland, Kitty (31 January 2012). "UN praises work of LGBT group". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  4. "History of BeLonG To". BeLonG To. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.


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