Features & Longread Interview with Dr Sam Hall: Inside Britain’s Trans Health Crisis Over 40,000 people are on NHS waiting lists for gender care. In this Political by Design special, I sit down with Dr. Sam Hall to cut through the noise and talk about the real challenges and hope inside Britain’s trans health crisis. By Leslie Clarke • 2 min read
“Charlie Kirk” by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 Features & Longread What Charlie Kirk’s death tells us about rhetoric, extremism and risks for LGBTQ+ people Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a tragic reminder of spiralling political violence. His anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric was deeply harmful, yet celebrating his death is wrong. We must turn down the heat before words breed more violence. By Leslie Clarke • 6 min read
UK Brighton By-Election Special: How solid are the Queen's Park candidates on LGBTQ+ issues? A by-election will take place in Brighton’s Queen’s Park ward on Thursday 18 September 2025, following the resignation of Labour councillor Tristram Burden. Cllr Burden, 46, who was elected in the 2023 local elections and announced his resignation on 29 July, said the following in his resignation statement: By Leslie Clarke • 2 min read
Photo by Shayna Douglas / Unsplash UK Filmmaker Chris Columbus rules out Harry Potter reunion because of J.K. Rowling’s transphobia Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films, says a reunion with the original cast is “never going to happen” due to J.K. Rowling’s controversial views. While he’s still close with Radcliffe and co, Columbus also dismissed HBO’s upcoming reboot as “more of the same.” By Leslie Clarke • 1 min read
Photo by Travis Walser / Unsplash North America Independence Day: Why LGBTQ+ America has no cause to celebrate For many LGBTQ+ people across America, this Fourth of July is not a celebration but a moment of reflection. As freedoms are questioned, communities across the country are quietly showing courage, care, and hope. By Leslie Clarke • 3 min read
Photo by Raphael Renter | @raphi_rawr / Unsplash Pride Berlin Pride: 5 tips for a wild, warm and wonderfully queer weekend in the Hauptstadt Berlin Pride is more than a party—it’s protest, play, and pure queer joy. From the unfenced, dance-all-day parade to legendary bars like Heile Welt and Tipsy Bear, here are 5 tips to make the most of your Pride weekend in the Hauptstadt. By Leslie Clarke • 4 min read
Photo by Ralf Knüfer / Unsplash Europe Beats in the Underground: How Berlin is using techno and art to reclaim its U-Bahn stations Berlin is turning to techno and art to make its U-Bahn stations safer — not with more police, but with beats, art and light. It’s a bold, very Berlin move, rooted in the city’s queer spirit and belief that culture can build community where fear once lingered. By Leslie Clarke • 4 min read
Photo by Thiago Rocha / Unsplash UK Outside the EHRC, protest is still a right The High Court has rejected an attempt to stop trans rights protests outside the EHRC. Leslie Clarke explores what the ruling means for free speech, the right to protest, and the growing tension between LGBTQ+ communities and the body meant to protect them. By Leslie Clarke • 3 min read
Photo by Austin Distel / Unsplash It's time for Scene's next step: We want you! Scene is expanding and we’re looking for new voices. If you’ve got a story to tell — from queer politics to local culture — we want to hear from you. Writers from the UK, Ireland, the US and Europe are welcome. Join us and help shape the next chapter. By Leslie Clarke • 1 min read
Photo by Brian Kyed / Unsplash Pride Month 2025 - We need to talk As Pride Month 2025 begins, we find ourselves at a turning point. What once felt like unstoppable progress for LGBTQ+ rights now feels fragile, even under threat. The author urges the community to move beyond nostalgia and instead recommit to protest, political engagement and coalition-building. By Leslie Clarke • 3 min read
Meet Leslie: The New Chapter for Scene and the Pride Community Foundation Hi everyone, I’m Leslie Pumm, and I’m proud to step into my role as CEO of the Pride Community Foundation – and just as proud to announce that Scene, Brighton & Hove’s iconic LGBTQ+ magazine, has officially joined our Foundation’s family. Born and raised in Berlin to an American dad and German mum By Leslie Clarke • 2 min read
UK Brighton MPs win awards from the Patchwork Foundation Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown has been lauded by the democracy charity, Patchwork Foundation, in part for his role in reducing HIV stigma. Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion also won praise. By Leslie Clarke • 2 min read
