Cherry Valentine posing in an iconic drag look. (Twitter) As well as being a one-of-a-kind drag artist, Cherry Valentine knew exactly how to shut down anti-drag arguments with class. The drag icon’s family – whose real name was George Ward – tragically passed away last Sunday (18 September) at just 28-years-old. The genderfluid artist’s family
Activism
Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić allowed the march to go ahead, but on a smaller route. (Getty) Serbia’s government has been forced into a screeching u-turn after its decision to ban EuroPride’s parade was met with fierce opposition. EuroPride is an international celebration of the LGBTQ+ community hosted by a different European country each year. Serbia
Police secure serbian LGBT Info centre during the ‘Litiya for salvation of Serbia’ in Belgrade. (Getty) Politicians from across Europe have condemned the Serbian government over the effective ban of this year’s EuroPride. Serbian police announced a ban on the route of the march on Tuesday (13 September) after weeks of hostile back-and-forth between EuroPride
People walk by the campus of Yeshiva University in New York City on August 30, 2022. (Spencer Platt/Getty) A religious university has been granted permission by the Supreme Court to temporarily ban an LGBTQ+ student group. Manhattan’s Yeshiva University was ordered by a state court in June to recognise an LGBTQ+ student group in a
Maria Walsh speaks in an Instagram clip. (Maria Walsh/Instagram) MEP Maria Walsh has urged EuroPride to continue despite backlash from anti-LGBTQ+ groups. The Midlands-North-West member of the European Parliament insisted that the Pride festival – which is hosted in a different European city each year – should go ahead as scheduled from 12 to 18
LGBTQ+ activists and allies gathered outside the Independent House to demand an end to the Irish Indepdent’s “anti-trans crusade”. (Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin) Protesters outside the Irish Independent’s offices have rallied the publication’s continued “anti-trans crusade”. Over 100 people gathered outside Independent House in Dublin on Saturday (27 August) to highlight a rise in
Pete Buttigieg thanked LGBTQ+ teen Zander Moricz for his “voice and adovacy” in the fight against Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law.(Paras Griffin/Getty for Essence) US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a heartfelt letter to a teen activist who is part of a lawsuit challenging Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law. Zander Moricz gained widespread media attention
Elana Dykewomon was a celebrated author, writer, and playwright. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images) Celebrated lesbian author and activist Elana Dykewomon has died at the age of 72 of cancer. The trailblazing writer died on Sunday (7 August) in Oakland, California. Her brother David Nachman told the Mendocino Beacon that Dykewomon
Protesters at Trans Pride Brighton. (PinkNews) Trans Pride Brighton saw its largest turnout ever on Saturday (16 July), with around 20,000 protesters marching for trans liberation. Trans Pride Brighton, the first and largest trans Pride event outside of the US, has been running since 2013. This year, it finally returned in person, after two years of
The cast of Heartstopper helped out a young Pride in London attendee who encountered anti-LGBTQ+ protestors at the event. (Twitter/@SkyScottBeasley) The cast of Heartstopper have rebuffed hateful anti-LGBTQ+ protestors with a joyous dance while marching at Pride in London. The cast of Netflix’s beloved LGBTQ+ drama Heartstopper – including Joe Locke, Jenny Walser, Kit Connor, Sebastian Croft, Tobie Donovan,
Turkish police descended on a peaceful Istanbul Prude protest. (Screen capture via Twitter) Turkish police brutally beat and allegedly “tortured” nearly a dozen LGBTQ+ activists in Istanbul who were simply celebrating the start of Pride Month. On 5 June, members of İstanbul LGBTİ+ Onur Haftası, which organises Istanbul Pride, gathered in the Yeldeğirmeni neighbourhood of the
Zander Moricz gave a powerful speech against ‘Don’t Say Gay’, without saying “gay”. (YouTube/ Liz Ballard) A gay Florida student gave an incredible graduation speech about his fight against the state’s horrific ‘Don’t Say Gay’ legislation – without saying gay. ‘Don’t Say Gay’, signed into law by Florida governor Ron DeSantis in March, forbids discussion of
The case against Sri Lanka was brought by LGBT+ rights activist Rosanna Flamer-Caldera. (Facebook/ Rosanna Flamer-Caldera) The UN has become the first international law body to declare that criminalising lesbian sex is a violation of human rights. On Wednesday, 23 March, a UN committee, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Tom Daley of Team Great Britain poses with his gold medal. (Clive Rose/Getty) Tom Daley has promised to use his OBE to advocate for the rights of LGBT+ people across the Commonwealth. The Olympic diver was made an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, and he told BBC Breakfast that he now feels a responsibility
Gavin Grimm attends 2019 DoSomething Gala at Chelsea Piers on 29 April 2019 in New York City. (Getty/Santiago Felipe) The LGBT+ community and allies are raising funds for trans trailblazer Gavin Grimm, who is at risk of homelessness. Grimm was involved in a seven-year-long battle that put him at the centre of the debate on
Sex with Cancer co-founders Brian Lobel and Joon Lynn Goh. (Christa Holka) The world’s first sex shop for people with cancer is “super queer”, gender-neutral and sparking the conversations everyone else is afraid to have. Sex with Cancer is more than just a sex shop. Co-founder Brian Lobel, who created the project with Joon Lynn Goh, describes
Black feminist bell hooks. (The The Washington Post via Getty/ Margaret Thomas) On Wednesday (15 December), legendary Black feminist author bell hooks passed away in her home in Berea, Kentucky, at the age of 69. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author and activist, one of the most influential feminist scholars in the US, penned more than 40 books