Lush terminates partnership with Download Festival amid controversy surrounding the festival’s anti-trans toilet policy Graham Robson June 05, 2025 – 1 min read Share this post The Liberation bath bomb Trans Rights Now Simone Biles calls anti-trans activist’s comments “sick” Seven-time gold medallist Simone Biles - the most decorated gymnast in history - has called former US swimmer and anti-trans activist Riley Gaines "sick" over online comments made about a trans woman softball player. Gaines, who has regularly spoken out about trans women athletes competing in women' By Graham Robson • 1 min read Trans Rights Now Pride in Labour expresses "serious concerns" about Labour's endorsement of "gender-critic" to lead EHRC Pride in Labour, a group “championing LGBTQ+ rights within the Labour Party”, has expressed “serious concerns” about the endorsement from the Labour Government of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson to lead the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) due to having aligned herself with gender-critical ideologies – “a position that raises serious doubt By Graham Robson • 2 min read Trans Rights Now The Equality and Human Rights Commission is “silencing trans rights activists” Good Law Project (GLP) has said it plans to intervene after revealing the landlord of the offices of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has sought an injunction against protests outside its London offices at Tintagel House, Vauxhall, for the entire period for which the EHRC has a licence By Graham Robson • 2 min read Politics Gay Labour MP Keir Mather becomes youngest government minister in nearly 200 years Gay Labour MP Keir Mather has become the youngest government minister in the UK since William Gladstone in 1834. At just 27 years old, Mather was named Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport as part of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle. Mather, who entered By Graham Robson • 1 min read Community Corner Mentoring programme for LGBTQ+ young people, Free2B, is making "a real difference" to mental health A mentoring programme for LGBTQ+ young people is making "a real difference" to their mental health, according to new research from the University of Manchester. The programme, called Free2B, pairs young people aged 13 and over with trained mentors who understand the challenges LGBTQ+ teens can face. Over By Graham Robson • 2 min read News Maxine Peake compares JK Rowling to Mary Whitehouse and Nigel Farage Actress Maxine Peake launched a critique of JK Rowling, whose anti-trans shift has been well-documented, during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, accusing her of lacking understanding on issues surrounding trans and women's rights. The remarks came during a discussion about Peake’s current role By Graham Robson • 1 min read UK “Come and join us in the 21st century”: Matlock shop refuses to back down after Pride Flag vandalism A gift shop in Matlock, Derbyshire, has pledged to continue flying the Pride flag outside the business, despite it being torn down by vandals over the weekend in what many believe is part of a wider backlash against LGBTQ+ visibility in the town. Workers at Coco Gifts in the town By Graham Robson • 1 min read Community Corner The Clare Project to celebrate 25th anniversary with Queer Heritage South Queer Heritage South has announced its first History Club of the season will celebrate, remember and reminisce on the last 25 years of The Clare Project, the Brighton & Hove-based charity dedicated to supporting trans, non-binary, intersex, gender-variant and gender-questioning adults across Sussex. Join Queer Heritage South at The Old By Graham Robson • 1 min read Culture Sabrina Carpenter delivers powerful pro-trans performance at 2025 MTV VMAs At the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter transformed her performance into a bold and unapologetic statement of support for transgender rights, captivating audiences and sparking widespread praise across social media and news outlets. Performing her latest single Tears from her chart-topping album Man’s Best Friend, By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Trans Rights Now Simone Biles calls anti-trans activist’s comments “sick” Seven-time gold medallist Simone Biles - the most decorated gymnast in history - has called former US swimmer and anti-trans activist Riley Gaines "sick" over online comments made about a trans woman softball player. Gaines, who has regularly spoken out about trans women athletes competing in women' By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Trans Rights Now Pride in Labour expresses "serious concerns" about Labour's endorsement of "gender-critic" to lead EHRC Pride in Labour, a group “championing LGBTQ+ rights within the Labour Party”, has expressed “serious concerns” about the endorsement from the Labour Government of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson to lead the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) due to having aligned herself with gender-critical ideologies – “a position that raises serious doubt By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Trans Rights Now The Equality and Human Rights Commission is “silencing trans rights activists” Good Law Project (GLP) has said it plans to intervene after revealing the landlord of the offices of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has sought an injunction against protests outside its London offices at Tintagel House, Vauxhall, for the entire period for which the EHRC has a licence By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Politics Gay Labour MP Keir Mather becomes youngest government minister in nearly 200 years Gay Labour MP Keir Mather has become the youngest government minister in the UK since William Gladstone in 1834. At just 27 years old, Mather was named Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport as part of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle. Mather, who entered By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community Corner Mentoring programme for LGBTQ+ young people, Free2B, is making "a real difference" to mental health A mentoring programme for LGBTQ+ young people is making "a real difference" to their mental health, according to new research from the University of Manchester. The programme, called Free2B, pairs young people aged 13 and over with trained mentors who understand the challenges LGBTQ+ teens can face. Over By Graham Robson • 2 min read
News Maxine Peake compares JK Rowling to Mary Whitehouse and Nigel Farage Actress Maxine Peake launched a critique of JK Rowling, whose anti-trans shift has been well-documented, during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, accusing her of lacking understanding on issues surrounding trans and women's rights. The remarks came during a discussion about Peake’s current role By Graham Robson • 1 min read
UK “Come and join us in the 21st century”: Matlock shop refuses to back down after Pride Flag vandalism A gift shop in Matlock, Derbyshire, has pledged to continue flying the Pride flag outside the business, despite it being torn down by vandals over the weekend in what many believe is part of a wider backlash against LGBTQ+ visibility in the town. Workers at Coco Gifts in the town By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community Corner The Clare Project to celebrate 25th anniversary with Queer Heritage South Queer Heritage South has announced its first History Club of the season will celebrate, remember and reminisce on the last 25 years of The Clare Project, the Brighton & Hove-based charity dedicated to supporting trans, non-binary, intersex, gender-variant and gender-questioning adults across Sussex. Join Queer Heritage South at The Old By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Culture Sabrina Carpenter delivers powerful pro-trans performance at 2025 MTV VMAs At the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter transformed her performance into a bold and unapologetic statement of support for transgender rights, captivating audiences and sparking widespread praise across social media and news outlets. Performing her latest single Tears from her chart-topping album Man’s Best Friend, By Graham Robson • 1 min read
