Please sit down. Make yourself comfortable, and take a deep breath. Ready? Okay. I'll break this one to you slowly. Try not to panic or hyperventilate, now.Yesterday, a conference on transgender, transsexual and transvestite issues was held in Ireland, the first such conference ever held on the island.
You're still okay. Good. Now get this. It was held, not in Dublin or Galway, but in Belfast.
Right, I can see you're sweating a little, looking a bit pale. Okay, take another breath and have a sip of water. Better now? Great. Hold onto the chair. I don't want you falling off when I tell you the next bit.
There were no protests by howling lunatics waving placards with Bible slogans outside.
Oh dear. I'd better get the smelling salts. I knew this would happen.
I'll run through that again in case the first time it seemed too unbelievable.
Yesterday, the Belfast Butterfly Club hosted the Transgender Symmetry conference at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast, and transvestites, transgendered people and transsexuals gathered alongside local politicians, community leaders, health professionals and even the police to discuss gender transition issues.
Even good old Riff Raff, Richard O'Brien himself, was on hand to listen to people debate issues facing young transgendered people and transgendered people in the workplace.
And not one altar-licking nutter was present to damn them all to hell for their loathsome sinning in the eyes of the Lord.
Pinch me, I must be dreaming. Is Northern Ireland on the verge of becoming - gulp! - an open and accepting society?
