Thanks to everyone who joined us in Dubarrys Bar on Friday 25th January 2008 for our 10th Birthday Party - the first of a series of special events to celebrate 10 years of QueerSpace!

It was fantastic to catch up with so many people who've played a part in our history (including a number of our illustrious Queers of the Year). We were treated to music from the Quire, nibbles and some yummy birthday cake.

The evening saw the recognition of two very special people - our Queers of the Decade, Mairéad McCafferty and Gareth Lee - for their enormous contribution to the lives of LGBT people in Northern Ireland over many years.

Photos from the birthday party are now online.

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Also on Friday 25th January, during our 10th Birthday Party, QueerSpace was delighted to launch a new service with the help of the Information Commissioner's Office - a Community Information Line.

The Community Information Line is a phone line with a regularly updated recorded message containing details of forthcoming LGBT community events.

And the number? It's:

Community Information Line:
028 90 890 200

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On Wednesday 14 May 2008, over 30 QueerSpace folk enjoyed a relaxing boat trip in the late Spring sunshine up the river Lagan to Stranmillis.

The timing was excellent, as little were we to know that this would be some of the best weather we were to have during the course of 2008!

With our rainbow flag flying high, we enjoyed the craic over a few drinks and nibbles.

Photos from the evening can be viewed here.

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QueerSpace launched a major photographic exhibition at Belfast's Central Library with the help of Baroness May Blood on Thursday 24th July.

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'Underexposed' is a collection of images which challenge the existing perceptions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans life in Northern Ireland and was produced by members of the QueerSpace collective.

Junior Minister Gerry Kelly MLA and Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Tom Hartley also attended the event.

They were joined by over 100 guests including members of the LGBT community, local political figures and representatives of statutory and voluntary bodies, who heard all the speakers protest against discrimination in its various guises.

Baroness Blood said "I’m here not just to support lesbian and gay people, but because I am against discrimination in any form".

Junior Minister Gerry Kelly MLA said that the vision of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister was a vibrant society free of discrimination which embraces diversity. He congratulated QueerSpace on its work to heighten the visibility of LGBT people here.

Photos from the launch event are now available. QueerSpace thanks everyone involved in making the launch a success.

The 'Underexposed' exhibition runs at Belfast Central Library from 24 July to 31 August as a special Pride event during QueerSpace's 10th Birthday year.

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Belfast Pride 2008 culminated in a fantastic Parade and Party in the Square on Saturday 2nd August. Over 7,000 people took part in the biggest Belfast Pride ever!

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In our 10th birthday year, QueerSpace was delighted to play a major part in this year's Belfast Pride with the launch of our photographic exhibition and the staging in Black Box of Life After Queen's in conjunction with the Drama Divas. Our volunteers also ran the InSpace coffee stand at the Community Fair at Custom House Square on Parade Day.

To coincide with Pride, QueerSpace commissioned a series of eye-catching sandwich boards (see photo above) which combine thought-provoking messages with humorous images. The sandwich boards certainly received plenty of attention during the parade - check this video on Belfast Telegraph TV. Our thanks to Stratagem whose financial support made the sandwich boards a reality.

QueerSpace congratulates everyone concerned for a hugely successful Belfast Pride Festival! Photos online here.