Kerry diocese received €1,300 last year to fund weekly group meetings for gay teens and those questioning their sexuality.
The Community Foundation of Ireland’s annual report 2012 reveals it provided Kerry Diocesan Youth Service (KDYS) with the funding last year “to support a new LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] group of 12 people to meet once weekly”.
The group now meets every week in the Tralee Youth Centre, according to the KDYS website.
The website describes the group as “a safe space for young people aged from 15-18 years, who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or questioning their sexuality”.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week, KDYS chairperson Fr Ger Godley said young people approach the organisation every week “suffering from exclusion and marginalisation”.
Fr Godley said that confusion around sexuality can be “a major issue for young people who are already dealing with very serious issues and may be quite vulnerable”.
“The funding is to put in place support services for young people who come to our drop in centres with particular issues. We offer them all the support we can give them,” he added.
KDYS describes itself as a voluntary youth work organisation providing a range of services responding to the needs of children, young people, their families and communities in the Diocese of Kerry.