Community News Learn to swim with Out to Swim Brighton & Hove Out to Swim Brighton & Hove is inviting LGBTQ+ people to its swimming lessons at the King Alfred Swimming Pool every Saturday between 5 – 6pm. A dedicated lane will be reserved for the lessons, for four to six swimmers (numbers subject to ability), and there will be a designated swimming coach. Out By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Opening Doors, the charity for LGBTQ+ people aged 50+, to close its doors on 29 February Opening Doors, the UK charity providing activities, information and support services for LGBTQ+ people aged over 50, has announced it will be closing its doors for the final time on February 29. In a statement, the charity’s CEO, Bridget Symonds, said “It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies raise over £1,700 at benefit show to mark one-year anniversary of Brianna Ghey’s death Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies came together at The Brewers last night for a benefit show, which was being held to mark the one-year anniversary of the devastating loss of Brianna Ghey, whose horrific murder sent shockwaves throughout the UK. Live Your Truth was organised by trans camp By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Trans Pride Hastings and Lady Phyll from UK Black Pride among winners of Gaydio Pride Awards 2024 Lead Pic: Ginger Johnson On Friday, 16 February, the Gaydio Pride Awards 2024 were held at Hilton Manchester Deansgate, with a ceremony recognising and celebrating the efforts made to better LGBTQ+ lives in the UK. Fourteen awards were handed out at the glitzy ceremony, with performances from BRIT A By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Gay Classic Car Group: 1,000 LGBTQ+ members as diverse as their cars The Gay Classic Car Group (GCCG) – the group for LGBTQ+ classic car enthusiasts – enjoyed a bumper year of events last year. Towards the end of 2024, they had a choice of laid-up lunches in 10 local areas including Yorkshire, south east, south west and Essex. The 2024 events calendar kicks off in Ma By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music Say that shit with your chest! Ariana and Mariah join forces for all-new ‘yes, and?’ remix Ariana Grande has joined forces with the iconic Mariah Carey for an all-new remix of yes, and?. This marks the first, highly anticipated non-holiday collaboration between the two vocal powerhouses. Listen HERE via Republic Records. This new remix of yes, and? comes just one month after Ariana releas By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music “This song was made to make me run!” Delta Goodrem drops high-octane new single, ‘Hearts On The Run’ Multi award-winning singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem has returned with the high-octane new single, Hearts On The Run, which has an instantly energetic beat rooted in the vibrant sound of the ‘80s. On Hearts On The Run – a behemoth, hook-driven anthem that does not give you a moment to breathe – Delta By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Transgender News Mermaids launches new-look MANGO to empower and upskill trans young people to be the changemakers of tomorrow Trans charity Mermaids has launched new-look MANGO (Mermaids’ Advocacy Network Group Online), a 12-week week Activism and Advocacy programme for up to 50 trans young people aged between 16 and 19 from across the UK. The aim of MANGO is to empower and upskill them to be the changemakers of tomorrow. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Books New book ‘Prospect Cottage: Derek Jarman’s House’ invites readers into the personal sanctuary of the iconic gay filmmaker for the very first time Prospect Cottage: Derek Jarman’s House, a new book by photographer Gilbert McCarragher, published by Thames & Hudson on April 4, invites readers into the personal sanctuary of the iconic gay filmmaker for the very first time, with over 100 unseen photographs. A prolific film maker, Jarman was known By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Richard Angell HIV “We can and must go further when it comes to PrEP”: Terrence Higgins Trust reacts to publication of UK government’s ‘PrEP Roadmap’ Terrence Higgins Trust has reacted to the publication of the UK government’s first PrEP roadmap for meeting the need ‘of those at significant risk of HIV’., saying “we can and must go further when it comes to PrEP”. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News “I’m not trying to make a board room full of straight white men like me”: trans activist Charlie Craggs talks to National Student Pride podcast, The Outtakes National Student Pride has launched Season 2 of The Outtakes, with a brand-new episode diving into school experiences, trans identity and some Red Carpet Glam with trans activist Charlie Craggs, and presented by podcast host, Ben Court. Charlie Craggs will be bringing her charm and sass as she hosts By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Rylan LGBTQ+ News Rylan reveals his skull was fractured during homophobic attack in new documentary, ‘Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me’ Rylan revealed his skull was fractured in a homophobic attack in his documentary Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me, which explores football as an LGBTQ+ fan. Looking back on his own life experiences, Rylan remembered waking up in the back of an ambulance after he was attacked. During the documentar By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Brighton & Hove to mark first anniversary of Brianna Ghey’s death on Sunday, February 18 Brighton & Hove is to mark the first anniversary of Brianna Ghey‘s death at Victoria Gardens, Brighton BN1 1WN on Sunday, February 18 from 2pm. Organised by Dyke Collective Brighton, this vigil is an opportunity to mourn Brianna and countless other trans lives lost to transphobia. Attendees are welc By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Exhibitions The Funny Hole: a weekend of unbridled gaiety and whimsy with Jane Dinmore, Boogaloo Stu, Ladypat and John Lee Bird The Funny Hole, an exhibition at the Observer Building in Hastings from April 19-21, will bring together four distinctive artists for a weekend of unbridled gaiety and whimsy. Organisers of the exhibition said: “Presenting collages, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, film and sound work, you are invite By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News “A new beginning”. Polish LGBTQ+ activist responds to state TV apology for years of anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda An LGBTQ+ rights activist in Poland said Tuesday that he believes it’s a “new beginning” in Poland after a host on state television apologised on air for the homophobic propaganda aired by state media in recent years. “It took me by surprise,” said Bart Staszewski, one of two activists invited on ai By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News Trans teenager stabbed 14 times in violent attack in London borough of Harrow An 18-year-old trans girl was brutally stabbed 14 times in a violent attack while attending a birthday party in the London borough of Harrow, a court has heard. Summer Betts-Ramsey, 19, appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court where she was charged with attempted murder; she also faced a charge of po By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Teachers still as uncomfortable discussing LGBTQ+ topics as they were two years ago, new research finds Progress has stagnated and teachers are just as uncomfortable discussing LGBTQ+ topics with pupils as they were two years ago, new research of more than 6,000 teachers by Just Like Us, the LGBTQ+ young people’s charity, has found. Fifteen per-cent of teachers across the UK said they felt “not very c By Graham Robson • 3 min read
News Saltdean Library welcomes customers back to historic Lido building Saltdean Library, which has been operating from a temporary cabin since the start of refurbishment in 2022, is ready to welcome customers after extensive refurbishment to the historic Grade II* listed Saltdean Lido, officially reopening from today (Tuesday, February 13). Opening times of the new lib By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Mermaids appoints new chief executive, Lauren Stoner, on a two-year contract Trans charity Mermaids has appointed its interim head, Lauren Stoner, as its chief executive on a two-year, fixed-term basis. Stoner became the charity’s interim chief executive in December 2022, replacing Susie Green, who had led the organisation for six years. A spokesperson for Mermaids said the By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBT History Month Free Queer History Tours of the capital to explore the vast and complex history of LGBTQ+ life in London Join tour guides London With a Local for a FREE Queer and LGBT+ History Tour of the capital, which explores the vast and complex history of LGBTQ+ life in London, with stories of iconic people and places who have shaped the city and community through the centuries. Weaving through the streets of Lon By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Let your imagination run wild for the UK’s first LGBTQ+ mental health charity, MindOut, which celebrates its 25th birthday in May In May 2024, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ mental health charity, MindOut, celebrates a remarkable milestone in its journey – its 25th birthday! MindOut said: “For a quarter of a century, we have stood together, providing a beacon of hope, understanding, and support for LGBTQ+ community’s mental health need By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBT History Month Chris Jepson launches new exhibition at John Lewis on London’s Oxford Street for LGBT+ History Month A new exhibition from award-winning photographer Chris Jepson has launched at John Lewis on London’s Oxford Street for LGBT+ History Month. The Identity Project – JLP Edition is a unique photography initiative that celebrates the diversity within the John Lewis Partnership by capturing the portraits By Graham Robson • 1 min read
HIV To mark National HIV Testing Week, Andrea Leadsom and Angela Rayner join 40 MPs testing for HIV Health Minister Andrea Leadsom MP, Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner MP and 40 other MPs have tested for HIV to show how quick and easy it is and encourage others to do the same during National HIV Testing Week (until 11 February). A host of cross-party MPs got tested including Health Minister Andr By Graham Robson • 3 min read
International News Huthi authorities sentence seven to stoning and two to crucifixion for homosexual ‘crimes’ Huthi authorities in Yemen must halt planned executions and end the persecution of people based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, said Amnesty International, after two Huthi-run courts sentenced more than 40 people either to death, flogging or prison over charges rela By Graham Robson • 2 min read
