A FESTIVAL celebrating transgender people will return to Dublin this weekend after a two year hiatus.
The arts and performance TRANS-FUSION festival returns on Friday and will run for nine days.
The festival includes workshops, art gallery viewings, film nights, and comedy shows across the main venue – the CHQ building on Dublin’s North Dock – and other venues scattered across the city.
Chair of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), Sara Phillips said that while a couple of events are specifically for trans people, most of the initiatives aim to promote awareness of transgender history and rights to the public.
“There are one or two closed events specifically on trans resilience but the majority of events are open to the public.
“Everyone is very much welcome, especially friends and allies. It’s very much a learning opportunity, to share the history and experiences of trans people with the wider public.”
“It’s about sharing the fact that trans people have not just been here for the past few years or that it has been a phase, but that we’ve been here for the past 250 years, trans people have been here forever.”
The festival first began in 2013, and is now returning for it’s fifth year in 2019 after a two year break – movement within the organisation and money issues have been cited as reasons for the hiatus.
“The main reason [for the hiatus] was that in the first year we were in a lot of change within the organisation. I had to step into the role of role of CEO for a time to keep us going,” said Ms Phillips.
“Then in the second year we didn’t have a venue or enough funding available. But we are delighted to be back this year.”
The first event will be held in the Dublin CHQ building on Friday May 31 at 7:30pm, the festival will be launched by Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty.
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