LGBTQ+ News Sixth Form and FE students over 16 invited to write a new Edna Welthorpe letter in the spirit of Joe Orton Joe Orton penned spoof letters of complaint that satirised social and sexual conservatism. He wrote letters mocking snobbery and homophobia under the pseudonym ‘Mrs Edna Welthorpe’, and sent them to a variety of institutions including Smedley’s Jam, Littlewoods catalogue and the Ritz Hotel. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Petition launched to keep LGBTQ+ content taught in schools This counter petition is in response to a Parliamentary petition to have LGBTQ+ issues removed from the Relationship and Sex Education curriculum, which harks back to the dark days of Section 28 – a legislative designation for a series of laws across the UK that prohibited the ‘promotion of homosex By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News No ID? No Vote! Photo ID required to vote at local elections for the first time Brighton & Hove City Council has announced that residents will need photo ID to vote at the next local elections on Thursday, May 4. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Research reveals impact of Conversion Therapy practises on LGBTQ+ and trans people in the UK New research from LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity Galop has found that one in five LGBTQ+ people and more than a third of trans people have been subjected to conversion therapy in the UK. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Health University of Brighton conducts “first comprehensive review of alcohol misuse in the UK’s LGBTQ+ communities” The 29 studies examined by the University of Brighton and Anglia Ruskin University research team, all pointed to rates of alcohol misuse being higher among LGBTQ+ people (including trans and non-binary people) compared to heterosexual and cisgender people. By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Fundraising News Brighton venues and Brighton Bear Weekend to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon in February Two of Brighton’s gay venues will be running events to raise vital funds for local HIV charity the Sussex Beacon in February. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Simon Dunn Community News LGBTQ+ community champion and gay bobsledder Simon Dunn dies suddenly at 35 Along with his sporting accolades, Dunn was also well known for his community work and was a long-time supporter of HIV / sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
News World Athletics proposes tighter rules for transgender women athletes Sports chiefs have found themselves with a tough decision to make whether to allow male-born trans women to compete in female categories. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Church of England bishops apologise to LGBTQ+ people for the rejection and hostility they have faced The apology comes days after the Church of England set out proposals developed by the bishops that showed it would refuse to allow same-sex couples to get married in its churches but said priests could bless them in church. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Move to ban LGBTQ+ characters from film and TV in Russia will “increase homophobia”, say Amnesty International Amnesty International has warned that a likely move by Russia’s media regulator to ban films and television series with LGBTQ+ characters will further stigmatise LGBTQ+ people in the country. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
News ParaPride 2023: Making LGBTQ+ History at Hackney Town Hall on Sunday, February 19 ParaPride returns with a large in-person event in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month 2023 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Health HAVE YOUR SAY: Open letter asks that Government’s opt-out testing programme is extended to all areas with a high prevalence of HIV Leading charities in the fight against HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C have joined forces to call on Public Health Minister Neil O’Brien and NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard to fund testing for blood borne viruses in emergency departments across the country. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
