shOUT!

Lesbian? Gay? Bisexual? Transgender? 14 – 17 and 18 -21 years old? shOUT!, is a group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or simply uncertain individuals aged between 14 - 17 and 18 - 21 years.

Through weekly social meetings, we aim to provide a place where young LGBT people can be themselves, and socialise with their peers in an open and accepting environment, thus empowering the youth of the west and encouraging a similar attitude in society at large. Put simply, we meet every week to have fun with young people going through similar experiences! If you’re nervous, don’t worry. Somebody will meet you before your first shOUT! group so that you’ll have a friendly face for your first time through the door!

We also provide support to young people through text/phone (087 773 8529), email (shout@youthworkgalway.ie), and face-to-face. While we are not certified counsellors, we are here to listen, and provide non-judgmental support in whatever way we can.

***Please note that we work on a part-time basis and operate during working hours, we are not a 24 hour service. Our phone, text and email services are not generally checked outside of working hours.

The job that you are doing is about the business of creating a better world. An open world, a world free of homophobic bullying and bias. A world where people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, at whatever time of their lives they discover that about themselves that they can feel, ‘So what? So what? That’s the world. I live in a world where that’s everyday. Where nobody passes a remark on it. Nobody comments. This is how life is.’ I feel very strongly that what you are doing is such an important step by step by step growth, helping not just yourselves but actually at a much bigger level, helping all of us as community, as society, as Mums, dads, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, colleagues to one another to be a loving caring community. You’re helping us to grow and to go that journey.

So, thank you for your courage and thank you for going that journey and thank you in particular for growing that journey. Go raibh mile maith agat.

- President Mary McAleese. October 2008