


Hazell Dean, Queen of Hi-NRG, enjoys an afternoon with the Lunch Positive team
Last week Hazell Dean, Queen of Hi-NRG, was welcomed to Lunch Positive, the Brighton-based charity supporting anyone living with HIV. At their weekly lunch club Hazell got the opportunity to meet volunteers and members and see first-hand the services offered by Lunch Positive including peer-led HIV community spaces, drop-ins and
Seahaven Pride 2025 promises a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity, inclusion, and community spirit
Seahaven Pride returns for its fifth year on Saturday, 30 August, promising a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity, inclusion, and community spirit. Held at Martello Fields, the family-friendly festival will run from 12-9pm, welcoming attendees from across the Lewes district and beyond. Organised as a not-for-profit event, Seahaven Pride aims
Rylan Clark urges greater visibility for trans stories amid rising hostility
Television and radio presenter Rylan Clark has called for more representation of trans individuals in the media, highlighting what he described as a “mass wave of hate” currently affecting the community. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Clark, 36, known for his work on This Morning and Big Brother’sLatest Articles




Unions rally to support Durham Pride after Reform UK council withdraws funding
Trade unions across the North East have pledged their support for Durham Pride following a controversial decision by the newly elected Reform UK-led Durham County Council to withdraw financial backing for the annual LGBTQ+ celebration. The council, which had previously invested up to £10,000 in the event as part
Community restores Pulse Memorial Rainbow Crosswalk hours after it was painted over
In a powerful act of solidarity and defiance, members of the Orlando community have come together to restore the Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk, just hours after it was controversially painted over by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk, located outside the former Pulse nightclub, was
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove honoured with Brighton & Hove Switchboard LGBTQ+ Inclusion Award
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (Age UK WSBH) has been recognised for its commitment to inclusivity with the Brighton & Hove Switchboard LGBTQ+ Inclusion Award. The accolade was presented by Rob Sainsbury, CEO of Switchboard, to Helen Rice, CEO of Age UK WSBH, in a ceremony celebrating the
Candidates confirmed for Queen’s Park by-election
A by-election will take place to elect a new ward councillor for Queen’s Park, Brighton on Thursday, 18 September between 7am - 10pm. The by-election will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Labour councillor Tristram Burden due to a conflict of interest with his new job. TheCulture



Was Shakespeare queer ?
William Shakespeare’s sexuality, the homoerotic relationship between a talk show host and a composer, and the closeted world of Hollywood’s gay actors all feature on the London stage this month and next. Scholars and LGBTQ+ commentators are undecided about whether our greatest playwright William Shakespeare was gay orEurope

Trailblazing openly gay Czech footballer Jakub Jankto retires at just 29
Jakub Jankto, the openly gay Czech footballer, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of just 29. Jankto, who played for clubs including Udinese, Sampdoria, Getafe, and most recently Cagliari, cited a serious ankle injury and a desire to be closer to his son in Prague as
Trans American, Veronica Clifford-Carlos, challenges Dutch asylum rejection in landmark case
A 28-year-old trans woman from California has launched a legal battle in the Netherlands after her asylum application was rejected, marking the first case of its kind in Dutch courts. Veronica Clifford-Carlos, a visual artist, fled the United States citing fears for her safety under the administration of President Donald
Swedish 'Christian' bakers found guilty of discrimination after refusing to bake wedding cake for same-sex couple
A 'Christian'-owned bakery in Stockholm has been found guilty of discrimination after refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The ruling was handed down by Sweden’s Anti-Discrimination Ombudsman (DO), following a two-year investigation into the incident which occurred in 2023. The bakery, run
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Community restores Pulse Memorial Rainbow Crosswalk hours after it was painted over
In a powerful act of solidarity and defiance, members of the Orlando community have come together to restore the Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk, just hours after it was controversially painted over by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk, located outside the former Pulse nightclub, was
Nashville Pride launches urgent fundraising campaign amid ‘historic’ $250,000 shortfall
Organisers of Nashville Pride, the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in Tennessee, have launched an emergency fundraising campaign following a “historic” financial shortfall of $250,000 (approximately £197,000) that threatens the future of the annual event. The shortfall stems from a series of unexpected setbacks, including a dramatic 40% drop inPolitics

Hillary Clinton: "They will do to gay marriage what they did to abortion."
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has issued a stark warning that the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) may soon overturn the landmark ruling that legalised same-sex marriage nationwide, echoing its controversial reversal of abortion rights in 2022. In a recent interview with Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov,
Lisa Nandy wears “Protect the Dolls” shirt amid Labour’s troubled trans rights record
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has reignited the conversation around trans rights in the UK after wearing a 'Protect the Dolls' T-shirt at a Pride event in Wigan amid her party's troubled trans rights record. 'Protect the Dolls', a slogan that has emerged as a
Durham County Council, now led by Reform UK, cuts Pride funding
Durham County Council, now led by Reform UK, has announced it will withdraw all funding for the city’s annual Pride event, prompting strong reactions from LGBTQ+ advocates, trade unions, and community leaders. Deputy Council Leader Darren Grimes, a gay man himself, confirmed the decision, stating that Durham Pride “won’
Sharron Davies to be made Tory peer amid controversy over anti-trans views
British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is set to be appointed to the House of Lords by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, sparking widespread debate over her long-standing opposition to trans inclusion in women's sport. Davies, 62, has been a vocal figure in the gender-critical movement, campaigning for female-only sportsUK

Unions rally to support Durham Pride after Reform UK council withdraws funding
Trade unions across the North East have pledged their support for Durham Pride following a controversial decision by the newly elected Reform UK-led Durham County Council to withdraw financial backing for the annual LGBTQ+ celebration. The council, which had previously invested up to £10,000 in the event as part

'Christian Institute' launches legal bid to ban civil service Pride participation and rainbow lanyards
A 'Christian charity' has launched a legal bid to prohibit civil servants from wearing rainbow lanyards, participating in Pride events, and including preferred pronouns in official email signatures, arguing that such practices breach the Civil Service Code of impartiality. The 'Christian Institute', a Newcastle-based organisation with
Gareth Thomas reveals harrowing abuse: “I’ve been spat at and called an AIDS spreader”
Rugby legend Gareth Thomas has laid bare the extent of the abuse he continues to endure for being gay and HIV positive, in an interview on the Life of Bryony podcast. Speaking with Bryony Gordon, Thomas recounted being spat at in the street and called an “AIDS spreader” by twoNews

Trans creators condemn Bluesky suspensions over J.K. Rowling criticism
A growing number of trans creators have voiced outrage over what they describe as disproportionate and inconsistent moderation by social media platform Bluesky, following a series of suspensions linked to criticism of author J.K. Rowling. The controversy erupted after trans writer and YouTuber Jessie Earl, known online as Jessie
Gay Mauritian couple celebrates UK civil partnership and calls for full equality at home
Mauritian nationals Pliny Soocoormanee, who works for Peter Tatchell Foundation, and Jay Raj have officially registered their civil partnership in Birmingham - a personal milestone they describe as both a celebration of love and a statement of visibility. Their union comes just two years after the Supreme Court of Mauritius
Prince Philip’s cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten shares late Duke’s supportive words after coming out as gay
In a heartfelt revelation, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of the late Prince Philip, has shared the kind and accepting words the Duke of Edinburgh offered upon learning of his relative’s sexuality. Speaking on the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandreth, Lord Ivar recounted his surprise when Brandreth mentioned to
Rylan Clark urges greater visibility for trans stories amid rising hostility
Television and radio presenter Rylan Clark has called for more representation of trans individuals in the media, highlighting what he described as a “mass wave of hate” currently affecting the community. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Clark, 36, known for his work on This Morning and Big Brother’sLatest Articles




Unions rally to support Durham Pride after Reform UK council withdraws funding
Trade unions across the North East have pledged their support for Durham Pride following a controversial decision by the newly elected Reform UK-led Durham County Council to withdraw financial backing for the annual LGBTQ+ celebration. The council, which had previously invested up to £10,000 in the event as part
Community restores Pulse Memorial Rainbow Crosswalk hours after it was painted over
In a powerful act of solidarity and defiance, members of the Orlando community have come together to restore the Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk, just hours after it was controversially painted over by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk, located outside the former Pulse nightclub, was
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove honoured with Brighton & Hove Switchboard LGBTQ+ Inclusion Award
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (Age UK WSBH) has been recognised for its commitment to inclusivity with the Brighton & Hove Switchboard LGBTQ+ Inclusion Award. The accolade was presented by Rob Sainsbury, CEO of Switchboard, to Helen Rice, CEO of Age UK WSBH, in a ceremony celebrating the