LASI Board Members

Marian Clare Duggan is a PhD student in the Law Dept. at Queen’s University Belfast. Originally from North London, Marian has carried out studies into homophobia and violence in the North of England and is currently writing papers on the subject here for her doctorate. She is a keen vegan cook and the proud owner of Shania the fish.

Healy King has been working in the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland for the past eight years.

A native of Washington DC, she moved across the world “for the love of a good woman” and hasn't looked back! A former volunteer women’s officer with Foyle Friend, Healy enjoys blogging and hosting dinner parties where other people do the cooking.

Ruth McCarthy has been a queer activist since she was 16. A former TV programme maker and Creative Development Leader with BBC NI, Ruth has been creating alternative LGBT clubs, magazines and cultural events for many years and is one of the Artistic Directors of the OUTBURST Queer Arts Festival.  Now a freelance creative development worker, she is a music obsessive who will never let you borrow her records but will happily make you a mix CD.

Gail Neill Gail Neill has been working within the community and voluntary sector for 17 years as a youth work practitioner.  She has been involved in a number of equality based projects and research with marginalised young women during this time.  Gail is currently teaching in UUJ and completing a Doctorate in Childhood Studies at QUB.

Caroline McCord is an Outreach & Development Officer (Job Share) and is also responsible for member retention and recruitment.

LASI Staff

Etain O’Kane is LASI's Coordinator and has been an out proud lesbian and activist since 1993 and has been involved with LASI since the launch of 'A Mighty Silence' in 2002.  She comes to us from a policy position in the women's sector and before that worked as an LGBT development officer in the youth sector. She tells us all of her spare time is taken up with her trade union activities and studying part time towards a Masters in Creative Writing at Queens. The rest involves laughing, cooking, reading, dancing, and travelling (in that order).

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Orlaith Hendron is Development Worker with LASI. Originally from Craigavon, Orlaith has a degree in Politics and has most recently been working in the Age Sector. She was also a peer support worker with Youth Action and an active member of the Out & About young lesbian and bisexual women’s group. When she’s not working, she enjoys dining out and playing guitar.

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Mobile: 07597879630