Belfast

The City of Belfast (Irish: Béal Feirste, meaning "mouth of the shoal") is the largest city of Northern Ireland and the the seat of its devolved government. It has a population of over 250,000 and the population of the greater Belfast Urban Area is more than double that. Belfast developed as a centre for the linen trade and ship building. It was severely affected by the Troubles, but its economy has prospered since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Belfast is mainly located in the historic county of Antrim but straddles the border with County Down.

Belfast is to remain a local government district in 2015, with slightly enlarged borders from the current district and the previous county borough,

LGBT history
Belfast Pride has been held annually since 1990.

The Belfast LGBT Centre was opened in 2009.

The MP H Montgomery Hyde, the television producer Paul Marquess, the television producer Julian Simmons, the singer Brian Kennedy and the activist Sam McCrory were born in Belfast.

The Belfast Butterfly Club is a support group for trans people and their families.

Belfast Front Runners has been a running and walking group for LGB&T people and their friends and supporters.

The Outburst Queer Arts Festival is held annually in November.

There is a Belfast Lesbian Line.

There are a number of gay bars, many of them concentrated in the Cathedral Quarter.

Ulster Titans is a local gay-friendly rugby team.