BE HONEST. Did you ever think that you would see the day? We have just survived the first 'Wexford Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Visibility Week' without major upset. Whew!

The time was not so long ago when RTE tiptoed up to the topic of homosexuality and suggested to David Norris that he should be interviewed about his strange leanings with a paper bag over his head. The young Senator in the making bravely insisted that there was no need to disguise his identity and a brave first step was taken towards seeing LGBT'S (work it out for yourselves) as normal.

Norris's look-at-me approach genuinely was courageous as homosexual acts could attract criminal prosecution at the time. A generation later, our children happily laugh at 'Modern Family' while a few bob of taxpayers' money was channelled into 'Visibility Week' through Wexford Local Development whose staff assisted in running the event. No major public outcry. No wrathful thunderbolts.

The revolution in attitude has come about so fast that there is already room for self mockery. The Visibility programme included a stimulating talk and slideshow on the 'Irish Queer Archive'. Just as it has become acceptable for Irish people generally to call themselves Paddies, so it has become amusing for LGBT'S to be queer, at least amongst themselves.

There is no doubt but that being gay is more socially acceptable than it once was and this is reflected in legislation on civil partnership and the like. The stigma that attached to being thought L,G,B or even T has diminished. Research in Britain suggests that it has become socially unremarkable for young heterosexual men to kiss fellow males, in view of others, on the lips, as a form of greeting and a display of friendship.

Yet let no one believe that all is cosy on the Wexford LGBT front. It is notable that the programme for Visibility Week was presented almost entirely in Wexford town. The other three main towns in the county were catered for with low-key briefing sessions, while Wexford had the high profile parties and presentations, celebrity speeches and seminars. Yet, surely there are just as likely to be gays in Gusserane, lesbians in Liskenfere and bisexuals in Bunclody?

Gay Wexford's chairman Paul Cullen agrees that the action is very much centred on his home town. Otherwise, only Gorey is beginning to make moves to provide services or social outlets, prompted by a couple of teenage suicides in recent years of gay youths who were unable to come to terms with their sexuality. Such tragedies underline that being a LGBT is no-one's idea of an easy option.

The brochure for Visibility Week suggests that there are probably 8,700 LGBT'S in the Model County, yet only a small percentage of these are fully out of the cupboard. The literature mentions the aim of 'increasing the visibility of the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and making Wexford a safer, more accepting place to be.' The reality is that the community referred to is at a very early stage of development.

Paul Cullen recalls that when he left the CBS in Wexford as recently as 1996 there were no gays in the school. Fifteen years later, he is aware that some of the 8,700 Wexford LGBT'S are married, maybe with children. For to declare their true orientation would not only be traumatic for them but could be felt as a betrayal by those to whom they are closest.

While Wexford probably is a 'safer, more accepting' place than it once was, stepping out of the straight line must still be a scary move for any teenager. So, Paul Cullen and Gay Wexford find themselves pulled two ways. On the one hand, they are keen to provide social activities for like minded individuals who just want the craic. On the other, they look to offer counselling to those for whom being out in the open is downright daunting.

How Paul must wish at times that he was in California rather than Clonard. He has spent time in San Francisco and speaks of his experiences there with enthusiasm of a city which has a huge gay movement.

He admits that when he comes home from the Pacific coast, he wonders why it is such a big deal to be LGBT in Wexford and why his fellow citizens here are not quite as understanding as those in San Fran. He finds himself actively trying to alter this state of affairs.

'It is a slow process but we need to make some ground,' says the man from Gay Wexford. 'We are trying to promote the positive end of things. It is not still the Dark Ages.' Contact Gay Wexford at (086) 6658661 or email info.gaywewxford@gmail.com.