LGBTQ+ News Council of Europe “deeply concerned” after Bulgaria’s parliament passes ban on the “promotion” of “non-traditional” sexual orientation and/or gender identity The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty, has said he was “deeply concerned” by an LGBTQ “promotion” ban passed by Bulgaria’s parliament, urging President Rumen Radev “not to sign it”. Earlier in August, the Balkan state, which does not recognise same-sex marriage or civ By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music Angel of LGBTQ+: Jade Thirlwall reflects on pushback she received for flying the LGBTQ+ flag during her time in Little Mix Jade Thirlwall, whose epic debut single Angel of My Dreams exploded on the pop scene earlier this year, has claimed LGBTQ+ scenes were cut from Little Mix’s hit single, Secret Love Song. While promoting her new single, the former Little Mix star pulled up a chair with Willam Belli from RuPaul’s Drag By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Russia “absolutely sure” its people won’t be affected by Mpox outbreak due to country’s “traditional values” Russia, which in 2023 ruled the LGBTQ+ movement to be “extremist”, before outlawing it in the country, has said it’s “absolutely sure” that the spread of Mpox is “not something we need to be afraid of” because gays don’t exist in the country. The alert declaring Mpox a clear and present danger to th By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Sport “I hope to be the first of many.” Trans sprinter Valentina Petrillo to make history as first trans athlete to compete at Paralympic Games Even before her first race at the Paris Paralympics 2024, Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo is aware she will make history as the first trans athlete to compete in the Paralympic Games. “I hope to be the first of many,” says the 50-year-old, who will compete in the 400m T12 event for visually impa By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News High Wycombe church under fire after erecting rainbow flag as part of town’s Pride celebrations All Saints Church, a 900-year-old church in High Wycombe, has been branded as ‘unbiblical’ after they erected the rainbow flag as part of the town’s Pride celebrations on Saturday, August 17. Two friends, with one of them visiting High Wycombe on Saturday, believe the actions were ‘not correct’, and By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Books New survey finds more than two dozen school librarians asked to removed LGBTQ+ books, including titles from Juno Dawson and Jessica Love, from shelves New survey data from the Index of Censorship has found more than two dozen school librarians in the UK have been asked to remove books – including This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love and ABC Pride by Louie Stowell, Elly Barnes and Amy Phelps – from school […] By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Television Ria Zmitrowicz (The Power) to join cast of BBC drama Sherwood as a queer Sheriff of Nottingham Ria Zmitrowicz (The Power) is to join the cast of BBC drama Sherwood as a “young, queer and female” Sheriff of Nottingham to help modernise the idea of the role. The TV series, set in a Nottinghamshire mining village, is inspired by real events where show creator James Graham grew up, and also stars By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music “I’m here to give back all the energy that the queer community has given to me.” Chappell Roan opens up about her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community Good Luck, Babe singer Chappell Roan, who identifies as a queer woman, has opened up about being indebted to the queer community, saying she is “here to give back all the energy that the queer community has given to me.” The pop star, who is influenced by drag aesthetic, released her debut studio al By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Theatre Nathaniel Curtis (It’s a Sin) stars in new play charting the friendship between a queer man and his straight female best friend Nathaniel Curtis (It’s a Sin), Nnabiko Ejimofor (For Black Boys…), Mariam Haque (Black Mirror) and Anthony Howell (A Thousand Blows) star in a new play focussing on the relationship between a queer man and his straight female best friend. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Dance Mariposa, choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra’s queer take on Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, to tour the UK from October 2024 Under the flickering neon lights of a distant Caribbean port, a local rent boy and a foreign sailor fall ominously in love and a young man is asked to sacrifice his gender in exchange for love and a better life… By Graham Robson • 2 min read
News “It’s beautiful to see the city come together for this event.” Hundreds of LGBTQ+ people and allies march through streets of Bath for city’s first Pride event Hundreds of LGBTQ+ people and allies marched through Bath‘s streets for the city’s first Pride event in August, holding placards and flags before joining a picnic with charity and music stalls at the Holburne Museum. Those attending said the day felt “special” and “amazing”, adding that it was an im By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Blake Lively, star of It Ends With Us, under fire after series of interviews in the 2000s come to light where the actress repeatedly used transphobic slur Blake Lively, star of romance film It Ends With Us, has come under fire after a series of interviews in the 2000s, where the actress repeatedly used a transphobic slur, were shared on social media. The interview with Elle revealed she wanted to have daughters or ‘tr**nies’ because she wants to be ab By Graham Robson • 2 min read
