UNISON Northern Ireland

Pride 2019 & UNISON events

Wednesday 24 July 2019

UNISON are hosting and supporting a number of events across Northern Ireland to celebrate this year's Pride. 

Belfast Pride is taking place from Friday 26 July – Sunday 4 August, and this year’s Belfast Pride Parade takes place on Saturday 3 August at 1pm. We will be meeting at the Albert Clock at 12.15pm – look out for the UNISON flags.  Please walk with us and bring family and friends.    

The programme for Belfast Pride 2019 is available online here and we will be giving away programmes at hospital stalls with the Health & Social Care LGBT Staff Forum.   

As part of the programme there is a huge array of events taking place including film nights, workshops, art exhibitions, talks, drama and poetry readings, a ceili, a walking tour, a Parkrun, an inclusive church service, a picnic, dancing and singing, and a Football v Homophobia tournament.  

 

Pride Hospital Stalls

We will be running a number of hospital stalls to promote Belfast Pride with our colleagues in the HSC LGBT+ Staff Forum. Come along and pick up some rainbow lanyards, pens, Pride programmes and help us support inclusive workplaces.

Hospital Stalls run from 12 – 2pm on the following dates:

  • Wed 24 July – Lagan Valley restaurant
  • Thurs 25 July – Ulster Hospital Oasis restaurant
  • Fri 26 July – Belfast City Hospital Floor D restaurant
  • Mon 29 July – Mater Hospital Atrium
  • Wed 31 July – Antrim Area Hospital restaurant (also promoting Larne)
  • Thurs 1 August – Musgrave Hospital restaurant
  • Fri 2 August – Royal Victoria Hospital reception area
  • Thurs 15 Aug – Causeway Hospital restaurant
  • Fri 23 Aug – Altnagelvin Hospital restaurant
  • Thurs 22 Aug – Daisy Hill Hospital Restaurant
  • Mon 26 Aug - Craigavon Area Hospital Restaurant
  • Wed 28 Aug – Downe Hospital Restaurant 

 

Events

Alternative Queer Ulster at 7pm in Stormont on Sat July 27

This is an evening which gives queer people a voice at Stormont.  If you have something to say about your life or your thoughts on LGBT+ issues then you can.   You need to contact them in advance and be scheduled in to the timetable on the night. This is a free event but please book a ticket using this link to give them an idea of how many to expect.

The Future of Trans Healthcare at 1pm on Wed 31 July

UNISON is also delighted to host this event. This is an opportunity to hear about the current experience of trans people accessing healthcare and the way forward as proposed by Transgender NI. If you would like to attend, check out the page here.

Tenx9 Storytelling evening at 7.30pm in the Blackbox Belfast on Wednesday 31 July

This is a monthly event but for Pride the theme is Pride and Prejudice and they are encouraging contributions from the LGBT+ community.   It is an evening of nine people telling stories which must be true, about themselves and no longer than ten minutes. It is not about your opinion but about your story.  Stories must be submitted in advance to the organisers. If you intend to go along just to listen, be advised that there is normally a queue to get in and people often get turned away as it fills up fast.  We recommend turning up by 7pm to be guaranteed a seat. This is a free event and you can read more about it here.

Advice & A Slice evening from 5 – 7pm in the Sunflower Bar in Belfast on Fri 2 August

UNISON is hosting this event along with Thompsons Solicitors, the Equality Commission and the Public Health Agency. You can come along and get advice on employment, discrimination, general and sexual health and get a free slice of pizza.

 

Pride Throughout Northern Ireland

Larne Pride Saturday 17 August

This is the first Pride for Larne and is a one day event with music and family fun rather than a parade.  You can find out more information about the day here

Foyle Pride Sunday 18 – 25 Aug with parade (2pm) on Saturday 24 Aug  

Find out more information about this week long celebration here.

Pride As Protest Seminar 7pm on Thurs 22 Aug with guests:

  • Dave Merchant – UNISON North West region
  • Sha Gillespie – Local LGBT+ activist
  • Speaker from UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group

Trans workshops with Dave Merchant  on Fri 23 Aug

Dave will host workshops for young trans group in Derry plus a more general trans awareness workshop

Journies Gay Lives storytelling event 11am – 1pm on Fri 23 Aug in Alley Arts Theatre, Strabane

A number of local people will tell their story of coming out and living as LGBT+ people in the North West. 

Newry Pride Sun 25 Aug – Sun 1 Sept with parade (2pm) and stall on Sat 31 Aug

Newry Pride put in a bid and was selected to host the 2019 UK & Ireland Pride event.   This is an honour and a lot of work was put into the bid.  It expects to attract 20,000 people to the area.  Their Pride programme is now online here and you can also find information on their Facebook page.

Big Gay Live Karoke Night Thurs 29 Aug at 7pm

This is a fundraising event for SAIL (supporting transgender families) and takes place in Nan Rices, Newry. We have musicians who will provide live accompaniment to a song of your choice. If you are up for crooning a ballad or belting out an anthem email alexis_dickson@yahoo.co.uk with your song choice.

Also, if you work in the Health & Social Care Service and are LGBT+  you can join their mailing list by emailing your details to lgbtstaff@hscni.net and they have an online gallery of staff who are out at work to help promote visibility.  If you would like to be included, let Marianne know at that email address.