Equality group seeks expressions of interest in regular meeting place
LIBERATE, the Channel Islands equality and diversity charity, is inviting the LGBT+ community in the Bailiwicks to register an interest in a new association to be set up called Out.
The charity receives regular enquiries from the community about where to go to meet other LGBT+ people.
Vic Tanner Davy, CEO of Liberate Jersey, said: ‘The business model of a gay bar no longer works for various reasons, which is why they are closing across the UK including in the Channel Islands, where the population of potential customers is even smaller than the UK.
‘This demise of a physical space and the rise of cyber spaces have made it increasingly difficult for the LGBT+ community to come together.’
There is no global movement for LGBT+ people equivalent to organisations such as the WI, the Scouts, the Freemasons, or Rotary that provide members with opportunities to socialise but also to pursue interests and fundraise for charitable causes.
Liberate hopes that Out will fill this gap.
The intention is to hold a weekly evening meeting.
The programme of activities would be decided by the Out committee and membership, but might include talks, walks, meals out, cinema and theatre trips, games evenings, fundraising for charities and sharing information about LGBT+ issues happening across the world.
‘This is a new concept for the LGBT+ community, which is why we are asking for expressions of interest at this stage,’ said Mr Tanner Davy.
‘However, it is a model that continues to endure and prove popular with all sorts of exclusive groups.
‘We hope that Out will provide a space that recognises that LGBT+ people have other interests, just like everyone else, and that we deserve to have a publicly visible association that enables us to contribute to society, as other sections of society do.’
n For more information and to register your interest, please visit www.liberate.je (Jersey) or www.liberate.gg (Guernsey).
