Sydney Queer Irish
SQI is an Irish Emigrant Community Group for LGBTQ+ friends and allies. We provide a safe meeting space for our members and promote visibility of our community in Australia.
Sydney Queer Irish was founded in 2010 and incorporated in 2015. They are grantees of the Emigrant Support Programme, run by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
We are a social group which exists to support those who identify as LGBTQ+ within and connected to the Irish and Irish-Australian community in Sydney. This includes emigrants to Australia and the Irish diaspora more broadly.
Support network
We provide an invaluable support network and sense of community and inclusion to Irish people who identify as LGBTQ+. This is a community which has often felt marginalised and unsupported in the past.
Hosting monthly social events and meetings along with larger quarterly events, we aim to increase the visibility of the group. Culminating in an annual float entry to Mardi Gras and the running of our annual ‘Paddy’s Gay’ event.
Acceptance and inclusion
Our mission is to continue to support those who identify as LGBTQ+ within and connected to the Irish community in Sydney and act as a role model for acceptance of LGBTQ+ people from other cultures and nationalities both in Australia and around the world
Working with other groups on a variety of causes we pride ourselves on being one of the most active and creative community groups around.
Creativity and community
With the support of our committee, the Irish diaspora and Irish Consulate in Sydney SQI continues to go from strength to strength. Sydney hosted World Pride in 2023 and we took part in the festivities. Creating a show-stopping float including Rainbow mirrorball harp we had 5 human walking harps, 15 support flag bearers and 60 marchers dancing to a mashup of Irish classic songs. The entry was the very essence of creativity and community.
'The Full Irish'
SQI proudly threw a street party at the base of the Harbour Bridge to close World Pride. Dubbed 'The Full Irish', the event featured a plethora of Irish and Australian performers. Fuelled by traditional Irish food, ceol agus craic we celebrated all things Irish. Only with more glitter and a touch more queer!
Get in touch
The events for the coming months are currently in our planning stage. Any interested Sydneysiders or those visiting Sydney should get in touch and get involved. Especially any new arrivals. A friendly, vibrant and most importantly fun community group awaits.