Books Authors Neil Bartlett and Nathan Evans to discuss publishing, writing novels, and queer past, present and future at Brighton’s Jubilee Library this weekend For its first event of 2024, Brighton LGBTIQ+ History Club will be joined by Coast Is Queer and Jubilee Library for a special event on Sunday, April 7 at Jubilee Library as they welcome two special guests on a journey through queer literature and queer history. Neil Bartlett and Nathan Evans will di By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride Pride in Gloucestershire announced as potential host of EuroPride 2027 Pride in Gloucestershire has been announced as potential host of EuroPride 2027, joining Torino Pride, Baltic Pride Vilnius and Torremolinos Pride. EuroPride, which began in London in 1992, gives special focus to one Pride event each year and can attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the para By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sport Back with a Splash! Swim England to support Pride Swim 2024, which launches this weekend to raise funds for Switchboard Swim England has announced it is supporting Pride Swim 2024 which will launch during GB Swimming Championships at London Aquatics Centre on Saturday, April 6. Open to all in the LGBTQ+ community and supportive allies, Pride Swim is a queer-led initiative developed and run by Out & Wild Events, IMPRO By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film “I just want to be a girl and finally move on.” Trans Euphoria actress Hunter Schafer says she no longer wants to play trans roles Hunter Schafer – the 25-year-old transgender star who found fame playing a trans character in hit teen drama Euphoria – has said she no longer wants to play transgender roles. Schafer, who played the character Jules Vaughn in the HBO series, said she felt she could go further as an actress by “not m By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Ugandan court “turns its back” on human rights by failing to repeal “callous” anti-LGBTQ+ law, Amnesty International says There has been a wave of violence, arrests, death penalty cases, anal examinations and evictions since the Act was approved By Graham Robson • 1 min read
HIV Terrence Higgins Trust launches survey on ageing with HIV and accessing social care HIV/sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has launched a survey for people living with HIV to find out attitudes accessing adult social care and ageing. Adult social care covers a wide range of activities to help people who are older live independently and stay well and safe. It can include s By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Application to “transform” Brighton Hippodrome gets green light by councillors The application to transform Brighton Hippodrome and Hippodrome House into a “mixed-use development”, including a performance space, hotel, shop, bar and private members’ club, was granted by councillors at Planning Committee on Wednesday, April 3. Councillor Liz Loughran, Chair of the Planning Comm By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Fundraising News Get Involved: Just Like Us launches 190 Challenge to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ young people To represent the 190 days young people spend in school each year, LGBTQ+ youth charity Just Like Us is asking you to run, row, cycle, hike or swim 190km, or create your own 190-minute challenge, to fundraise for the charity and improve the lives of LGBTQ+ young people, so they can feel safer and hap By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts Decolonise Shakespeare to celebrate queer love and joy with queer retelling of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummers Night’s Dream’ A queer retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummers Night’s Dream set in the 1970s is set to hit Sussex Student Union‘s Debating Chamber on May 3 – 5. Inspired by movies such as Labyrinth and music odf Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood Mac, this production from Decolonise Shakespeare celebrates queer love and By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News LGBTQ+ activists in Thailand celebrate after vote brings marriage equality closer LGBTQ+ activists in Thailand celebrated another victory on Tuesday, April 2 after a marriage equality bill overwhelmingly passed a first reading in the upper house, a key step bringing the country closer to becoming Asia’s third territory to legalise same-sex unions. “It’s like we’ve been embraced a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News American Express responds to petition “demanding” inclusion of non-binary people American Express has responded to a petition from LGBTQ+ campaign Include Mx, which has reached over 100 signatures, and said it is working to add the title “in the coming months.” Tom Pashby, the founder of Include Mx, started the petition because American Express in the UK requires prospective cus By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard sends thanks to Waitrose Hove and Lush Brighton for donating items to the charity’s free care packages Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard has sent thanks to Waitrose Hove and Lush Brighton for donating items such as toiletries and period products to the charity’s free care packages, which they give to any LGBTQ+ person who needs one. The charity said on Facebook: “When we distribute the packages, we pr By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride Boyzlife, Danny Beard and 911 announced for this year’s Worthing Pride Worthing Pride is to return on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6, bringing the biggest stars – alongside local LGBTQ+ stars – to Steyne Gardens. Boyzlife headline on Friday with Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden bringing the biggest hits from Boyzone and Westlife to the stage. The group will be suppo By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Lorraine conducts gay marriage on TV to mark 10 years since England and Wales’ first same-sex marriages Presenter Lorraine Kelly conducted the marriage of Welsh gay couple Luke Avaient and Gavin Sheppard live on her daytime programme Lorraine on Thursday, March 28 to mark 10 years since England and Wales’ first same-sex marriages. Nurse Gavin said the wedding was “amazing” while consultant Luke called By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News Brighton & Hove City Council to fly trans flag from town halls to mark Trans Day of Visibility on Sunday, March 31 Sunday, March 31 is Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV), which is marked every year to celebrate the bravery, resilience, joy and accomplishments of our transgender friends, family, and neighbours. To honour and celebrate trans and nonbinary communities, Brighton & Hove City Council will be flying the tr By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Private members’ club and ‘apart-hotels’ form part of new application to “transform” Brighton Hippodrome An application to transform Brighton Hippodrome and Hippodrome House into a mixed-use development including a performance space, hotel, shop, bar and private members’ club will be decided by councillors at Planning Committee on April 3. Brighton & Hove City Council has said that councillors will “co By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Pride Croydon Pride 2024 cancelled due to lack of funding Organisers of Croydon Pride have made the sad decision to cancel 2024 PrideFest, due to a “lack of funding combined with ever-increasing costs”. Instead of traditional Pride this year, organisers have announced they will instead be partnering with local venues to run a series of events in Croydon f By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Fundraising News Jonathan Bailey signed scarf and Joe Lycett’s ‘Slags’ go under the hammer for Terrence Higgins Trust’s auction at Christie’s World-class art and experiences, including Jonathan Bailey and Joe Lycett’s items, are going under the hammer at Terrence Higgins Trust’s charity auction at Christie’s in London on Monday, April 15. All lots are available to view online via The Auction Collective. Leading artists Conrad Shawcross, M By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News First wine bottles filled in Brighton by new non-binary led ethical winery The first bottles of wine are being produced using grapes grown organically (pending certification) in Sussex, Kent, and Essex by non-profit Haar Winery, led by non-binary winemaker Beck Cedar in Brighton. Beck started Haar Winery after studying for a degree in winemaking and realising the lack of n By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Transgender News TRANS * GENDER: Brighton exhibition to mark Trans Day of Visibility explores gender identity, activism, trans lives, and community The Brighton & Hove Council LGBTQ+ Workers Forum and the Ledward Centre are working together to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility (TDov) on March 31 with a photo exhibition in the main windows of the Ledward Centre, running alongside Jubilee Street, till April 5. The title of the exhibition, Trans * By Graham Robson • 2 min read
HIV University of Brighton graduate who lost both parents to AIDS awarded grant from Elton John AIDS Foundation Caroline Mukebezi, who graduated with a Master’s degree in Health Promotion from the University of Brighton’s School of Sports and Health Sciences, has been awarded $50,000 from Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) for her project aimed at improving access to HIV response for vulnerable people – especi By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Super (Trouper) celebrations in Brighton & Hove to mark 50 years since ABBA’s Eurovision win It’s 50 years since Swedish pop royalty ABBA sang their way to Eurovision victory with Waterloo at Brighton Dome on 6 April 1974. To mark the historic event, and say ‘Thank you for the music’, the city will be celebrating in style with a weekend of exciting events between 4 – 7 April. From ABBA-them By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Pride Zander Murray – one of only five ‘out’ LGBTQ+ professional footballers in the world – to co-host Leicester Pride 2024 Leicester Pride has announced that Zander Murray – one of only five ‘out’ LGBTQ+ professional footballers in the world – has been ‘signed’ to co-host Leicester Pride, as it makes its colourful return to the city on August 31. Zander will co-host the main stage at Leicester Pride 2024 – which celebra By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Paul Hook “thrilled” to be joining Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard as charity’s new CEO Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard, the charity that has provided services for LGBTQ+ people across Sussex for almost 50 years, has announced the appointment of its new chief executive. Paul Hook will take up the post on Tuesday, April 2 following four years at the helm of Asylum Matters, a charity wh By Graham Robson • 2 min read
