New group set up for LGBT+ community

Liberate, the Channel Islands’ equality and diversity charity, wants Islanders to register their interest in the new association, which will be called ‘Out’.

The charity said the new body was in response to feedback from the community and requests for somewhere for LGBT+ people to meet.

Liberate chief executive Vic Tanner Davy 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.’

He added that there is no global movement for LGBT+ people equivalent to the likes of the WI, Scouts, Freemasons and Rotary which provide opportunities for members to socialise, pursue interests and fundraise for charity. Liberate hopes Out will fill this gap.

The new body is expected to meet once a week with a programme of activities to be decided by a committee and members.

Mr Tanner Davy added: ‘This is a new concept for the LGBT+ community, which is why we are asking for expressions of interest at this stage. 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.’

To register your interest visit liberate.je.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –