Winners of the Best Voluntary Group at the 2017 Gala awards, the fine folk at LOOK have been providing invaluable support to the families and friends of LGBT+ people for years. Here we highlight some of the incredible team and ind out why they do what they do.

Photos by Babs Daly.

Page 01 Ann McGuinness

Formerly known as Parent’s Support, LOOK (Loving Our Out Kids) began quietly in 1980 with two sets of parents who felt that the loved ones of LGBT+ children might need help and support in adjusting to the fact of their child’s sexuality. This was a time when the Catholic Church still held sway over the country, it was also a full 13 years before decriminalisation, so tied in was the fact that homosexuality in Ireland was still a criminal offence. So while it obviously took a lot of courage for a person to come out, those who loved that person also had their own fears and worries in tandem.