With Belfast Pride just days away, the organisations backing the event are working harder than ever.
And one huge part of the LGBT community in Northern Ireland is The Rainbow Project.
Here's a quick run through of who they are, and what they do.
The Rainbow Project is a health organisation that works to improve the physical, mental & emotional health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people in Northern Ireland.
It is the largest LGBT organisation in Northern Ireland with a centre in Belfast and Derry .
History
The Rainbow Project was established in 1994 by a group of volunteers concerned about the spread of HIV among gay men in Northern Ireland.
The volunteers carried out research within the gay and bisexual communities in order to find out what type of information and support services were required.
As a result of this research, the project began to offer information on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, distributing safer sex materials and leaflets at commercial gay venues and LGBT events.
The organisation's remit grew, and went on to offer professional counselling services and advocacy support for men who had been discriminated against or been verbally, physically, and/or sexually assaulted because of their sexual orientation.
Today
The Rainbow Project now offers a number of services, with 15 full-time members of staff under the direction of a volunteer-led Board of Trustees.
It still has a strong volunteering ethos.
Values
Among its core values, The Rainbow Project believes no sexual orientation is better or worse than any other; that gender should be a representation of people's uniqueness; that its work is evidence-led; and that the individual human rights of everyone in society are valued.
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