Compensation for LGBT veterans who faced mistreatment in the military will begin in January, a defence minister has announced. The government will start a £50m financial redress scheme for victims of the pre-2000 "gay ban" in the military next year, Veterans Minister Al Carns said. The announcement follows Lord Etherton’s report, external last year, which revealed decades of bullying, assaults and expulsions of LGBT military members - often leaving them without income or pensions.  Carns told the House of Commons "the treatment of LGBT veterans was completely and utterly unacceptable".  Homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK in 1967, but a ban continued in the armed forces until 2000.  The Ministry of Defence said at the time that justification for the policy included "maintenance of operational effectiveness and efficiency".  But Lord Etherton's report said there had been an "incomprehensible policy of homophobic bigotry" in the armed forces.  Lord Etherton, Britain's first openly gay senior judge, found there was a culture of overt homophobia in the forces - enforced through bullying, blackmail and sexual assault. Many gay service personnel were dismissed, lost out on job opportunities, and were shunned by families and friends. On the release of Lord Etherton's report in July 2023, then prime minister Rishi Sunak apologised in Parliament, calling the ban “an appalling failure" of the British state.

Cuban American Carlo Arrechea has publicly come out in a moving open letter to his younger self, saying: “I just want to be who the f**k I want to be.”  Arrechea, 34, shared the open letter with US publication Out, which published the star’s words last Friday (11 October 2024). The star is known for roles in telenovelas for Telemundo and Univisió, plus Nickelodeon’s Grachi.  Carlo starts the letter by saying: “Do we have to talk about it? Do I need to be exposed, vulnerable, and share my truth? As I write these words, I wrestle with these questions. But deep down, I know the answer: yes.”  Later in the letter, the star says: “Labels — how I despise them. Society clings to these definitions, eager to categorize us by who we love rather than who we are. For so long, I denied parts of myself, unsure how to embrace the complexity of my identity. But I’ve come to realise that while the world may not fully understand bisexuality, my journey is uniquely mine.” He signs off the letter by saying: “So let this be my declaration: I embrace every facet of my being and refuse to hide any longer. My truth is my strength, and I will share it boldly — not just for myself, but for those still searching for their light. This journey is a testament to the beauty of being true to oneself.” In an accompanying interview with the outlet, Carlo said: “I just want to be who the f*ck I want to be and live as my authentic self. I don’t want to hide.”

The Star Wars franchise has been praised for taking a big step towards inclusivity with the introduction of its first trans stormtrooper, Sister, whose armour is adorned in the blue and pink colours of the trans flag.  

Sister was first referenced in the 2022 Star Wars novel Queen’s Hope, serving the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. The character was introduced as a soldier who expressed her gender identity differently from her fellow troopers, earning the affectionate nickname “Sister” from her comrades in the 7th Sky Corps.

Fans of the franchise have raved about the new character on social media, applauding the franchise for pushing boundaries and embracing diversity.  “I love this! More diversity in the clones and representation through each of them trying to make their existence more than just being a killing machine for the republic” wrote one. Another supporter highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the saga, saying, “Very happy to see them doubling down on inclusivity and telling transphobes to f–k off.”

A former Royal Navy officer fears LGBT+ veterans who faced mistreatment in the armed forces because of their sexuality will not get the restitution they deserve. Craig Jones, from Bingley, has been campaigning with his charity Fighting With Pride for compensation and recognition for those who suffered historical wrongs, in an effort which echoes that of Alan Bates in the Post Office Horizon scandal. Mr Jones realised he was gay just before he started his 19-year-long service in 1989, but hid it due to a ban on homosexuality in the armed forces which did not end until January 2000. Now he is pushing for the government to ensure there is a parliamentary debate on reparations, which Labour promised while in opposition.  Mr Jones said those who were gay sometimes faced brutal interrogation when their sexuality was discovered, while many others were dismissed from the forces, lost out on job opportunities and were shunned by families and friends. He said: "The circumstances when compared, particularly to Horizon, are incredibly similar.  "People lost their careers, their homes, they were vilified in their communities, they served prison sentences, and they've lived their lives amidst the ashes of the lives that they had before."Mr Jones applied to join the Royal Navy when he was 19 and studying economics at Portsmouth University. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the government was "fully committed to ensuring this issue receives parliamentary scrutiny".

A Palestinian woman has won the world's largest LGBTQ+ short film award.  Dima Hamdan said she was "deeply honoured" to receive the £30,000 2024 Iris Prize, because it was both "the 'Oscars' of the LGBTQ+ short film world" and "it comes from a community that has increasingly voiced its support for Palestine in recent years". Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price, who chaired the international jury, called Blood Like Water "an important reminder that queer people exist everywhere, including in Palestine at a time of war and occupation". Louisa Connolly-Burnham won the Best British Short at the Cardiff-based festival for her work, Sister Wives.  Hamdan is a self-taught filmmaker and journalist based in Berlin. According to the festival, her film "tells the story of Shadi, who embarks on a secret adventure and accidentally drags his family into a trap where they only have two choices; collaborate with the Israeli occupation or be shamed and humiliated by their own people". Reacting to the prize, Hamdan said: "It is difficult to celebrate personal achievements when the most televised and live-streamed war in hu "In that vision, I take solace knowing that the Iris Film Prize, its wonderful team and the jury will hold a special place in my heart for standing with us and helping to amplify our voices."man history has dragged on for one year with no end in sight. “In order to survive these dark times, I find strength by envisioning a future when all of this will be over. 

Scotland's former First Minister Alex Salmond has died suddenly at the age of 69. The former MP and MSP, who led the country between 2007 and 2014, became ill while in North Macedonia. Local media reports say he collapsed during a lunch on Saturday afternoon after delivering a speech at an international conference. Salmond led the pro-independence side ahead of the referendum in 2014, and resigned as first minister after Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK by 55% to 45%. He led the SNP to power when they won the Scottish Parliament election in 2007, having previously led the party between 1990 and 2000. Salmond, Scotland's first pro-independence first minister, then led the SNP to an unprecedented majority in the election four years later - which paved the way for the referendum to be held.  Under his leadership, the Scottish government also introduced popular policies including free NHS prescriptions and free university tuition fees for Scottish students. After quitting as first minister, he had a spectacular fallout with his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, over her government’s mishandling of harassment complaints against him.  Salmond was also cleared of serious sexual offence charges after a trial in Edinburgh in 2020. After quitting the SNP, Salmond set up an alternative independence supporting party, called Alba, of which he was the leader.  Salmond died on Saturday afternoon at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the North Macedonia lake-resort town of Ohrid.

While hate crime statistics, released on Thursday, October 10, suggest there is a downward trend in reported hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ 

community, Stonewall believes official numbers may not paint the full picture.  The LGBTQ+ rights charity’s research shows less than half of LGBTQ+ people feel safe holding their partner’s hand in public. And according to a survey by Galop, only 1 in 8 people reported their experiences to the police.  According to Stonewall, the reporting of hate crimes needs to be as accurate as possible. The charity is currently working to remove barriers to reporting and to better understand anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes. The Labour Government has pledged in their manifesto to make anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes an aggravated offence, which would mean LGBTQ+ people have the same protections as people who experience other hate crimes.  Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, said: “While the Home Office official statistics reveals a drop in reported hate crime motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity, the huge increase in religious hate crimes in the last year is deeply worrying. “We stand together with everyone affected by hate crime, whatever community they are part of. We know hate crime has a ripple effect. A rise in hatred towards one marginalised group is harmful to everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, and has a corrosive effect across society.

Virgin Atlantic announced at the Attitude Awards on Wednesday, October 9 that it is working on initiatives to enable LGBTQ+ travellers to “confidently” book travel to destinations where they can “truly be themselves”. Juha Järvinen, chief commercial officer, said: “Launching early next year, we will be introducing new services and experiences, including LGBTQ+ tailored holiday planning services [and] destination guides as well as inclusive hotel recommendations. “The initiatives will empower people to discover new destinations by recommending LGBTQ+ friendly hotels, offering advice on the best ways to enjoy the destination, where to go, providing unique insights and tips, what to see – all curated by local LGBTQ+ experts. “We’re keeping things under wraps for now but watch this space for more details in the new year.” Järvinen noted how this year marks the 40th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic, adding: “From our very first flight on June 22, 1984, Sir Richard Branson’s vision was to shake up the aviation industry with a pioneering new approach to travel. “We brought heart and soul to travel by embedding inclusivity in all that we do, an ethos that Richard, our founder, inspired from the very beginning and something that we live and breathe every day. “From delivering diversity training with our partners in the Caribbean to overhauling our uniform policy and ticketing systems to support non-binary and our trans colleagues and customers, 

Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime in England and Wales has fallen in the last year, according to new figures shared by the Home Office.  The data, which covers the period between March 2023 and March 2024, showed that hate crimes against people because of their sexual orientation fell by 8% compared to the previous year, while transgender hate crime fell by 2%. Nevertheless, anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime in England and Wales is still higher than it was five years ago. According to the Home Office, between 2020 and 2021 there were 18,596 instances of hate crime because of sexual orientation reported to police. The most recent figures show that between 2023 and 2024, there were 22,839 instances. Still, this figure is 13% lower than the year ending March 2022, when 26,152 offences were recorded. Elsewhere in the report, the Home Office noted that disability hate crime had fallen by 18%, while racially motivated hate crimes had fallen by 5%. However, religious hate crimes had increased by 25%, particularly among the Jewish and Muslim communities. In a statement shared in response to the data, Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, said: “While the Home Office official statistics released today reveals a drop in reported hate crime motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity, the huge increase in religious hate crimes in the last year is deeply worrying.

The Labour government has replaced the Equality Hub with the Office for Equality and Opportunity, and announced “key immediate priorities”, including the delivery of a “full, trans-inclusive ban” of so-called ‘conversion therapy‘.  In a press release, the government shared that the new office highlighted their “commitments to breaking down barriers, boosting opportunity and ensuring that equality is at the heart of every mission”. A spokesperson said: “The Office for Equality and Opportunity will cover the overall framework of equality legislation in the UK, including disability policy, ethnic disparities, gender equality and LGBT+ rights.”  “We will ensure equality and opportunity are at the very heart of our all missions” – Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities  Along with the ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’, the government laid out four other key priorities, including championing the rights of disabled people, focusing on socio-economic disparities, enshrining in law equal pay for those from ethnic minorities and disabled people, and “strengthening the legal duty for employers to create and maintain working conditions free from harassment”.  In a statement, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, said: “We know too many people across our country face unjust barriers, and that’s why we will ensure equality and opportunity are at the very heart of our all missions.

Trans activist India Willoughby, who on Wednesday night had the words ‘Labour Killing Trans’ written on her arms at the Attitude Awards, has criticised producers of Big Brother for casting “anti-trans” events organiser Ryan Bradshaw, who mocked ‘woke people’ using ‘certain pronouns’.  In his intro tape, Blackpool native Ryan said: ‘There’s a lot of woke people out there. It’s all well and good if you want to use certain pronouns and I get that. It gets a bit confusing sometimes when people start identifying as a spoon or whatnot.’ Sharing a clip of him on X, India wrote: Really disappointing, Big Brother UK. I wonder if this guy would have been allowed in the BB house if he’d been derogatory about Black, Asian or Jewish people in his VT? ‘It really is shocking how trans people can now be openly belittled in the UK mainstream. An X user commented on India’s post saying they feel society is going backwards to which India replied: ‘Absolutely’  They wrote: ‘Especially given a trans person WON Big Brother like 20 years ago. Like, how far backwards have we gone!?’ India replied: ‘Absolutely. It’s all a joke to them. Reminds me of the 70s.’ A Big Brother spokesperson said in response: ‘Housemates receive Respect and Inclusion training and an extensive briefing from the Big Brother Senior team to prepare them for living in the House and to set out Big Brother’s expectation for appropriate behaviour and language.’

The 16th edition of this prestigious event will take place during the iconic Amsterdam Pride and promises to be a spectacular four-day celebration of inclusivity, culture, and the festive Pride atmosphere.  From July 29 to August 2, 2025, visitors and participants can experience the best the city has to offer, with one of the highlights being the grand finale on the Bar Blend MainStage at Dam Square , the vibrant heart of Amsterdam. Mr Gay Europe 2025 seeks the successor to the current titleholder, Tim Küsters from the Netherlands, who has been a source of inspiration for the LGBTQ+ community across Europe during his reign. This year, the competition is bigger, more exciting, and more diverse than ever, with an extensive program that will take participants and spectators on a journey through Amsterdam, while immersing them in the city's welcoming Pride vibe. In addition to the many activities and challenges the contestants will face, including workshops, panel discussions, and team-building events, they will also have the opportunity to experience the rich culture and diversity of Amsterdam. The winner and new titleholder will be rewarded with an impressive prize package, headlined by a 9-day Vacaya Cruise along the beautiful Mediterranean coast & a fantastic trip above the polar circle to join the Arctic Pride under the northern light.

Eurovision winner Nemo has said the song contest's organisers didn't do enough to support participants who were caught up in a row over Israel's inclusion in this year's show. "I felt very alone," the Swiss singer, 25, told BBC News. "I really hope they have things in place for the next year."  Nemo, who has just released their first single since winning the contest in May, added that the event had "in a way" been overshadowed by the political controversy. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs Eurovision, said it had introduced changes that would provide "more clarity and protection" for artists at future contests.  In the build-up to this year's Eurovision, there were calls for Israel to be banned from the competition over the country's military action in Gaza, and pro-Palestinian protests on the streets of Swedish host city Malmö Some contestants, including Nemo, came under pressure to boycott the show, while Israel's entrant Eden Golan reportedly faced death threats. Nemo, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, has since got a record deal and was speaking to BBC News after their new track, Eurostar, was released. Reflecting on their experiences during Eurovision, Nemo described the atmosphere backstage as "quite tense". "There were situations that are still being investigated by the EBU," they said. "They told us they would get back to us and they haven't yet. It's a shame that the EBU takes so long in my honest opinion.".

​The late Brianna Ghey has been honoured with a posthumous Inspiration Award at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar. Presenting the award to Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, at the ceremony tonight (Wednesday 9 October 2024) was trans rights activist and motivational speaker Jaxon Feeley.  After she accepted the award, which was presented in recognition of the profound impact of Brianna’s life, and the legacy that continues in her name, Esther said: “Firstly, I would really like to thank the community for all of the support you’ve given our family over the past year and a half. There are people here tonight who I’ve met over this time and become really close friends with. I really appreciate all of you.” She continued: “Brianna was so proud to be trans, and she wouldn’t let anyone take that away from her.  “Brianna’s strength to be who she wanted to be really shone through in her life. [She] passed her strength and determination to others, inspiring them to be the best version of themselves. I’m the proudest mum in the world to be collecting this award for her tonight. When asked about what Brianna would make of receiving The Inspiration Award in an interview in the latest issue of Attitude – out now – Esther said: “I think that she would be really proud. She would be proud of herself, and rightly so.” Esther’s full interview features in the Attitude Awards issue, alongside cover stars Elton John, pop icon Lulu, DJ and producer The Blessed Madonna,

Religious hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales has risen by 25% over the past year, driven by a rise in offences against Jews and Muslims since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Home Office figures show.  The vast majority of the 140,561 hate crime offences recorded - about seven in 10 - are shown to have been motivated by race, according to the data. But the increase in religious hate crimes is mainly driven by a rise in antisemitic offences, the department said.  Hate crimes targeted at Jewish people more than doubled, while incidents against Muslims were up 13% on the previous 12 months, according to data. The Home Office said this is the highest annual count in religious hate crime offences since the department began collecting data in the year ending March 2012. More recent figures, recorded by community organisations rather than police, have shown record highs in antisemitism and Islamophobia up to the end of September. Publishing the statistics on Thursday, the Home Office said the 25% increase "was driven by a rise in hate crimes against Jewish people and to a lesser extent Muslims and has occurred since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict". The hate crimes figures, supplied to the Home Office by the 43 territorial police forces across England and Wales and British Transport Police, showed a 5% decline in the overall number of hate crimes.

Council workers who identify as LGBTQ+ have said they welcomed a decision to fly the Progress Pride flag following comments from a town's MP.  Rupert Lowe, Reform UK's MP for Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, said the flag should not be flown from public sector buildings as it promoted "gender identity ideology" that he disagreed with. Great Yarmouth Borough Council's Conservative cabinet then voted to fly the flag at the Town Hall and said it had cross-party support.  Council leader Carl Smith said staff members had messaged him to say how they appreciated the support. Mr Lowe declined the BBC's request for interview.  Smith said raising the flag, which is a variation of the original Pride flag, was an act of defiance in the face of the MP's comments.  "It's our building and we fly lots of different flags here and we've done this to support the LGBT community [over] the hateful comments that have been made on Facebook," he said. "We've had praise from our staff who are from the LGBT community that we are showing them our support against what has been said, and the hateful comments that have been made towards them because of [Lowe's] comments about flying these flags from public buildings." Previously, Lowe posted a Facebook message, that said hospitals were "telling us to not say that babies are 'born female' or 'born male', but they are 'assigned' at birth".

LGBTQ+ stars and allies, including Bimini, Lulu, Mawaan Rizwan and Latyon Williams, served up fashion galore as they headed down the red carpet at London’s iconic Roundhouse in Camden, on Wednesday (9 October) for the biggest queer night of the year: the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar. 

This year’s ceremony will see 13 awards dished out to a number of LGBTQ+ stars, friends and allies, all in front of a star-studded audience. However, even before the event kicked off properly, those in attendance put on quite a show, delivering some incredible looks on the red carpet. If those looks weren’t enough,

Eurovision winner Nemo, Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins and Tia Kofi also brought their fashion A-game. S Club star Rachel Stevens, Heartstopper‘s Kizzy Edgell, Dylan Mulvaney, Tyreece, and Strictly‘s Montell ‘Fire’ Douglass and Johannes Radebe also slayed their red carpet looks.

The focus on puberty blockers in the gender-care debate is disproportionate, the paediatrician who led the NHS review into children’s services, says.  Dr Hilary Cass said the merits of the treatment used to delay the onset of puberty had been “oversold” and there was “very limited” evidence they were of use. Adults with long-standing trans identity should be offered medical interventions, she told BBC News, but it was right to be careful with children questioning their gender, who were in a “dynamic state of development”. It follows a ban, earlier this year, on the routine prescription of puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria. The BMA, which has since rowed back on its criticisms after a backlash by doctors, had called Dr Cass’s recommendations “unsubstantiated”. The BMA, which has since rowed back on its criticisms after a backlash by doctors, had called Dr Cass’s recommendations “unsubstantiated”.  The review, commissioned by NHS England and published in April, called for better psychological support, noting young people struggling with their gender had higher rates of mental-health problems and neurodiversity such as autism and ADHD or childhood trauma. On Wednesday, Dr Cass told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme: “They [puberty blockers] have been a disproportionate amount of the discussion, because actually the evidence doesn't show benefit for the majority of young people who go on them.

A council has voted to fly an LGBTQ+ flag outside its town hall in response to criticism of the symbol by the local MP.  Conservative-run Great Yarmouth Borough Council in Norfolk said there was "cross party support" for the decision after Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said the flag should not be flown from public buildings. The MP has said the Progress Pride flag, which is a redesign of the older Pride flag, promoted "gender identity ideology" over "scientific reality". Lowe said the flag "should not be on display in hospitals, schools and other public institutions". In a post on social media, Lowe said: "If private individuals wish to display their views, that’s fine but not when taxpayer money is involved. "Keep politics out of the public sector."  In response, cabinet members voted to fly the very same flag outside the Town Hall.  Carl Smith, leader of the council, said: "We are fully supportive of the LGBTQ+ community in this district, some of whom work within the council." The move gained cross-party support, with leader of the Labour group Trevor Wainwright also voting for the move. Councillors and the chief executive Sheila Oxtoby posted a photo of themselves on the council's official Facebook page, A council spokesman said the vote to fly the flag showed their"commitment to celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity".  Within 15 minutes of the post, Lowe responded on Facebook, "The gender ideology promoted within this flag is concerning nd advances the idea that children are often born in the ‘wrong’ body,"

A new HIV Action Plan will be published by summer 2025, Andrew Gwynne MP, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, has announced  According to sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust, an updated plan is “vital if we are to achieve the goal of ending new cases of HIV in England by 2030”. The Minister made the announcement at the HIV Prevention England Conference 2024, organised by Terrence Higgins Trust as part of the HIV Prevention England programme which is commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care.  In his speech, the Minister highlighted successes of recent years, such as the introduction of opt-out testing for HIV, Hep B and Hep C in A&E departments, saying: “It has probably saved more than a thousand lives in its first two years alone.” Opt-out testing is now being rolled out in all high-prevalence areas in England due to a successful campaign led by Terrence Higgins Trust. Over the next few months, Terrence Higgins Trust wants to play its part in shaping the new HIV Action Plan.  Through its collaboration with National AIDS Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the sexual health charity is gathering together the expertise and opinions of the HIV community through round-tables and a survey where you can give your views. Terrence Higgins Trust said: “The announcement of this new HIV Action Plan is an exciting step, giving us an opportunity together to end an epidemic and improve the lives of people living with HIV.

A man in Bristol was slashed with a knife in what Avon and Somerset Police are calling a “homophobic attack”.  According to police, the incident took place on on Sunday 11 August 2024 at around 10:15pm when three unknown men riding bicycles attacked two men who were walking down St. Thomas Street in Redcliffe, just south east of the city centre. Police said that the perpetrators made homophobic comments to the two men before punching one of the victims and attacking him with a knife. The man sustained an injury to the chest, but did not require hospital treatment. In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police shared descriptions of the three unknown men. One, described as having a slim build and being in either his late teens or early 20s, was wearing an all-black tracksuit with white detailing down the right arm. The second man, also of slim build, had light-coloured hair and was wearing a black top and white trainers. The third, described as having a large build, also had light-coloured hair and was similarly wearing all black clothing. “We believe the three men pictured may have information which could aid our enquiries into this incident,” police said, sharing CCTV imagery of the unknown men. “If you recognise the three people pictured, or can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224210107, or complete our online appeals form.”

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that member states must recognise legal documents from other countries that reflect a person’s changed name and gender identity, regardless of the member state’s own laws on changing one’s name and identity. This decision comes in light of a Romanian trans man, Arian Mirzarafie-Ahi, who moved to the UK when it was still a member of the EU. Mirzarafie-Ahi, who had legally changed his gender identity and name while in the UK, had attempted to use his newly changed UK documents to receive an altered birth certificate from Romania. However, the country did not recognise his altered name and identity, leading him to sue Romania in the CJEU. Romania argued that the name and gender change violated their laws, and that, since the UK was no longer a member of the EU, any changes within that country do not need to be recognised by Romania under its obligations to other EU member nations. The court, however, argued that Romania’s reasoning would unlawfully restrict EU citizens’ freedom of movement and residence between different countries. Additionally, the court argued that Romania’s policy would put an undue burden on individuals like Mirzarafie-Ahi, who would then have to be known as two different names and genders in different countries, creating legislative hurdles as they attempt to prove their identity. 

Kylie has just released tour dates in Europe as part of her Tension tour in 2025. The tour which kicks off in Australia in February is Kylie's biggest tour in over a decade. The dates in Europe include Berlin, Paris, Stockholm and Zurich.  The pre sale starts on Wednesday 16th October at 10am CET. The dates in Asia include Thailand and Japan but what arenas she will play there are still to be confirmed.  The Australian star also announced her next studio album, Tension II, a sequel to her 2023 work that contained the Grammy-winning hit Padam Padam. The album will be released on 18 October. In a statement, Minogue said: “I am beyond excited to announce the Tension tour 2025. I can’t wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more. “It’s been an exhilarating ride so far, and now get ready for your close up because I will be calling Lights, Camera, Action … and there will be a whole lot of Padaming.” Tension was the Australian singer’s ninth No 1 album in the UK charts. This year Minogue took home the global icon award at the Brits and won the best pop dance recording Grammy for Padam Padam. In July she performed at the British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park in London, after becoming the first headliner at the nightclub Voltaire, a venue at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, in November 2023.

Art house distributor and streaming service Mubi has acquired the UK rights to Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino‘s upcoming gay drama Queer, according to a report by Variety. The film, which is based on the 1985 novel by William S. Burroughs, had its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September, where it was met with positive reviews, with the Guardian calling it “horny and mesmeric”.  Set in 1940s Mexico City, Queer follows William Lee, played by Daniel Craig, an American ex-pat and World War II veteran living in 1950s Mexico City who begins a romance with a younger man and drug user named Eugene Allerton, played by Love, Simon star Drew Starkey. The film also stars Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville and Omar Apollo. It will be distributed by A24 in the US.  In a statement delivered after the film was picked up in the US, Craig and Guadagnino said: “It is our deep honour to finally bring Burroughs’ legendary novel to life on screen for the first time, and we feel immense gratitude and excitement to be able to present it alongside our treasured collaborators.” Following the film’s premiere, a short clip teasing the film was shared online. The film has already picked up some famous fans, including the actor Andrew Garfield.  In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Garfield said that while he hadn’t seen the full film, he had seen one explicit scene at the behest of Guadagnino.

A group of LGBTQ performance artists has called on former punters who attended Vauxhall's gay pubs of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s to take part in a history project looking at the "heyday" of London's queer scene. The collective, called Duckie, wants to delve into the history of three south London pubs - the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT), the Market Tavern and the Elephant & Castle - which it describes as being "the spit and sawdust cultural epicentre of these halcyon times".  The group is organising a community consultation event in Vauxhall for people to discuss their memories of the time. It said it wanted "to dig deep into the personal and public archives of the period".  All three pubs became popular meeting places for gay men and women during the second half of the 20th Century.  The RVT specialised in drag performance with the likes of Lily Savage taking to its stage in the 1980s, while the Market Tavern developed into a gay clubbing hot spot. The RVT remains a popular venue to this day but the Market Tavern and the Elephant & Castle both closed down. Announcing its project, called Take Courage, Duckie said it wanted to revisit the period "as the London tradition of the gay pub falls into long term decline". "This project is for older people that were there in Vauxhall back in the day and for younger people that were not there, but love a bit of queer history and want to join the dots," it said. The community event is being held on 16 October

​Love it or loathe it, Grindr is a part of queer life. However, using the app doesn’t always lead to the thing it’s designed for: finding dates. To help combat this, the app is currently trialing an AI ‘wingman’ to help its 14 million users around the world meet their match. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Grindr’s CEO George Arison said the wingman, or agent, was currently being tested and would help people keep track of their conversations and, using data, provide recommendations for other users who could be a good fit for a long-term relationship. The AI will even be able to book restaurants for users and date another user’s wingman.  “I always knew that AI was going to be a really big deal,” Arison said. “As we saw where generative AI was going, I realised, ‘A lot of this extension stuff can actually be done by AI.” Grindr has previously come under fire for sharing user data with advertisers, including locations, ages and people’s gender identities. In order to avoid another scandal, the app trained its wingman’s AI on romantic conversations by another model, Ex-human, however Arison said that it would “make it more gay” by incorporating queer lexicon into it’s language model. Arison also said that the wingman could help tackle other issues in the queer community, like loneliness and depression. “For better or worse, Grindr gets a lot of attention, and so we want to be careful with what’s broadly released,” he said.

The best of British diversity heroes – many unsung and unseen – have had their work recognised at this year’s National Diversity Awards in association with HSBC UK. The individuals and organisations named as winners were chosen from over 90,000 nominees and 125 finalists in 15 categories. Their dedication to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion was awarded and applauded at the glittering National Diversity Awards event on Friday October 4th.  The winners include charities, campaigners and activists, all of whom work tirelessly to combat injustice and discrimination in very different ways. Among them are a 12-year-old disability champion, a Mixed Martial Arts personality, an entrepreneur with Down Syndrome, leading dairy food producer and two Windrush pioneers. Local charities supporting elderly people, the LGBTQ+ community and marginalised women also won awards. Now in its 13th year, the National Diversity Awards has become a celebrated and celebratory annual event uniting UK citizens irrespective of race, faith, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability and culture. The event pays tribute to the work undertaken by a huge array of people, groups and organisations in advancing equality, diversion and inclusion within their communities.  g10 has been nominated in the awards for the last 5 years in a row. 

Swiss Eurovision winner Nemo has returned with their brand new single ‘Eurostar’. Written as “a little love letter to London“, where the singer now lives, ‘Eurostar’ is an propulsive pop epic, which they describe as “a little fucked up and cute”.  “I moved to London five weeks ago, and I’ve found myself exploring different parts of the city — its history, culture, and amazing music,” Nemo said in a statement. They added: “I took the Eurostar from Paris to London back in June, and I suddenly felt inspired by how close these two places are, both of which mean a lot to me. I found a lot of inspiration in taking the train, realising it’s a great metaphor for arriving in London, in a way, but also for the speed of life lately. “The Eurostar is incredibly fast at times, and my life has felt similarly nonstop and fast-paced. I think you can hear that energy reflected in the song as well.”  “Meet me in the lobby, I’ve been up for twenty-four/I wanna dance, I wanna party, do it like no one before,” Nemo sings on the chorus. “I took the Eurostar from Paris and you know what fuckin’ for/I wanna dance, I wanna party, do it like no one before.” The accompanying music video, which was filmed in partnership with the actual Eurostar, sees Nemo arriving in London on the train, before rushing through the streets to various hotels, clubs, cafes and photoshoots. ‘Eurostar’ marks the first new music from Nemo since they won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, with their genre-less banger ‘The Code’.

After 15 years in the UK, Bangladesh national Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, who identifies as gay, is seeking asylum in the UK from his home country, where he claims, he would face persecution due to this sexuality.  Despite having made several asylum claims, Chowdhury has been refused each time as the Home Office does not feel he has a well-founded fear of persecution.  Chowdhury, who currently lives in London, said: “I feel unsafe and am under significant stress because of my situation. “I am a genuine gay person who has been suffering for the last six years due to the initial judge’s decision in his asylum case. “My life is in danger in Bangladesh, and I would be killed if I were forcibly returned there.” Worcester LGBT, a hub of all LGBT matters in the Worcestershire area, was contacted by Chowdhury over social media and the group will testify in support of his appeal in court. A spokesperson for Worcester LGBT said: “We are deeply concerned about Mr Chowdhury’s welfare.  He is a genuinely gay person who has been let down by the Home Office.” Chowdhury arrived in the UK as a student in October 2009 before first claiming asylum in May 2017. His subsequent claims have also been rejected. In the latest case, the Home Office concluded that, based on the available evidence, he was not eligible for refugee status as it was not satisfied on the balance of probabilities Chowdhury has a well-founded fear of persecution.

Rupert Lowe, the Reform UK MP, has come under fire on X, formerly Twitter, after saying the Progress Pride flag should be banned from public buildings, including hospitals and schools.  In the July 2024 general election, Lowe won Reform UK a seat in Parliament after standing for the Great Yarmouth constituency, gaining 35.3% of the vote, beating Labour into second place.  

Writing on X, Lowe said: “This flag should not be on display in hospitals, schools and other public sector institutions. If private individuals wish to display their views, that’s fine – but not when taxpayer money is involved. Keep politics out of the public sector.”  The Progress Pride flag was developed in 2018 by non-binary American artist and designer Daniel Quasar. Based on the iconic rainbow flag from 1978, the redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and calls for a more inclusive society. In a speech made in September 2024, Lowe criticised devolution and legal migration levels, and diversity related roles, saying: “Let’s scrap every diversity related role in a vastly reduced public sector and judge people on merit.”

Heartstopper finally returned to Netflix for its third season yesterday (3 October), and it’s safe to say that critics are absolutely loving it.  The queer coming-of-age favourite, based on web comics and graphic novels by writer Alice Oseman, is currently sitting at a perfect 100% rating on review aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 reviews. At the time of writing, the show’s third season also has a 96% score based on over 250 audience reviews.  In a four-star review for The Guardian, the critic Rebecca Nicholson praised the show’s “sensitive approach”, adding: “For adults – particularly those who grew up with Section 28 on the books, when being LGBTQ+ often came with a veneer of shame – the loveliness of Heartstopper is in imagining that this is what teenage life could have been like. For those who can relate directly to the teenagers on their screen, what a treat.”  Writing in Empire, David Opie highlighted that while the show had grown up, it’s “signature innocence still remains intact”  “No other series celebrates queer joy with such earnest and much-needed warmth as Heartstopper still does,” he wrote, calling it the show’s “most adult, accomplished outing yet”. Likewise, writing for NME, Nick Levine called the latest season “transformative” and “vital”, saying it “renews Heartstopper’s sense of purpose and relevance to LGBTQ+ viewers in particular”..

Nine in ten young LGBTQ+ Britons say there have been queer people in their personal lives as teenagers and onwards, and a similar number were aware of LGBTQ+ public figures as well. Many older LGBTQ+ public figures have spoken out about the difficulties they faced growing up at a time where they did not know anyone else like them. TV presenter Graham Norton, for instance, has said: “I was gay at a time when people weren’t and I didn’t know anybody else who was, so that makes you slightly different.”  The results of a new YouGov study show that few young LGBTQ+ Britons face a similar experience anymore. The survey shows that 90% of young LGBTQ+ Britons aged 16-25 say they had other queer people in their personal life from their teenage years onwards – only 8% say they have had no friends, family, fellow pupils or other figures they came into contact with on a regular basis who were also LGBTQ+.  Of those who did have other queer people in their lives, the large majority (88%) say it has been important to them to have such figures around, including 54% who say it was “very important”. According to YouGov, visible representation is not just about having people from the same group as you in your personal sphere, but also about seeing them represented in public life. The survey shows that the vast majority of young LGBTQ+ Britons (91%) have been aware of queer public figures from their teenage years onwards

After a successful launch party at the Two Brewers, featuring stellar performances by Cassidy Janson, Emma Lindars, Charlie George, Katherine Rhodes, Marsha Mallow, and Lady Imelda, along with a fundraising auction hosted by Steve Furst and a heartfelt speech by founder and Artistic Director Andrew Keates, Queer Theatre UK is proud to announce their new Patron, Stephen Fry. He joins current Patrons, playwright Martin Sherman (Bent, Mrs Henderson Presents, Rose) and actor Annette Badland (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Doctor Who, Ted Lasso). A speech from Stephen Fry was played where he commented [Queer Theatre is] such a marvellous idea and I’m so happy to support it… it is going to support whole generations of queer people and indeed our allies and friends…I think it’s a great thing and I am sure from this little acorn a great and mighty oak will grow. He has further commented, I am honoured and proud to call myself a patron of Queer Theatre. QT is not an exclusive enclave but a wide hug for all, showcasing and highlighting the queer stories and queer talent that are such a vital part of theatre and the wider culture. Queer Theatre has officially raised the curtain on their new initiatives, produced to nurture queer theatre makers including The Show People Podcast with Andrew Keates and OutStage which will be a seasonal showcase celebrating queer actors and writers

The UK‘s first LGBTQ+ museum, Queer Britain, has announced a change in leadership, with director and co-founder Joseph Galliano-Doig MBE exiting the role after seven years.  Stepping into Galliano-Doig’s shoes is current Director of Development at the English National Opera (ENO), Andrew Given, who will take over operations of the museum, which is housed in Granary Square, King’s Cross, London.  Stepping into Galliano-Doig’s shoes is current Director of Development at the English National Opera (ENO), Andrew Given, who will take over operations of the museum, which is housed in Granary Square, King’s Cross, London. He added: “Queer Britain is an incredible space that tells queer stories from a queer perspective, and I’m excited to work in service to the UK’s LGBTQ+ community, showcasing and elevating unheard stories from all over the country, and for the museum to be at the heart of our community. “It will be an honour to build upon the fantastic work of Joseph Galliano-Doig, and to take Queer Britain onto its next phase towards a forever home.” Galliano-Doig, meanwhile, will adopt the honorary title of Director Emeritus. Under his stewardship, Queer Britain was successfully able to open its first permanent location in King’s Cross, winning the Best Small Museum Project at the Museum Association’s Museums Change Lives Awards in 2022.

The speaker of the Georgian parliament has today (3 October) signed a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law only 24 hours after the country’s president refused to do so.  The so-called ‘Protection of Family Values and Minors’ bill, which was first introduced by the governing Georgian Dream party and approved by parliament last month, bans marriage equality, LGBTQ+ adoption, the depiction and promotion of LGBTQ+ relationships and people in the media, gender affirming care, and the ability for individuals to change their gender identity on official documents.  Yesterday (2 October), Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, whose role is mostly ceremonial, decided not to sign the bill into legislation, with a spokesperson telling the news agency AFP that she had returned it to parliament, where the speaker then signed it into law.  According to Aljazeera, the Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, told local media that Zourabichvili had failed families and children.  He said: “The fact that Salome Zourabichvili did not stand on the side of protecting traditional and family values, not on the side of protecting the interests of minors, but on the side of pseudo-liberal propaganda, once again shows what political choice this person made and what forces [she] is governed by.” In a post on Facebook, Shalva Papuashvili, the parliament speaker, also criticised Zourabichvili’s decision,

Right-wing anti-LGBTQ education activist Corey DeAngelis has seemingly addressed his previous career in gay porn.  DeAngelis reportedly acted in films like Jerk Off Race and Super Star Compilation! under the name Seth Rose.  The self-described ‘school choice evangelist’ is now better known as the author of The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools – for which Donald Trump wrote a foreword. News of his gay porn past made mainstream news last month, with the likes of NBC and The Independent carrying the story. In a post on 30 September on X, formally Twitter, DeAngelis appeared to discuss the matter publicly for the first time. “As an activist for parental rights and school choice, my passion is personal,” DeAngelis said. “Just like everyone else, I have made mistakes throughout my life, learned from those mistakes, used that as an opportunity to grow and tried to channel that experience into something positive.” DeAngelis continued: “I was a victim of poor decisions and poor influences. I have turned that experience into the fuel that fires me to save young people from being put in the same position I was put in and to help parents protect their children. I will never stop fighting for what is right.” News of the ‘parental rights’ campaigner’s alleged past was first shared by Str8 Up Gay Porn. In his known films, DeAngelis masturbated solo or alongside other men.

The manager of a popular gay bar has thanked the LGBTQ+ community for its support after the venue was granted a new licence. Blayds Bar, said to be one of the oldest gay venues in Leeds, held a licence which lapsed when the company operating it was wound up. It was granted a new licence at a hearing on Tuesday after councillors decided it would not add to alcohol-related disorder in the city centre.  Duncan McCallum, who has run the bar for 18 years, said: “If it wasn’t for the LGBTQ+ community getting behind us we would not have had this result today.”  Mr McCallum was praised by 47 customers who wrote letters of support and witnesses who spoke at the hearing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.  

There was applause from about 20 supporters at the hearing when the licence was granted.   Customer Gillian Dobson said: “Duncan’s bar is the safest bar I have ever visited. "It is very much a community space for young and old.” The hearing was told the company operating under the previous licence was dissolved following the death of Mr McCallum’s husband, Robert Payne, in 2021.  The venue had been operating under temporary event licences.

In the lead up to the show’s third seasons, both Kit Connor and Joe Locke, who play boyfriends Nick and Charlie respectively, have spoken about how the new episodes will see their characters become more intimate. As series creator Alice Oseman has said, Heartstopper is growing up.  Now Connor has shared further details about how the show is approaching queer sex in an interview with the Radio Times, saying that it’ll be handled in “a very Heartstopper way”. “The focus is on the difficulties of knowing when you’re ready and what it is to be a young queer person,” he said.  He continued: “There isn’t as much representation in the industry of queer sex and often it’s represented as being much more advanced and very highly sexualised. This is really sweet and tender.” Oseman, who appeared on the Radio Times Podcast, said they hoped the depiction of sex would be “really helpful” for young queer people who have anxiety about intimacy.   “I think teenagers today have so much pressure on them to have sex as early as possible,” they added. “It feels like everyone’s doing it. All your friends are saying you should be doing it. The internet is saying you should be doing it. Lots of teen media says you should, too.” Oseman went on to tease that it takes some time for Nick and Charlie to take their relationship to the next level.  “Hopefully that will be relatable for a lot of young people,” they added.

The number of people being diagnosed with HIV is rising, according to new figures released today (1 October) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).  According to the organisation’s annual HIV surveillance data, the number of new HIV cases first made in England rose by up to 15% between 2022 and 2023.  The data, which focuses specifically on England and excludes those previously diagnosed abroad, highlighted that the number of new diagnoses is increasing among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, as well as heterosexual men and women. Individuals from ethnic minorities are being disproportionately affected, with new cases of HIV rising fastest among these groups. Meanwhile, 40% of all new cases of HIV in 2023 were diagnosed at a late stage. This was particularly true for people aged 50, men who were exposed through sex with women and among those from ethnic minorities. Black people are also disproportionately being diagnosed with HIV at a late stage, with a 40% increase from 2022. It’s the same for those outside of London. While the number of new cases among heterosexual men increased by 9% in the capital, that figure was 51% for those outside of London. However, the UKHSA noted that the number of individuals accessing PrEP, a drug that helps prevent the transmission of HIV, had actually risen, with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men more likely to begin or continue taking PrEP compared to straight men or women.

Phillip Schofield has said that the backlash to his This Morning affair scandal was made worse because of his sexuality.  Schofield resigned from the daytime ITV show last year after admitting to a “consensual on-off relationship” with a younger male colleague, which he dubbed “unwise, but not illegal”.  At the time, the 62-year-old said he had lied to bosses at ITV about the relationship, which occurred while he was still married to his wife, Stephanie Lowe.  Now, according to a report by The Independent, Schofield has addressed the scandal on a three-part TV series for Channel 5, Cast Away, his first TV appearance since quitting This Morning.  “People say, ‘Ah the publicity machine [is] back in full swing. He’s working his way back in’,” Schofield said on the show, which sees the celebrity sent to survive on an island in the Indian Ocean for 10 days. “Shamed, disgraced Phillip Schofield who had an affair.” Continuing, he said: “Strangely, I think another TV presenter or two might have done exactly the same thing. Difference is [they’re] heterosexual.”  Schofield went on to say that large age gaps are “not an unusual thing in the gay world”.  He added: “That’s not an unusual thing in the straight world. But if that had been the case with me, and it had been a woman: pat on the back. ‘Well done, mate.’” Elsewhere in the programme, Schofield said that he would not return to daytime TV chat shows in the future. Phillip Schofield: Cast Away airs tonight (30 September) on Channel 5.

Joe Locke has given his verdict on the upcoming third season of Heartstopper teasing it’s “the strongest.”  The actor, 20, is next set to be seen as Teen in the Disney+ MCU series Agatha All Along. However, the third season of Netflix’s Heartstopper, where he plays Charlie Spring, will follow shortly behind in October.  Speaking to Rolling Stone UK about Heartstopper, Locke said: “I think season three is the strongest. We’ve all got better at acting. I think season three is the strongest writing, the strongest everything from everyone.” He also commented on the addition of Jonathan Bailey to the show’s cast as the scholar Jack Maddox. It was confirmed in April that the Bridgerton heartthrob had joined the show after fans got hints earlier in the year.  “Johnny is a wonderfully lovely guy,” Locke told Rolling Stone UK. “I met him just after season one came out. The first thing he said was ‘I want to be in the show.’ That didn’t work out for season two, but I’m really happy that he has joined for season three. He’s the perfect casting for the hot history professor.” Bailey’s character appears to be have been based on the similarly named Henry Maddox, a scholar that Charlie develops a crush on. The character exists in a Heartstopper mini-comic by Lauren James. In May it was confirmed Heartstopper season three would air on Netflix from 3 October. Heartstopper seasons one and two are streaming now.

The BBC has apologised to Amanda Abbington and upheld some of her complaints against her 2023 Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice, but cleared him of the most serious allegations. While complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, claims of physical aggression were not, BBC News understands.  The Sherlock actress had accused Pernice of being "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" during their rehearsals. He previously strongly denied "any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour". BBC News has approached Abbington and Pernice for a comment.  In a statement released on Monday, the BBC said it takes allegations of bullying and harassment "very seriously" and said the review into Abbington's complaints had taken time "due to its complex nature" and in order to ensure "a rigorous and robust process". "We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made," it said.  "We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do." In recent media interviews, Abbington has said she first raised concerns about Pernice's behaviour with Strictly producers on her third day, and had "many" more discussions with programme bosses. She eventually dropped out in week six, expressing her "deepest regret" at having to leave the show for "medical" and "personal reasons". 

Tottenham Hotspur say they will take the "strongest possible action" over "abhorrent homophobic chanting" during Sunday's win at Manchester United.  The chanting was heard as Spurs outclassed a 10-man United side to win 3-0 at Old Trafford.  

In a statement, Tottenham condemned the chanting.  "This is simply unacceptable, hugely offensive and no way to show support for the team," the club said. "The club will be working closely with the police and stewards to identify anyone instigating or joining in with the chanting - we shall take the strongest possible action in accordance with our sanctions and banning policy." Spurs added: "We all have a responsibility to act as ambassadors of Tottenham Hotspur and discrimination of any kind has no place at our club." Tottenham reminded supporters they can report incidents directly to them and that the club will continue its work with their LGBTQ+ supporters’ association, Proud Lilywhites. "We're all Spurs fans just like you," Proud Lilywhites said on X. "When you sing these songs, you're telling us we don't belong; and we do, as much as you do."

Rebel Wilson has married her partner Ramona Agruma in an intimate destination wedding on the Italian island of Sardinia, according to reports.  Since their engagement in 2023, Wilson had been teasing an “intimate” beach wedding for 2025 with “close friends and family”, but the pair reportedly changed their minds and decided to move up the date.  According to American magazine People, the pair chose the location due to its sentimental value as the first place they visited together on holiday as a couple.  The 44-year-old Pitch Perfect star and her fashion designer partner met in 2021 and share a one-year-old daughter, named Royce Lillian Elizabeth, who they welcomed via surrogate.  They took their relationship public in May 2022 when Wilson shared a cosy selfie of the pair on Instagram with the caption, “I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince… but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess #loveislove.” Days after making their relationship Instagram official, Wilson posted a photo of them holding hands seaside town of Porto Cervo, captioning the post, “Ciao Bellas”. The Australian actor previously revealed that the pair were set up by a mutual friend, and said they connected over the phone before meeting in person. “And that was a really good way to get to know each other,” she explained at the time. "It was a bit old-school in that sense – very romantic.”

The body of trans woman Natasha Reddington-Romanov, who went missing on September 20, has been recovered from the Thames.  Natasha, who was been described as an ‘icon of Soho’, was last seen in the area on Friday, September 20. Her friend, Tracy Kawalik, posted on social media that Natasha hadn’t been seen since and that she “means the absolute world to me.” In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “Work was undertaken to confirm the identify of this person.  “Officers believe that the body discovered is that of Natasha Reddington-Romanov, a 55-year-old woman that had been reported missing from Southwark.  “Natasha’s next of kin have been informed of this development.” Police say Natasha’s death is being treated as “unexpected, but not suspicious”. “A file will be prepared for the coroner,” they added. Care provider Guinness Partnership, where Natasha worked, said in a Facebook post: “We are devastated at the tragic news that our dear colleague Natasha Reddington Romanov was found dead earlier today. Natasha’s next of kin have been informed. “This is devastating for Natasha’s loved ones and colleagues. Natasha was a wonderful woman whose kindness and warmth lit up every room and she was much loved by everyone who knew her. “We all feel a deep sense of loss at this terribly sad time.”

Until now, it's all been fun and games. But on Sunday night, the Strictly Come Dancing competition started for real - with two contestants facing the first dreaded dance-off to decide their fate, following a public vote. Three-time Olympic champion Tom Dean and his professional dancing partner Nadiya Bychkova squared off against popstar Toyah Willcox and her partner Neil Jones, with both couples performing their routines again before the judges delivered their verdicts. In the end, it was 24-year-old Dean who departed the dancefloor, after his cha cha to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire fell short of Willcox's jive to Nutbush City Limits by Ike and Tina Turner. Only Anton Du Beke chose to save Dean, with all three other judges voting to save Willcox, 66.  Speaking to host Tess Daly after the verdict, Dean said he wished he could have "gone further and done more dances".  "I've had the best time [over] the last few weeks and getting to work with Nadiya has been incredible," he said. "I've had the most fun and I wish we could keep going longer and longer. We'll still go out for loads of brunches, I'm sure." His partner Bychkova added that Dean was "a true gentleman", and that he had taught her "how to work really hard and how to put everything in". On Saturday, all 15 couples took to the dancefloor. More than six million people tuned in for Saturday night's live show on BBC One. This year's series follows a rocky few months for Strictly, 

Following the sad news of the passing of legendary actress Dame Maggie Smith, West End theatres will dim their lights for 2 minutes at 7pm on Tuesday 1 October, in her memory.  Smith was a six-time Olivier Award nominee and was the recipient of the 2010 Special Award.   Hannah Essex, Co-CEO of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said:  “Today the theatre world, and the nation, have lost an icon. Throughout her seventy-one years on stage and screen, Dame Maggie Smith was a magnificent talent and will be remembered as one of the most significant performers British theatre has ever seen. Our deepest condolences are with her family and loved ones, and we are proud to be able to honour her remarkable career in some small way.” “Today the theatre world, and the nation, have lost an icon. Throughout her seventy-one years on stage and screen, Dame Maggie Smith was a magnificent talent and will be remembered as one of the most significant performers British theatre has ever seen. Our deepest condolences are with her family and loved ones, and we are proud to be able to honour her remarkable career in some small way.” Her company moved to a small theatre in London in 1955 where she attracted the attention of an American producer, Leonard Stillman, who cast her in New Faces, a revue that opened on Broadway in June 1956.

Friends of a 55-year-old trans woman have expressed their concerns after she disappeared following a night out in Soho, London, last week.  Natasha Reddington-Romanov was last seen at 2am on Friday 20 September leaving the private members’ club Trisha’s on Greek Street. She was reported missing the following Tuesday (24 September) after she failed to show up for work. Speaking to Attitude, Natasha’s close friend, Tracy Kawalik, said that her disappearance was “totally out of character.”  Kawalik said that earlier that Friday night, Natasha had eaten dinner with the owner of Trisha’s in Chinatown.  “From there, they went for a glass of champagne at Little Italy, then on to Trisha’s. They were together there until closing. I believe she stayed for a drink after closing with Trisha; she normally would,” Kawalik said.  Once Trisha’s closed, Natasha was seen walking from Greek Street to Bateman Street in the direction of a club called Raincall. said.  “Two of the bartenders from Trisha’s, who are close friends of ours, were waiting to get into the club, but there was quite a long line,” Kawalik said. “Natasha walked past and didn’t go into the club.” It wasn’t uncommon for Natasha to to take the bus home from Tottenham Court Road to where she lives near the Old Kent Road. However, that night the battery on her phone had died. “She uses her phone to pay,” Kawalik said. “What a lot of people are assuming is that she walked home, which isn’t unusual for her to have done.”

Holmes Chapel will hold its first Pride event on Saturday - just 14 weeks after a drag queen asked why the Cheshire village did not have one in its annual diary.  Organising committee member Alison Wright said the celebration at Holmes Chapel Village Centre would be "a beacon of acceptance, understanding and pride for all of us, irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, age or religion". She said it had been "really heartwarming to see the support that’s already there in our community". The event, which is now intended to become an annual one, was organised in less than four months after people rallied to offer help, advice and financial support. “A drag queen asked the question 'Why doesn’t Holmes Chapel have a Pride event?', said Alison.  "We couldn’t answer, so we thought the best thing we can do is put it out to the community.  “We have had people offering to volunteer, stepping up with help and advice, providing financial support, and promising to come and support us on the day." Alison said she was "very excited - it’s been so good to be part of the organising committee from the start and for this to be the first Pride in Holmes Chapel is very, very special." The founder of nearby Sandbach Pride, Lucy Oliver, will cut a rainbow ribbon to open the event. Organisers said visitors could expect a lively atmosphere filled with live music, food, and a selection of stalls showcasing local businesses and crafts.

Large crowds are expected in Preston as the annual Pride event takes place in the city.  Established in 2012, this year's event will feature live music including tribute acts to Venga Boys and Steps, drag performances and local artists.   The parade will start at the city’s Adelphi Square at the University of Central Lancashire campus before heading down Friargate to the Flag Market.  Preston Pride chair, Debs Bradshaw-Blyth, said: "It's about inclusivity, it's about coming together, it's about celebrating difference and it's just about having a really good day and showing people that we exist."  Organisers said the event aimed to "create a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or background".  Attendees can expect to see a variety of stalls from local organisations, charities, and businesses that support the LGBTQIA+ community and activities for children.  

Councillor Anna Hindle, cabinet member for culture and arts, said: "Preston Pride is a cornerstone event for our city, showcasing our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. "Preston Pride is an opportunity for us all to stand together, demonstrate our solidarity, and foster a city where everyone feels welcome and valued."