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
LGBTQ+ News Man “hell-bent on violence” convicted of grievous bodily harm after attacking gay man during Bournemouth Pride Ivan Browne, 26, who was “hell-bent on violence”, has been convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent after assaulting a gay man who was leaving Bournemouth Pride with his boyfriend. The incident, which occurred at Meyrick Park in the evening on 9 July 2022, saw Browne yell at the v By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film Daniel Craig talks about “touching, real and natural” gay love scenes in new film, ‘Queer’ Daniel Craig attended a photocall for his new film Queer – an adaptation of a novella by American writer William Burroughs – during the annual Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, September 3. The actor, 56, was seen larking around with his co-star Drew Starkey, 30, as they promoted the same-sex romance By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Arts Lucy Davies announced as the new Chief Executive of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival Lucy Davies has been announced as the new Chief Executive of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival. Lucy joins Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival from her role as Executive Director at the Young Vic Theatre, where she has overseen major productions such as a 24-hour non-stop performance of The Second Wom By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Brighton & Hove Rainbow Run raises £6,000 for Brighton Rainbow Fund This year’s Brighton & Hove Rainbow Run, which took place in Hove Park on August 4, raised £6,000 for the Brighton Rainbow Fund, which distributes funds raised within the community as grants to local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects. This year’s event was bigger, better, louder and prouder than ever! Organis By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Oliver Marmon LGBTQ+ News Oliver Marmon, fiancé of Union J star Jaymi Hensley, died from head injuries after falling from a hotel window, a coroner has revealed Oliver Marmon, the fiancé of Union J star Jaymi Hensley, died from head injuries after falling from a hotel window, a coroner has revealed. Oliver, 33, died in the early hours of August 12 after falling 30 feet from the third floor of the Hind Hotel in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Paramedics an By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Music London-based queer artist Ray Laurél drops new single and video, ‘RIDE’, ahead of new EP ‘Honey, Undress Me’ London-based queer artist Ray Laurél has dropped their new single and video, RIDE, ahead of their new EP Honey, Undress Me, out November 8 on Two First Names / Polydor Records. The London-based singer-songwriter’s new single, produced by JONAH, is Ray’s first original release of 2024. Following on f By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Leathermen South create fundraiser for the Sussex Beacon ahead of Brighton Fetish Week event at The Bulldog Brighton As part of Brighton Fetish Week, the guys at Leathermen South, a group providing a supportive and safe environment for the gay ‘leather, rubber and fetish’ community of the South Coast of England, have created a fundraiser in aid of local HIV charity, the Sussex Beacon. Last month, Leathermen South By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Photo HIV HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust appoints leading UK Public Health expert, Professor Thomas Waite OBE, to board of trustees HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust has appointed Professor Thomas Waite OBE, currently Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England and a proud gay man, to their board of trustees. The appointment comes at a crucial time as there’s less than six years left to achieve the life-changing goal of ending new By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Comedy Down the Hatch queer and alternative comedy club to return to Komedia Brighton this autumn The Komedia Brighton has announced its queer and alternative comedy club Down the Hatch (Winner of ‘Best Comedy Format’ award in the 2024 Chortle Awards) will return to this autumn, with some great line-ups. Tickets HERE Komedia, which values diversity and creativity, will provide a platform for mar By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Pride Brighton & Hove Pride cancels this weekend’s Pride Dog Show due to expected hot weather Brighton & Hove Pride has cancelled its upcoming Pride Dog Show – a staple of the city’s calendar – due to expected hot weather this weekend. Organisers wrote on Instagram they had “regretfully” taken the decision for “health and safety reasons”. “The weather is forecast to be extremely hot this wee By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Photograph of legendary drag icon Miss Jason raises £510 for local HIV charity, Sussex Beacon Much joy was had at an exhibition of Daniel Taffs‘ work at on Wednesday, August 28 at Brighton Box Gallery. Local HIV charity Sussex Beacon has thanked local photographer Simon Pepper for donating a photograph of legendary drag icon Miss Jason, which was raffled off – raising a whopping £510 for th By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Fundraising News Grosvenor Bar in Hove raises £170 for local HIV charity, Lunch Positive The Grosvenor Bar in Hove raised an impressive £170 for local HIV charity Lunch Positive at its Magic Mike event on Tuesday, August 27. The Grosvenor Bar: “A huge thank you to everyone who came out to our Magic Mike Tuesday last night. Not only was it a fantastic night of fun, but your amazing […] By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride Europe’s largest trans flag to lead Leicester Pride march this Saturday This year’s Leicester Pride March will be led by an 82ft long trans flag and supported by local trans ambassador and founder of Cool2BTrans, Katie Neeves, alongside members of the local community, as it sets off from the city’s Humberstone Gate at 12pm on Saturday, August 31. The flag, which has bee By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News More than half of LGBTQ+ people report being bullied or harassed at work, according to new research published by TUC More than half (52%) of LGBTQ+ people report being bullied or harassed at work, according to new research published by the TUC. The new poll – carried out for the TUC by Number Cruncher Politics – found: Around one in five (19%) LGBTQ+ people had been exposed to verbal abuse at work in the last […] By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News HIV The Naked Truth to launch 2025 calendar and fundraise for Positive East on November 29 HIV The Naked Truth is a group of likeminded people with a mission to end HIV stigma through the arts, celebrating World AIDS Day on December 1. On November 29, the group will launch its 2025 calendar and raise funds for Positive East with Irish drag queen Drew Diva hosting live performances from Ha By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Television Production starts on second series of camp comedy series ‘PATTERNS’, starring big names including former rugby hunk Ben Cohen Patterns, a camp anthology comedy series, is to return for a second series, which is being shot across a number of London locations. Across eight episodes, a revolving cast of 75 actors will be involved, including notable guest stars such as Derek Jacobi, Annette Badland, Olivier-award winning music By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Ship Ahoy! Mr Gay Europe is going to sea for the sixteenth edition of the competition Mr Gay Europe has announced the sixteenth edition of the Mr Gay Europe finals will take place on board an all-LGBTQ+ cruise spanning nine days in late summer 2026 alongside LGBTQ+ travel company, VACAYA. In addition to enjoying an all-LGBTQ+ cruise experience, the public will really have the opportu By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News OUTtv reveals stripper competition series with RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Willam Belli OUTtv, the LGBTQ+ streaming service, has commissioned a new male-stripper reality competition series Willam’s Dark Room Duel hosted by drag icon Willam Belli (RuPaul’s Drag Race, A Star is Born, Iconic Justice). The seven-episode series, which is produced by Daddy TV and enters production in October By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music Mariah Carey has revealed her mother and sister both died on the same day over the weekend Mariah Carey has revealed her mother and sister both died on the same day over the weekend. In a heartbreaking statement the singer, 55, announced the deaths of her mom Patricia, 87, and sister Alison, 63. Mariah, 55, told People: ‘My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly By Graham Robson • 1 min read
