Graham Robson

LGBTQ+ News

OPINION: Robert Brown, a gay man selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for Kemptown Ward by-election, talks to Scene

Gay man Robert Brown, who has has been selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for the Kemptown Ward by-election, talks to Scene magazine about the state of Brighton’s ‘gay village’ and the future of Brighton & Hove Pride street parties on St James’s Street. Since standing in the May 2023 local elect

By Graham Robson • 3 min read

LGBTQ+ News

Speak Out: protest at Russian Embassy in London against Putin’s increasing persecution of LGBTQ+ communities

On Saturday 16 March, protestors attended the London Speak Out against Putin’s increasing persecution of LGBTQ+ communities and in solidarity with Russian LGBTs who are fighting back. The rally, which took place outside the Russian Embassy in London and was jointly organised by All Out and the Peter

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

Pride

Brighton & Hove Pride 2024 announces first ever sober dance tent in collaboration with Sober Bright’Huns with Tonic

Brighton & Hove Pride has announced its first ever sober dance tent at this year’s 2024 FABULOSO event at Preston Park, Brighton on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August. Serving the new face of sobriety, the dance tent will provide a sober and safe space for festival goers to enjoy the most of what the […

By Graham Robson • 2 min read

LGBTQ Choirs

Actually Gay Men’s Chorus announce ‘Gays and Dolls’ at Brighton Open Air Theatre in May

Join Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (ActuallyGMC) for an unforgettable evening under the stars at Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) on Thursday, May 16 at 7pm. Don’t miss out on surprises and heart-soaring moments as ActuallyGMC celebrates love, acceptance, and self-discovery in a fabulous musical extrava

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

LGBTQ+ News

Paralympian Lauren Rowles becomes charity patron of Just Like Us to support its “vital” work

Paralympian Lauren Rowles has become a new patron of Just Like Us, the LGBTQ+ young people’s charity, joining actor Jonathan Bailey. Rowles is a two-time Paralympic champion rower, having won gold medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, and she will soon be heading to the 2024 Summer Par

By Graham Robson • 2 min read

News

Local councillors visit recently named Hove Beach Park

Westbourne & Poets Corner Ward Councillor Leslie Pumm and Councillor Alan Robins, Chair of the Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Economic Development Committee, visited the Kingsway to the Sea project construction site recently to view the recently named Hove Beach Park. Hove Beach Park will stret

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

LGBTQ+ News

Global Speak Out in solidarity with Russian LGBTs, jointly organised by Peter Tatchell Foundation and All Out, to take place this weekend

In the wake of Russia’s decision to label the “international public LGBTQ+ movement” as extremist, the situation for LGBTQ+ people within the country has reached a critical point. Facing increased danger, it’s become too dangerous for many to remain in Russia. On Saturday, March 16, take part in a w

By Graham Robson • 2 min read

Arts

New Queers on the Block 2024: a space to develop and celebrate LGBTQ+ artists and communities across England

Lead Pic: Oozing Gloop. Credit Kaleido Shoots As a leading UK producer of queer-led intersectional performance and events, newly Arts Council England NPO-awarded Marlborough Productions has released details of New Queers on the Block 2024, a space for the development and celebration of LGBTQ+ artist

By Graham Robson • 3 min read

Sport

Gay footballer Josh Cavallo proposes to his boyfriend at Adelaide United’s Coopers Stadium

Gay footballer Josh Cavallo, who became the world’s only top-flight openly gay male professional player when he came out in 2021, has said “it felt right to share this special moment on the pitch”, after he proposed to his boyfriend at Adelaide United‘s Coopers Stadium. The Australian midfielder, 24

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

Business News

Glamorous Brighton to close its doors

Glamorous Brighton, which opened its doors last year – taking over the premises occupied by Le Village – is to close its doors for the final time on Monday, March 18. In a statement published on Facebook, owner Matthew Eason said: “So then! I can now officially announce that Glamorous Brighton will

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

Transgender News

NHS bosses to ban gender questioning children from accessing ‘puberty blockers’

Children will no longer be prescribed ‘puberty blockers’ at gender identity clinics, NHS bosses have announced. Known medically as gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues, puberty blockers stop the physical changes of puberty in teens questioning their gender. For example, they halt the developmen

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

International News

Man accused of a deadly shooting at a gay bar during Oslo Pride celebrations pleads not guilty on first day of trial

Zaniar Matapour, the Iranian-born Norwegian man accused of a deadly shooting at a gay bar in Oslo during the city’s annual Pride celebrations in 2022, has declared himself not guilty of committing gross terrorism and murder. Two people died, nine suffered gunshot wounds and 25 others were injured af

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

Film

BFI FLARE x BAFTA champion LGBTQ+ creatives in film and TV with professional development programme

BAFTA and BFI have announced the cohort of the 2024 BFI Flare x BAFTA professional development programme, run in partnership with BFI NETWORK. Six emerging LGBTQ+ creatives working towards their debuts in film and television have been selected for the prestigious talent initiative, now in its 10th y

By Graham Robson • 2 min read

Pride

Local queer artist Ladypat designs ‘FABULOSO’ artwork for Brighton & Hove Pride 2024

Local queer artist Ladypat has designed FABULOSO artwork for this year’s Brighton & Hove Pride to celebrate queer identities and the rich diversity and flamboyance of the LGBTQ+ community. Beginning in 2001, Ladypat (a name challenging notions of gender, class and punctuation) has always utilised te

By Graham Robson • 2 min read

LGBTQ+ News

The Life and Death of Lily Savage: new feature-length documentary on the iconic entertainer, set against the backdrop of Section 28 and the AIDS crisis

The Life and Death of Lily Savage will air on ITV1 this Easter, along with Paul O Grady’s final TV project, Paul O’Grady’s Great Elephant Adventure, to mark the first anniversary of Paul’s passing. A special feature length, 90-minute documentary will feature Paul’s daughter Sharyn Mousley and other

By Graham Robson • 3 min read

News

Brighton Marathon Weekend partners with University of Brighton to strengthen ties with community and provide opportunities for students

The Brighton Marathon Weekend and University of Brighton have announced a three-year partnership which begins for this year’s event, which takes place on Saturday, 6 April and Sunday, 7 April, and includes the 2025 and 2026 editions. Organised by London Marathon Events (LME), the Brighton Marathon W

By Graham Robson • 2 min read

LGBTQ+ News

“Homophobic” Commonwealth leaders jeered at Westminster Abbey

Leaders of 30 Commonwealth countries that criminalise LGBTs, including the six that have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for same-sex acts – Bangladesh, Guyana, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda – faced a barrage of boos and jeers as they arrived at today’s Commonwealth’s 75th anniv

By Graham Robson • 3 min read

Transgender News

Liz Truss calls on government to prevent children from changing gender and ban trans women from competing in women’s sport

Liz Truss, Conservative prime minister for just 50 days, is calling on Rishi Sunak to back legislation preventing children from attempting to change their gender and banning trans women from entering female-only spaces or competing in women’s sport. Truss’ attempt to change the law – the Health and

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

Community News

Brighton & Hove charity tackling loneliness wins top UK health award

Brighton & Hove charity Together Co has won a major national award for its work to reduce the devastating impact of loneliness and isolation on people’s mental and physical health. Following a rigorous selection and assessment process, Together Co was chosen from more than 500 charities across the U

By Graham Robson • 4 min read

Features & Longread

ELSKA spotlights bodies and voices of gay Madrid

Elska, a project dedicated to sharing the bodies and voices of LGBTQ communities around the world, has put the spotlight on Madrid for its latest edition. Inside, readers can get to know a selection of ordinary men from the Spanish capital, introducing them through a combination of honest photograph

By Graham Robson • 3 min read

LGBTQ+ News

Pub Pride to return in May to celebrate local LGBTQ+ communities

Ask For Clive, a charity that works with pubs and venues to create welcome spaces and tackle discrimination, held the first Pub Pride nationally in July 2021, working with Pride organisations, pub companies, business improvement districts and local councils to bring the event to life. Returning for

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

Sport

Pride Sports Cymru celebrates successful bid to host EuroGames in 2027

Pride Sports Cymru is celebrating after a successful bid for Cardiff to host EuroGames 2027. The result comes after a tightly contested vote at the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) Annual General Assembly in Antwerp. EuroGames is the largest Europe-wide multi-sport event for LGBTQ+ at

By Graham Robson • 2 min read

International News

French Parliament votes to compensate victims of anti-gay laws

The lower house of the French Parliament has passed a bill which will provide recognition and compensation for the estimated 10,000 people – mostly gay men  – convicted of homosexuality between 1942 and 1982. The anti-gay law was originally introduced by the Vichy government during World War Two, wh

By Graham Robson • 1 min read

LGBTQ+ News

Rankin portrait series celebrates diversity in fostering, amid carer shortage

One of the world’s renowned photographers, who has photographed Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner and the Queen, has turned his attention to capturing fosterers, including those from LGBTQ+ communities. The latest set of portraits by British photographer Rankin are of 17 foster parents that represent the ‘F

By Graham Robson • 2 min read