GLYNI – Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland

GLYNI has gone back to its youth (no pun intended) and re-opened its old drop-in service. It is being piloted at the moment with GLYNI members (as well as those undergoing our Outreach Training) to supplement our Monday night group-time which has been dedicated to training for the month of March. During this time, the young people at GLYNI will be having a bit o’craic and banter doing games, nights out and generally hanging out. At the end of the pilot, they will evaluate the re-opening of the drop-in (known as Come Out, Drop In ) to see how to make it more enjoyable and attractive to members of the other groups. GLYNI had always been a safe haven for young LGBT/Confused people to hang out as an alternative to the commercialised gay scene, and it is hoped this drop-in will help to redefine its role within the wider LGBT Community. Further details will be made available closer to the time. Come Out, Drop In has been funded by The Youth Council for Northern Ireland.

Tags: drop-in, GLYNI Events, the hive

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart. (Eleanor Roosevelt)”

At the start of April, one of GLYNI’s volunteers, and a long-standing member of the group, will be leaving for fairer fields. Jim McErlean has been in the group for just over five years now, having joined at the ripe old age of just 17! Jim, known to many as Jamie, once was part of a unique trio of members known as J-Cubed (Jim, Jody and Gymnast James). Now GLYNI is left with Just Jody!

He quickly established himself as a central character within GLYNI, with a sense of humour and modesty that struck a chord with everyone. He always had a smile for everyone, and a joke to tell to lighten the mood. His willingness to learn and to develop, to broaden his knowledge of all things gay, inspired many in the group to follow in his footsteps. Jim, along with other members of the group, quickly took over as a volunteer from the older members who had moved on. He stepped into this role with a natural flair for leadership and a drive to help others through what he himself had been experiencing and still was going through.

Liam Larmour, Volunteer Co-ordinator, says of Jim, “He has been a good friend to many in the group over the years, and leaves us with a space that will not be filled easily. Personally, he has always been like a younger brother to me. We lived close together when he joined the group, so it helped that we were from the same area. Whenever one of us had any problems at home, the other was there to help. He is the type of friend and role-model that doesn’t come into your life too often. We have some brilliant memories of the craic we used to share on the bus home after the group. I have learned a lot from him, he reminded me why I love working with GLYNI. He will be missed, but the door is always open to him”.

So, to Jim, from all the members of GLYNI past and present, we bid you good luck, keep in touch and don’t be a stranger. The only thing you take when you’re gone is what you leave behind, so from us to you.. LOVE YA!

Tags: farewell, jim

The Coming Out Resource, compiled by GLYNI and funded by The Youth Council for Northern Ireland, is ready to go to the designers!! However, we still need input from you, the young people. What we would like, are your stories and those of your families and friends, your experiences of coming out, the positives the negatives. We’d also like your experiences if you’ve been the victim of homophobia, or feel that your school/youth organisation or local community just doesn’t seem to include you in the services they provide. What can they do to help you develop more fully as a young person? You can give as much detail as you feel comfortable with, however, we ask that you omit personal details such as yours/peoples’ names and those of schools/organisations and their staff etc. We’re keen to represent as many different experiences from across Northern Ireland as possible, whether you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, curious/undecided, or trans.

So you can write them in an email, send them through text or taking it to a different level, you can also send mobile or webcam vids. You can send them by text to 07707216921 (SMS only) or by email to resource@glyni.org.uk (stories, mobile/webcam vids etc). Please note, if you send a mobile or webcam vid featuring yourself, GLYNI will assume implied consent to include this on the resource. Please ask permission from any other persons who may appear also. All mobile numbers and emails received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and will only be used in the event that we lose your contribution, or you express an interest to be kept up to date on the resource distribution.

We’d also like to hear from any youth organisations out there who have any videos (e.g. training videos, You-Tube videos) with an LGBT theme. If you would like it to be included within the resource to help other young people and their families, please email us with details.

There is limited time left, so get your say quickly. This is going to be the only resource of its kind in Northern Ireland, you should be a part of it!

What’s In Your Closet? will be launched by the Summer and will be available for distribution soon afterwards. Further details on how to get a copy will be available then.

Tags: coming out, GLYNI Events, resource, what's in your closet