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Belfast, Northern Ireland and Beyond

Mynt is a bar/club complex on Dunbar Street, close to the Albert Clock. Mynt serves food during the day. Themed events are held throughout the month.

The Kremlin Belfast's biggest gay venue, with themed events every night of the week. 96 Donegall Street, phone (028) 9080 9700.

Union Street Pub is a trendy pub just round the corner from the Kremlin (they share the same owners). It serves food during the day and hosts themed nights throughout the week.

And a pub which is not a gay venue but deserves special mention:

The John Hewitt Bar is not the sort of pub to hold discos, but is well worth a visit and located in the centre of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter (the traditional gay district). Live music five nights during the week: New Orleans Jazz on Fridays and Traditional Irish Sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. New artists are promoted on Thursdays. 51 Donegall Street, phone (028) 9023 3768.

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Lesbian Line Belfast Help line: Thurs 7.30 pm - 10 pm (028) 9023 8668. Make sure you ask about their Sunday Scene Drop-In for Lesbian and Bisexual Women which meets the 3rd Sunday of each month.

Broken Rainbow runs a Listening, Information and Signposting Helpline Service to LGBT victims/survivors of domestic violence across the UK.

Body Positive Northern Ireland Tue-Fri 2 pm - 4 pm (028) 9023 5515. 

Cara-Friend was established in 1974 as a voluntary counselling, befriending, information and social space organisation for the LGBT community. Gay men's helpline operates Mon-Wed 7.30 - 10 pm (028) 9032 2023. Email: helpline@gayhelplinebelfast.org.uk and one of their trained volunteers will respond as soon as possible.

Women's Aid 24-Hour Domestic Violence Helpline 0800 917 1414.

Metromate offers sexual health advice for gay and bisexual men.

ygm.org.uk - the website for Young Gay Men Advice and resources on coming out, health and the scene, aimed at young gay men. Backed by the Terrence Higgins Trust.

hepinfo.org provides information and resources for gay and bisexual men about Hepatitis A, B and C.

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AIDS 2000 Northern Ireland charity for the comfort and welfare of people with HIV/AIDS.

Belfast Butterfly Club The Belfast Butterfly Club is a support network for transgendered people and their families. By providing education and information, the group seeks to increase awareness, overcome discrimination and achieve equality. Helpline 028 9267 3720, Wed 8 pm - 10 pm. Contact the group at P.O. Box 210, Belfast BT1 1BG.

Belfast Pride Organizers of the annual Belfast Pride festival. For details of how to get involved, visit www.belfastpride.com .

Blackmountain Zen Centre (Belfast Meditation Centre)

The Gathering is a gay and bisexual men's group for those who want to explore & develop the spiritual aspect of who they are. Email gathering05@hotmail.co.uk.

Gay & Lesbian Across Down (GLAD) exists to facilitate safe social opportunities for LGBT people resident or visiting the Down area.

Gay Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland (GLYNI) Group for 16-25 year old young people. Meets every Monday in the Cara-Friend offices, 1st floor, Old Memorial Building, 9-13 Waring Street, Belfast BT1 2DX. Contact 07707216921 or e-mail: admin@glyni.org.uk.

Here NI works to improve the quality of life and enhance the voices of lesbians and bisexual women and their families.

LGBT Branch of National Union of Students/Union of Students in Ireland Phone: (028) 9024 4641. e-mail: convenor@nus-usi.org.uk.

Men of the North An alternative Belfast venue for gay men over 25 (singles & couples) who want to meet in a relaxed atmosphere, e-mail: info@menofthenorth.com.

Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA) Does exactly what it says on the tin. Meets first Thursday of each month. Contact them at P.O. Box 44, Belfast BT1 1SH or phone (028) 9066 5257.

Out & About is a Belfast-based group which arranges monthly walks, occasional nights out and weekend trips for the LGBT community (and their friends). Visit their website for full details of future events.

Out4Tennis is Ireland's LGBT tennis network. It was conceived in 2004 and holds tournaments around Ireland together with visits to gay tournaments in the UK and Europe. Members come from throughout the island. Most competitive members are players with their own clubs while social members may be more occasional players.

QUB LGBT Society The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender society at Queen's University, Belfast. Bigger and better for 2007-08, voted the most improved society of 2006-07. QUBLGBT currently meets once a week on the third floor of the student union and has a buddy system in place. For more information email the group or visit their website.

Rainbow Project Gay and bisexual men's physical, mental and emotional health issues. 1st floor, Old Memorial Building, 9-13 Waring Street, Belfast BT1 2DX. Telephone: (028) 9031 9030. e-mail: director@rainbow-project.org.

Southern Gay Men's Health Project 8 South Main Street, Cork, Ireland. Provides information, support and education on issues relating to sexual health, lifestyle and sexuality. Other services include one-to-one counselling, support, drop-in, prevention, outreach, helping, addiction services and a variety of support and self-awareness groups. Opening times: 10.00am - 6.00pm Mon to Fri. HELPLINE: +353 21 4271087. Email: info@gayhealthproject.com

Gay Belfast for scene news and events for the Belfast gay and lesbian community and those visiting the city.

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Belfast Exposed Established in 1983, Belfast Exposed remains Northern Ireland's only dedicated photography gallery. Belfast Exposed has traditionally focused on the development and exhibition of community photography. Through training it continues to encourage local communities to use photography to record and understand their environment. Based at The Exchange Place, 23 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FF. Phone:  02890 230 965.

Catalyst Arts Arts collective which organizes a wide range of community-based exhibitions, including the annual Belfast Pride art event. Currently located at 5 College Court, Belfast, BT1 6BS. Phone: 02890 313 303.

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Annual springtime arts event which takes place in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter - home to many of Northern Ireland's LGBT organisations.

OurStory Scotland is a recognised Scottish Charity which collects, archives and presents the life stories and experiences of the LGBT community in Scotland. This involves oral history work with all ages, including the older generation, whose stories reveal the tremendous changes that have occurred in the situation of LGBT people during their lifetime.

Outburst is Ireland's first ever queer arts festival! This annual event was staged with great success for the first time in Belfast in November 2007. Outburst 2008 promises to be even bigger and better! Visit the website or send an email for details of how to get involved.

Quire: Belfast LGBT Singers Northern Ireland's first LGBT choir formed in 2005, with an emphasis on community participation. Since then, Quire has performed at the Outburst and Cathedral Quarter Arts Festivals in Belfast, at Foyle Pride in Derry and with Gloria at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Email: info@quire.org.uk.

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Gay-Ireland.com is a WWW-based resource centre.

Multi-Cultural Resource Centre (Northern Ireland) highlights the overlooked faces of Belfast. Post: Multi-Cultural Resource Centre, 9 Lower Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NR, Phone: 028 9024 4639, fax: 028 9032 9581. e-mail: info@mcrc-ni.org.

Outlouth Drogheda's gay, lesbian and bisexual resource group serving the North East and beyond. Monthly disco 'Shout'. Phone for details at +353 (0)86 324 1579. e-mail: info@outlouth.com.

Outcomers Dundalk's gay, lesbian and bisexual social and briefing group. Drop in centre open five days a week. Helpline: +353 (0)42 935 3035. Phone for details at +353 (0)42 932 9816. e-mail: info@outcomers.org.

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Organisations based outside of, but with links to, Belfast and Northern Ireland

Amnesty International (UK) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Network Persecuted for who we are, defended by Amnesty International. post: LGBT Network, Amnesty International UK, 99-109 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4RE. Phone (020) 7417 6370.

Amnesty International (Irish Section) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Network Meet first Thursday of the month at 6.30 pm, Fleet Street. post: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Group, Amnesty International Irish Section, 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2. e-mail: lgbt@amnesty.iol.ie.

Casal Lambda Non-profit making association working for gays and lesbians in Spain. It was established in Barcelona in 1976 and today is a very important centre for gay and lesbian activities throughout Spain. Since its inception it has offered a space for meetings and guidance of gays and lesbians as well as a centre for information and documentation for professionals interested in the LGBT community.

OutRage! uses Direct Action to campaign against all forms of homophobia and to work for the emancipation of all queers. post: OutRage!, P.O. Box 17816, London. SW14 8WT. e-mail: feedback@OutRage.org.uk.

Union of Students in Ireland has supported an LGBT branch since 1993. The Annual Congress 2001 voted to make the LGBT Rights Officership a fulltime, and this position is currently held by Steve Conlon. You can contact Steve by post: Steve Conlon, LGBT Rights Officer, Union of Students in Ireland, Ceann Áras na MacLéinn, Grattan Street, Dublin 2. e-mail: lgb@usi.ie. office phone: +353 1 4353400. fax: +353 1 4353450.

In addition, visit the USI LGBT Campaign which aims to provide "students with resources relating to LGBT rights, sexual health, mental health and other LGBT issues".

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Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Statutory body established to combat discrimination and promote equality in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Assembly

The Northern Ireland Executive

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Statutory body established to ensure that the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland are fully and firmly protected in law, policy and practice. Post: Temple Court, 39 North Street, Belfast BT1 1NA. Phone (028) 9024 3987. e-mail: info@nihrc.org.

Northern Ireland Office The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Ombudsman Provides an independent, accessible, effective and free system for investigating complaints from people who claim to have suffered personal injustice through maladministration by Northern Ireland government departments, agencies, public and local bodies and the Health and Personal Social Services.

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Human Rights Unit of the OFMDFM

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