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Release your inner hippy!

Blog: Support SpunOut.ie & BeLongTo by dancing the night away at the Wild Flowers 60's disco.

Article by : SpunOut.ie

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.”