LGBTQ+ News Lewisham Council removes Progress Pride flag following complaint from “Christian political candidate” Maureen Martin and “evangelical organisation” Christian Concern Lewisham Council in London has been forced to remove a Progress Pride flag from its Town Hall following a complaint lodged by “Christian political candidate” Maureen Martin, who accused the council of violating the Local Government Act by displaying the flag during an election period. Martin was sup By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News Trump claims children are undergoing transgender surgery during the school day Despite there being no evidence that a student has ever undergone gender-affirming surgery at a school in the United States, Donald Trump has repeated his claim that children are undergoing transition-related surgery during their school day. “Can you imagine you’re a parent and your son leaves the h By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Applications for Brighton & Hove City Council’s new Fairness Fund open for voluntary groups supporting city’s LGBTQ+ communities Brighton & Hove City Council’s new Fairness Fund for People and Fairness Fund for Place is now open for applications from local community and voluntary sector groups, including those supporting LGBTQ+ communities. The Fairness Fund for Communities, which provides one-off funding of £2,000 to communi By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sport LGBTQ+ athletes celebrate most successful Paralympics ever, coming 11th in the medal table LGBTQ+ athletes won a total of 28 medals at this year’s Paralympics in Paris, scoring the most medals ever and three more than at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News A fantastic £785 raised for transfem causes at Komedia Brighton Hardcore Rave Therapy, which runs trans-centred raves in Brighton, and Sweat, Brighton’s queer hyper pop party, raised a fantastic £785 for FiveForFive, a collective fund for transfem causes and people in the UK, on Saturday, September 7 at Komedia Brighton. Komedia, which hosted the fundraising eve By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Television Slag Wars, the search for the next international queer sex symbol, to return for second season this month OUTflix, the LGBTQ+ streaming service from OUTtv, is bringing back Slag Wars for a second season on September 17. This seven-episode season sees the return of season one hosts Rebecca More and Matthew Camp, alongside Fantasia Royale Gaga, who joins them in the search for the next international queer By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Pride Couple tie the knot at the Channel Islands’ Pride celebrations in Guernsey Freddy Palmer and Becca Morris tied the knot at the Channel Islands’ Pride celebrations in Guernsey, which, according to organisers, was the first time a wedding had taken place at the Pride event. The couple led the annual Pride parade, which saw hundreds of people walk the Pride route. Freddy said By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Television Selling Sunset drama! Chrishell Stause hints she might skip Amanza Smith’s birthday party due to Amanza’s stylist calling her a “fake lesbian” Drama has struck season eight of Netflix show Selling Sunset with the third episode of the series seeing Chrishell Stause hint she might skip Amanza Smith‘s birthday party due to a dispute with Amanza’s stylist, Sammie M. During the episode, Chrishell claims that Sammie M previously made homophobic By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Art exhibition inspired by love letters between two gay World War Two soldiers opens in Oswestry Town Museum An art exhibition inspired by love letters between two gay World War Two soldiers has opened in Oswestry Town Museum. Hundreds of the messages were sent between Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher during the war. Artist Megan Hayward collected love letters from people across the county and turned the By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sport French athlete Dimitri Pavadé comes out as gay after competing at the Paris Paralympics French athlete Dimitri Pavadé, who represented his home country at this year’s Paralympics in Paris, has come out as gay following his fourth-place finish in the men’s long jump. Pavadé, who won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, returned to the men’s long jump T64 classification final, where h By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News A new podcast ‘Hidden Belfast, Forbidden Love’ tells the story of gay people living in Belfast in the 1930s A new podcast Hidden Belfast, Forbidden Love – part of BBC Sounds’ Storytellers series – tells the story of gay people living in Belfast in the 1930s. The five-part drama, starring Desmond Eastwood and Jonathan Harden, sheds light on the forgotten diaries of linen merchant David Strain. David’s diar By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Will & Harper. (L to R) Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in Will & Harper. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024 Film Will Ferrell praised for new documentary with trans best friend, Harper Steele Will Ferrell has been praised for a new documentary with trans best friend Harper Steele, former head writer at Saturday Night Live. Three years ago, Will Ferrell was filming a movie when he received a most surprising email: his dear friend of nearly 30 years was coming out to him as a trans woman. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
International News Critics cast aspersions on appointment of new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier for twice voting against gay rights in France French media and some political opponents have cast aspersions on the appointment of new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier who, while serving in parliament in 1981, was among 155 lawmakers who voted against a law decriminalising homosexuality. Back in 1981, the 30-year-old lawmaker, who took over By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Politics Green Party suspends health spokesperson, Pallavi Devulapalli, for calling reports of rising LGBTQ+ hate crimes “mischievous” The Green Party has suspended its health spokesperson, Pallavi Devulapalli, for calling reports of rising LGBTQ+ hate crimes “mischievous”. At a general election hustings in June, Ms Devulapalli said she had “yet to meet anyone” who denied a person’s right to “dress” and “be addressed as they please By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News “It was a disability, almost.” Ben Whishaw reveals he held off from publicly coming out at the start of his career in the early 2000s Actor Ben Whishaw has revealed that he held off from publicly coming out at the start of his career in the early 2000s. Whishaw, 43, who has starred in films such as Skyfall and Paddington, said: “I think it’s down to every single person to do what’s right for them,” he explained. “For me, it’s […] By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Comedy Juno Birch crash lands into Soho Theatre from 4 – 16 November with brand new stand-up comedy show, ‘Probed’ Juno Birch, the hilariously outlandish blue alien who’d love nothing more than to speak to the manager of Earth, crash lands into Soho Theatre from 4 – 16 November and probes the absurdity of life on Earth in her brand new stand-up comedy show Probed. Expect jumbo hair, jarring fashion and hysterica By Graham Robson • 2 min read
International News “Equality is being denied on a daily basis.” LGBTQ+ couples in Hong Kong still denied equality one year on from landmark ruling One year after a landmark ruling on LGBTQ+ rights in Hong Kong, authorities need to provide an update on progress for plans to recognise same-sex partnerships in the city, Amnesty International has said. Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal ruled a year ago that the Government had a constitutional duty By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News “An incredible sum.” Legends Brighton and The Two Brewers donate £15,000 to Sussex Beacon from fundraisers held following the passing of LGBTQ+ community champion, Jason Sutton (Miss Jason) LGBTQ+ venues Legends Brighton and The Two Brewers in London have announced a fabulous £15,000 has been donated to local HIV charity Sussex Beacon from joint fundraisers held earlier this year, following the passing of the community champion and drag icon Jason Sutton (Miss Jason). In a joint statem By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Exhibitions MARILYN – The Exhibition: a rare and unprecedented glimpse into the private world of Marilyn Monroe The UK premiere of MARILYN – The Exhibition will offer a rare and unprecedented glimpse into the private world of Marilyn Monroe when it opens for a limited run at Arches London Bridge this October. From love letters, satin robes and timeless outfits to vintage shoes, make-up and accessories, this m By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Transgender News A huge £52,000 raised through Mermaids’ urgent appeal to continue supporting trans youth to grow and thrive Mermaids, the charity supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families, has thanked its supporters after a huge £52,000 was raised through its urgent appeal to help support trans youth to grow and thrive. Writing on social media, the charity said: “We did it. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Friends “shocked and heartbroken” after lesbian couple murdered in South Africa Nombulelo Bhixa, 28, and Minenhle Ngcobo, 22 – a young lesbian couple – have been murdered in South Africa, allegedly by the former male partner of one of the victims. According to media reports, on 27 August, the women were approached by Ngcobo’s ex-boyfriend before an argument ensued, during which By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Sport Sutton United Football Club, which recently signed trans Scottish goalkeeper Blair Hamilton, postpones match due to concerns around “wellbeing and safety of players” Sutton United Football Club, which recently signed trans Scottish goalkeeper Blair Hamilton, has revealed their women’s team fixture against Ebbsfleet United on Sunday, September 1 was postponed because of concerns around the safety and wellbeing of their players. The club defended the addition of H By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music Legendary singer-songwriter Sade to return with new single, ‘Young Lion’ – a tribute to her trans son, Izaak Legendary singer-songwriter Sade is to return with new single, Young Lion – her first song in years, which is a tribute to her trans son, Izaak. The song is set to appear on a benefit album titled Transa, which will be released to raise awareness for trans and non-binary artists. Released on Novembe By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News LGBTQ+ equality charity disappointed in Scottish Government’s “lack of commitment” to introduce Conversion Practices Bill Equality Network, a national LGBTQ+ equality and human rights charity, has expressed its disappointed after the Scottish Government gave no firm commitment to a timeline for legislating on Conversion Practices in Scotland in the Programme for Government announced on Wednesday, September 4. The chari By Graham Robson • 2 min read
