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can become a makeshift sanctuary, a safe house, o
r a party space – a place where limits transform and identities unfold. It’s a space where a café becomes a gathering place for storytelling and activism, where every shared glance or whispered secret adds a brick to the invisible foundation of a world built by us and for us. For many queer people, the very act of being requires a constant negotiation with the world around them. Whether due to safety, fear of rejection, or societal pressure, we often find ourselves modifying our behaviour, hiding aspects of ourselves, or attempting to “fit in” to avoid standing out in ways that might make us vulnerable. But when this concealment becomes a daily habit – when you’re unable to truly “fit” anywhere because you’re somehow different in a visible, unconcealable way – the need for a space where you can simply be yourself becomes urgent. Queer spaces provide that rare environment where you can express yourself without fear or shame, where you can act in a manner that is truly authentic to your inner self. These are places where the burden of hiding or modifying oneself is lifted, if only for a time. In these spaces, the constant need to justify your very existence falls away, replaced by a profound sense of belonging. Places like these are not only important; in many instances, they are life-giving and often life-saving. Queer spaces, whether they are well-known landmarks or ephemeral gatherings, hold radical potential. The history of the queer community is one of creation and reinvention, of turning the mundane into the extraordinary. Before Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, Dublin had The Phoenix Club and The Hirschfeld Centre, iconic and pioneering LGBTQ+ spaces in North Lotts and Temple Bar, respectively, from 1974 to 1987. They were vital hubs for the fight for the rights we have today, transforming the scene by providing liberating spaces at a time when LGBTQ+ groups faced a lot of hostility and negation when trying to organise and meet. The Hirschfeld Centre came to an abrupt end in 1987 following a devastating fire, an act of arson. This left a void in the community throughout the following decade, and despite the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993, there was a fundamental need for a safe space for the community. In 1996, out of the ashes of the Hirschfeld and Phoenix Club, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre was formed. Much like The Phoenix Club and Hirschfeld Centre, Outhouse has been at the forefront of agitating for social change while supporting, nurturing, and encouraging people, groups, and movements. In the years since, we have seen how a building becomes a breathing entity – a place for learning, healing, and, importantly, envisioning a brighter future. Outhouse offers a broad spectrum of programmes, services, and events designed to support the diverse and ever-evolving needs of the LGBTQ+ 22 community in Dublin and beyond. From social meetups and peer support groups, to one-to-one advocacy and crisis intervention, Outhouse serves as a vital lifeline for individuals who might otherwise be overlooked. Through community-building activities, advocacy work, and support of activists in the movement, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre is working to ensure that the voices of the marginalised and underrepresented are heard and to make the world beyond its walls safer for them. Outhouse fosters a sense of belonging, providing a platform for individuals to connect and share. Advocacy work ensures that the voices of the marginalised and underrepresented are not only heard but amplified. Outhouse is also deeply involved in supporting activists and movements, working to create a safer, more inclusive world both within the centre and beyond its walls. These queer spaces like Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre are sanctuaries, but they are also launching pads. They provide the safety necessary for exploration, for growth, and sometimes for just existing. But they also inspire us to imagine what lies beyond their walls. At Outhouse, we understand that queer space is not just about carving out a corner of the world where we are safe. It’s about building a community that extends past the immediate, a network that can connect the isolated and the marginalised, the young and the old, across the streets of Dublin, throughout Ireland, and beyond. The truth is, queer space is as much about time as it is about place. It’s about the here and now, but also about the potential for what could be. It is the bar where generations of queer people have found solace, the community centre where a young queer person might hear a story that makes them feel seen for the first time. It’s a fleeting moment on a dance floor, a shared look in a crowded room, the quiet comfort of a familiar face in an otherwise unfamiliar place. These spaces might change, they might evolve, and some might disappear, but the impact they create continues on in ways we can’t measure. In a world that is constantly shifting, where hard-won rights can be threatened in an instant, the need for queer spaces remains vital. They are the places where we recharge and regroup, where we find community and kinship, and where we remind ourselves that we are not alone. More than just physical locations, they are acts of defiance, resilience, and love. And in a society that still asks us to justify our existence, these spaces – our spaces – will always be a necessity. Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre www.outhouse.ie hello@outhouse.ie 105 Capel St, Rotunda, Dublin 1