Transgender News OPINION: The impact of voter ID on trans and non-binary voters New research from Dr Ash Stokoe (Teaching Fellow at University of Birmingham) and Dr Kit Colliver (York Law School), has explored the impact that voter ID rules have on trans and non-binary voters. Dr Ash Stokoe said: “Concerns about the impact of voter ID on LGBTQ+ people are not new. In the US, ev By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride Two weeks of Pride in Bristol! Bristol Pride, a unique and important event that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, kicks off on 28 June Bristol Pride has revealed their full line up for events for this year’s festival, which takes place from 28 June – 13 July. Over 40 events will be taking place this year across two weeks in the city as the team marks their 15th Anniversary in delivering the festival. This year’s Festival Guide is n By Graham Robson • 5 min read
Exhibitions Major artists feature in St Andrews public art exhibition responding to HIV and AIDS A new exhibition featuring art and literature by people affected by HIV and AIDS will appear across St Andrews this month, curated by a student from the University of St Andrews. inter/pose is a cultural response to HIV and AIDS, and includes interactive art as well as written and spoken words by pe By Graham Robson • 4 min read
LGBTQ+ News Notts LGBT+ Network “disappointed” with “regressive” advice from Bishop of Nottingham, Patrick McKinney, who told schools not to celebrate Pride Month Notts LGBT+ Network, a Nottinghamshire charity supporting the LGBTQ+ community, has said it is “disappointed” with “regressive” advice from the Bishop of Nottingham, Patrick McKinney, who told schools not to celebrate Pride Month. McKinney, who issued new guidance for schools in the Diocese, around By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Bailey Anne Kennedy becomes first trans woman to hold the title of Miss Maryland USA Bailey Anne Kennedy has become the first trans woman to hold the title of Miss Maryland USA. In an Instagram post, the 31-year-old opened up about how her identity has played a role in her career, writing candidly about how she deals with detractors. “Not everyone has to agree with the spaces that y By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News New survey finds over half of people in the Midlands have considered moving from the region due to their identity A new study commissioned by Midlands LGBT+ Project has found that 54% of people living in the Midlands have considered moving away from the region because of their identity. The research, titled LGBT+ Life in the Midlands, highlights the progress made and the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ indiv By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Memories From The Dancefloor season 2 celebrates LGBTQ+ venues of Wales, shining a light on the history of these incredible spaces Memories From The Dancefloor season 2 has launched, celebrating Pride Month with guests including Welsh BBC broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans, drag royalty Dr Bev, DJ Ian Cottrell, former director of Welsh Women’s Institute and MP for Swansea, Sian James, and many more. Over four episodes, journalist and By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Theatre National Theatre to rerelease The Old Vic’s production of ‘Present Laughter’ with Andrew Scott to cinemas National Theatre has announced its award-winning production Present Laughter (2019) is returning to the big screen on 18 July with National Theatre Live. Directed by Matthew Warchus, audiences worldwide can watch Andrew Scott in his Olivier award-winning performance as Gary Essendine, a star actor p By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ Choirs Brighton’s LGBTQ+ Rainbow Chorus awarded grant from Postcode Society Trust to support running of RC+ workshop choir for the next 18 months Brighton’s LGBTQ+ Rainbow Chorus has been awarded a grant from Postcode Society Trust to support the running of its RC+ workshop choir for the next 18 months. This is made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Running for eight years, this award-winning LGBTQ+ group was set up to By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Pride in Education partners with Festival of Education to “address the rising challenges to trans rights and LGBTQ+ inclusive education” in the UK With only 58% of LGBTQ+ pupils feeling safe at school on a daily basis in the past 12 months (Stonewall – 2022 School Report), the seventh edition of the Pride in Education conference on 4 July is to stand as a crucial event in the fight for inclusivity and equality. This year’s conference is partne By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Merseyside Police chief constable, Serena Kennedy, apologises to LGBTs for “past witch-hunts” Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy, has made a formal apology to the LGBTQ+ community, acknowledging past homophobic witch-hunts and discriminatory law enforcement. The letter from Serena Kennedy follows apologies from Chief Constables of other forces across the country, including: By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News Progress flag raised in Wiltshire town to mark Pride Month torn down in what is being called a “hate crime” Wiltshire Police is investigating after a progress flag, which had been raised next to the Ludgershall‘s war memorial to mark Pride Month, was torn down and stolen in what is being called a “hate crime”. Officers said a male suspect was seen using ladders from a nearby work van to access the flagpol By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Richard Angell Health “This must come as a wake-up call”! Richard Angell, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, responds to figures showing 5% increase in sexually transmitted infections Figures published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have shown there were 401,800 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in England in 2023 – a 5% increase on the previous year. Key findings include: Number of gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses continue to be at record-breaking highs By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Politics Anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as ‘Posie Parker’, implies she was responsible for Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle’s downfall Anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, who also goes by the name of ‘Posie Parker’, has shifted her attention to Bristol Central for the General Election on 4 July, after threatening to stand as an independent for the Brighton Kemptown seat. The controversial figure, whose stance on trans rig By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music “A powerful anthem of resilience.” Natasha Hamilton shares official music video for her debut single release, ‘Edge of Us’ Natasha Hamilton, one third of chart topping girl band Atomic Kitten, has shared the official music video for her debut single release, Edge of Us. Blending modern sounds with timeless flair, Edge of Us harnesses a scintillating, dancefloor ready aura whilst delving into themes of love, loss, and pe By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News American Express adds gender-neutral title Mx following pressure from LGBTQ+ campaign Gender-neutral title Mx has been added to the credit card application forms of financial services company American Express following pressure from LGBTQIA+ campaign Include Mx. The 2021 Census found that 30,000 non-binary people live in England and Wales. Of the non-binary people who use a title, mo By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News “I wasn’t going to live a lie.” Eddie Izzard, who also goes by the name Suzy Izzard, reveals she knew she was trans aged 5 Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard, who also goes by the name Suzy Izzard, recently revealed that she knew she was trans at the age of five and has been living authentically ever since. Suzy, 62, unpacked her experiences of living as a trans woman to presenter Steve Denyer in LGBTQ+ pop-up radio statio By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Pride “A celebration of inclusivity with a powerful statement of visibility.” Thurrock gears up for its first Pride, kicking off this weekend! Thurrock’s first ever Pride event – a celebration of inclusivity with a powerful statement of visibility – will take place on Saturday, 8 June starting at 9.30am with a Pride Celebration Walk commencing at Purfleet Station, joined by the wider community to walk along the river front and Gray’s High By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Mental Health Queer mental health companion Voda raises £270,000 to address the UK’s LGBTQ+ “mental health crisis” Voda, a queer mental health companion created by LGBTQ+ psychotherapists, has raised £270,000 in pre-seed funding to “help combat” what it calls the UK’s LGBTQ+ “mental health crisis”. After a successful test launch in 2023, Voda secured funds from an investment round led by Freiraum Ventures, along By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Music Will Young unveils poignant new single, ‘Midnight’ Multi-award-winning British pop star Will Young has unveiled Midnight, the poignant second track from his forthcoming album Light It Up. A wistful electronic-pop number, Midnight plays out the inner dialogue of a single man in his forties – with a glint of Young’s humour in the tongue-in-cheek lyric By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Brighton & Hove’s World AIDS Day Concert raises £4,000 for local HIV charity Lunch Positive Brighton & Hove’s World AIDS Day Concert, which last year featured performances from Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, Qukulele, Rainbow Chorus, Rebelles and Resound, has announced it raised a smidge over £4,000 for local HIV charity Lunch Positive. Organisers of the annual event By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Pope Francis apologises for using “extremely homophobic language” Pope Francis has apologised following reports that he used extremely derogatory language towards gay men during a meeting of Italian Bishops. A statement from the Vatican said the Pope did not mean to offend anyone and apologised to those who were “hurt by the use of a word”. At a “private meeting” By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Brighton & Hove City Council announces refurbished MacLaren Pavilion to have gender-neutral toilets and kiosk café Brighton & Hove City Council has announced that work will begin in June to re furbish the MacLaren Pavilion at The Level. According to BHCC, the “old building is set to be converted into a new kiosk café, three separate gender-neutral toilets, and a disabled access toilet”. The work is expected to t By Graham Robson • 1 min read
FILE PHOTO: A participant holds a sign as they march during the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade, celebrating advances in LGBTQ rights and calling for marriage equality, in Tokyo, Japan April 23, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo International News “Relentless opposition” marring progress made towards equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, new publication reveals “Relentless opposition” is marring progress made towards equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, a new publication has revealed. Published ahead of Pride Month, ILGA World’s new publication Laws on Us documents the “intense amount” of legal developments that affected communities based on their sexual orient By Graham Robson • 4 min read
