Brighton Fringe Brighton’s The Level to be transformed into Circus Yard for Brighton Fringe 2025 Revel Puck Circus, a contemporary circus company from East London, is set to transform Brighton’s The Level into a hub for of family-friendly circus and late-night cabaret at this year’s Brighton Fringe Festival. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 02: Keir Starmer attends Pride in London 2022: The 50th Anniversary – Parade on July 02, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) LGBTQ+ News Stonewall responds to the news that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government will be slashing the UK’s foreign aid budget LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall has responded to the news that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government will be slashing the UK’s foreign aid budget, saying it “risks further destabilising communities and groups that are often already on the periphery”. The move by the Labour government, which came By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Inquest opens into the death of a Welsh drag queen with a “heart of gold” An inquest into the death of a Welsh drag queen with a “heart of gold” has opened in Wales. Gareth Stephenson, who performed as Dynasty Blake, died after his car collided with a lorry near Llanidloes, Wales in February 2025. Gareth’s family said at the time: “Words can’t describe how much pain this By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Hundreds gather at Cape Town Pride to honour Muhsin Hendricks – the world’s first openly gay imam, who was shot dead in February Hundreds of people in rainbow colours gathered on Saturday, March 1 in Cape Town, South Africa to honour Muhsin Hendricks – the world’s first openly gay imam, who was shot dead in February. “I was heartbroken. I think it’s sad especially how far we’ve come, considering how progressive South Africa h By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri receives ‘homophobic abuse’ despite not being gay Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri, who won the Inspirational Ally Award at the inaugural Metro Pride Awards, has said she receives ‘homophobic abuse’ despite not being gay. Speaking at the Awards on Wednesday, February 26, the Scottish singer, 57, who is married to chef Bryn Williams, 47, discussed By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride “We are coming back bolder than ever.” Highland Pride to return on Saturday, June 7 Highland Pride has announced this year’s Parade and Party will be held in Inverness on Saturday, June 7. Organisers of the Scottish Pride festival said: “Listening to your feedback, and building on the success of previous years, we are coming back bolder than ever to commemorate the 30 year annivers By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Irish TV presenter Brendan Courtney, the first openly gay presenter in Ireland, warns of a rise in “anti-gay rhetoric” after he was attacked in Dublin Irish TV presenter Brendan Courtney, the first openly gay presenter in Ireland, has warned of a rise in “anti-gay rhetoric” after he was attacked in Dublin. Speaking on Instragam, the TV star, 53, said he raised the case to highlight that attacks like this are still happening and described the event By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sponsored Content Iowa could become the first US state to strip gender identity from civil rights protections Iowa could become the first US state to strip gender identity from civil rights protections after lawmakers passed a bill that would remove protections for the trans community despite dozens of protesters opposing the legislation. If Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds signs the bill, which aims By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ Choirs Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus to celebrate 20 years of Singing, Socialising and Support Picture the scene, Brighton 2005… a small group of friends are lamenting the lack of a non-scene space to socialise and decide it’s high time Brighton & Hove had its own gay men’s chorus. This small, but life-changing decision will be celebrated in Retrospective: 20 Years of Brighton Gay Men’s Choru By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Trans drag queen Miss Peaches hits back at anti-drag protestors after they accuse her of wearing “stripper’s heels” during a children’s storytime session Trans drag queen, Miss Peaches, has hit back after anti-drag protestors accused her of wearing “stripper’s heels” during a children’s storytime session in Dundee. Miss Peaches, a trans woman performer, was hired for the storytime session in Dundee, which promised to whisk children away on “magical a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Brooke Lynn Hytes, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race USA, to headline Bristol Pride Cabaret Stage Bristol Pride has announced its Cabaret Stage line-up for this year’s event, taking place on Saturday, July 12. Headlining will be none other than Brooke Lynn Hytes, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race USA and the iconic judge of Drag Race Canada. Known for her signature blend of exquisite ballet moves, show By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Community News Protect the Dolls: Sales from Conner Ives T-shirt to raise vital funds for trans people A T-shirt designed by Conner Ives, featuring the ’80s ballroom culture-inspired term Protect the Dolls, is to go on sale to raise funds for the US-based, trans-led organisation Trans Lifeline. Ives wore the T-shirt to close his autumn/winter 2025 collection at this year’s London Fashion Week. The sh By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government is attempting to ban Budapest Pride March Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government is attempting to ban the Budapest Pride March from taking place in the city’s streets, citing “child protection” as the reason. Despite these attempts, Budapest Pride will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a full March this year. The news com By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News The Vivienne’s father pays tribute to their son after late Drag Race UK winner was honoured with Icon Award at inaugural Metro Pride Awards The Vivienne‘s father paid a heartbreaking tribute to their son after Drag Race UK winner was honoured with the Icon Award at the inaugural Metro Pride Awards on Wednesday, February 26. The star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died suddenly in January at the age of jus By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Bobby Seagull Community News Celebs lead the way for Team Beacon at this weekend’s Brighton Half Marathon A former Special Forces Operator, a well-known actor, a musician and a maths whiz might seem an unlikely combination, but that is in fact the celebrity lineup within Team Beacon, at this year’s Altra Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday, March 2. Chris Oliver, Matt Robson-Scott, Craig Parkinson and Bobb By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sponsored Content Murder of trans teenager Brianna Ghey, who lost her life in February 2023, is to be explored in new ITV documentary The transphobic murder of trans teenager Brianna Ghey, who tragically lost her life in February 2023, is to be explored in a new ITV documentary. The 75-minute programme will look into the events of February 11, 2023 when Brianna was stabbed with a knife 28 times after being lured to Linear Park, Cu By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts Cooper Koch, star of ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’, says the Menendez brothers “deserve to come home” Cooper Koch, who had the gays salivating with his portrayal of Erik Menendez in Netflix’s biographical crime drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has said he thinks the Menendez brothers, who were jailed in 1996 for the murder of their parents in 1989, “deserve to come home”. In an inte By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sponsored Content Out to Swim launches new clubs in Bournemouth and Newcastle Out To Swim, which runs LGBTQ+ swimming clubs across the UK including Bristol, Brighton and London, has announced it has expanded into two new cities, Bournemouth and Newcastle. The LGBTQ+ swimming club was founded in London in 1992 by a small band of enterprising swimmers from the LGBTQ+ community. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News International Pride Orchestra announces new venue for highly anticipated Pride Celebration Concert after being dropped from programme of Washington DC’s Kennedy Centre The International Pride Orchestra (IPO), an organisation that brings together LGBTQ+ musicians from around the world to present concerts, celebrate community, and raise funds for LGBTQ+ causes, has announced its highly anticipated Pride Celebration Concert will take place on Thursday, June 5 at the By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Celebrating the vibrant LGBTQ+ history of Brighton & Hove and beyond The Coast is Queer LGBTQ+ Literature Festival and Queer Heritage South are joining forces on Saturday, May 24 to present an interactive archiving workshop that celebrates the vibrant LGBTQ+ history of our city and beyond. Inspired by a fascinating display of gay newspapers and lesbian pulp fiction, By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Fundraiser launches to “save” Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, an icon among London’s queer-friendly venues A fundraiser to “save” Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (BGWMC), an icon among London’s queer-friendly venues, has launched, aiming to raise £12,000 by April 8. A key player in London’s LGBTQ+ and alternative scene, the venue first opened as a traditional working men’s club in 1953, and two decades By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News CEO of the Piece Hall, which proudly houses a sculpture of “the first modern lesbian” Anne Lister, has said the venue will be “displaying our Rainbow Flags with Pride” The CEO of the Piece Hall, which proudly houses a sculpture of “the first modern lesbian” Anne Lister, has said the venue will be “displaying our Rainbow Flags with Pride”. The Piece Hall, a stunning 18th-century cloth hall in Halifax, which now houses history exhibits, shops, bars and restaurants, By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Councillor Sue Mullins with Vince and Julie (Photo by Jon Rigby) Pride Crawley Pride to celebrate diversity, inclusivity and community spirit in August This year’s Crawley Pride will place on August 16 in Goffs Park. Now in its fifth year, Crawley Pride, which was created as a way of bringing LGBTQ+ communities together in Crawley and the surrounding areas, will bring together LGBTQ+ acts mixed with local artists, businesses and people to celebrate By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Southampton Pride to spread colour and Pride through the city this August Southampton Pride, the city’s main Pride event, is to take place on August 23 and August 24. Organisers of the Pride event wanted to clear up confusion after it was announced that Pride in the Park, Southampton has been cancelled for 2025. Southampton Pride said on social media: “We have received a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
