The Strabane and Lifford Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group have resumed their monthly meetings in the town's gay bar, after an extended break due to lack of a suitable venue.
The group stopped meeting last summer when they failed to secure a venue.
Stephen Birkett, from the LGBT, said the recent opening of the Central Bar had given the group a new impetus and the members met last Sunday to organise re-starting their
monthly meetings.
"In their commitment to supporting the LGBT community, the management of the bar have offered the use of their upstairs room for the group to meet free of charge," he said.
However, Mr. Birkett conceded that the use of a licensed premises was not entirely appropriate for the needs of their group.
"The Central Bar is a great resource for our community, but the noisy, alcohol consuming atmosphere of a bar is not everyone's cup of tea. Some people find it difficult to get talking to people in a bar and it is not at all appropriate for supporting people with difficulties or for discussing the many issues that affect our community," he said.
Mr. Birkett said that the committee were going to organise activities that couldn't take place in a public bar.
"Some ideas have been video sessions where people can watch LGBT themed films like 'Brokeback Mountain' and working on a project on gay history which could be displayed to the wider public."
The group will meet there for committee business at 3pm on the first Sunday of every month.The first meeting will be on Sunday, May 4th and the first task will be to elect a new committee. Anyone who identifies as LGBT is welcome.
The members of the LGBT youth group will attend the play 'Crossroads' and workshop in the Alley theatre tomorrow, Saturday, May 3rd and if anyone is interested in coming along they should contact the group on 0798 5033545.
The full article contains 331 words and appears in Journal Friday newspaper.
