Screenshot Film “Don’t miss this night if you’re into film and queers!” Deborah Espect curates programme of short films for Margate Pride Deborah Espect, Festival Director of FilmPride, which is Brighton & Hove Pride’s Official Queer Film Festival, has curated a programme of short queer films for Margate Pride. Deborah will also be speaking at the event, which takes place on Thursday, November 28 at Tom Thumb Theatre, 2A Eastern Espla By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Film Drew Starkey and Daniel Craig had “fun” shooting sex scenes for new film QUEER, in UK cinemas from December 13 Daniel Craig‘s new movie Queer, which sees the James Bond actor play an expat who try to numb his pain with drink, drugs, and casual sex, is to be released in UK cinemas on December 13. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film sees Craig meet and then become obsessed with a younger ex-serviceman, playe By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News Trans charity Mermaids cleared of misconduct An inquiry into Mermaids has found that while the trans youth charity was mismanaged, there was no evidence of misconduct. The two-year Charity Commission investigation cleared the charity of misconduct – but concluded there had been mismanagement amid a failure to adapt as it grew ‘considerably in By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton to run Chemsex Awareness training Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton is to run Chemsex Awareness (online via Teams) on Thursday, October 31 from 10am. This training focuses on understanding sexualised drug use between men who have sex with men and how to support people engaging in chemsex. This half-day session will cover: What chemsex By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News “Let’s make a difference together!” Charles Street Tap to host World AIDS Day fundraiser for Terrence Higgins Trust Charles Street Tap, one of our favourite LGBTQ+ venues in Brighton, is hosting a star-studded fundraiser for Terrence Higgins Trust on World AIDS Day, Sunday, December 1. Head along for a massive night of raffles, fundraising and fabulous performances from 7pm: Alfie Ordinary, Drag With No Name, Bag By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Military and LGBTQ+ charities join forces to urge Prime Minister to increase cap for those affected by UK military’s ‘gay ban’ Military and LGBTQ+ charities have joined forces to urge Keir Starmer to properly fund compensation for victims of the UK military’s ‘gay ban’, which existed until 2000 and saw personnel imprisoned, bullied and assaulted for revealing their sexuality. A letter signed by over 20 of the UK’s largest L By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News (Yule Be) Home For Christmas: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas shows to raise funds for Sussex Beacon Join Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) at St Mary’s Church in Kemptown for two magical evenings filled with laughter, beautiful harmonies, and Christmas cheer that will leave you with memories to cherish. On Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21, you’ll be serenaded with seasonal songs, and e By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News Two trans women “stabbed to death” at home in Pakistan Two men armed with daggers killed two trans women at their home in Pakistan overnight before fleeing the scene, a sign of increasing violence against trans people in the country. The killings happened in Mardan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police said, adding that while motive was u By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Shawn Mendes appears to address gay rumours in preview performance of new song, The Mountain Shawn Mendes appears to have addressed gay rumours in a preview performance of his new song The Mountain. Although the official track has not yet been released, the 26-year-old played the number for his fans at a recent concert date. ‘Some days, I have a change of heart. You can say what you need to By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Aids red ribbon in doctor’s hand for World aids day and HIV virus awareness concept HIV HIV organisations “delighted” to see the removal of “unjust, homophobic and unscientific” barrier After a delay caused by the General Election and change of Government, National AIDS Trust, the British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) are happy to see the removal of the “unjust, homophobic and unscientific” barrier that prevented both people l By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Finnish version of The Traitors postponed after murder of Janne Puhakka, the country’s first openly gay ice hockey player The Finnish version of The Traitors, called Petolliset, has been postponed after 29-year-old Janne Puhakka, was killed after being allegedly shot by his ex-partner, Rolf Nordmo, 66, in the city of Espoo, Finland. Nordmo reportedly confessed to the murder after he and Puhakka, who was the country’s f By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Georgian trans activist left with concussion after being hit with a brick, just one month after the killing of another trans woman A suspect has been arrested after Nata Talikishvili, a trans activist in Georgia, was left with concussion after being hit with a brick in Tbilisi on October 20, just a month after the killing of another trans woman, Kesaria Abramidze, reflecting the worsening climate for LGBTQ+ rights in the countr By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Absolutely Fabulous creator Jennifer Saunders reveals iconic character of the show is gay Absolutely Fabulous creator Jennifer Saunders has revealed that an iconic character of the show is gay in a new 90-minute special Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, which sees Jennifer reunited with co-stars Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha and Jane Horrocks. During the chat, Jennifer (who played characte By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Annual World AIDS Day Concert to light up St Mary’s Church, Kemptown Get ready to celebrate the power of music and community as our LGBTQ+ choirs commemorate World AIDS Day with another spectacular concert at St Mary’s Church, Kemptown on December 1. The annual event – a night of unforgettable music, community, and celebration, which will honour those affected by HIV By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News More than 50 people detained after Russian authorities raid two gay bars in Moscow More than 50 people have been detained in Moscow after two gay bars experienced heavy police raids in the Russian capital on October 11. Photos and videos of these raids were posted on two pro-Russia telegram channels, with one of the posts showing masked police officers storming into the central cl By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News TV Licensing to add gender-neutral title following pressure from LGBTQ+ campaign The gender-neutral title Mx will be added to TV Licensing’s application form following pressure from LGBTQ+ campaign Include Mx. To apply for a TV licence, applicants are required to provide a title. Currently, the drop down menu features a list of 12 titles including Lord, Lady, Professor, Reverend By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sport Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven books her place in the PDC World Darts Championships after beating world number one Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven has booked her place in the PDC World Darts Championship after beating world number one Beau Greaves at Alexandra Palace. Dutchwoman Van Leuven, 28, secured her place at the PDC event, following a dominant victory over Greaves. Never before has a trans woman co By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Homophobic language heard by 78% of primary school pupils, new research finds The majority (78%) of primary school children across the UK hear homophobic language, according to new research from LGBTQ+ youth charity Just Like Us in conjunction with VotesforSchools. In a survey of 31,875 pupils across the UK, including 4,307 primary school pupils aged 9 to 11, the results show By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Film Trailer drops for award-winning trans documentary, ‘OUR DAD, DANIELLE’ Award-winning trans documentary OUR DAD, DANIELLE, which is directed by S.E. King, will be available digitally and on video on demand from Friday, November 1. The film follows Danielle Joy (DJ) Healey, a larger-than-life lawyer in Sugar Land, Texas, who at 57, came out as a trans woman and is now na By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News London Otters Rowing Club’s largest ever Rainbow Races event raises £950 for Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline London Otters RC, the UK’s only LGBTQ+ inclusive rowing club, held its largest ever Rainbow Races charity event on Saturday, October 19, which saw over 100 rowers from more than 11 different clubs race to support LGBTQ+ inclusion in rowing and raise over £950 for Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline. Rowers f By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News Football team apologises to trans community for transphobic “Too Many Balls” campaign A new football team based in Boston, United States has apologised after offending trans football players with its ‘Too Many Balls’ campaign. On the same day BOS Nation Football Club announced its name and logo, the club shared an ad about how Boston athletics has “Too Many Balls”, along with a video By Graham Robson • 2 min read
2J3WB4C People take part in a protest outside Downing Street in London, over transgender people not being included in plans to ban conversion therapy. Picture date: Sunday April 10, 2022. Transgender News Gender-critical activists, including Suella Braverman MP, Dr David Bell and Olympian Sharron Davies, sign open letter expressing ‘grave concerns’ about Conversion Therapy trans ban Gender-critical activists, including Suella Braverman MP and Olympian Sharron Davies, have signed an open letter warning Sir Keir Starmer that Labour plans to ban trans conversion therapy would risk ‘criminalising’ parents opposed to their child’s transition. More than 140 people including peers, MP By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News “I love my gay voice.” Monsters star Cooper Koch recalls not getting booked for roles because of his ‘gay voice’ Cooper Koch, one of the breakout stars of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has recalled a coach telling him that he wasn’t getting booked for roles because of his ‘gay voice’. Speaking to the Watch What Happens Live podcast, Cooper said “Yeah, that’s true,” when responding to host, Andy C By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride #PrideInLambeth: Plans in place to launch the first Lambeth Pride in 2025 Lambeth Council invited community leaders, LGBTQ+ activists, and stakeholders to discuss ‘Bringing Pride Home’ and plan the area’s first LGBTQ+ Pride celebration for summer 2025. The meeting follows on from Lambeth officially marching at Pride in London for the second year, and from the Leader’s Pri By Graham Robson • 1 min read
