Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic fantasy action film is set to be a massive mainstream role for Page following his transition. The 39-year-old Canadian star previously starred in Nolan’s Inception. 

Who is Elliot Page in The Odyssey?

In The Odyssey, Page plays Sinon, a Greek soldier and Odysseus’s cousin who fought in the Trojan War alongside him.

Sinon is an instrumental character and crucial in the famous war moment where a wooden horse makes its way into the Trojan city.

Furthermore, the film’s trailer gives a teaser of Page’s character. In one of the trailers, Paige’s Sinon is seen held at knife point. A sword is pressed against his chin as he stares at the aggressor.

Recently, Page showed off his ripped physique after boxing training, abs on full display. He’s certainly prepared for the physicality of the performance. 

Why did Elliot Page get backlash for The Odyssey?

Sadly, news of Page’s casting wasn’t entirely smooth, as right-wingers were up in arms about his rumoured character.

Initial rumours suggested Page would be playing Achilles, famed for his invulnerability and weak heel.

At the time, news anchor Rob Finnerty broadcast his vehement disagreement with a trans actor playing the role… which he seemed to think was based on a real person from history, rather than a mythological figure.

“The most famous warrior in all of history, not just Greek history, Achilles, is about to be played by a transgender woman in a brand new movie,” he then said.

“Achilles, who is described throughout history as being a superhuman warrior, deadly on the battlefield, he even defeated Hector of Troy,” Finnerty also continued.

Finnerty then went on to criticise Lupita Nyong’o’s casting as Helen of Troy, another mythological character, saying that she was “definitely white”.

What is The Odyssey about?

Nolan’s The Odyssey is an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic.

The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, returning home after the Trojan War. Though, his long journey to reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), is littered with mythical beings. 

The movie’s stacked cast also includes Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso and many more.

When is The Odyssey out?

The Odyssey is released in UK and US cinemas on 17 July.

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HB 2009, signed into law on 30 June by Governor Mike Kehoe, prohibits the use of state funds for hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries intended for gender transition.

The move comes after years of legal and policy changes surrounding transgender healthcare in Missouri prisons. In 2018, a federal court ruling in Hicklin v. Precythe found that the blanket denial of hormone therapy violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, establishing a requirement for individualised medical care in some cases. However, the ruling did not extend to gender-affirming surgeries, which Missouri later restricted through separate legislation in 2023.

As reported by Transitics via Substack, the new provision was added to a broader corrections funding bill and was sponsored by state Rep. Dirk Deaton. During debate on the House floor, Deaton cited shifting legal and political conditions around transgender healthcare and argued that lawmakers should determine how state funds are used for medical treatment in correctional settings.

“Because recall…these are people that have been adjudicated of a crime. They’ve been convicted of a crime. They have been sentenced to prison. They are incarcerated on the taxpayer’s dime, for their room and board and also for their healthcare – paid 100% by the taxpayer. And what is appropriate healthcare under those circumstances, that’s what this speaks to,” Deaton said while speaking on the House floor in March.

Under this new law, the Department of Corrections is required to discontinue state-funded gender transition-related treatments, affecting incarcerated individuals currently receiving hormone therapy as well as those seeking to begin treatment while in custody.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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During his dialogue with The Guardian on 2 July, Coffin was asked a series of fan-submitted queries about the Minions ranging from the innocuous “Do you like bananas in real life?” (he doesn’t particularly), to the more esoteric “If you could remake a French New Wave film with Minions as the cast, which would you choose and why?” (Breathless, Godard’s 1960 masterpiece). However, the elusive functions of Minion society and Minion sexuality were cracked open when Coffin was asked: “Will we ever see a female Minion? How do they reproduce?”

Coffin shot down the concept of a “female Minion” by surmising that “a female Minion would be the beginning of the end. Universal would want to do it because they’d think it would please all the women out there. But I’m not convinced. If I were a woman, I’d think it was tokenistic.”

He then reminisced about a past attempt, saying: “We did play around with the idea of having the Minions land on this island where there was another tribe who were all, apparently, female. But it didn’t go further than that. In my head, female Minions would look exactly the same as male ones. And in terms of how they breed: they don’t. They just are.”

While Coffin’s answers are largely anecdotal, the implications they provide on Minion biology, gender, and sexuality are astounding – and should be taken with heed considering he’s a co-creator of the characters and quite literally the primary voice behind each of them.

While the Minions are clearly aware of gender differences in human society – often donning dresses, skirts, and various female-presenting disguises for their escapades in the films – within Minion society itself, Coffin indicates that gender is ultimately completely irrelevant. From a structuralist perspective, categories only acquire meaning through opposition. If there are no female, non-binary, agender, or otherwise differently gendered Minions against which “male” can be contrasted, then masculinity loses its semantic value altogether. In Minion society, being male is no more descriptive than having yellow skin; their “he/him” pronouns exist only by convention and to serve those who need to address them in a gendered manner.

As far as Minion sexuality goes, Coffin made it abundantly clear that sexual dimorphism is absent. With no observable reproductive methods existing for the Minions besides just… being, Minion relationships exist purely for bond-building and personal gratification within their world.

Samantha Allen, managing editor of Them, makes note of the queer-coded weight of these chosen familial bonds in her 2 July analysis of Coffin’s interview, writing: “It’s entirely possible for Kevin to have a family without having sired children… it’s entirely possible for them to form romantic connections without reproduction, as queer people know quite well.”

If gender serves no biological or social function among Minions, then neither does sexuality in the way humans typically understand it. Their relationships are untethered from reproduction, inheritance, or rigid gender roles, leaving affection, companionship, and chosen family as ends in themselves. In a species where everyone is masculine-coded – and therefore, paradoxically, no one is meaningfully “male” at all – the little yellow henchmen may have accidentally stumbled into a remarkably queer conception of kinship.

Coffin also revealed that the Minions exist outside of the crushing weight of mortality. When asked in his Guardian interview, “Do Minions live for ever?”, Coffin replied with a simplistically Earth-shattering “Yes.”

This is where things start to fold in on themselves a bit philosophically. If the Minions do not reproduce, do not visibly age in any conventional sense, and, crucially, do not die, then the usual biological scaffolding that underpins gendered and sexual classification simply collapses.

Coffin’s answers, while completely innocent in nature on their face, provide next-level insight into the Minion world. A society that appears to have transcended age, gender, sexuality, and even death itself seems almost incomprehensible by human standards – and yet there they are, existing in perpetual present tense, laughing, singing, and committing organised workplace crimes for Gru.

In the end, perhaps the Minions don’t reflect a society beyond gender and sexual categorisation so much as a reminder that we created such labels for beings far more complicated than they are. Or maybe they’ve simply outlived the need for them entirely.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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An investigation from Wired alleges that Goose, a dating and friendship app, is using inauthentic accounts for promotion, which Goose has denied.

Goose was created by model-influencer Derek Chadwick and former BeReal growth and community manager David Aliagas. The app is branded as a less-hookup-focused Grindr, built around the desire for lasting relationships. At the moment, the app is focused on New York City.

The company’s mission statement has come under scrutiny after Wired’s report revealed the discovery of “more than two dozen” accounts which were allegedly AI-generated. Several of the accounts Wired highlighted as inauthentic are now unavailable, seemingly deactivated.

Wired notes that some of these accounts’ avatars were “determined with greater than 90 percent confidence” to be AI-generated. Furthermore, these low-usage accounts reportedly had abnormal follower-to-following ratios. 

The report continues: “The accounts appear to be part of a much larger network of comely, seemingly AI-generated male influencers promoting the app, either by reaching out to gay men via DM or adding them to their Close Friends Stories.

“Many of the accounts also frequently comment on each other’s photos, including the same heart and fire emojis.”

‘The need to essentially bait gay guys into signing up feels really sketchy’

Wired reporters also communicated with several men who interacted with allegedly AI-generated accounts.

Ryan Cheam told the outlet that he thought the account he was interacting with was “a normal gay guy”. However, he became suspicious when the account invited him to join a “curated network of guys” at Goose. 

“On one hand I’m flattered that I’m their target audience,” Cheam told Wired. “But the need to essentially bait gay guys into signing up feels really sketchy.”

In Goose’s guidelines, the company instructs users to “stay authentic.” Furthermore, the guidelines instruct users not to “share content created from generation or content-altering tools”.

The Federal Trade Commission prohibits using AI-generated accounts to impersonate real people and create fake endorsements. 

Neither Goose nor Chadwick responded to Wired’s request for comment, but a company spokesperson released a statement to The Advocate.

“Goose is disrupting the gay app space by creating a place where real people can make real friends, dates, and community – our team hand-picked every person who received an invite to our app and we are proud of the community we are building,” the spokesperson wrote.

“We work 24/7 to keep our app safe and free of the fake profiles that have soured other platforms. Clearly our competitors are taking notice.”

‘Insane’ safety concerns

Since Goose’s release, users have noted that its terms and conditions feature some rather extreme rules.

It includes a “Member Content License and Waiver”, which allows Goose to use a user’s “user name, image, voice, and likeness”, as well as any disappearing photos shared on the app.

Sharing their concern on X, one person said: “So this is an insane privacy concern. For everyone else using the app, this means Goose can do whatever they want with any photos/date you upload to the app. Yes – that includes the disappearing ones.”

PinkNews has reached out to Goose for comment.

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The 66-year-old actor, best known for Netflix’s political drama House of Cards, says the ring is to “celebrate America’s 250th birthday”.

“I created a limited-edition collectible ring,” Spacey wrote on X on Wednesday (1 July). “Each collector’s box is personally hand-signed by me. Very limited quantities available for three weeks only. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

The text captions an image of Spacey with his fist extended to show off the gold ring. The jewellery is engraved with the initials “FU”. 

Presumably, the initials reference American President Frank Underwood, the character Spacey portrays in House of Cards. In the show, the character is bisexual, sharing flirtatious and sexual encounters with both men and women.

The initials on the ring are surrounded by the numbers 46 and 49 as well as four stars. The numbers presumably refer to Underwood being the 46th president and 49th vice president in the series.

“Brass rings are carnival prizes, clown,” one commenter wrote in response to Spacey’s post.

Others called the ring “junk” and a “joke”.

Another added: “Who the f*** tricked you into thinking this was a good idea? Try to get your money back.”

‘Who tricked you into thinking this was a good idea?’

Furthermore, there’s a Latin phrase on the ring: “Per Ardua Ad Astra.”  This translates to “through struggle, to the stars”. Many pointed out that it’s a reworking of the Starfleet motto in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Ad Astra Per Aspera” which means “to the stars through struggle”.

This is particularly shocking considering one of Spacey’s accusers, Anthony Rapp, was part of a Star Trek series from 2017 to 2024. In a 2022 civil case, a jury found Spacey not liable for the alleged 1986 sexual misconduct, where Rapp alleged Spacey molested him when he was 14.

Spacey has repeatedly denied all allegations. A 2023 trial in London saw him cleared of nine charges, including sexual assault related to four men.

In March 2026, Spacey agreed to a settlement with three men who accused him of sexual assault. The civil trial was due to go ahead in London, but has been frozen due to the settlement.

Though he’s been widely ostracised, Spacey is desperate to return to Hollywood. On Wednesday, he went on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, where the actor made a series of statements about returning to the industry. 

“There was so many stories about me. There was lots of talk about that I was gay and I just wasn’t out and rather than the gay community understanding that…I always felt that I was being attacked,” he declared. 

Maher also asked about the actor’s struggle to get roles since the allegations became public in 2017.

“I feel less in jail than I did,” Spacey replied. “When people actually start to hear the facts, understand what we won in courts, I think people now look at this and think, ‘Maybe nine years has been enough.’”

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The BBC pundit and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant came out in 2017 at 47 years old after a long and successful career as a professional swimmer.

He won a silver Olympic medal in 2008, and even carried the flag for Great Britain during that year’s Parade of Nations in the games’ opening ceremony.

In his memoir, Foster detailed the “double life” he lived as a closeted gay professional athlete. “I kept my work and home lives completely separate, never the twain would meet. I got very good at telling half truths and outright lies. It was exhausting,” he said.

Foster continued: “When society tells you it’s not right, whether it be from the playground, the changing room or the TV, I kind of went, okay, whatever I’m feeling, I can’t be that person. That little secret became bigger and bigger.”

Before he came out, Foster publicly dated a woman named Catherine, but in reality she was just a friend. “Her actual partner didn’t mind, thankfully,” he said. He now lives in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex with his partner, Craig McKay.

Foster also shared his thoughts about other gay sports stars, saying that “there has to be footballers that will be gay” in the Premier League.

“There must be stories of some incredibly talented, incredibly gifted footballers who felt they could not be openly gay in that environment, because they felt it wasn’t going to be a safe place for them,” he said.

He specifically mentioned Justin Fashanu, who became the first out gay professional footballer when he famously came out in 1990. However, Fashanu faced backlash and hostility from fans, family and the media alike, which led to him taking his own life in 1998.

“His story really affects me to this day,” Foster said of Fashanu. “He was incredibly brave, but it goes some way to explaining why many gay people, myself included, felt unsafe to come out publicly.”

He continued: “Do I think it’s got better? Yes. Do I think it’s where it should be? No. It’s got a long way to go. People still use hate speech and call it free speech. There is still prejudice and widespread homophobia. It’s bullying.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The 67-year-old “Vogue” singer-songwriter-producer’s 15th studio album bursts with dance tracks and pop tunes that are sure to soundtrack the rest of our summer.

Here’s everything you need to know about Madonna’s Confessions II…

Is Madonna’s Confessions II a sequel?

Yes, Madonna’s Confessions II, also known as Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part II, isa sequel to her 2005 album, Confessions on a Dance Floor.

The album is a continuation of Madonna’s sonic exploration of dance and electronic music. This time, she has remarked that she was inspired by the world’s sociopolitical climate. To distract herself, she set out to make upbeat music for herself and her fans.

For the album, she reunited with original album co-writer and co-producer Stuart Price. She also worked with Martin Garrix, Cirkut and Andrew Watt. 

Who is featured on Madonna’s Confessions II?

On the album, the singer features a number of musical guests, from pop stars to family members. 

Pop princess Sabrina Carpenter appears on the album’s fourth track, “Bring Your Love.” The pair debuted the track at Coachella in April.

Colombian singer Feid appears on the sixth track, “Read My Lips”. Belgian rapper Stromae is on “My Sings Are My Saviour (feat. Stromae).”

Additionally, Madonna’s eldest daughter Lola Leon appears on the album’s penultimate track, “The Test.”

Though it was heavily rumoured, it turns out the allied Kylie-Madonna duet did not appear on Confessions II.

What are the critics saying about Madonna’s Confessions II?

Following its release, the album received wide acclaim from music critics, many praising the album as a worthy sequel.

NME branded the album Madonna’s “thrilling return to the dancefloor.” The review also adds that “Madonna has made her most vital album in over two decades. This grande dame still knows how to make us move.”

Other critics also highlight this as an artist’s reinvention. “Madonna has made not just a passable album but an excellent one,” Pitchfork‘s review reads. “She may have both invented and perfected the trope of pop reinvention, but this might be her most impressive yet.”

Furthermore, Rolling Stone notes: “It’s a 64-minute nonstop groove that flows like a club-DJ set, each song fading into the next, drawing from all over the history of dance music.”

How to listen to Madonna’s Confessions II?

Confessions II is out on Friday (3 July). The album is available on all streaming platforms, and physical releases are available here.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The US president made the remark on Tuesday (1 July) at the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, with Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump seated in the audience.

Trump had been reflecting on the only two father-and-son pairs to receive the Medal of Honor, the US military’s highest award, Theodore Roosevelt and his son Theodore Roosevelt Jr, and Arthur MacArthur and his son Douglas MacArthur, before turning to his own sons, Donald Jr and Eric.

“As I see my two beautiful sons sitting there, I think I’m going to give one to myself, one to them, and we’ll have a threesome, OK?” he said.

He went on to suggest he would award his sons the medal “for their genius at hunting”, and one to himself for “taking on Russia, Russia, Russia”, before adding: “No, I’m only kidding.”

Footage of the moment quickly spread across social media.

People responded to the clip calling him “the most corrupt President”, pointing out that he was using a teleprompter, meaning he had prepared the speech.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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The Filipina-American model posted a Reel to her Instagram account on 30 June featuring a montage of her career, hospitalisation and recovery journey.

“Ever since I was young I’ve loved performing,” she wrote in the caption. “For years, I’ve transformed my life to fulfill my dreams and passion with dance, and amplifying causes with my voice.”

She went on to say that for the two weeks that she was in hospital she “had many nights where [she] cried thinking [she] could no longer be the same person.”

“But truthfully, surviving a near-death experience has also allowed me to embrace that I am no longer the same person,” she continued.

“I am now one with a deeper relationship with myself and a different understanding of gratitude. I wish prayers to family and people whose lives were lost/affected in this tragedy.”

Enriquez said that as she recovers she is “excited to see growth and discover new ways” for her to express her art.

A GoFundMe was also set up by a friend to help support Enrique’s recovery. “Our hearts are with Kataluna Enriquez as she begins the long journey of healing after being involved in a serious car accident,” the description reads.

“While we are incredibly grateful that she is still with us, the road ahead will be filled with medical treatments, recovery, and unexpected financial challenges.

“Kataluna has always been someone who uplifts others with her strength, kindness, and unwavering spirit. Now, she needs our love and support more than ever.”

At the time of writing, $15,393 has been raised of the $28,000 fundraising goal.

As well as being Miss USA’s first out trans contestant, Enriquez was also the first to be crowned Miss Nevada USA and Miss Silver State USA, titles she earned in 2021. She currently runs her own clothing line, Kataluna Kouture.

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Organised by International Gay Rugby, the biennial competition attracts up to 4,000 players from around the world, with the Amanda Mark Cup for women’s teams also set to be part of the event.

The bid is being led by Leeds Hunters, with support from Leeds City Council, the University of Leeds, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Leeds Tykes.

Under the proposal, matches would be played at West Park Leeds RUFC, with the final taking place at Headingley Stadium.

Leeds is competing against Dublin, Vancouver, Orlando, Perth and Querétaro, with the winning host city expected to be announced in the coming months, as per the BBC.

The very first Bingham Cup was held in San Francisco in 2002 to honour Mark Bingham. Bingham was a gay American rugby player who tragically died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

For many players, the tournament represents far more than rugby.

“I didn’t ever think I’d feel like this – being part of a club and an organisation that accepts you for who you are,” Hunters player Chris Languedoc told the BBC in a 2 July statement. “You can be your authentic self.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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Kate Forbes has said she was “very much in the lead” to win the SNP leadership in 2023 until she said she would have voted against Scotland’s equal marriage law, claiming her early momentum ebbed away once her views became public.

Forbes made the comments at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference at London’s Olympia last week. During a Q&A, she described her candidacy as “as a bit of a slum dunk” as per BBC News, adding: “I was very much in the lead.”

She lost support early in the contest when she revealed she would have voted against Scotland’s same-sex marriage legislation, passed in 2014, though she said she would not seek to overturn it. Humza Yousaf went on to win, though John Swinney became First Minister in 2024.

Forbes also said she was advised to conceal her views during the campaign. “All these wonderfully committed team members, who wanted me to win, had great advice – just lie and you’ll be fine,” she told the audience. “I ended the first 24 hours just so thankful that, in the face of the questions, I hadn’t crumbled.”

Forbes’ ARC remarks

Forbes took part in a session on “the challenge of leading with integrity”, chaired by former Australian deputy prime minister John Anderson.

During the discussion, Anderson claimed Forbes had been treated “grossly unfairly” because of her Christian beliefs and, referring to her rival, Humza Yousaf, added: “Let’s be honest, he was a Muslim.” He claimed that Yousaf “was probably every bit as committed to those views, and even more hardline, but happened to be of a different faith.” His words were not challenged by Forbes.

Yousaf missed the final vote in Scotland’s equal marriage legislation due to an “unavoidable” meeting, but said in 2023: “I support equal marriage. I supported it then, support it now.”

In her speech, Forbes said she had received “thousands on thousands” of messages from people who disagreed with her views but accepted her right to express them.

“I answered questions honestly about my faith, and the way it shaped my view of sex and gender, of marriage and family. The backlash was instant and fervent,” she said.

SNP contest and political fallout

Forbes was narrowly defeated by Humza Yousaf in the 2023 SNP leadership contest. She stepped down from the Scottish Parliament at May’s election.

Her ARC appearance drew criticism within the SNP because the conference featured controversial names such as Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch and Boris Johnson, as well as supporters of Donald Trump from the United States.

Forbes has been a polarising figure in Scottish politics, and her senior roles have repeatedly prompted debate about the SNP’s “big tent” approach to social issues, including after she was appointed as Scotland’s deputy first minister and when she backed Graham Linehan over a cancelled Edinburgh gig.

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Sharing an emotional on-stage clip on TikTok, the British musician wrote: “Recently, I’ve been really struggling… I’m not gonna lie to you, when I got off this stage I felt elated but 20 minutes later when I was in the shower on my own I had a breakdown.”

He reflected on the relentless pace of life as an artist and the toll of online hate, saying all he’d tried to do for the past 10 years was “spread love, build something I believe in and unify people in a safe space”.

Performing at the first international edition of his Bludfest festival in Czechia, he said the sight of 20,000 fans had overwhelmed him.

“Being an artist in this day and age is so strange because everything moves so quickly,” he wrote. “You never get to sit in what happens for more than a couple hours therefore you fail to navigate or process anything you feel both good or bad at all.”

He went on: “I should really say nothing about this because it would make me seem cooler and like it isn’t affecting me but deep down I don’t think that’s who I am or why we all connect to each other.”

The singer shared how “grateful” he was for his fans, adding: “We’ve been moving so fast that I haven’t really been able to process anything at all but in this moment my emotions got the better of me.”

Yungblud added that he now plans to take time out to focus on himself: “I know I need to do a bit of work on myself to process everything I’m feeling and attain the strength I need to keep going.”

He finished: “What an honour it is to spend this life with you.”

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On 25th of June, just before the end of Pride Month, the UK government published the long-awaited draft of the Conversion Practices Bill.

That same day, it was confirmed by Olivia Bailey – the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Inequalities – in the chamber that “asexual people will be included in the remit of the bill.” For the first time in memory, asexuality was acknowledged on record in Parliament and in a climate of uncertainty, a promise was made.

It has taken since 2018 to get to this point. It was the then Prime Minister Theresa May who announced the LGBT+ Action Plan and first committed to banning conversion practices. That same year, what was then known as the Government Equalities Office released the National LGBT Survey, which illustrated the prevalence of queer people being offered or undergoing conversion “therapy”.

That same survey found that asexual people are 10% more likely to have that experience than those of other orientations, indicating that we are a particularly vulnerable group to conversion practices. Despite this being conducted by the government themselves, one supported by existing data, asexuality was left out of the conversation.

At the beginning of my journey into activism, I was speaking at a conference when an asexual person told me about their experience with conversion therapy in healthcare, how they were made to feel broken, to undergo invasive, unnecessary tests, and how they were coerced into psychosexual therapy that sought to convince them to be heterosexual. Their experience inspired me to approach Stonewall and partner with them on a report into asexual discrimination, with a large section focused on our experiences in healthcare and how our
conversion practices manifest there.

I have since heard many more stories like the one in 2018. My research with Stonewall became one of the key resources I used when raising awareness. Even before the Labour government came into power, I have been going back-and-forth to Parliament, meeting MPs and planting the seeds that I hoped would blossom into asexual people being included in British legislation for the first time.

Asexuality is still a medicalised orientation under the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD), and we are not recognised as a sexual orientation under the UK Equality Act 2010. It’s a dangerous combination and I was not the first to acknowledge it, nor to call for our protection. In 2017, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy published a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) advocating for a ban on conversion practices. This included 25 organisations, including NHS England, and it asked for asexuality to be clearly included in a ban.

The Green Party were the first to explicitly include asexual people in their call for a conversion therapy ban, via their Equality and Diversity Spokesperson, Ria Patel, in 2022. It was why I focused my efforts more on the Liberal Democrats and Labour. In 2025, I began to see results. The Lib Dems published their LGBT+ Agenda – written by Christine Jardine – and acknowledged the medicalisation of asexuality and called for our inclusion in a ban.

While my countless meetings with Labour MPs had been receptive, I could not be sure of whether asexual inclusion would be a priority while the party was constantly putting out fires. Then, after stirrings and rumours, the draft bill finally arrived to a mixed reception. The thoughtful phrasing around defining conversion practices as causing an individual “to have or not to have” a particular sexual orientation, seemingly allows for asexual inclusion without us being recognised as a sexual orientation under the Equality Act.

However, the apparent exemption for those providing a ‘health care service,’ risks leaving people – including asexual people – vulnerable to harm in an environment where our conversion ‘therapy’ is more frequent. It was why Robert McKenna MP – in a display of allyship – posed the question to Olivia Bailey in the chamber, referencing precisely that, and secured an answer that had never been uttered on record by a Labour politician before.

To see two members of Parliament, two gay politicians who had not known about how conversion practices impact asexual people until I sat down with them, discuss the matter openly in the chamber and insist in our protection, gave me hope. We are now at the point where the bill will be strengthened and improved upon, and now I am more confident that asexuality is being seriously considered in that process, and our voices heard.

This news comes not long after Niger became the first country to criminalise asexuality in their new penal code. Being asexual can be punished with up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 100 million West African CFA francs – the equivalent of over £100,000 GDP. They also criminalised lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex “practices,” as well as “indecent or unnatural acts.” It is an example of how we are seeing LGBTQIA+ rights targeted across the world, and a reminder of why the asexual community cannot be left behind in our fight for progress.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post ‘Asexual inclusion in conversion therapy ban is step in right direction but not end of story’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

I Kissed A Girl season two started in June (perfect for Pride Month, we say), with six episodes currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

The show, hosted by Dannii Minogue – who is hopeful another channel will pick it up after the BBC axed it – sees a group of single queer women enter an Italian masseria to find love.

“It feels out of body,” Kayleigh, who joined the show as a late arrival, tells PinkNews. “But also the biggest privilege in the world, representation wise.”

Pippa, who was also a late arrival, adds: “It feels very special that we’ve all had this experience and that we get to be that last shot of representation for us, unfortunately, but hopefully we’ve done as much as we can. It is just amazing we now have this platform to spread that representation more that it has ever been needed.”

Elisha, one of the original 10 cast members, tells us: “We’re all so grateful, and it is bittersweet, but I think it is so important now more than ever for us all to be so out, loud, proud about it. Get it out across social media, get it everywhere we can to just keep talking about how great this show is and how lucky we are to have gone on it.”

Speaking of social media, TikTok is full of fans dissecting the show and trying to figure out who ended up with who after filming ended.

“I’ve not seen normal TikTok for weeks! I really miss it,” laughs Elisha. “Everyone is so eager beaver this year, they literally want to know everything.”

“Obviously our algorithms are so tailored to it that it’s all I’m consuming,” adds Kayleigh. “Psychoanalysing and theories. I think I’m just so happy to see so much queer media, everyone’s talking about it.”

Pippa adds: “So many people are watching it, so many people are posting it.”

‘I’ve not seen normal TikTok for weeks!’

They tell us: “I know there has been drama, but that’s gonna happen if you get a bunch of queer people in a masseria together. That doesn’t mean that’s why people went on, and people just need to remember we’re all here for this positive thing, everyone is human.”

Elisha adds: “It’s always the best way forward to focus on kindness and positivity, and pushing this show. We’ve been so brave to do something like this, and I think it’s so important to spread the positivity of it, be lout about it. It’s literally history, what we’re doing.”

Of course, the cast are seeing much of what happened for the first time as viewers, too.

“My memory is like a goldfish, so watching it back, I’m finding it amazing,” Kayleigh tells us. “I’m gripped because I have no idea what’s happening.”

She adds: “Watching Ebony and Imogen argue, I never knew what they were arguing about, but it was actually about me. So now realising that, I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s why you were shouting at each other!” But I’m in the massi, eating a toastie somewhere, so it’s very interesting.”

Pippa tells is: “I love reality TV anyway, so not knowing everything, it’s still so exciting, it’s so good. I’m also watching stuff that I said and I’m like, ‘When did I say that? When did I do that? Who is that?’ It’s all a bit crazy.”

‘Just pure lesbian chaos!’

Kayleigh and Pippa both joined the masseria as late arrivals, so also missed out on some of the drama.

“As I’m waiting to walk in, when they did the challenge, I’m just hearing so much, so many laughs, so many shouts,” Kayleigh says. “Just pure lesbian chaos!”

Pippa adds: “It was so scary coming in late, I didn’t have a clue what day I was coming in, so it was taking me so long to catch up on everything. I didn’t even know who the original couples were until the end, so I was slowly piecing things together.”

So far, there have been a number of personal journeys, with Elisha going for Elise, despite entering as a “fem-for-fem” girlie.

She tells us: “It’s so nice to be put in an environment that is so unique. I never would have thought I’d be put into a masseria with so many different queer people.

“Obviously I went in there based on my past and the majority were fem. Going in there, we don’t have our phones, we’re just bonded from the second we meet. I learned so much about myself.

“As soon as I saw Elise, I was like, ‘I think I’m having a second gay awakening because she’s really fit.'”

In this week’s episodes, Pippa, who is non-binary, and Elisha sat down for a beautiful conversation about Pippa’s journey with gender.

Pippa tells us: “When you’re coming into a queer environment, it’s a lot less scary than if I was walking into a room of straight people, who would probably be a bit transphobic, like that wouldn’t have been good.

“But because I was coming into a queer environment, I felt a lot more safe to come in and be open about myself. I was just excited to be able to have the conversations and get that awareness and knowledge out there. So many people have never met someone non-binary in their life, don’t understand what it is. So it was just exciting that I could share my journey and teach people about it, help get the representation out there.”

‘It was just exciting that I could share my journey’

A few girls have already said their goodbyes during the kiss-offs, but the latest episodes ended on a brutal cliffhanger, with Elise and Elisha having to pick someone to go home.

“It’s a lot of pressure to be put in a position where you are in control of who to send home and cut their journey,” Elisha tells us. “It is horrific. It’s not an easy thing to do, because no-one wants to go home, no-one wants to be sent home.”

Kayleigh adds: “It’s pure devastation, because we were on such a high from that night. I think that was one of everyone’s favourite nights, and ultimately we didn’t want anyone to leave.”

“It was a crazy cliffhanger to leave it on for the next two episodes,” Elisha says.

So until then (Tuesday, 7 July) fans will have to wait until which unlucky girl has to say their goodbyes.

I Kissed A Girl is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with new episodes Tuesdays.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post I Kissed A Girl cast on ‘lesbian chaos’, sad goodbyes and non-binary representation appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Michael Thompson, from Clovis, New Mexico, is accused of threatening a mass shooting at a Lubbock Pride event and was taken into custody after authorities received a tip on Saturday (27 June) about the posts.

Investigators alleged in a Monday (29 June) criminal complaint filed in the US District Court for the District of New Mexico that Thompson made and deleted several comments on a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Facebook post about a Pride event. According to the complaint, the comments included: “Soooooo whatcha saying is it’s Hunting Season,” and: “Nothing that a little target practice can’t fix.”

According to the complaint, Thompson admitted to making and deleting the social media messages and identified himself as a USPS worker. As reported by ABC45, Thompson said he was “stupid” for writing the comments and told agents during his Sunday arrest that he was “just running his mouth” and did not intend to commit any acts of violence.

Authorities also reported recovering four firearms from his residence, despite Thompson being legally prohibited from owning weapons due to a prior felony domestic violence conviction. He now faces federal charges, including transmitting interstate threatening communications and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The LubbockPRIDE festival went ahead over the weekend without incident, with organisers later thanking attendees for a peaceful and successful celebration.

The case comes amid wider concerns about threats targeting LGBTQ+ Pride events across the US, including a separate arrest in Georgia earlier in June that linked to alleged online threats against a local Pride gathering, as well as a recent arrest in Puerto Rico after a man accused of repeatedly threatening mass violence against the LGBTQ+ community was arrested by the FBI after investigators allegedly found CSAM in his possession during their investigation.

Investigations in these New Mexico, Georgia, and Puerto Rico cases remain ongoing, and no attacks occurred.

If you’ve been affected by this story, you can reach out to Mind on 0300 123 3393, Switchboard on 0800 0119 100 or the Samaritans on 116 123. Readers in the US can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741

The post USPS worker arrested by FBI after alleged mass violence threat at Texas Pride event appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The US Departments of Education and Justice announced in a statement on Tuesday (30 June) that they are prepared to pursue legal action against Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools unless the district changes its approach and threatens to withhold federal funding if the district does not comply.

At the centre of the dispute is a district policy instructing staff not to disclose a student’s transgender status or gender non-conforming presentation without the student’s consent, including to parents, as reported by Reuters. Federal officials argue the policy violates parents’ rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), while the district’s policy is intended to protect students’ privacy and safety.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in the Department of Education’s statement that the administration would “reject dangerous political ideologies” and work with the Justice Department to ensure schools comply with federal law.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon also accused the district of unlawfully withholding information from parents, saying the government would pursue “all available avenues” to force compliance.

The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back protections for transgender students. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has also pushed back against similar anti-outing policies in the state since 2024, despite there being no Kansas law requiring schools to disclose a student’s gender identity to their parents.

The school district has not yet publicly responded to the federal government’s latest threat.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post Trump administration threatens Kansas school district over trans student protections appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The new production is set to open at the Swan Theatre on 12 February 2027, and will run for seven weeks until 3 April.

According to Variety, the play “relocates Shakespeare’s tragedy to a climate-threatened future and places a Black lesbian in the seat of military power at its centre”.

It follows “an unsanctioned marriage that becomes the fault line through which jealousy, suspicion and racial, sexual and class prejudice enter”.

Monique Touko will direct the show. Touko recently helmed the 2026 London run of Jocelyn Beoh’s beloved play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding at the Hammersmith Lyric.

Star Sharon D Clarke is a three-time Olivier Award-winning actress, having won for her roles in James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner, Caroline, or Change and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

Clarke is an out lesbian and is married to writer and director Susie McKenna.

According to the Guardian, the actress shared that the new RSC production will recall her role in Death of a Salesman, which recast the Jewish Loman family as Black.

“Everything was ramped up,” she said. “The American dream became so visceral because you could see the American dream and the impossibilities of it for that family. I’m hoping now through this lens with Othello, you will have to see things differently.”

Clarke continued: “She is predominantly in a male environment, so how does she deal with that on a day-to-day basis? How does she keep her dignity and her strength and her power and her womanhood on display?”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post Royal Shakespeare Company’s Othello reimagines character as a Black lesbian appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The Royal Family received backlash for posting the image on 1 July following a meeting between the Queen and the controversial author.

The Instagram account said the meeting was held “with a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure”, adding that the Queen and Rowling had “discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books”.

It wasn’t long before the post’s comments became filled with emojis of the trans flag and messages of support for the trans community and their human rights.

“All young people? Or only some young people?” wrote one user. The comment prompted more than 15,000 likes.

“As an admirer of the Queen and her Reading Room I’m deeply disappointed in her giving a platform to JKR, any month but especially during Pride Month,” said another commenter. “There are many other admirable individuals to spotlight who champion reading for children and young people.”

Members of the subreddit r/transgenderuk shared their reactions to the Royal Family’s account limiting comments on the post.

“Diana would have supported trans people,” one Reddit user said.

“Spreading her mould to a different castle,” another said, referencing a selfie of Rowling that looked like there was black mould growing on the wall behind her and quickly became a meme.

Another said: “Optically it’s f****** horrendous for a random family to be plunged into the representative role of a country at immense cost becoming the largest single beneficiaries of welfare payments to then limit comments regardless, do you or do you not represent the country? If you do then why do you only allow some speech?”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

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During this week’s episodes of I Kissed A Girl, the term ‘Golden Retriever lesbian’, a spin-off of the popular ‘Golden Retriever boyfriend’ concept, popped up during a discussion about types.

A Golden Retriever boyfriend, a term which may have come out of the viral ‘Black Cat‘ vs. ‘Golden Retriever’ personality theory on TikTok, is defined as someone who is trusting and kind, confident and unashamed about how they feel about you, and always enthusiastic, positive, and happy.

Countless TikToks have been made to explain the traits of a Golden Retriever boyfriend, such as extreme loyalty, a dependable spirit, and excited to be around you no matter what it is you’re doing.

A ‘Golden Retriever lesbian‘ is described similarly.

According to Google, the first mention of Golden Retriever lesbian is on Urban Dictionary in March 2022, which described the term as “a masculine lesbian who IS actually happy and smiles around the people who she loves”.

“She will always be happy and optimistic. Probably a Hufflepuff and an ENFP/ESTP. [Please] treat them well,” it continues, referring to the Harry Potter house best known for loyalty and personality traits given by the Myers-Briggs test.

The phrase gained further popularity early last year, with videos posted on TikTok receiving millions of views explaining what the term means.

In one video, creator @walshdelaney explained different stereotypes associated with lesbians in a since-deleted video. Of ‘Golden Retriever lesbians’, she says: “These are masc lesbians that are pretty much what the name is. They’re like happy puppies. They’re just excited to be there, they love people, they love hanging with you, they want to please whoever they’re with.”

Another video by creator @rosieturnerdaily posted on TikTok and Instagram explains that “Goldies have a warm and friendly temperament” and “like their belly rubbed”.

“They’ll do things like fix a Wi-Fi router and take the bin out. They like snacks and treats… and they also like playing ball. Goldies are also partial to a hat. They’re gonna stick around for a long time given enough care and love,” Turner said.

Many of the videos describe Golden Retriever lesbians as being the one you settle down with, and that they could even become “a family dog” if that’s what you desire.

There are also videos explaining what a ‘Black Cat lesbian’ is, considered the antithesis to a Golden Retriever lesbian. Turner also posted a video about this term, explaining: “You’re probably gonna find your black cat on a sofa watching a murder documentary, painting their claws or checking horoscopes under a blanket.”

Despite the personalities of black cats and golden retrievers being very different, it seems they adhere to the concept of ‘opposites attract’ as it seems there are many black cat lesbians and golden retriever lesbians dating on TikTok.

Want more lesbian terminology articles? We’ve got you covered:

Everything you need to know about the Lesbian Witchtok trend

What is a ‘chapstick lesbian’, and why are they all on TikTok?

Are you actually a ‘U-Haul Lesbian’? Everything you need to know about the term

What does ‘Gold Star Lesbian’ mean, and is it offensive?

What is a ‘Hey Mamas Lesbian’ on TikTok?

What is a Black Cat lesbian?

Lesbian Masterdoc: can this PDF really tell if you’re gay?

Dom fems are huge on lesbian TikTok, and rightly so – but what does the term mean?

The fascinating history of the lesbian slang terms ‘stud’ and ‘stem’

What, exactly, is a gender non-conforming (GNC) lesbian?

The post What is a ‘golden retriever lesbian’ after I Kissed A Girl mention? appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

On TikTok, the LGBTQ+ community runs wild creating trends, sounds and new terms that expand language to make sense of identities.

The platform’s ever-evolving lesbian dictionary includes terms like ‘U-Haul lesbian’ and ‘pillow princess’, used to differentiate various lesbian personality traits and relationships. 

One term used increasingly online is “black cat lesbian”. But what does this term mean, where does it come from and what is the “black cat lesbian” relationship to the “golden retriever lesbian“?

What is a ‘black cat lesbian’?

In short, it’s an identity that refers to a lesbian who shares tendencies with the elusive black cat. This lesbian is femme, mysteriously sexy and can sometimes be a bit of a mean girl – if you get on the wrong side of her.

According to comedian and TikTok user Rosie Turner: “You’re probably going to find your black cat on the sofa watching a murder documentary, painting their claws or [reading] horoscopes under a blanket.”

“These… lesbians love to snuggle up… they like to be kept, important,” she adds.

Speaking about their characteristics more generally, TikTok user Anna Kristina says “a cat doesn’t run after anyone”.

She goes on to say this lesbian personality is independent, controlled, can hold their own, and is also rational and logical.

Where does the term ‘black cat lesbian’ come from?

It originated on TikTok. It’s not entirely clear where the first use of the term occurred, but cat imagery has long been significant in lesbian culture.

The cat-loving lesbian, however, is a trope that has long existed in the community. This term arrived from cat’s “spirited feline self-sufficiency” mirroring their existence in heteronormative society. 

What is the ‘black cat’ and ‘golden retriever’ pairing?

In Turner’s explanation of the “black cat lesbian”, she noted they “pair well with ‘golden retriever lesbians’”.

It’s the age-old concept of opposites attract, which in this case usually manifests itself as a “black cat” femme lesbian pairing up with a “golden retriever” masc.

While the “black cat lesbian” can be standoffish and cold, the “golden retriever lesbian” is described as a masculine lesbian who is very smiley and loving. The former is introverted while the latter is extroverted.

This contrasting pairing has now become a TikTok theory applied to couples. As one Reddit User shared: “My girlfriend [and] I have this dynamic where she’s the ‘black cat’ and I’m the ‘golden retriever’, she’s femme and I’m masc, it’s just perfect with our personalities.”

The pairing is a common relationship template that can be seen on lesbian TikTok.

For instance, TikTok users Bec and Meg, whose content focuses on LGBTQ+ travel, demonstrated the contrasting personalities. 

Identifying with the terms, their TikTok shows the “black cat lesbian” can easily calm down their “golden retriever lesbian” counterpart over a joke the latter thought was rude.

Their TikTok caption reads: “Match made in heaven.”

But, at the end of the day, labels are just that… labels. They’re not vital or necessary, but they can be enjoyable to play around with, particularly on social media.

Want more lesbian terminology articles? We’ve got you covered:

Everything you need to know about the Lesbian Witchtok trend

What exactly is a ‘golden retriever lesbian’?

What is a ‘chapstick lesbian’, and why are they all on TikTok?

Are you actually a ‘U-Haul Lesbian’? Everything you need to know about the term

What does ‘Gold Star Lesbian’ mean, and is it offensive?

What is a ‘Hey Mamas Lesbian’ on TikTok?

Lesbian Masterdoc: can this PDF really tell if you’re gay?

Dom fems are huge on lesbian TikTok, and rightly so – but what does the term mean?

The fascinating history of the lesbian slang terms ‘stud’ and ‘stem’

What, exactly, is a gender non-conforming (GNC) lesbian?

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post What is a ‘black cat lesbian’ as term pops up on I Kissed A Girl? appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

In an Instagram post, Zoe, 34, asked followers for photographer and videographer recommendations, adding: “BTW we get married in under three weeks!”

The couple met on E4’s Married at First Sight UK in 2022 and were the show’s first lesbian couple. While the series includes a televised commitment ceremony, Zoe and Jenna are now preparing for their real wedding outside the programme.

Wedding countdown and supplier search

Jenna, 36, has also spoken about the kind of day they want, sharing more details during an Instagram Q&A. Responding to a fan who said their favourite part of their own wedding was doing the decorations themselves, Jenna said: “This is the type of stuff that I’m wanting to do, doing things myself to make it more intimate.”

She also described the overall vibe, saying: “So it’s just a small garden party. It’s not in a church, it’s just going to be small and intimate,” as she talked about keeping the celebration relaxed and personal.

From MAFS UK to a real-life wedding

The latest countdown follows the couple’s engagement, which took place in 2024. In an engagement announcement shared on Instagram at the time, Jenna wrote: “We are going to make the cutest little old married lesbian couple ever!!! And what a way to celebrate pride month.”

Zoe and Jenna have continued to share relationship milestones since their time on the show, with fans closely following their journey from the on-screen experiment to planning a wedding day of their own.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post MAFS UK lesbian couple Zoe and Jenna reveal wedding date 4 years after TV romance appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The Beauty and the Beast actor shared a series of photos from his time at Fire Island Pines, the famous LGBTQ+ summer destination off the coast of New York.

In the first, he posed with his rippling abs under the glaring sun as he took his dog for a stroll along the boardwalk. He could be seen in sunglasses similar to those he wore in another recent shirtless Instagram shot, after his “leather daddy” look at this year’s Met Gala.

The gay actor lost the board shorts as he got to the beach, instead stripped down to a pair of BDXY swimbriefs as his miniature Dachsund Lala Black Boop ran behind him.

Another photo saw Evans emerge from the sea in his trunks, smiling as the waves lapped at his feet.

He kept things lowkey in the caption, posting emojis of a fire and an island (well, of course), as well as a star, a Pride flag and a love heart.

Fans were loving the shots in the comments section. One said: “Well… How d’you do, I…” Another wrote: “Looking very sexy love the pride colour tube for Lala.” A third said: “The only thing I wanted for Pride Month were new pictures of you coming out of the beach in a speedo.” And another added: “Grate some cheese on those abs!”

Meanwhile, another referenced his performance in Rocky Horror, branding it “life-changing”.

Luke Evans in Rocky Horror

Luke Evans went viral earlier this year after clips from his stint in Rocky Horror were uploaded to social media.

He could be seen in costume with a leather jockstrap on, with fans cheekily commenting on how “inflated” it was.

Speaking to Out, Evans said the part was a long-awaited milestone. “If you come from theatre, you know everyone’s dream really is to do Broadway at least once. I finally got my moment in the most insane role I could ever imagine doing! I’m having more fun than I probably should be having in rehearsals. It’s amazing and this character is crazy,” he said.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post Luke Evans slips into tiny trunks on Fire Island as fans fawn over rippling abs appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Robinson De La Cruz Hilario, of Puerto Rico, is facing federal charges including interstate communication of threats, receiving CSAM, and possession of obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse.

According to a 26 June press release, the FBI launched an investigation after receiving a tip in February about social media posts that appeared to threaten a mass shooting targeting LGBTQ+ people.

According to an affidavit, De La Cruz shared what was described as a tactical map of a gay-friendly venue, posted messages including “let’s kill every single person in the LGBTQ community”, and praised the gunman responsible for the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. Other posts allegedly featured neo-Nazi imagery and threats directed at Pride events.

When agents searched De La Cruz’s online accounts after issuing a warrant, they said they discovered hundreds of AI-generated or cartoon depictions of child sexual abuse, along with seven videos containing CSAM.

During an interview with investigators, De La Cruz admitted the social media accounts belonged to him and acknowledged researching firearms, but claimed his posts were intended as “trolling” to intimidate organisers into cancelling Pride events rather than genuine plans to carry out an attack.

While authorities say they found no evidence that an attack was imminent, federal prosecutors allege the repeated violent posts, combined with the discovery of CSAM, warranted criminal charges. De La Cruz remains charged with multiple federal offences, and the allegations against him have not yet been tested in court.

If you’ve been affected by this story, you can reach out to Rape Crisis England & Wales at 0808 500 2222, NAPAC at 0808 801 0331 or The Survivors Trust at 0808 801 0818. Readers in the US can contact RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE, or text HOPE to 64673

The post Man accused of Pride Month mass killing threat arrested on CSAM charges appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Starmer, who has an up-and-down track record when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues, was introduced to the podium at a Pride event at 10 Downing Street on 30 June as a “lesbian style icon”. A video shared to the prime minister’s official social channels shows him responding to the comparison.

“Lesbian style icon, I like that,” he says, laughing.

“I’m really proud that we’ve got the gayest parliament,” he continues in the video. “I don’t think, just of all time, anywhere in the world, I don’t think there’s any parliament that is gayer than this parliament. That’s fantastic.”

He then goes on to speak about the Labour government’s recent record on LGBTQ+ rights, including the HIV action plan, which he says is “really good to end transmissions by 2030.”

“We’ve legislated to equalise all existing strands of hate crime and make them aggravated,” he says, before mentioning the “full trans-inclusive ban on abusive conversion practices.”

“Again, not before time,” he continues. “We’ve put an end to those practices.”

Starmer also shared words for the LGBTQ+ community via an Instagram post about the Pride event.

“Everyone should feel safe, respected and free to be who they are,” the caption reads. “That’s what Pride is about. We’re backing that with action through banning abusive conversion practices. At a time when some seek to divide, we stand with the LGBT+ community in choosing inclusion, dignity and respect.”

However, not everyone in the comments section was as celabratory.

Trans author Juno Dawson said: “I’m sorry but if you attended this as an LGBTQ+ person you are guilty of pinkwashing a government doing active harms to the trans community.”

Gay journalist Owen Jones said: “All LGBTQ+ people involved in this should be ashamed. We’re now the worst for trans rights in Europe apart from a tiny number of countries, such as Russia. Throwing your community under a buss for political advancement – there’s no words to describe how nauseating that is.”

Queer writer Jamie Windust said: “Is that why he banned trans people from accessing gender affirming healthcare?”

Conversion therapy ban in the UK

Last week, it was revealed in the UK Government’s draft bill to ban the so-called conversion therapy that penalties for those found to be carrying out conversion therapy include up to five years in prison and unlimited fines.

The new trans-inclusive bill would criminalise “abusive acts” aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation or transgender identity. The Cabinet Office said the legislation will ensure LGBTQ+ people are “protected from physical and psychological abuse to change who they are”.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

The post ‘Lesbian style icon’ Keir Starmer says UK parliament is ‘gayest’ in the world appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Mexican authorities have confirmed that Zafar Mawani and Guillermo Hidalgo Ortiz, a missing gay couple from the US, were among four people found dead in a mass grave near Mexico City.

Authorities confirmed their identities on 25 June, after the bodies were discovered on 17 June in La Marquesa National Park, around 20 miles south-west of the capital, as detailed by Associated Press.

Mawani and Hidalgo disappeared on 20 May and were last seen in Mexico City’s Isidro Fabela neighbourhood. It is not clear whether they were specifically targeted because of their sexual orientation.

The couple had reportedly travelled to Mexico City to care for Mawani’s sick mother. Investigators also reportedly found “unusual withdrawals from the couple’s bank accounts” after they vanished, according to NBC Chicago.

Mawani’s family said in a statement: “We are grateful beyond words to everyone who tried to help bring Zafar home to us – investigators on the ground, our core strategy and support team, authorities in both countries, generous volunteer organisations, as well as friends and loved ones who stepped forward to help without being asked.”

Timeline and investigation

The couple had been sharing snippets from their time in Mexico City on social media as recently as 13 May.

The four bodies were found in a mass grave in La Marquesa National Park on 17 June. Mexican authorities confirmed on 25 June that Mawani and Hidalgo were among the dead.

Tributes have been left on their social media pages since, with one saying: “Rest in peace my beautiful friend. I hope you’re both together.”

Mexican media reports have said five people have been arrested in connection with the couple’s murder, including a female former police officer alleged to have led a kidnapping and robbery gang.

Missing persons crisis in Mexico

The deaths have drawn attention amid Mexico’s wider missing persons crisis. More than 135,000 people are currently thought to be missing in the country, with 977 reported to have disappeared in May.

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Foster, 56, swum in the Olympics, world championships and the Commonwealth Games and broke a number of world records during his career.

He has since been a regular pundit on the BBC.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast on 2 July, the day his book was published, he explained that he first felt attraction to a man, Sean Connery, when watching a James Bond film at the age of 10 or 11, but his siblings made fun of him.

“Whatever that was,” he explained, “I went, ‘Okay, that needs to go away.’ And that carried on through my teens.

“I made sure I had a girlfriend and if I had a feeling or an urge, that stayed out the way, and it went on like that for a number of years until I made the team and I met a guy called Vincent. We were together for 20 years.”

He added: “I had Mark, the person at home, and when I trained, that was Mark the swimmer.”

Is Mark Foster gay?

Foster came out as gay publicly in November 2017, after years of speculation about his sexuality.

“I’ve been tiptoeing in the shadows but now’s the time to come out,” he told The Guardian. “I’ve got used to avoiding the truth and I never spent much time looking in the mirror.

“It’s a fear of being vulnerable because if you open yourself up, you could be hurt.”

Speaking to Winq magazine, he explained that tabloid rumours about this sexuality left him feeling out of control.

What are Mark Foster’s swimming achievements?

Throughout a career that spanned from 1986 to 2008, Foster primarily competed in butterfly and freestyle at 50m.

His breakthrough came in 1990 with a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. He’d won a team bronze as part of the 100m freestyle relay in Edinburgh four years earlier and he is now recognised as one of the most successful British swimmers of all time. 

Foster officially retired with six World Championship titles, two Commonwealth titles and 11 European titles under his trunks. He broke eight world records.

Does Mark Foster have any Olympic medals?

Foster is a five-time Olympian but never managed to win a medal.

His Olympic career began in Seoul in 1988 where he competed in the 50m freestyle, 4x100m medley relay and 4x100m freestyle relay.

In Barcelona in 1992, Foster reached his best Olympic position: sixth in the 50m freestyle. He went on to compete in 1996 in Atlanta and 2000 in Sydney.

Having seemingly retired in 2006, he returned to the pool to once again chase the dream of an Olympic medal in Beijing in 2008. But he failed to reach the final of the 50m freestyle event. However, he was the Team GB flag-bearer during the Parade of Nations.

Does Mark Foster have a partner?

When he came out in 2017, “silver fox” Foster revealed that he did have “someone special in his life”.

Appearing on ITV’s Loose Women, he said: “I first met my first partner when I was 21, I was in a relationship for 19 years, then I met somebody else and fell in love with them for seven years.

“To friends and family, I was out. It took me a long time to tell my mum, a couple of years anyway. End of last year was quite a difficult time, I split from my partner and had a break. All these things were going on.”

Foster is now in a relationship with Craig McKay, and the duo have been pictured together at a number of events.

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LGBTQ+ people in Niger are reportedly being arrested under a new penal code criminalising same-sex relations, with HIV services warning the crackdown is forcing people into hiding and cutting access to condoms, testing and PrEP.

A “witch-hunt” is reported to be under way, with dozens of people reportedly arrested for homosexuality since the law change. The Guardian report that up to 40 people have reportedly been arrested, and 16 men, including high-ranking military officials, are reported to have been imprisoned across the country. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that a judicial source confirmed at least 16 people have been arrested.

A source involved with HIV services, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Guardian that organisations providing support to men who have sex with men have had to stop working. “With the recent witch-hunt, and these arrests that are taking place, the climate here is truly toxic,” they said.

They added: “LGBTQ+ populations are keeping a low profile and have gone into hiding because they are at risk. We have lost contact with many and the recent arrests have exacerbated tensions.”

Niger’s penal code, enacted in February, makes “indecent or unnatural acts” and “sexual relations with a person of the same sex” punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, or up to 20 years as seen in a document seen by Reuters, and a fine of between 10m and 100m West African CFA francs (£13,115 to £130,000).

Penal code and political context

Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani seized power in a coup in July 2023 and was sworn in as president in 2025 for a five-year term, dissolving political parties. The February penal code is believed to be the first time in Niger’s history that homosexuality has been criminalised.

Last week, Niger was one of eight countries that voted against the UN political declaration on HIV/Aids, which was adopted by 149 votes.

HIV prevention access warnings

The anonymous source told The Guardian that men who have sex with men can no longer access condoms, testing services or PrEP in Niger. “When people go into hiding, we won’t see them and they won’t be able to protect themselves. So you see the impact [this penal code] has. We are truly saddened by it,” they said.

Niger is a landlocked Sahel country where security concerns, displacement and poverty shape access to healthcare and civil society space. Same-sex sexual activity was historically not explicitly criminalised in Niger’s post-independence legal framework, unlike in many other states in the region. Military-led governments in the Sahel have increasingly framed governance around sovereignty and anti-imperialist messaging, often alongside restrictions on civic freedoms, amid an alarming spike in arrests and prosecutions of LGBTQ+ people in 2023.

Front Line Defenders said it was “deeply concerned” in a statement, calling on authorities to repeal provisions that criminalise people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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The legal challenge, announced by Good Law Project on 30 June, follows a complaint the organisation submitted in July 2025 which highlighted 11 separate broadcasts that it argued breached the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, citing that “presenters and guests spouted hate about the trans community” during these programmes.

The group claims the programmes contained misleading claims about trans people, lacked due impartiality, and failed to adequately protect audiences from harmful or offensive material.

Ofcom chose not to investigate 10 of the complaints, while opening an investigation into just one programme presented by Ian Collins on 30 June 2025.

The Good Law Project said in their announcement that “Ofcom brushed aside complaints about a programme where Alex Phillips smeared supporters of trans rights as ‘allowing a man with a gert beard to put on a frock and go into the Brownie tent’, and attacked trans women as ‘hulking great perverts going into children’s toilets’.”

The Good Law Project is now asking the High Court to review Ofcom’s decisions.

It argues the regulator failed to properly enforce its own broadcasting rules by deciding TalkTV had not misrepresented facts about trans people, that transgender issues didn’t require balanced coverage, and that offensive remarks were acceptable because of the context in which they were made.

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On 30 June, the Supreme Court upheld two state laws barring transgender girls and women from female sports teams. In a decision handed down this week, the court sided with West Virginia and Idaho in two closely watched cases, West Virginia v B.P.J. and Little v Hecox.

The ruling protects similar bans in 27 states, and affects transgender athletes competing in school and college sports nationwide.

Melania Trump reacted to the news via her X account following the announcement. “As many of you may know, I fully support the LGBTQIA+ community. But we must also ensure that our female athletes are protected and respected,” she wrote, quoting her own 2024 coffee table memoir Melania.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has now legally confirmed this opinion: ‘Under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, may schools maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females? … The answer is yes,’” she continued in the post.

“America, we can support the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and also protect opportunities for female athletes. Respect everyone and keep girls’ sports fair. Both ideals are essential.”

The First Lady received criticism for her message from all sides, including LGBTQ+ allies, anti-trans campaigners and anti-LGBTQ+ right-wingers.

“‘As many of you know.’ No, we don’t know, particularly since your family is actively working to strip LGBTQ people of basic civil rights,” quoted one X user.

“For the first time, I’m in disagreement with you,” wrote another in the comments. “As Catholics, we do not ‘support’ those who fall outside the teachings of the Bible. We pray for them. Support lends to condoning their sinful activity. Just saying, with respect.”

“You don’t support them, you just wanna make sure them book sales don’t fizzle,” said a third user. “Trump gonna make you erase this post by Saturday.”

“It’s f****** unbelievable that you would use the liberal framing on this topic. I am p***** off,” wrote another.

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The show, of which original Elle Woods actress Reese Witherspoon is an executive producer, premiered on 1 July, though a second season was confirmed in January 2026.

The series, which has eight episodes, sees Elle move to Seattle, where she struggles to fit in due to her positive, pink vibe. Not fitting in is, of course, something many LGBTQ+ viewers may have also dealt with during their school years.

But, speaking to PinkNews, Gabrielle Policano, who plays Liz in the show, has shared that Elle actually includes more of a positive portrayal of queer youth.

Policano, who uses she/they pronouns, said: “Something really exciting about the show is that we see an openly queer character who’s also 16 that is actually doing okay, in the sense that this story is not focused on her being gay. She’s just a person who happens to be gay.

“We have a lot of stories that focus on the tragic gay storyline, how hard it is to be gay.

“We need those stories, we need to tell those narratives, and I think that it’s going to be really exciting for young queer people to see someone who’s actually doing just fine and is gay, but that’s not the most interesting thing about them.”

Policano added: “It’s my dream for some young queer person who’s maybe not in the most accepting space to watch the show, press pause and go into the living room and come out to their parents, ’cause they’re like, ‘Oh, it can be fine. It can be okay.’

“I feel really honoured to get to tell that story.”

Chandler Kinney, who plays Kimberly, added: “I play a character who is on her journey of coming to terms with herself and exploring her sexuality, and fortunately she gets to do it with someone who is so kind and patient and understanding.”

She added: “I think about people who have said to me, ‘If I had this show and these characters in this time in my life when I was in high school, when I was growing up, where I was growing up, and seeing these stories being told the way that they are, I would have felt a lot more seen than I did.’

“I think that’s so important and I just feel really grateful to be a part of the story as well for these two characters.”

Speaking of the important of Legally Blonde for queer fans, Policano told us: “First of all, Elle Woods is a gay icon and may be straight as an arrow… questionable… but she symbolises sort of flamboyance and theatricality.

“I know a lot of people who came from repressed homes and locations who found theatre, queer people who found theatre, because it was their way to be as theatrical as they possible wanted. They viewed it as their own form of drag or self-expression, things that are so rooted in our culture and I’m sure that Reese is aware of that. People were not quiet about it, about Elle being a gay icon.”

Policano added: “We don’t see queerness depicted in the way it is depicted necessarily in this show all the time, especially for young people who need it the most right now more than ever.

“I’m honoured that [Reese] trusted us and bestowed that upon us and I hope it’s a gift. I really hope it’s a gift, because she granted us a big gift with that.”

Elle: From the World of Legally Blonde is streaming on Prime Video now

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The post Elle cast on why queerness had to be included in Legally Blonde TV prequel appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.