GLAAD released a report on LGBTQ representation in games
Statistics from GLAAD’s first annual gaming survey claim that “the gaming industry lags behind contemporary media in terms of LGBTQ representation.” The media watchdog and LGBTQ rights…
JK Rowling praises ‘resilience and courage’ of lesbian barrister suing Stonewall
JK Rowling has praised the “resilience and courage” of a lesbian barrister suing Stonewall ahead of a controversial tribunal. The author of the Harry Potter books described…
First same-sex wedding in Antarctica as crew members of RRS Sir David Attenborough tie the knot
Two crew members from the RRS Sir David Attenborough became the first same-sex couple to marry in the British Antarctic Territory. Stewards Eric Bourne and Stephen Carpenter,…
First same-sex wedding in Antarctica as crew members of RRS Sir David Attenborough to wed
“We’ve even had the coordinates of the wedding location engraved into our rings,” Mr Carpenter said. The ceremony will be attended by the 30 crew of the…
Why teenagers are going to love this tender, modern-day ‘Romeo & Romeo’
“Wow. It’s terrible being a teenager,” says a kindly teacher, halfway through Heartstopper (Netflix). He’s half-wincing in empathy with a troubled student and half-winking at the audience….
The strange birth of Camille, Prince’s secret ‘hermaphrodite’ alter-ego
Musician Jack White’s label Third Man Records recently bought a rare pressing of Camille at auction for $49,375 (£37,000). Having secured permission from Prince’s estate (the singer…
Transgender police officers who were born male are permitted to strip-search female suspects
“They claim they are trying to be inclusive. But this isn’t inclusive of women and it doesn’t respect their sex.” She added: “It tells you everything you…
Christian group prepares legal challenge over conversion therapy ban
Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: “Whatever is announced by the Government in May, the problems remain: the definitions are inadequate, human rights will be…
I was allowed to transition at 18 without question – but I regretted it
The debate about trans identities and gender dysphoria has become very polarised – even for those of us who have lived through it. When the Government announced…
The dark, violent film that has come back to haunt Will Smith
Plenty of commentators this week have remarked on all the efforts Smith has made, over the 30 years since, to present an aspirational, clean, unthreatening image, and…
Chaos as Boris Johnson drops pledge to ban conversion therapy – then appears to row back a few hours later
Confusion reigned over the Government’s position on conversion therapy on Thursday night after plans to scrap a ban were confirmed only to reportedly be ditched within hours…
Joe Biden hits out at ‘dangerous, un-American’ anti-trans laws
Republican state lawmakers have filed more than 160 anti-LGBT bills in 2022, according to Freedom for All Americans, a non-profit organisation. Some 92 of those target trans people,…
When it comes to gender identity, whatever happened to common sense?
Common sense (noun): the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way. I realise…
Jacqueline Wilson interview: I avoid some subjects – but children aren’t such innocent little things
She knows she is fortunate that, in her mid-70s, she is still going strong. Her father died of heart and kidney failure in his 50s. “I’ve had…
Blow for gay rights as ban on same-sex marriage in the Caribbean upheld
The Privy Council has dealt a double blow to supporters of gay marriage in the Caribbean by upholding the ban enforced by the governments of Bermuda and…
Let’s be honest on International Women’s Day – we have gone backwards, not forwards
As an International Woman of Mystery, today is my lucky day. Apparently, it’s International Women’s Day, and so obviously there is a hashtag and a meaningless gesture,…
Mother of transgender teenager suspended from work after Texas says allowing ‘sex change’ is child abuse
These procedures include “reassignment surgeries that can cause sterilisation, mastectomies, removals of otherwise healthy body parts, and administration of puberty-blocking drugs.” However, a Texas judge has now…
Marlon James interview: I’d be happy to write a white character
James, who was born in Jamaica in 1970, started reading about African mythology in order to connect with his roots, and soon realised that “this reservoir of…
Green Party spokesman sues after being sacking for transgender views
Dr Ali, a former deputy leader who was a spokesman for nine years, has publicly backed the rights of women to defend single-sex spaces such as prisons,…
George Takei interview: I longed to have my parents’ courage
George Takei pops up on Zoom with a Vulcan salutation. Palm towards camera, thumb extended, hand in a V. “This is the Vulcan greeting,” he says with…
‘Politically correct’ gender-neutral symbols ‘endangering’ the Italian language
They said the emergence of the schwa suffix was “dangerous” for the Italian language, in which nouns are always either masculine or feminine. Trying to change that…
How puritan-baiting evangelical Tammy Faye went from millionaire to mockery
Such regal displays of chutzpah might have made Tammy Faye a gay icon, but she was also a committed Christian, which, for most people, would have been…
My friends are sceptical when I say I’ve fallen for a woman
You may recall that when I first met Alex, I wrote about how I was drawn to someone I’d seen at a party who I felt I…
The student forced out after standing up for women
The contested territory between such feminist groups and trans activists is well documented. The core issue of sex, gender and gender self-identification has developed into arguments about…
Our ‘inclusive’ world is anything but – it excludes women, renames us and disappears us
I was out with a gestational carrier the other day who had just had a 20-week scan. The sex of the baby this birther was carrying was…