Birmingham New exhibition at Birmingham’s Back to Backs to honour drag performer, Twiggy Twiggy – The Drag Market, a new exhibition at Birmingham’s National Trust Back to Backs, will explore the career and creative process behind one of the best-known personas of Birmingham’s queer scene. The new exhibition, opening January 26, will feature costumes and photography from the past 40 year By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Birmingham Midlands-based gay couple fighting for their relationship following Home Office rejection A married gay couple – Jack and George Scott-Lee who are both professional dancers, running a dance academy in Tipton – have been left ‘heartbroken’ after the Home Office rejected George’s partner visa, giving him just 14 days to leave the country. George, who is originally from Venezuela, arrived i By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Birmingham Objections to new apartments in Birmingham’s gay village dropped following £1million offer from developers Opposition to new apartments in Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ village has been dropped by the Nightingale Club – which is opposite the proposed development – and councillors following a pledge from the developers to pay just over £1million in noise reduction measures. The controversial 12-storey block of apar By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
Coventry and West Midlands Wolverhampton’s Pride House to fundraise after break-in On Friday, December 29, 2023, Wolverhampton’s Pride House was broken into and robbed. The door to the building was smashed open and a coffee machine was amongst the various item stolen. Police are currently appealing for those who saw or know anything to come forward and help with the investigation. By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Coventry and West Midlands Gay West Midlands Councillor Bill Gavan awarded MBE in New Year’s Honours List Councillor Bill Gavan, current Mayor of Sandwell, has been awarded an MBE for Political and Public Service, and for service to the LGBTQ+ community, in the New Year’s Honours List. Councillor Gavan was a founder chairman of Birmingham Pride, forming part of a small committee in 1996 which fundraised By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
Musical Theatre Musical Theatre Writers’ Group programme launched by Birmingham Hippodrome The Birmingham Hippodrome’s New Musical Theatre Department has announced the launch of a Musical Theatre Writers’ Group which will offer the opportunity for five writing teams to develop a new musical over the course of 12 months. Open to musical theatre artists across the UK, Musical Theatre Writer By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Coventry and West Midlands Introducing Proud Baggies FC: a new LGBTQ+ football team in the West Midlands A new competitive LGBTQ+ football team, Proud Baggies FC – “dedicated to promoting inclusivity and diversity within the sport” – has been announced in collaboration with West Bromwich Albion, Sandwell Council, and the Albion Foundation. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in fostering a By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
Birmingham Birmingham World AIDS Day tributes vandalised after candlelit vigil Following a vigil held at Birmingham’s AIDS & HIV Memorial (Ribbons) on World AIDS Day, lanterns, candles, wreathes and flowers left as tributes were vandalised. The World AIDS Day remembrance ceremony was held on December 1 at Hippodrome Square where the city’s memorial – which was unveiled exactly By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
HIV Birmingham charity Saving Lives welcomes government funding for opt-out HIV testing After it was announced by Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, that a new £20m programme would roll out opt-out blood tests for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C across 46 hospitals in England, Birmingham charity Saving Lives celebrated this great step in early diagnosis and treatment. Saving Lives str By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
Film Behind the Lashes: Birmingham’s drag scene explored in new film Filmmaker and videographer Nicola Prestage has created and released a short film, Behind the Lashes which explores Birmingham’s vivid drag scene. The film – which features interviews with some of the city’s best-known drag performers including Twiggy, Dahliah Rivers, and Divine Miss M – was commissi By Catherine Muxworthy • 3 min read
News Joe Lycett launches new podcast, Turdcast Comedian Joe Lycett has announced a new upcoming podcast, and in true Lycett-fashion it has an unusual topic. Turdcast will be a new audio series that sees celebrities sharing their “their most satisfying, horrifying and frankly awful toilet stories,” explains an official outline of the podcast. “Jo By Catherine Muxworthy • 1 min read
Birmingham INTERVIEW: Birmingham’s Fatt Butcher dazzles on The Voice Appearing on reality singing show, ‘The Voice’, drag performer and creative producer Fatt Butcher wowed the panel of coaches in a fabulous blind audition. Closing out the show on Saturday November 18, Fatt Butcher gained the ultimate accolade when all four coaches – Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, Anne-Ma By Catherine Muxworthy • 2 min read
