Bi+ Ireland has joined the Trans Writers’ Union boycott of the Irish Times. The Trans Writers’ Union demands that:
We fully support these demands and in our roles as Bi+ Ireland volunteers we will not share Irish Times articles from the Bi+ Ireland social media accounts; speak to or write for the Irish Times, and when we issue press releases they will not be sent to the Irish Times. We ask that you, our community members, support us in taking part in the boycott by not sharing content from the Irish Times in our community group. Transphobia has no place in Ireland and it is unconscionable that the Irish Times has taken an anti-trans editorial stance. The lives of trans and non-binary people should never be up for ‘debate’. In recent weeks we have seen an increase in anti-trans activity globally, including; the UK government’s decision to exclude transgender people from a ban on conversion therapy; the implementation of anti-trans legislation in multiple US states; attacks on trans and non-binary people taking part in sports, and the exclusion of non-binary people from our census. We have also seen an increase in violence against LGBTQIA+ people in Ireland, with the killing of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee in Sligo which Gardaí suspect were hate-related crimes, the assault of Evan Somers in Dublin, the killing of a non-binary person in Down, and the assaults of Callum Kenny, a trans man, in Louth and Saoirse Mackin, a trans woman, in Cork. These are, of course, recent incidents that have been reported in the media. You are likely also aware of attacks that have not made the news. We must be clear that the LGBTQIA+ community in Ireland includes our trans and non-binary siblings. We must be clear that we are in solidarity with each other. We must be clear that transphobia, in all its forms, will be challenged. In joining the Trans Writers’ Union boycott Bi+ Ireland reiterates our support for our trans and non-binary community members. The Trans Writers’ Union boycott petition is here https://action.uplift.ie/campaigns/boycott-the-irish-times More information can be found on the Trans Writers’ Union website https://transwritersunion.com/ Bi+ Ireland Volunteer Team Image Description A light pink background with some light blue swirls. It includes the messages "Trans Rights are Human Rights" and "B with the T" and has a little graphic of a group of people holding a trans flag on the left, and a hand holding a bi flag on the right.
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In light of the alarming rise of homophobic hate crimes, especially over the last week here in Ireland, we wanted to check in and also advise people to be extra vigilant at this time.
We know this is a distressing and stressful time for the community, especially for our community members in Dublin & Sligo. Please reach out for any support you may need, and look out for each other. Support is available from the following places: LGBT Ireland on 1800 929 539 or online at https://lgbt.ie/ The Switchboard on 01 8721055 or online at https://www.theswitchboard.ie/ TENI & LGBT Ireland on 01 907 3707 or online at https://www.teni.ie/ Please consider some of the advice shared by the Gardaí, which was developed by the MPOWER programme at HIV Ireland for keeping safe when using hook-up apps. You can read more about it here https://mpower.hivireland.ie/staying-safe-hook-up-apps/ Gardaí advise that you get a picture of the person's face from the person you intend to meet. Be cautious of a person who does not share a recent face picture with you, particularly after you have shared yours. If the person does not want to share a picture, Gardaí suggest asking them to go on a live video call. Many apps have this option built-in, so a mobile number does not have to be shared to do this. Gardaí also suggest that you ask for their social media handles. "Do you have friends in common on Instagram or Facebook? Be wary of new accounts with low follower count and few posts." It is advised that you let friends know where you are going. You should send a text to a trusted friend or in a group chat, including your live location so you can be found if you need help. Meet in a public place first. Take a few minutes to chat and feel confident you want to proceed before going somewhere private. Gardaí also suggest that you think before accepting food or drink. Unless you have seen the person prepare it, they said it is best not to accept it to avoid being spiked. If an emergency unfolds, call 999. Image Description The Progress Pride Flag The original red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, and violet stripes, devised by Gilbert Baker. On the left side, black, brown, blue, pink, and white stripes have been added in a triangle to represent LGBTQ+ people of colour, and the trans community. Our Bi+ Ireland Community space strives to be an anti-racist space.
While a majority of our mods & members are white & settled, we recognize that we benefit from societies' racism by existing as white people, and do what we can to be aware and listen to the barriers the some of us may not always see. We strive as an organization to hold space for people who are on their way to unlearning the oppressions of society, but we will not do this to the detriment of our BIPOC members & facilitators. Online Bi+ Ireland Meetup - Playing JackBox Games on Zoom will take place on Saturday 31st July 2021 at 8pm. For privacy reasons we ask you to fill out this form if you wish to participate. On the day, we will send you an email containing the link and password to join the meetup, if you don’t receive it by midday please pm us.
And if games aren’t your thing, you are free to join just for the chats, or keep an eye here for future non gaming sessions. What to Expect from a Bi+ Ireland Zoom Whatever you feel most comfortable doing, is what you should be doing. This zoom, like all Bi+ Ireland events, is there for the enjoyment and comfort of our members and that means different things to different members but each is valid. Like always our meet-ups are open to all adults under the Bi+ Umbrella and their friends, partners, carers etc. If multiple people from the same household are participating, you could all, of course, join us on the one video call. First time going to a Bi+ Ireland Meetup? Not yet a member of our lovely online community group? Feel free to send us a message and our volunteers can add you to the group and look out for you on the day. For the purpose of this event, we will be hosting over Zoom. We will be using a paid version of Zoom so there is end-to-end encryption on the call. A link to the zoom meeting and its password will be sent on the day. You are not required to download Zoom onto any device as you can access the meeting through any web browser. Nor do you have to sign up to zoom. For the purpose of this event, we will be using Jackbox.tv. Each player must have individual access to Jackbox.tv. It does not require an app download or any sign-up. Simply this allows you to select your answers from your device.If multiple people from the same household are participating, you could all, of course, join us on the one video call.. Additionally, each player must have access to a device so that they can input their answers using Jackbox.tv. While it is possible to navigate both Zoom and Jackbox from the same device, it is not ideal. Important to Note
Eg: G -Alex, O - Aaron, R - Eliza,
Useful Links To join us please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/FStb5MLWwuTrufxJ6 To see Facebook event please see: https://www.facebook.com/events/4174688182625875 Happy International Drag Day
Here at Bi+ Ireland we are lucky to say several of our members are/were incredible drag performers Bi+ Ireland condemns the murder of Samuel Luiz in A Coruña (Spain) on the night of the Saturday 3rd of July 2021.
We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Galicia and Samuel's family and friends and send them love to help them get through this terrible time. Happy Pan Visibility Day to all the Pansexuals and Panromantics out there.
Here, in Bi+ Ireland we know that Pan identities fit nicely under the Bi+ umbrella, whilst also being clear defined identities themselves. Many of our members are Pan, and today we want to take this moment to say thank you all of you for sticking with us. You are pantastic! On Sunday 25th April at 8pm, let's have a conversation, using Sussed cards as the starting point. The host will read out each question then we can each respond with our answer, discuss the differences and defend our position. For privacy reasons, we ask you to fill out this form if you wish to participate. On the day, we will send you an email containing the link and password to join the meetup, if you don’t receive it by 12pm please pm us - preferably on Facebook or Instagram.
Hi folks,
During last year in Bi+ Ireland we made a special commitment to facilitate human interaction in these isolating times through Zoom meetings and Discord chats. However, due to medical reasons, the volunteer normally taking care of them, the amazing human that is Cír Doyle, will have to step down from organising them for a while and as all our other volunteers are currently at full capacity, these meetings will have to stop for the foreseeable future. We will still be there for you in our channels and groups on Facebook, Discord, Twitter and Instagram, so please don't hesitate to get in touch or joining us in those platforms if you need social interaction. Looking forward to talking to you again and wishing Cír a speedy recovery, Bi+ Ireland We are not in the Pride season in Ireland yet, but we have already started planning!
While we don’t know the exact plan for the Bi+ Ireland season just yet we are excited at the events that have been proposed to us so far. If you have any suggestion about a good virtual event for Bi+ Ireland please do not hesitate to let us know. We can’t promise we will do it all but we will try to make this an eventful Pride season. |
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