This weekend, 13th and 14th April, the Constitutional Convention will discuss access to civil marriage and constitutional protection for lesbian and gay couples.

We are deeply saddened here in Gaelick towers to learn that Christopher Robson has passed away after short illness. He is survived by he partner of 35 years, Bill Foley.

The LGBT community can allow themselves a feeling of contentment this week after statements have been made, from some our more influential politicians, regarding homophobia and bullying in Ireland. Former President, Mary McAleese, has addressed not only the issues of homophobia but also the staggering impact it has over those who are the victims of it, and what their actions are as a result of this victimisation.

Cardinal Seán Brady yesterday aired the Roman Catholic church’s views concerning same-sex marriage and abortion on RTÉ Radio 1′s This Week. For a man who is so concerned with the unborn, he has a curious view of actual living human beings.

This just in from GLEN: To mark Dublin Pride, Ernst and Young will launch GLEN’s new online toolkit for employers tonight. The toolkit – Excellence In Diversity – aims to help employers realise the benefits of LGBT diversity in the workplace.

Yesterday the government introduced the Finance Bill 2012. The proposed legislation will be discussed today in the Dáil. “So far, so boring,” I hear you say. Well, yes. But, in amongst the latest raft of measures implementing economic shock doctrine in Ireland, there are provisions which affect civil partners.

Major new study into the needs and experiences of older LGBT people in Ireland is launched today.

Yesterday saw the launch of a wonderful new inititive, the ‘LGBT Diversity Programme’. A programme that strives to coordinate several LGBT groups around the country and to “facilitate LGBT organisations and activists to collectively mobilise”.

If the modern world is youth-obsessed, the modern gay world takes that to the extreme. You could go around thinking that there isn’t a gay, lesbian, bi or trans person over the age of 50, such is the lack of visibility. These are the people who created the very idea of the gay community that we now we enjoy, yet they are nowhere to be seen, eclipsed by those youngsters reaping the benefits of their fight.

In a huge leap forward, Minister Seán Haughey has launched a publication called Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students in Post Primary Schools – Guidance for Principals and School Leaders. Up until now, there was very little guidance (if any) for teachers and education officials when it came to how to treat and protect gay and lesbian school-goers. According to the Gay and Lesbian EqualityNetwork (GLEN), who worked in concert with the department in drafting it.