UK 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 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
North America 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 By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community Corner 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 By Graham Robson • 2 min read
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. The By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News 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 By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Europe 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 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community Corner 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 By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Europe 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 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Culture Controversy erupts over ‘straight-washed’ portrayal of Alan Turing in new book A newly released Australian novel has ignited a wave of controversy for its fictionalised portrayal of Alan Turing, the renowned British mathematician and World War II codebreaker, as a heterosexual man. Titled The Turing Protocol, the book has been criticised for "straight-washing" Turing’s life, erasing his identity By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community Corner 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 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Culture Trailblazing gay actor Tramell Tillman joins Marvel’s 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Emmy-nominated actor Tramell Tillman, best known for his chilling portrayal of Seth Milchick in Apple TV+’s Severance, has officially joined the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth instalment in the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man saga. The news, confirmed by multiple sources including Variety, marks Tillman’s Marvel Cinematic By Graham Robson • 1 min read
North America 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 in By Graham Robson • 1 min read
