Corks Annual LGBT Awareness week began brilliantly with yet another first

for Cork.
This year to celebrate IDAHOT (International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia) Cork
City Council launched its L!T A"areness #eek (May 12
th
-18
th
) by hoisting the $ainbo" %lag
(an international symbol o& L!T '(uality) o)er City Hall*
The Lord +ayor, together "ith City Counillors and the L!T InterAgency -teering roup,
&ormally raised the $ainbo" %lag, ("hich "as a present &rom the Lord +ayor o& -an %rancisco,
t"inned "ith Cork) to inaugurate Cork L!T A"areness #eek at .*/0pn on +onday the 12
th
*
This "as &ollo"ed by a &ormal launch in the Ci)ic O&&ices by the Lord +ayor together "ith
uest o& Honour Dr 3aul Colton, !ishop o& Cork, Cloyne and $oss* The Lord +ayor, Cllr
Catherine Clancy spoke o& her pride in raising the $ainbo" %lag o)er the city earlier, she also
looked &or"ard to a time "hen there "ould be no need &or an L!T A"areness #eek but
ackno"ledged that much "ork needed to be done to achie)e this and to change pre4udices*
atur!ay 1"
th
2-#$%& '(A)*T (ay +,ent - -i.ni. in the -ark/ Bisho$
Lu.ey0-eo$les -ark/ A &amily &riendly e)ent &or citi5ens, communities and the
city* The City6s Agencies and community groups "ill be represented7 also &ace
painting, busking and &ood stalls and e)eryone is "elcome*
The Lord +ayor, Cllr Catherine Clancy "ill )isit the 3ark to demonstrate her
support &or IDAHOT Day and the inclusion o& Lesbians, ays, !i8se9uals and
transgender people in all aspects o& the li&e o& Cork City
Homophobia is no picnic: it damages indi)iduals, &amilies, communities and our
city* Homophobia damages L!T communities and diminishes all o& us* At the
IDAHOT Day 3icnic in the 3ark "e "ant to demonstrate that e(uality and
inclusion can be &un, that a tolerant, di)erse city is a better city &or e)eryone*
The message o& the "eek is really (uite simple, lesbians, gay men, bise9uals and
trans people are your &amily members, team mates, co8"orkers, neighbours, and
residents and )isitors to Cork* As such they contribute in no small "ay to the
image o& Cork as a )ibrant, open and "elcoming City "hich is an attracti)e place
to "ork, li)e and )isit no matter "hat your se9uality*
;oin us on -aturday 1<
th
+ay bet"een 2 and 0pm in !ishop Lucey =3eople6s 3ark to support
L!T inclusion and challenge homophobia*
%or the &ull program )isit us on %acebook >Cork6s L!T A"arenesss #eek? or &ollo" us on
T"itter @CorkL!T#eek