ORGANISERS of an LGBT event in Parliament Buildings have welcomed confirmation that DUP leader Arlene Foster will attend.
The former first minister will be among guests at PinkNews's summer reception on June 28.
The event will see politicians, celebrities and representatives from civil society debate topics relating to the LGBT community, including education and same-sex marriage.
Corresponding events are scheduled to take place in Cardiff, Edinburgh and London.
Mrs Foster signalled her intention to attend in a speech to the DUP executive.
She told senior party members she had been invited by one of Northern Ireland's "largest inward investors".
John Manley: The real test for Arlene Foster's outreach will be sustaining it
The Irish News has learned that PinkNews initially invited the DUP leader before event sponsor Citi asked her to attend as its guest.
Mrs Foster, who met Muslim community leaders at an event on Friday and is expected to attend her first GAA match when Fermanagh compete in the Ulster final this weekend, told DUP members last week that she wanted to "genuinely reach out to our minority communities and show them the hand of friendship".
"I believe I can hold to my principled position, particularly in reality to the definition of marriage, while respecting the diversity across our society and recognising that sexuality is a matter for the individual," she said.
The leaders of Stormont's other main parties – Michelle O'Neill, Colum Eastwood, Naomi Long and Robins Swann – will also attend next Thursday's reception.
The DUP leader's attendance has been welcomed by LGBT campaigners.
Rainbow Project director John O'Doherty said that while it "cannot erase the decades of hurt experienced by LGBT+ people", he hoped it marked the beginning of a new relationship with the DUP "based on respect".
"This is the first time a DUP leader has attended an LGBT+ event and we hope it is the first of many such invitations that will be accepted," he said.
"While I and many in our community have been hurt by comments and actions by members of the DUP over many years, the only way we can achieve a Northern Ireland that is welcoming of all people is through dialogue, learning and of course listening."
Benjamin Cohen, chief executive and editor-in-chief at PinkNews, also said: "The decision by Arlene Foster to attend the first PinkNews event in Belfast is an important step towards encouraging a dialogue in Northern Ireland and we're delighted that there will be a number of other senior cross-party representatives attending and speaking."
