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
LGBTQ+ News Brighton Fetish Week to take over St James’s Street from Saturday, August 24 Brighton Fetish Week is set to take over St James’s Street from Saturday, August 24 to Saturday, August 31 with over 30 events taking place at LGBTQ+ venues including Centre Stage, Affinity Bar, Bulldog, Revenge, Charles St Tap, Queens Arms, Nautilus Lounge, Grosvenor Bar, Broadway Bar and Marine Ta By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Vanity Williams, a 34-year-old Black trans woman, shot and killed in Houston, Texas Vanity Williams, a 34-year-old Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Houston, Texas on August 3 – the 25th, at least, violent killing of a trans or gender fluid person in the US in 2024. Speaking to reporters, Vanity’s friends described her as someone who “would always makes you smile or laugh,” By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride Coronation Street drops out of Manchester Pride parade due to ‘cost cuts at ITV’ Coronation Street has announced cast members won’t be taking part in this month’s Manchester Pride Parade for the very first time. The long-running soap, which was devised by gay screenwriter Tony Warren, has featured a large number of LGBTQ+ actors and characters on the famed cobbles over the years By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film “One of the best experiences I’ve ever had.” Elliot Page talks about Close to You, his first film since coming out as trans Actor Elliot Page has revealed that making Close to You, his first feature film since publicly coming out as trans, was “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.” In the film, which was fully improvised, Page plays Sam, a transgender man who returns home to visit his family for the first time sinc By Graham Robson • 2 min read
News “Lord knows, nobody wears more makeup than me.” Dolly Parton launches Dolly Beauty – her first make-up line Country legend and LGBTQ+ icon Dolly Parton has launched Dolly Beauty – her first make-up line – on Instagram. While Dolly Beauty will begin by releasing four lipstick shades: Jolene Red, Honey Plum, Rosebud, and Birthday Suit, the 9 to 5 songstress recently told Women’s Wear Daily that they will be By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Mental Health Mental Health Matters: What do you think of the care you receive when using community mental health services in Sussex? Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is carrying out a survey to find out what service users think about the care they received when using community mental health services in Sussex. The Trust plans to use this feedback to improve experiences, and highlight areas where they perform well and to id By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Sport An “important symbol of inclusion”. Italian sprinter, Valentina Petrillo, set to become the first trans athlete to compete at Paralympic Games Visually impaired Italian sprinter, Valentina Petrillo, 50, who is set to become the first-ever transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympic Games, believes her participation is an ‘important symbol of inclusion’. Petrillo, who transitioned in 2019, won bronze in the T12 200m and 400m at the 202 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Interviews National treasure Maisie Trollette celebrates 91st birthday Scene wishes national treasure David Raven aka Maisie Trollette a very happy 91st birthday today, with a peek back at an interview given to Brian Butler. It’s difficult to think of another drag artiste who can, in the space of an hour or so chatting in his garden flat in Kemptown, get ballet star Ru By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Pride RAF to send Lancaster plane to Leicester to celebrate Pride with the city Visitors to this year’s Leicester Pride will be given a military salute of celebration as a vintage RAF Lancaster plane will perform a commemorative Fly By during free Pride events taking place on Saturday, August 31. The vintage aircraft, which was first flown in 1945 and is one of only two Lancast By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News Curtis and Arthur, a pair of gay flamingos in Paignton Zoo, Devon, are now parents after adopting an abandoned egg and raising the chick as their own Curtis and Arthur, a pair of gay flamingos in Paignton Zoo, Devon, are now parents after adopting an abandoned egg and raising the chick as their own. The pair are some of the first flamingos to successfully hatch a chick at the zoo since 2018. To document flamingos’ breeding better, an initiative c By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Screenshot Film Film ‘Love, Venezia’ – “the world’s hottest gay love story” – prepares for festival debut Filmmaker Steve Balderson is set to captivate audiences worldwide with Love, Venezia, a poignant film featuring a diverse LGBTQ+ love story, which is woven through the enchanting canals and historic palazzos of Venice, Italy. The film trailer – especially the uncensored version – is already trending By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Welsh actor Luke Evans reveals his partner of three years, Fran Tomas, is “the best part of me” Welsh actor Luke Evans has revealed his partner of three years, Fran Tomas, is “the best part of me”. Evans, 45, and Tomas, a 34-year-old from Madrid who previously worked in construction, publicly confirmed their relationship in December 2022 after attending a gala together. In the years since, the By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Tributes pour in for Oliver Marmon, fiance of Union J’s Jaymi Hensley, who has died after falling from the window of a hotel in Northampton Tributes have poured in for ‘spiritual, gentle soul’ Oliver Marmon, 33, fiancé of Union J’s Jaymi Hensley, who has died after falling from the window of a hotel in Wellingborough, Northampton. By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News New CEO at LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, akt Adam Pemberton Wickham is to become chief executive of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity akt in October 2024. Adam, who succeeds Shān Nicholas, joins akt with a background in strategic leadership and advocacy for vulnerable groups. He is currently the Director of Strategy and Communications at Centr By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Man who attacked policer officer and another man during Brighton protest jailed for 16 months A man has been jailed for a total of 16 months for assaulting a female police officer and attacking another man during a counter-demonstration in Brighton on 7 August. Ian Ward, aged 53 from Portslade, was part of a 1,000 strong counter-demonstration, which had been organised in response to recent u By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News The Landscape of Bi+ Activism: panel event at Queer Britain in September with Lake Faith, Vaneet Mehta, Ourania Vamvaka-Tatsi and Felix Fanafron Fern This September at Queer Britain, the UK’s LGBTQ+ museum, join Lake Faith (founder of Bi Survivors Network) and Vaneet Mehta (author of Bisexual Men Exist) as they explore the importance of Bi+ activism with Ourania Vamvaka-Tatsi (co-chair of Glitter Cyrmu) and Felix Fanafron Fern (co-founder of Tran By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Brighton & Hove City Council approves further £3million to move forward restoration of Madeira Terrace At a meeting on Monday, 12 August, Brighton & Hove City Council cabinet members voted to approve a further £3million to move forward the restoration of the Grade 2* listed Madeira Terrace. Councillor Jacob Taylor, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration, sai By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Fighting With Pride, the LGBTQ+ Armed Forces charity, launches #OpCrescendo Fighting With Pride (FWP), the LGBTQ+ Armed Forces charity, has launched #OpCrescendo, a call to the entire community and supporters to contact MPs so that they can represent you at the debate for securing Financial Compensation for LGBTQ+ veterans. If you’re not sure where to start, FWP has created By Graham Robson • 2 min read
