SpunOut.ie Blog
February, 2008
Release your inner hippy!
Blog: Support SpunOut.ie & BeLongTo by dancing the night away at the Wild Flowers 60's disco.
The Wildflowers disco will take place on Saturday 23rd of February in the Clarion hotel in Sligo, starting at 9pm. It costs €15 and proceeds will go to SpunOut.ie and BeLonG To Youth Project. It’s an opportunity to take out those old clothes, stick a flower in your hair and dance the night away to the sounds of the sixties and seventies in celebration of love and acceptance.
According to organiser Brian Higgins, the event is inspired by his own story and a desire to help promote acceptance in society:
“I love my life now but for many of my younger years such a statement would never have come to my lips. My world was a frightening bleak place where I desperately fled the inquisitive looks of others and wanted no one to know who I am. I felt great shame and anger, I was ashamed of my sexuality, I was angry at myself for being gay and I was angry at the world for making me feel this way.
I spoke of this to no one. I was satisfied with my life, behind an invisible wall, behind a feigned smile. Often, I drowned my feelings out with drink and drugs. There were even times when death seemed more desirable than my experience of life.
Unfortunately, stories like mine are far too familiar to young people in Ireland today and we chase them away. I saw no way of living my life in the town where I grew up and moved away.
Things were different. I met strange and wonderful people who had all kinds of ideas on what life is and how it could be. I explored my sexuality, I grew to accept myself and I saw that I could have it all, I could live a life I love and live it with the people I love, so I came home. I came home to myself and found my home to be a beautiful and exciting place. I experienced Sligo and its people in a whole new way.”
Brian Higgins was inspired to organise the Wild Flowers event after listening to SpunOut.ie Youth Board member Ian Howley, who spoke courageously about his struggle for self acceptance, his depression and suicide attempts.
Speaking about the Wild Flowers event, Brian said:
“The young people of Ireland are our future, let us create a place where that they can be fully expressed and loved no matter what their sexual orientation or social circumstance.
So, on the 23rd of February 2008:
- We’ll look fabulous in our retro rags,
- We’ll celebrate our community, our families, our friends,
- We’ll dance like nobody's watching,
- We’ll give it up for love and acceptance.”
The love lowdown
Blog: Everything you need to know about sex, relationships and Valentine's.
Here at SpunOut.ie headquarters we have a confession to make.
We’ve been holding back for a long time now, resisting the urge to shout it from the roof tops, but no more...
It’s time for us to say it: we LOVE you lot! Yes, we’re talking to YOU there, at the computer, along with all the other SpunOut.ie visitors and volunteers.
Unfortunately, we can’t send you chocs or flowers over the Internet. So, to show how much we care, we’ve put together lots of love buzz tips to help you get through Valentine's Day:
- Valentine’s survival. If you reckon it’s all nonsense, this one’s for you.
- Sex on the Valentine’s Day menu? Read this before deciding to have sex for the first time.
- Embrace singledom. Why it rocks to be single.
- Romance. How to avoid the cringe factor.
- Dating wisdom. Get sussed before going out with someone new.
- Dating tips. Pulling with perfection.
- Sexual health. Don’t forget the condoms this Thursday!
- Alcohol. Thinking of having a drink or three to calm the big date nerves? Read this first.
- Break up survival. When love ends.
Wanna share the love?! Send this article to a friend or whisper a few sweet nothings in the forum.
SpunOut.ie January digest: Cold but unconquered!
Blog: Cold, wet but fired up, what we were up to in January.
The weather might have been cold, wet and dark, but the SpunOut.ie crew at HQ were back with a bang in January. After a huge year in 2007, we’re all revved up to launch SpunOut.ie into cyber brilliance.
Some of the highlights in January included:
- Starting a major national recruitment campaign for our two new positions here at SpunOut.ie. More info at www.spunout.ie/jobs
- Posting 32 great new youth media articles, action opportunities and info factsheets to the site including; John Dunphy on the Taoiseach and corruption allegations in ‘Calling it Quits’, Louise Elliot ranting her rage in ‘Hair Agony’ and a review of the ‘I am Legend’ movie by Eric Daly.
- Starting a major website review process with 30 volunteers (including youth workers, health professionals and 16-25 year olds) to help proof, edit and plan for better site content and navigation.
- Rallying the troops at our first Youth Board gathering of 2008, which you can read about in Clare Herbert’s blog ‘SpunOutters ready for action’.
- Hosting our second Advisory Network meeting at which we met with representatives from 15 national agencies and projects, tapped their brains for ideas and expertise and shared ours.
- Welcoming Galway student, Ciarán Leinster who has joined us on work placement for the next few weeks. We have every intention of working him like crazy. Poor fella.
- Working with The Irish Examiner on a new drugs awareness feature.
- Linking with The Tubridy Show on RTE Radio One, which hosted Youth Board member Paddy Duffy on two occasions. Paddy did his thing on the topics of ‘the year in politics ’07 and movers and shakers for the year’ as well as ‘the ins and outs of lads magazines’, whilst Youth Board member Clare Herbert gave a review and prediction of ‘arts and culture in ’07 and the year ahead’. Both played blinders.
- Ruairí had his crystal ball out when he took part in The Futures Ireland consultative panel day at Croke Park, where 30 people from diverse interests across Ireland joined in a new think tank project to plan and plot for the Ireland of the future.
- We were once again generously hosted by the team at Google’s European HQ where they offered us great advice and support on developing SpunOut.ie and using our AdWords grant.
- Susan was busy developing our new marketing and communications strategy, including starting a new SpunOut.ie project with a group of Masters students at NUIG.
- We powered ahead with plans to make SpunOut.ie more youth-led by planning for solid decision making structures that ensure young people forever lead the way when it comes to SpunOut.ie and how it develops.
- Finally, we continued to make links with other groups and organisations, receive expert advice from generous individuals, develop and moderate the site, strengthen our office systems and generally get things in place for a rockin’ year ahead.
Overall, a great month that sets us up nicely for an even better year ahead. Jeez, the positivity is flowing!
Snippets of what’s up for February
- Focus groups and research into new creative marketing techniques.
- Supporting the Future’s Ireland youth consultation process.
- ‘Wild Flowers’ fundraiser for SpunOut.ie and BelongTo in Sligo.
- SpunOut.ie team presenting to the Irish League of Credit Unions conference.
- Working on the Irish Association of Adolescent Health project.
- Short-listing of interview candidates for new jobs.
