Sam Battle, who performs as Look Mum No Computer, took to social media after the final on 16 May to share a gracious message about the result. “The most important thing is [that] we all tried our hardest,” he wrote. “Regardless of what is against us. Whatever it may be. Gotta keep trying your hardest regardless of the… outcome.”

Battle also congratulated Bulgaria on the win, calling performer Dara the “deserved winner”, and said he had met “a lot of amazing folk” during the competition. The 37-year-old shared his statement alongside footage of him with a crowd chanting “UK” and “ein Punkt” (German for “one point”).

UK’s three-year televote slump

Battle performed “Eins, Zwei, Drei” in Saturday’s final (16 May), but received nul points from the public vote and just one point from the jury.

Bulgaria won Eurovision with DARA’s “Bangaranga”, marking the country’s first-ever victory in the contest. For the UK, the result continued a stark run in the televote: Battle is the third UK act in a row to receive nul points from the public, after trio Remember Monday in 2025 and Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander in 2024.

The build-up to this year’s performance also included a viral moment in which Battle appeared to be “abandoned” in the arena, though the situation was later clarified.

Who is Look Mum No Computer?

Battle is best known online for DIY electronics and music-making using custom-built instruments and synths, with a fanbase drawn to inventive, analogue-heavy sounds and eccentric performance setups. He has released music under the Look Mum No Computer stage name and is known for building unusual instruments as part of his creative identity.

Ahead of the final, Battle said he was “happy to be an underdog”, with bookmakers listing him at 80/1 to win. He added: “There’s all different ways of looking at it, but it’s not bothering me, because nobody’s actually seen the full [performance]. There’s a lot more going on than meets the eye – I’m hoping it’s going to surprise people.”

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The post UK Eurovision act Look Mum No Computer shares upbeat reaction after coming last appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

She is one of a handful of LGBTQ+ participants this series, alongside Tegan, Joy and Ellen, as revealed earlier in the series. But during last week’s episodes, Millie decided to come out as a lesbian, having previously identified as bisexual.

Speaking to PinkNews, Millie explains she decided to come out to her co-stars, and on-camera, because she felt “safe”.

“I think from doing all the group workshops and getting to know these people, because everything’s so intimate with each other, every day I was just like, ‘There’s other people here that are lesbian, and that’s fine,” she says.

“So I was like, why not address it now in a safe environment and let me work through those issues and then just explain it?

“I felt really good, because everyone’s just so supportive.”

Millie explained on the show that she felt a pressure to go through life in a heteronormative way – get married, have kids, you know the drill – which made her struggle to come to terms with how she really felt.

But now, she says, “there’s a lot of pressure come off my shoulders”.

“My older sister is disabled, so she’s not had relationships or anything because she’s got the mindset of someone younger,” Millie tells us.

“There was definitely that pressure of, you’ve got to be straight to have kids. And I know you can have kids as LGBT, but it’s a longer process, fees are involved, stuff like that.

“But I definitely feel a weight lifted off my shoulder, because I know one day I will, but I don’t have to do it in the next three years.”

‘I think I was just blindsided up until that moment of coming out’

Millie is one of the youngest cast members, being 22 when she was on the show. Some viewers may have been questioning why she went on the show given her age. But Millie says there’s also pressure from her peers to lose her virginity.

“You see it everyone, don’t you?” she tells us. “You’ve got access to mobile phones. You’ve got your mates going, ‘I’ve lost it,’ and it’s like, how have you done that so easy?

“There’s definitely a pressure from the outer society. In my opinion, a lot of older people were having kids at 20, and now it just seems like people are have kids at more like 30, 32.”

While on the surface, viewers may tune in expecting to see a group of young people wanting to lose their virginities, the show is actually much bigger than that. Working with experts and coaches, the contributors go on journeys of self-discovery, often gaining so much more that they can return to their home lives with.

Millie tells us: “There was a lot of unaddressed issues of mine. I think it was more for me just to explore new things. I knew I wanted to explore the female anatomy much more on another person as well. I think I was just blindsided up until that moment of coming out.

“And I just wanted to get the old Millie back – the one that just didn’t care, the one that was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this. Who cares what anyone’s thinking?'”

It sounds like she’s definitely got that mindset back, as she says anyone in a similar position should just think “f*** it”.

“One of the biggest things is you do not really need to care about anyone else’s opinions,” she says. “You don’t actually need to feel this pressure that we had before going on the show, just be yourself. You only live once, so why not make the most of it?”

She says: “I’ve definitely become much more confident in myself. I’ve definitely found the younger Millie that I was hoping to find, and not really caring.”

She says people should “train your brain out of negativity” by giving yourself compliments. “Obviously there’s still going to be negative moments, but just making yourself positive and loving little things,” she advises.

And while she’s not really interested in the opinions of others, of course things are different when it comes to her family. Thankfully, everyone has been very supportive.

‘They’re glad that I addressed that’

She says: “My family is quite large, especially on the cousins side of things, so you don’t really get to speak to them. But everyone seems to have just connected back again.

“I’ve had messages from them saying, ‘I’m so proud of you. Not everyone would do something like this.’ It’s been really nice.

“I’m watching it with my parents. I have been watching it through my fingers. But it’s just been really nice.”

Things got emotional during her coming out episode, she says. “My mum started bawling her eyes out, and then I started crying. I was like, ‘Oh my God!’

“I think for them, it’s just something that they’re quite proud of, and they’re glad that I addressed that.”

The final two episodes of Virgin Island air tonight (18 May) from 9pm on Channel 4.

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The post Virgin Island’s Millie on societal pressure, coming out and family reaction: ‘A weight lifted off my shoulder’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

In an 11 May letter sent to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and BOP Director William K. Marshall III, Senators Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, and Mazie Hirono urged the agency to withdraw policies they said endanger transgender inmates and strip them of dignity and medically necessary care. The senators also warned that some of the new guidance may violate existing federal court injunctions tied to ongoing lawsuits challenging the policies.

BOP spokesperson Donald Murphy defended the changes in a statement to the Washington Blade on 14 May, claiming the current administration’s approach is based on “best medical practices”.

Murphy went on to criticise Biden-era policies, saying: “Unlike the prior administration’s one-size-fits-all approach, the BOP’s new policy ensures individualised assessments and treatments. And while the previous administration’s policies on treating inmates with gender dysphoria was driven by radical ideology, the BOP’s current policy is based on medical studies, medical expert opinions, state correctional policies, caselaw, and penological concerns. Absent court order, there are no plans to reconsider or revisit the policy.”

However, the bureau did not specify which medical experts or studies support its position, despite every major US medical association endorsing gender-affirming care as safe and effective for transgender people.

According to the senators, the February 2026 policy blocks gender-affirming care even when inmates are willing to pay privately, requires some trans inmates to gradually stop hormone therapy, and replaces gender-affirming treatment with psychotherapy. “By stripping away appropriate medical and psychiatric care, safety protections, and measures to provide dignity, the BOP is exposing transgender individuals to significant harm,” the senators wrote.

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The video went viral after the UK’s act – real name Sam Battle – came dead last with one point, while Bulgaria won Eurovision for the first time ever, and after a three-year absence.

Sharing the video, which has been viewed more than 4million times, one person said: “Shameful that our act at Eurovision was abandoned by the BBC and his team as the scores came in! And how lovely of the Denmark team to invite him to sit with them, so he wasn’t alone.

“Well done BBC, you chose him and then you abandoned him. Vile.”

The original person who posted the video gave some key context, making it clear it was taken during the jury show and not the actual live finals.

While it picked up momentum, some tried to break through the noise and give some more context on what was actually happening.

‘Why let the truth get in the way of a good story’

Chris McCluskey, head of communications for entertainment and channels at the BBC, responded on X by quoting the video.

McCluskey wrote: “Some facts on this may be useful – this was a rehearsal, following the flag parade, with no scores given at this point – and the ones that did happen later that evening were merely a tech run for the real thing. But why let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

He went on: “It was following a flag parade in non-TX jury final. He was led to green room area by production but there were no on camera rehearsal responsibilities for the UK team at this time. It was merely an off camera logistical matter following flag parade. Nothing more.”

During Saturday night’s live final, Look Mum No Computer was not left alone, and was seen surrounded by the rest of the UK team.

PinkNews has contacted the BBC for comment.

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The post UK’s Eurovision act Look Mum No Computer ‘abandoned’ in viral clip – but that’s not quite true appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

In a letter sent on Trans Day of Visibility (31 March), the Seattle LGBTQ Commission submitted a letter to the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and Seattle’s Attorney’s Office warning that many transgender people are fleeing states including Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Kansas, and Idaho due to legislation limiting the freedoms of trans people, threats to personal safety, and restrictions on healthcare and legal recognition.

The commission described the situation as a form of “internal displacement” that current emergency systems are not equipped to handle and urged City officials to declare a civil emergency in response, as reported by Seattle Gay News.

Seattle has increasingly become viewed as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people, particularly trans individuals seeking stability and access to care. However, advocates are saying nonprofits and community organisations are already struggling to keep up with rising demand for emergency financial aid, housing support, transportation, legal assistance, and gender-affirming healthcare. “Community-driven efforts alone are insufficient to mitigate this emergent issue,” the letter states.

An anonymous source explained to Seattle Gay News that the declaration of a civil emergency would allow the city to access additional city funds that could be used to respond the needs of these internally displaced queer and trans people, as well as strengthen Seattle’s ability to coordinate their response with regional and state partners, as well as affirm Seattle’s commitment to “being a place of safety, dignity, and belonging for those seeking refuge with more than symbolic language or gestures.”

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The post Seattle officials face civil emergency as LGBTQ+ Americans flee conservative states appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The trans athlete has been at the centre of controversy and intense backlash due to her participation in girls’ categories in the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) events. And while her mother has tried to brush off the backlash, making it clear her daughter has “done nothing wrong”, this weekend saw more controversy, with some other competitors reportedly ignoring Hernandez.

The 17-year-old placed first in girls’ long jump, high jump and triple jump on Saturday (16 May).

As per the CIF’s policies, which were introduced in 2025, trans women are eligible to compete in female categories, in line with California’s non-discrimination laws.

Then, if a transgender competitor wins a medal or advances to a higher round, so does the second place athlete.

That meant during the podium for the high jump, Hernandez shared the first place podium with second place athlete Gwynneth Mureika, who was also awarded a gold medal.

According to the New York Post, that was the only time Hernandez shared the podium, despite the rules stating that the competitor in second place would be awarded a gold medal finish as well.

The publication reports that some of Hernandez’s rivals looked to be icing her out, while others skipped the podium completely.

Reese Hogan, who finished third in high jump, has been a vocal critic of trans athletes competing in women’s categories.

Similarly, some people in attendance on Saturday reportedly wore pink shirts which read: “Protect Girls Sports”.

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The post Trans athlete AB Hernandez shares first-place podium after new rules introduced appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Speaking on his YouTube show LEMON DROP, the gay journalist said he cannot understand how members of either community can back a political movement he says does not believe they deserve equal rights.

“I can’t see how gay people can be part of a party that doesn’t even believe that they should exist,” Lemon said. “That doesn’t believe that they are deserving of the rights of every American.”

Speaking about Black MAGA supporters, he said: “I cannot understand how anyone could be Black and be a MAGA supporter right now with what has happened with voting rights in this country.”

“Self-hating is one term that I would use for it. Naive is another. And then, a milder term would be, ‘pick me’.”

In January, Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles in connection with an anti-ICE protest that had disrupted a church service in Minnesota.

He pleaded not guilty in February, with charges stemming from his coverage of the protest.

A federal magistrate judge had previously rejected prosecutors’ initial bid to charge him.

Lemon made headlines at the start of the year after Nicki Minaj hurled homophobic insults his way.

He responded on TikTok, saying: “You are a homophobic bigot.”

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The post Don Lemon calls Black gay MAGA supporters ‘self-hating, naive, pick-mes’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

From sweet romances to historical reexaminations to heady sports dramas, there’s a book for you no matter your taste that will be arriving this year…

The Queer Thing About Sin: Why the West Came to Hate Queer Love, by Harry Tanner 

Harry Tanner’s book is a fascinating, exploratory investigation into the origins of homophobia. The attitudes and consequences of LGBTQ+ hate today in the West can be traced back through fragments of ancient history, and Tanner embarks on an expansive journey to discover their roots. From queer love being celebrated in ancient Greece to sinister ideas sweeping across the ancient Mediterranean, this is a must-read for history lovers.

The Queer Thing About Sin: Why the West Came to Hate Queer Love paperback is out May 21.

Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You, by Julián Delgado Lopera 

From the award-winning author of Fiebre Tropical, Julián Delgado Lopera returns with a novel set in Colombia’s underground queer scene. Lopera’s novel follows Ignacio and his daughter, Valentina, reeling from the death of his wife and her mother.

He’s haunted by the death and his past in Bogotá’s queer underground with a shining queer named Mamadora Eléctrica. Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You is a tale of self-destruction and also the beauty of chosen family.

Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You is out May 26.

Girl’s Girl, by Sonia Feldman

Fifteen-year-old Mina loves her two best friends, but the trio quickly unravels after an unexpected kiss. Suddenly, their special unit crumbles, and Mina’s life becomes fragile. 

Looking back at this time as an adult, Mina realises her longing is shaped by this experience of girlhood desire. A portrait of girl culture in one suburban Midwest summer, Girl’s Girl explores how love can change the way we love others.

Girl’s Girl is out June 2.

Puck, by Samantha Allen 

Inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this rom-com follows Puck, producer of a reality show that puts troubled couples through tests involving their exes. However, when Puck’s college roommate announces that she’s engaged to Puck’s ex’s best friend, life gets complicated. 

Used to pulling the strings on a dating show, Puck decides it’s up to them to make sure this wedding does not go to plan. It’s unfortunate that one bridesmaid, whom Puck is stunned by, has the exact opposite idea.

Puck is out on June 2.

The Open Era, by Edward Schmit 

If you’re a fan of queer sports dramas, like Challengers or Heated Rivalry, you’ll need to pick up a copy of Edward Schmit’s The Open Era. The sports romance follows newcomer tennis pro Austin becoming the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam tournament. 

It’s a lot of pressure, made more difficult under the gaze of the handsome world number 2, Diego. As the pair forge a friendship on the court, something then begins to blossom from their competitive spirit.

The Open Era is out June 4.

Wildheart, by Bec Manser

Debut author Bec Manser’s Wildheart is a magical adventure aimed at readers aged eight and above, presenting a queer‑normative world. Born from Manser’s love for 90s gaming, this fantasy world sees two sisters venturing into the forest to confront spirits and ghouls.

Speaking about the book, Manser shared: “I know it’s a cliché but my writing method is to write the books I needed growing up and that I still need today even as a thirty-seven-year-old queer adult who is an out and proud bisexual.”

Wildheart is out on June 4.

You Won’t Forget Me, by Mazey Eddings

Mazey Eddings’ You Won’t Forget Me is a sapphical musical romance that follows the splintering of a band. Cubby’s ex-boyfriend and band lead walks away, then band member Harry and Cubby go viral for an accidental romantic picture the same night Cubby and Darcy hook up.

As newfound fame sweeps up the band and tabloids become obsessed with the band’s rumoured love triangle, Cubby and Darcy are forced into close quarters. Over a whirlwind summer tour, the two women must unravel their true feelings.

You Won’t Forget Me is out on June 9.

Skin Contact, by Elisa Faison 

When her mother dies suddenly, Frances’ life is thrown into chaos. Frances’ husband, Ben, is offering a supportive hand and complies when Frances suggests opening their marriage. Over two years, they explore their sexualities, latent kinks and new identities.

Frances and Ben embark on the journey together, confusing their friends. However, when Ben falls in love with someone, as Frances decides she’s ready for a baby, their experiment reaches an unexpected conclusion.

Skin Contact is out June 23.

Heartstopper Volume 6, by Alice Oseman

Alice Oseman’s final instalment in the Heartstopper graphic novel universe, Heartstopper Volume 6, will bid farewell to the beloved characters. The novel is set to tie up the romance of queer teens ahead of the Netflix movie, Heartstopper Forever.

Heartstopper has followed the romance of Charlie and Nick. Furthermore, this final volume will see the pair learning to manage their relationship after Nick heads off to university. 

Heartstopper Volume 6 is out July 2.

How An Egg Changed My Life: A Memoir, by Mikey Bell

Mikey Bell’s book blends memoir, cookbook and also nostalgic observation of growing up gay in South Wales. Bell charts 35-years, 13 recipes, 4 countries, and 2 eggs to tell the story of finding a fulfilling life.

Reflecting on how a trip to Italy revitalised his appetite for life, How an Egg Saved My Life sees Bell ruminate on the joy of life and moments that shape our cultures, relationships and identities. A trip to Italy revitalised his appetite for life.

How An Egg Changed My Life: A Memoir is available on July 2.

Moss’d in Space, by Rebecca Thorne

Found family and friendship is always a beautiful novel theme. Pair that with a cosy adventure in space, and you’ve got Rebecca Thorne’s upcoming Moss’d in Space. The novel follows Torian Razner, who has just bought an abandoned alien starship; it’s her ticket to freedom. However, her ex, Amelia, is also her captain. 

The starship is covered in moss, which is actually an organic computer with a serious abandonment issue. Things get even more complicated when the alien who abandoned it returns and accuses Torian of stealing.

Moss’d in Space is out on July 9.

Unprecedented Times, by Malavika Kannan

Author Malavika Kannan has been labelled one of the voices of Gen Z in this coming-of-age debut novel. Unprecedented Times follows burnt-out youth climate activist Rishi in her first year at Stanford. All she really wants is to have a lot of gay sex.

However, when the COVID pandemic leaves her trapped inside, Rishi’s schooling, political compass and sexual tension collide. The book has been praised as a testament to the power of self-narrative for Gen Z American women.

Unprecedented Times is available on September 21.

The Book of Luke, by Lovell Holder

The Book of Luke is packed full of drama, queer love, sex, reality TV, politics, and also death. There’s something for everyone! The book follows a gay reality competition star now a stay-at-home husband to America’s only openly gay senator.

However, when his husband’s serial cheating is exposed, Luke impulsively decides to rejoin the reality dating show for its last season. Putting everything he has known on the line, Luke must decide what he really wants to sacrifice to compete.

The Book of Luke paperback is available at the end of September. 

Carrying, by Samantha Josephs

Martha has everything: a loving husband who wants to have a child with her and a sweet stepdaughter who looks up to her. But she’s got a secret, she’s trans and has been faking miscarriages so her husband won’t discover her truth.

She’s got everything working like clockwork until a mysterious chronic illness threatens her existence. Then, she falls down an online rabbit hole of experimental ‘treatments’ that result in her becoming impossibly pregnant.

Carrying is available on October 6.

Lavender and Hemlock, by Lili Wilkinson

This sapphic romantasy follows Tansy’s ordinary housemaid duties interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious visitor. Carrion Knight Merit has been raised to be a monster, but after an injury she finds herself stumbling through a peculiar door.

Instantly, there is a spark between Tansy and Merit. When feelings rise to the surface, the darkness of this charming world also raises its head. Tansy may just be the solution Merit has been looking for.

Lavender and Hemlockis available on November 10.

The post The must-read LGBTQ+ books coming in 2026 appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Linehan was detained by five armed officers in September 2025 on suspicion of committing a public order offence over posts he had made on X months earlier.

In one post, he wrote that if a trans woman was in a female-only space, people should “make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”

He was questioned for several hours before being bailed and was later told he would face no charges.

Following a formal complaint and legal action from Linehan, Scotland Yard conducted a five-month internal investigation.

It found that officers had ‘wrongly focused on the anti-transgender’ element of the posts rather than the alleged incitement to violence, and that the investigation had been hampered by an inexperienced trainee detective and poor supervision, as per The Telegraph.

Inspector Matt Hume of the Met’s directorate of professional standards said the service provided “was not acceptable” and offered an unreserved apology for the “distress and impact” caused.

None of the officers involved face sanctions beyond what the Met described as “learning through reflection.”

The Met has since introduced new guidelines encouraging officers to focus on “grossly offensive” content and cases posing the “most serious risk” when handling online hate crime reports.

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The post Met Police apologise to Graham Linehan after Heathrow arrest appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The country stormed the show, making their return after a three-year absence well worth it. Now, all eyes will be looking at which city will host, and Milena Milotinova, the Director General of Bulgarian broadcaster BNT, suggested it would be the capital, saying during the winner’s press conference: “I want to say to you, ‘Welcome to Sofia next year!'”

Eurovision is always a show to remember, with its camp concepts, message of love (which some argue has gone due to Israel being allowed to compete) and diverse list of performers. And that’s not including the fans, who travel from everywhere in Europe and further afield to watch the show and feel the atmosphere all week.

So while fans get ready to book flights and hotels, we’ve taken a look at the state of LGBTQ+ rights in Bulgaria, and whether it’s generally safe to travel there.

LGBTQ+ rights in Bulgaria

In ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map for 2026, which looks at the best and worst places for LGBTQ+ people to live in Europe, Bulgaria came 40th out of 49 countries, with a score of just 20%.

Same-sex relationships are legal in the country, and sexual orientation-based discrimination has been banned since 2004. Since July 2023, heavier penalties for hate crimes based on the victim’s sexual orientation were also introduced.

As for trans rights, the country has a mixed history. While trans people have been able to legally change their gender in the past, a 2023 Supreme Court ruling said “the only meaning of the term sex should be its biological”.

And in 2024, an education law was introduced that prohibits “propaganda, promotion, or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one”.

“Non-traditional sexual orientation” is defined as that “contrary to Bulgaria’s legal concept of emotional, romantic, sexual or sensual attraction between person of opposite sexes”.

So while Eurovision isn’t necessarily educational, it’s remains to be seen whether a performance like Olly Alexander’s in 2024 would be allowed to go ahead.

Is it safe for LGBTQ+ people to travel to Bulgaria?

While same-sex activity is not illegal, the UK Government’s travel advice says “the LGBT+ community generally keeps a low profile”.

There are some gay venues in Sofia, which also holds an annual pride parade. Though there is a warning that some “verbal abuse and threatening behaviour” was directed at people at Sofia Pride, including to foreign visitors.

Outside of the capital, views are more conservative.

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The post Is Bulgaria safe for LGBTQ+ tourists as country to host Eurovision 2027 appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Joanna Donoghue has insisted she had no choice but to sue Beverley High School after they “secretly” admitted a trans girl and her inquiries about the student were repeatedly “shut down”, the Times reported.

Donoghue’s three daughters are all currently students at Beverley High School, and she herself attended thirty years ago, which she called an “important part” of her life. She also previously worked as a teacher at the school.

According to the Times, Donoghue’s lawyers sent a pre-action letter to file a High Court claim for judicial review against the local authority in control of the school earlier this month.

The letter reportedly alleges that the council had acted unlawfully through adopting a “secret” policy that allows transgender girls to attend Beverly High School and potentially other schools.

It goes on to say that the alleged policy means that parents “cannot make an informed decision about whether to send their children to the school”. It also claims that the policy discriminates against female pupils by placing them at a disadvantage.

The letter reportedly reads: “Teenage girls have particularly acute needs for privacy and dignity. During the secondary school years, as they begin to menstruate and their bodies change, it is vital that girls can trust that they are in environments that safeguard their privacy and dignity.”

Beverley High School’s chair of governors declined to comment on the matter, but a spokeswoman for East Riding of Yorkshire council said: “We have been made aware of a query around our admission arrangements and are working to understand the issues, and we will respond in due course.”

Donoghue told the Times that her decision to sue the school was “horrible”. “The fact it is single sex is important to me,” she said. “We know that there’s evidence that girls do better academically in Stem subjects, for example, when they’re in an all-female environment.”

She went on to share how she found out that a trans girl attended the school after overhearing her 15-year-old daughter having a conversation with a friend.

“They were talking about who they were friends with at primary school and my daughter’s friend said: ‘Oh I was friends with’ – and then she said a female pupil’s name – ‘but I was friends with her when she was a boy’,” she said.

She then emailed the school to confirm details about the trans student, but became distressed when the school said that they couldn’t “discuss pupils… for GDPR reasons” and “obligations under the Equality Act”.

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The post Mother sues all-girls school for letting a trans girl attend appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

After an incredible night of performances, and a tense reveal of the votes, Bulgaria’s Dara was crowned the winner. And while the UK didn’t do too well, we at least didn’t end the night with zero points.

Drag Race favourite La Voix dished out the UK’s jury vote, giving the max 12 points to France’s Monroe.

Bulgaria took an early lead during the jury vote. They returned to the competition after a three-year absence, with Dara performing the song “Bangaranga”. After the jury vote, they were storming ahead with 204 points. They were up against Israel for the top spot, but ultimately clinched it.

Meanwhile, Australia and Denmark were tied second with 165 points after the jury vote. The UK, represented by Look Mum No Computer, had just one point and, as commentator Graham Norton said, nobody could take that away from us!

When it came to the audience vote, the UK scored a whopping… zero points. That meant the UK came in last place, with just one point. Better than nothing!

Going into the night, Finland were the favourites to win, with Australia the second favourites. Finland ended the night with 279 points.

This year’s contest didn’t come without controversy though, with five counties pulling out – the largest boycott in the competition’s history since 1970. Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands confirmed they would not be taking part, after it was confirmed that Israel would be competing.

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

The post Bulgaria wins Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after nail-biting night appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

In January 2022, Giggle for Girls, marketed as a female-only space that allows women to find roommates, engage in freelance work, find friendship groups and more, came under fire for excluding trans women with its use of artificial intelligence.

A court ruling in August 2024 found that Australian businesswoman and founder of Sall Grover and her app had unlawfully discriminated against trans woman Roxanne Tickle when her membership was withdrawn.

Grover, whose Wikipedia page describes her as a “self-identified trans-exclusionary radical feminist”, filed the notice of appeal the following October, challenging justice Robert Bromwich’s decision.

The court found that Tickle had been unlawfully indirectly discriminated against after she was barred from using the app in 2021 “because she did not look sufficiently female”.

Giggle’s barrister Bridie Nolan argued that Tickle was a man – despite the fact that her birth certificate lists her as female – and so it was lawful to exclude her from the app under the Sex Discrimination Act.

Tickle’s lawyer, Georgina Costello, stated that she was a woman, having undergone gender-affirming surgery and hormone treatment, and identifying as a woman with her friends and family and at work.

The case, dubbed Tickle v Giggle, marked the first time Australia’s Federal Court had weighed in on gender identity discrimination.

Tickle was awarded 10,000 AUD (£5,350) in damages and limited costs. She had sought damages and aggravated damages amounting to 200,000 AUD (£107,100), claiming that misgendering by Grover resulted in constant anxiety.

During the appeal on 15 May, Justice Melissa Perry upheld the previous ruling and told the court that both Giggle and Grover had excluded Tickle from the app on the basis of her gender-related appearance.

She told the court: “This amounted to direct discrimination by reference to a characteristic that pertains to people of Ms Tickle’s gender identity.”

The judges also ruled to reassess the damages originally awarded to Tickle and increased the amount to 20,000 AUD (£10,700).

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In her ruling, US District Judge Mary McElroy sharply criticised the DOJ’s handling of the case, writing that the department had “proven unworthy” of the trust typically granted to federal prosecutors.

“The administration has publicly characterised gender-affirming care for minors as abuse, directed the [justice department] to bring its practice to an end, and celebrated when hospitals curtailed such programs as a result of this subpoena campaign,” McElroy wrote, as per The Guardian.

The subpoenas reportedly demanded highly sensitive information, including birthdates, Social Security numbers, addresses, intake forms, medical assessments, and records relating to minors who received gender-affirming care over the past five years.

The DOJ has argued that the records are necessary for investigations into potential healthcare fraud and the off-label prescribing of medications such as puberty blockers. But McElroy rejected those claims, pointing to the administration’s broader public attacks on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Her ruling comes as more than 20 hospitals and providers across the country face similar federal demands for patient information, including NYU Langone Health, which revealed on Tuesday (12 May) that it had received a criminal subpoena from federal prosecutors in Texas on 7 May.

“The government cannot use its subpoena power to intimidate families out of seeking lawful medical care,” said attorney Kevin Love Hubbard of the Lawyers’ Committee of Rhode Island in a statement. The ruling also arrives just days after 11 families filed a separate class-action lawsuit in Maryland seeking to block the DOJ from accessing trans youth healthcare records nationwide.

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Jane Schoenbrun’s follow-up to We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and I Saw The TV Glow promises a bloody queer horror comedy.

The film stars an incredible pairing: The X Files star Gillian Anderson and Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder. The film also stars Sorry, Baby’s Eva Victor, Yellowjackets’ Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Prime Target’s Quintessa Swindell.

In Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Einbinder plays a filmmaker who is handed the reins of a slasher franchise. Anderson plays the enigmatic woman who starred in the original films.

“After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the Camp Miasma slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director for resurrection,” reads an official synopsis.

“But when she visits the original movie’s star, a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium.”

‘Anderson raises her own bar’

In their review of the film, AwardsWatch labelled Schoenbrun a “definitive voice of their generation.” They continued that they are a filmmaker who “perfectly blends their personality with an expert blend of humour, melancholy, and exhilaration.”

Little White Lies also adds: “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma defies easy categorisation.

“It’s a romance, sure, but it’s also a horror film about the agony of contorting oneself in traditional gender and sexuality binaries, and undoubtedly it’s a comedy too, poking fun at the self-seriousness of prescriptive horror analysis and the idea we have to constantly qualify the pop culture that made us with acknowledgements of its flaws.”

Time Out‘s five-star review states the film “is a gift that keeps on giving.” The review also praises Anderson’s showcase: “Anderson raises her own bar to deliver a performance of deeply moving range.”

Additionally, a review from Vogue shared the “compelling” film is “a big swing, certainly, but one that also results in something messier, shaggier, and knottier than TV Glow.

“It’s guaranteed to be catnip for fans, just as it’s likely to alienate newcomers to Schoenbrun’s work, who may find their last project, strange though it is, more easily digestible than this one.”

It also currently has an incredible score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, after 31 reviews.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is due for release in US cinemas on 7 August and UK cinemas from 21 August.

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The football club was initially given the fine over a chant sung by fans during a UEFA Champions League match in February last year. It was directed at Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, formerly of Barcelona.

Translated to English, the chant went: “Guardiola, Guardiola, how thin you look, first it was the drugs, and we’ll see you in Chueca today.” The chant was reported to law enforcement by Fare, an organisation that combats inequality in football, which assessed that it was discriminatory.

Chueca is an LGBTQ+-friendly neighbourhood and nightclub hotspot in Madrid, while the reference to looking thin and doing drugs was found to be connected to HIV and AIDS.

Sports authorities found Real Madrid guilty of “discriminatory behaviour” following an investigation and slapped the club with a €30,000 fine.

Not happy with the penalty, the club then attempted to appeal the decision by taking it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest court in international sport.

Lawyers for Real Madrid said that the chant was not intended to be hateful and argued that it should be “interpreted differently” because it involves “elements of satire, provocation or criticism”, OutSports reported on 13 May.

The court dismissed the appeal, saying that the chant constituted homophobia and was “far more serious and damaging than acceptable satire and banter.”

The chant is not the only recent homophobia issue involving Real Madrid. During a Real Madrid-Benfica match in February, Real player Vinícius Júnior scored a goal and then was approached by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who pulled his jersey up over his mouth as he spoke to Júnior.

Júnior reported the incident to the referee, with his teammate Kylian Mbappé later alleging that he had heard Prestianni use a racial slur multiple times. Prestianni denied the allegations, and UEFA suspended him for one match pending investigation.

A clip of the incident emerged on social media later on, in which Prestianni appears to be using a Spanish gay slur rather than a racial slur.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was asked about the confrontation at a press conference on 24 February. “It seems bad to me. Those are homophobic insults, and it’s as serious,” he said, referring to racist language.

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Appearing on NBA Tip-Off, Barkley spoke about the death of NBA player Jason Collins. Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, died on Tuesday (12 May) aged 47.

Barkley referred to Collins as a “trailblazer” as he paid his respects to the late player.

When the 63-year-old played, Barkley was nicknamed ‘Sir Charles’ for his prowess on the court. He was an 11-time NBA All-Star and became one of the NBA’s best rebounders and scorers.  

Referring to Collins as an openly gay athlete, commentator Kenny Smith remarked: “13 years ago it was a big deal. The reason why it doesn’t feel as big now at times is because of people like him.”

Barkley interjected to share his thoughts that an NBA player coming out would “still be a big deal”.

“We live in a homophobic society,” Barkley continued. “Anybody who thinks we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid.” 

“There is such an animosity towards the gay community,” Barkley also added.

Commenter Ernie Johnson also shared that Collins valiantly used his platform to tell the world “you don’t have to live in the shadows.”

“He said ‘your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self,’” Johnson said.

Who was Jason Collins?

Collins started his career with the New Jersey Nets in 2001 and his career saw him go on to play with Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston, Washington. Then, he returned to the Nets after they moved to Brooklyn.

When Collins signed with the Nets in 2014, after coming out, he became the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues.

Collins retired in 2014. In announcing his retirement to Sports Illustrated he said it had “been 18 exhilarating months” since his decision in April 2013 to come out publicly as gay.

In May, Collins married his long-time partner, Brunson Green, in an Austin, Texas, ceremony. 

The athlete shared in September last year that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer and was undergoing treatment. Three months later, he shared an update that the cancer had progressed to Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.

Announcing Collins’ death, his family shared an emotional message. It read: “We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” the statement from his family continued.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

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The show launched on BBC iPlayer in November 2024, and it was renewed for a second series in March last year. It has now finally been released, with all six episodes available to stream.

The last time fans saw the crew, they were rallying around Stewart (played by Elijah Young) after his coming out to his grandma didn’t go well. Dickie (Phil Dunning) was still feeling the effects from his split from Harrison (Peter McPherson), Mam (Mark Benton) was dealing with her past catching up with her, Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell) was trying to make it work with bumbling Neil (Neil Grainger), and Sal (Patsy Lowe) was coming into her own despite an emotionally abusive relationship with Danni (Charlotte Riley) and interest from Mel (Lauryn Redding).

Despite dealing with a lot of important topics plenty of queer people go through – such as coming out or breakups – Dunning, who is also the show’s writer, brings a big sense of humour to the show.

Speaking to PinkNews, Elijah Young says: “What I love about Phil’s sense of humour and how he writes comedy is that he’ll write the joke, but then he’ll take it a step further where it almost enters into ridiculousness.

“In the show, what’s so lovely is, you’re presented with an ordinary place like Middlesbrough, and presented with these really extraordinary characters.

“Phil’s writing is really clever and all of the sensitive, heartfelt moments are very quickly undercut with the gags or a moment of Dickie saying an insult to Stewart. It’s so much fun.”

The almost rivalry between Dickie and Stewart has been there since the start, when Mam introduced young Stewart to the rest of the group. The cutting way Dickie spits out “Stewart” throughout the show has become something fans hopped on – but it wasn’t intentional.

Young tells us: “When we were doing the show for series one, we would all say it like that, and we all thought it was a personal, inside joke. Then when the show came out, people started saying it. We were like, ‘Oh!'”

The show is set in the northern town of Middlesbrough, rather than London or Manchester as many queer-focused series are. Shining a light on the industrial town was important for Dunning, who was born and raised in Teesside.

He tells us: “I was in Middlesbrough every single week for gay events, going to Empire, also in Sapphires when it was called The Royal Oak. It just meant a lot to me. If I was going to write a sitcom about gays, it meant a lot to write in Teesside. It’s just that classic thing of write what you know, and I know a lot about the Teesside gays.”

Dunning says he was concerned about the reception from locals, as “we’ve been done dirty a lot in the past”.

“I was very conscious of trying to get it right and not making it an ‘it’s grim up north’ type of sitcom,” he says, “so hopefully that’s paid off.”

It certainly doesn’t suggest it’s “grim up north”. Instead, it brings fun, camp energy with plenty of lipstick and glitter when the queer community is being attacked by many loud voices around the UK.

Dunning tells us: “There was a point where we were thinking, do we go down the route of a character struggling to come out. Initially I was like, it’s a sitcom, let’s make it really funny, like queer people can have fun and not have serious issues.

“It’s really important to tell all the serious stories, and they do get told, but actually, I want it to be really light-hearted and joyous the whole way. But then, if you want people to connect to the characters, you do have to make it a bit more real.

“Even though it’s slapstick and a bit mad, at some points you have the characters based in reality, so people can connect to them.”

He says: “It was important to do a bit of both, but not make it so serious that it’s like another issue based comedy or drama.”

The first episode of series two does just that. It opens with Stewart heading to work to the soundtrack of N-Trance song “Set You Free”, as his neighbours congratulate him on coming out as gay after his grandma kicked him out.

Young, who plays Stewart, tells us: “It was really the beginning of his life being his true self, so you get to experience him experiencing the firsts and having that, what people call it for queer people, a second puberty where you’re really discovering yourself – how you dress, your interests, finding your tribe and people you don’t have to explain yourself to.”

He says: “Stewart is dressing a bit more openly queer. He also has frosted tips, which is just a milestone in any gay’s life.”

“It was really lovely coming into series two and getting to play Stewart now at the beginning of his journey of figuring out what does being openly gay look like for him,” he adds.

It’s something most queer people can relate to. And it turns out Dunning took inspiration for his writing from his own life… sort of.

His character Dickie can’t seem to escape ex-boyfriend Harrison, with series two continuing to deal with their split. Dunning laughs as he says he drew some inspiration “in the sense that I get rejected a lot”.

Speaking of what to expect in series two, he says: “There’s hints of Harrison kind of regretting what he did and leaving Dickie. I really wanted this on-off relationship with them two, because it gives the opportunity for Dickie to have a bit of a heart and to see a bit of a vulnerability, because he’s such an a*******.”

He adds: “What we found really funny when me and Chris [Jones, producer] were developing the plot lines for series two, was the fact that Middlesbrough is actually such a small place. In terms of the gay world, you do see the same people. So it was quite funny that they just keep bumping into each other.”

He says: “In terms of my relationships, I used to work with someone that I quite fancied – not to go too deep. But when they don’t fancy you, it’s really hard seeing them every single day in a workplace or all the time, so in that sense there is a connection. God, I’ve gone deep.”

It’s not just Dickie and Stewart dealing with difficulties though. In series one, viewers fell in love with Sal, who was completely under-appreciated by her girlfriend Danni. Lowe, who plays Sal, tells us: “Emotionally abusive, is what it is. It’s like she’s having to dilute her personality and her true self and she’s stifled.

“Series two really shows Sal coming into her own, because she’s always able to be herself when she’s around her chosen family and the rest of the gang.

“But to find that, potentially, in a romantic relationship, I just really want it for her. It’s just the dream for her, because Mel is absolutely gorgeous and just sees her, truly sees her.”

Lucinda, the gang’s biggest ally, is also on the quest for love, having met Neil in series one. “I think Neil needs a bit of whipping into shape,” Mardell, who plays Lucinda, tells us. “She’ll manage it.”

Her character is the only straight person in the group, showing them unquestioning support in their times of need. Mardell tells us: “I’ve got so many queer friends, so for me, playing that part didn’t feel like anything strange.

“It’s really important to be an ally in this kind of time we’re in – for gays, queers, but then also different races and things like that. There is a connection that we all have, an understanding. So we’ve just got to be there for each other.”

Smoggie Queens is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

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The final is being held in Vienna, Austria, after Austrian singer JJ won last year with his operatic ballad, “Wasted Love”.

Before the Grand Final on Saturday (16 May), here are all the answers to your burning Eurovision questions.

Who is predicted to win Eurovision 2026?

Currently, the battle to lift the Eurovision trophy is hard to predict, with the top countries shifting after the recent semifinals.

However, Finland is currently tipped as the clear favourite in this year’s competition. Though, that’s not a sure thing as Eurovision is often an unpredictable contest.

The Finnish entry is a duo: classical violinist Linda Lampenius and pop star Pete Parkkonen. They may just be the perfect Eurovision pairing.

Their track “Liekinheitin” blends Parkkonen’s vocals and Lampenius’s violin prowess. It’s certainly a memorable performance. 

After delivering a power ballad at the semi-finals, pop star and actress Delta Goodrem edged Australia into second place. 

Goodrem, known for acting in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, could take the trophy with her track “Eclipse”. The song has charted in Australia, and she is one of the biggest-selling female artists in her home country.

The news isn’t quite as bright for the UK’s hopes. According to Eurovisionworld, the UK is currently ranked 20th out of 25.

It’s not great odds for Look Mum No Computer, but everything can change on the night.

What is the controversy with Eurovision 2026?

The theme of this year’s Eurovision is “United by Music – in the Heart of Europe.” Though that hasn’t accurately described the discussion surrounding this year’s competition. 

The contest’s 70th anniversary has been overshadowed by the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to continue participating.

In response, five countries have pulled out of the contest – the largest boycott in the competition’s history since 1970.

Furthermore, Spain confirmed it will not broadcast this year’s contest, and Slovenia will air Palestine docs instead of Eurovision to protest Israel’s inclusion.

What is the running order of the Eurovision final?

The official Eurovision grand final running order has been released. Denmark will open the show, and Austria will close the night. The UK will be the 14th act performing. 

Here’s the full running order: Denmark, Germany, Israel, Belgium, Albania, Greece, Ukraine, Australia, Serbia, Malta, Czechia, Bulgaria, Croatia, UK, France, Moldova, Finland, Poland, Cyprus, Italy, Norway, Romania and Austria.

When is the Eurovision 2026 final?

The Eurovision 2026 Grand Final will be broadcast on Saturday (16 May) at 21:00 CEST. That’s 8pm in the UK.

If you want to vote in the Grand Final, you can find all the details here.

How to watch the Eurovision 2026 final?

Eurovision is available to watch around the globe. You’re able to access the show via the show’s YouTube channel.

Additionally, there are 35 participating broadcasters, country-dependent, that are broadcasting the live show. 

In the UK, the Eurovision final will be accessible on iPlayer, BBC One, Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

Who is presenting Eurovision for the UK?

Graham Norton returns for commentary on Saturday night’s final on BBC One and iPlayer. On BBC Radio 2, Sara Cox will be running things, with Rylan Clark joining.

Clark also provided commentary for the two semi-finals, alongside Angela Scanlon.

Meanwhile, Drag Race favourite Tia Kofi is taking over the BBC’s backstage and digital coverage. And Strictly star and fellow Drag Race icon La Voix will be the UK’s spokesperson, dishing out our points on the night.

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Blessing’s family released a statement through the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance, obtained by the Santa Fe New Mexican, on Thursday (14 May) describing her as “highly intelligent, extremely talented, and deeply sensitive to the needs of others,” adding that her death “not only devastates us but diminishes the world.”

Blessing was studying within UW’s Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science. Friends and classmates have shared tributes online, remembering Blessing, who is reported to have used she/they pronouns by Seattle Gay News, as caring, thoughtful, and deeply loved. One friend wrote that she “only wished the best for everyone in her life,” while a roommate described her as “so kind” and “down to Earth.”

Authorities say Blessing’s body was found shortly after 10 PM on May 10 in a laundry room at Nordheim Court, a privately managed student housing complex affiliated with the university. According to local reports, the King County Medical Examiner determined she had been stabbed more than 40 times, as reported by KIRO.

Court documents reviewed by KOMO News allege that surveillance footage captured a man disconnecting the laundry room camera before the attack. Seattle Police later released images of a suspect, leading to a multi-day manhunt.

On Wednesday (13 May) night, 31-year-old Christopher Michael Leahy turned himself in to police in Bellevue before being transferred to King County Jail. On Thursday (14 May), a judge found probable cause for first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, and Leahy is currently being held on $10million bail, as reported by KATV.

As students and community members continue mourning Blessing’s death, local LGBTQ+ organisations have scheduled a private on-campus vigil in her memory. Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck previously called the killing “devastating and horrific,” in an 11 May statement, adding that Seattle “must serve as a refuge for our trans neighbours who are fleeing regions trying to erase their existence.”

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Hernandez first made headlines when President Trump targeted her in a post on Truth Social, after she qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Champions.

In August 2025, her mother Nereyda spoke out, saying: “My daughter is not the problem … This has nothing to do with fairness in sport and everything to do with erasing transgender children.”

She has now been forced to defend her daughter again, after a protest was organised against California’s policies which permit trans athletes to compete in the category which aligns with their gender identity.

Nereyda told the LA Times: “I told AB, this is a [midterm] election year. They’re gonna hit us hard, because they’re using us for their campaigns.”

Trump’s executive order in January 2025 ruled transgender women should not be able to take part in women’s sports, and a number of sporting bodies have done so. However, California has resisted.

According to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) policies, trans women can compete in women’s sports, in line with the state’s non-discrimination laws.

On top of that, trans girls do not “steal” wins from cisgender girls, as many critics complain. Instead, if a trans athlete receives a medal or qualifies for a higher round, the next in line athlete does too.

This has happened with AB twice, when she shared the first-place podium with another athlete last year. Nereyda said: “She’s not doing anything wrong.”

Despite CIF policies, though, protests continue.

Nereyda added: “It’s just the outsiders. They’re infiltrating, pretending they’re parents or they know people, but I’m the mom. I know who they are.”

AB is set to compete at the Southern Section finals on 16 May, after placing first in triple jump, long jump and in a five-way tie for high jump at last week’s CIF Southern Section Division 3 preliminaries.

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The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo marks an impressive feature debut from Chilean writer-director Diego Céspedes. The film offers up an allegory for the AIDS pandemic, a colourful and humorous portrait of chosen family framed as a western drama sprinkled with magical realism.  

Set in 1982, 11-year-old Lidia (newcomer Tamara Cortés) is coming of age in a mining town in the Atacama Desert, Chile. The young girl is the baby in a chosen family of LGBTQ+ performers, all of whom care fiercely for her. But Lidia is nestled under the loving Flamingo’s wing (played by Matías Catalán) and within the matriarchal care of Mama Boa (Paula Dinamarca).

The queer performers stage nightly shows for the miners at the local cantina until whispers begin to spread of a mysterious, deadly disease. In search of someone to blame, the town turns on this queer family and theorises the disease is transmitted through a gaze shared between men in love, and there is no known cure.

“Every good film has something queer in it.”

“What’s happening right now in the world, with this new fascism, is because we don’t look each other in the eye,” Céspedes says to PinkNews. “Pro individualism, and we just forget that we have someone in front of us. When you see another person in the eye, you can understand if she’s suffering, if she’s happy, she has a weird feeling that she needs to tell you, you can understand all that stuff, but we miss that, and that makes the gaze a very poetic thing.”

Céspedes’ handling of desire turning monstrous is cleverly crafted with stunning imagery and moving resonance. Also, The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo doesn’t shy away from the fact that the most supportive figures in Lidia’s life are this group of queer and trans folks. Yet, the film arrives in a time when moral panic around trans people in the presence of children is an exposive topic.

The genesis of this project was the young protagonist with the film’s core relationship of Lidia and Flamingo, reminiscent of Céspedes’ own family. “When I was young, I saw my little sister painting the nails of my older brother while they were gossiping about the family. That intimacy, I see it in my siblings, and I see it in Flamingo and Lidia.”

“Why do we need to lie to each other? Why do we need to love each other?”

With The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, Céspedes wanted to approach the world through the eyes of a young person, a “pure” perspective. “I always say, Lidia is not asking herself what her family has between their legs. She’s just feeling love and tenderness,” the director explains. “That was the biggest gift of telling the story through the eyes of a kid, the pureness of the soul.” Simultaneously, that youthful outlook on the world raises questions that Céspedes also wanted the film to approach: “Why do we feel this fear? Why do we need to lie to each other? Why do we need to love each other?”

Early on, it’s established that Flamingo is sick and their days together are sadly numbered. As the illness progresses, Flamingo confesses to Lidia: “I couldn’t imagine going to hell without you.” It’s a beautifully devastating line, one Céspedes says, that also reminds him of something his brother could have told his little sister. The filmmaker brings real depth to the characters, and even supporting performances are given individual spotlights. Such moments serve to solidify the family unit around Lidia. 

“Flamingo is not a trans character to me,” Céspedes furthers. “The characters that are trans are played by trans actresses. He plays a transformista [Spanish drag queen], and at that time it was less clear than today.” Flamingo and Lidia are the viewers’ introduction to this warm chosen family, but the former is the subject of one of the film’s tougher moments. 

“The characters that are trans are played by trans actresses.”

Though this portrait of queer struggle is rich with bright energy, sparkling costumes and biting humour, the film is not without its aggression. One scene, framed by cinematographer Angello Faccini from a distance and lit by moonlight, sees Flamingo’s evening become a viciously dangerous outing. Céspedes acknowledges that featuring a moment of violence may be difficult for some viewers, but such scenes were vital. “You cannot just avoid violence… For every queer person, I think it’s our decision how we will show [violence] to the world. I consciously put that there because it’s a colour that we need to paint in our big painting.”

The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo joins a growing canon of original queer stories, but Céspedes takes issue with the label of ‘queer cinema’ applied to his film. He shares: “I think in the industry, when you talk about queer films, you put it aside, and it’s not, queerness is everywhere. Every good film has something queer in it.”

As more diverse LGBTQ+ stories and characters make it to the big screen, Céspedes’ notion has some legs with the stretching limits of what, narratively or aesthetically, is deemed ‘queer cinema.’

“Isolating this individual and trying to [attach] a lot of labels, though that is sometimes an instrument that helps to bring us to the world, is putting us aside,” Céspedes also adds. “Like: what label are you? Forget about it. Sometimes we don’t need it, we just see a human being.”

The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo is available to stream on MUBI from May 15.

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With the semifinals now completed, everyone is gearing up for the grand final this Saturday (16 May). As we wait to see how Look Mum No Computer places (hopefully the left side of the scoreboard!), get to know the UK entry…

Who is Look Mum No Computer?

Look Mum No Computer, whose real name is Sam Bartle and also uses the stage name Sam Battle, is a 37-year-old musician and composer known for his love of electronic and synthesiser sound.

With the announcement of his Eurovision selection, the musician said it was “an absolute honour” to represent the UK.

“I’ve been working a long time creating, writing, and producing my own visions from scratch, and documenting my process.

“I will be bringing every ounce of my creativity to my performances, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear and see what we’ve created. I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised!”

How did Look Mum No Computer get started?

Look Mum No Computer began his music career in 2014, fronting indie rock band ZIBRA. 

Also, under the name Look Mum No Computer, he released his first EP, entitled Look Mum No Mixtape, in 2017.

Additionally, alongside music, he has given TED Talks on how he created his bizarre musical instruments. He’s also in the Guinness World Records for building the world’s largest drone synthesiser.

What has Look Mum No Computer said about competing in Eurovision?

When he was announced as the UK entry, Look Mum No Computer shared: “I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey. 

“I have always been a massive Eurovision fan, and I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year, so getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour that I am taking very seriously,” he said.

Ahead of the final, the artist also told the BBC that he underwent “a stress test [to see] whether I could deal under pressure.”

He also revealed that just four weeks ago, he became a dad for the first time. “He’s a healthy baby boy called Max and I love him very much,” he shared.

“After Saturday night’s over, I’m getting straight on the plane and going back to nappy changing duties.”

What is Look Mum No Computer’s Eurovision song and what does it mean?

The UK is pinning their hopes on Look Mum No Computer’s Eurovision track “Eins, Zwei, Drei”.

The track, which translates to ‘one, two, three’ in German, will be the first song in UK Eurovision history to not be sung entirely in English.

The Eurovision 2026 final is taking place on Saturday (16 May). However, the contest’s 70th anniversary has been overshadowed by the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to continue participating.

In response, five countries have pulled out of the contest – the largest boycott in the competition’s history since 1970.

Furthermore, Spain confirmed it will not broadcast this year’s contest and Slovenia will air Palestine docs instead of Eurovision to protest Israel’s inclusion.

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

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Murray has served as the MP for Ealing North since 2019, and was previously the Chief Secretary to the Treasury between September 2025 until his appointment as Health Secretary.

Streeting’s time as Health Secretary saw him fall out of favour with many in the LGBTQ+ community, as his time in office brought a ban on puberty blockers for trans youth.

This came about despite his previous support for the trans community. In 2024, he told The Sun that he no longer stood by the statement “trans men are men, trans women are women”, instead saying: “Actually, there are lots of complexities.”

But as James Murray, who is gay, takes on the role, is he likely to be any more popular with the LGBTQ+ community?

James Murray’s stance on trans rights

In 2022, Murray said on TalkRadioTV: “I believe trans women are women.” But he also avoided questions about trans women competing in women’s sports.

Following the Supreme Court decision in April 2025, which ruled the legal definition of women in the 2010 Equality Act refers to “biological women” and sex refers to “biological sex”, his public opinion took a turn.

He was among a group of 54 out LGBTQ+ Labour MPs who did not respond to PinkNews in April 2025 when asked whether they believe trans women are women.

After the ruling, he said in a letter: “I agree that trans people must be able to live their lives with dignity and safety.”

He also wrote that he shared the Government’s “commitment to protecting to protecting trans people, such as through a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices”.

The letter added: “I believe that all LGBT+ people must be treated fairly, with dignity, and with respect.”

In May 2025, he said single-sex spaces should be provided “on the basis of biological sex”, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.

He added: “It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.”

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City of London Corporation councillors have voted to keep the parks’ bathing ponds open to trans swimmers. In doing so, they rejected the campaigners’ urging to follow the Supreme Court judgement that “sex” refers to biological sex.

Councillors rejected this “strictly single-sex access” bid. Instead, they are maintaining existing rules that the Ladies’ Pond is for use by biological and trans women.

In 2025, Sex Matters began legal proceedings against the City of London Corporation. Their “keep men out of the Ladies’ Pond” campaign set out to challenge the trans-inclusive policy.

The Sex Matters campaign argued that allowing trans people to use facilities of their gender identity was a breach of the Equality Act.

However, a 2025 consultation, with over 38,000 participants, revealed most wanted the existing trans-inclusive arrangements to remain. Just 13% said they wanted the Men’s and Ladies’ ponds to become strictly single-sex spaces.

In response, Sex Matters cast doubts on the results and called the number of respondents as “extraordinary.”

‘The people were asked. And the people responded correctly.’

In response to the news about the pond being upheld as a trans-inclusive space, there is, sadly, some transphobic hatred spreading online.

Though there are also those who are happy that the space will remain trans inclusive. One commenter on a news post about the ruling shared: “The people were asked. And the people responded correctly.”

Another also shared: “I use the ladies pond and I can confidently say that most of the swimmers I know will welcome this decision.”

One other commenter remarked: “Finally a common sense approach to this issue and people listening to the users of a service (who have no issue with trans people) rather than online rhetoric and bigotry.”

Opened in 1926, Kenwood Ladies’, Highgate Men’s, and Hampstead Mixed ponds have long been inclusive of trans people. In 2019, the City of London Corporation formally acknowledged trans people’s right to swim in the single-sex ponds.

Moving forward, there are set to be improvements for the three ponds. This will include upgrades to changing, showering and toilet facilities.

As the BBC reported, the executive director of the environment, Katie Stewart, said the works at the Ladies’ Pond would ensure that those wanting to change privately could do so. Final funding and timings are due to be presented to members in July.

The report is to go to a separate committee, the Policy and Resources Committee, for a final decision on June 4.

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Mazal Pride, a Belgian group representing LGBT+ Jewis, was allegedly told by Brussels Pride that they could join the parade, “but with conditions that deeply hurt us”.

In a message in the “BaLaGan! – LGBT+ Jews in and around Brussels” Facebook group, a member of Mazal Pride said they had received a list of conditions.

The message read: “We do have a place at Pride and within the LGBTQ+ community in Brussels, and they accept us without conflating us with Israel.

“They are aware that Jews face risks in Belgium. However, because of the second point, they fear that our participation could put us in danger. As a result, they would only potentially agree to our participation if we are forbidden from bringing out logo, the Magen David, or even using the word ‘Jewish’ on our banners.”

It continued: “Hearing this at an event that is supposed to celebrate pride and the freedom to exist was extremely painful.

“The message we ultimately receive is that our presence is acceptable only if it is not too visible. That we are welcome as long as we know how to hide… we refuse to accept erasing our identity as the solution. We refuse the idea that Jewish people should have to hide who they are in order to participate in a public, activist, and celebratory space.”

The post said that the group had decided to attend regardless “and prouder than ever”, even if they would have to “participate without overly distinctive symbols”.

According to Jewish News, however, those conditions have since been removed and Jewish attendees will be permitted to display symbols of their religion.

PinkNews has contacted Brussels Pride and Rainbow House Brussels for comment.

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Stephen Mousdell was elected as councillor for Haydock in St Helens, however it was revealed that he was also an adult performer by the name of “Lachlan Taylor UK” on OnlyFans. Videos shared online allegedly show him having hardcore sex, with some filmed in public.

Mousdell has since resigned from the role of councillor. He told LBC, who exposed his online persona: “Recently, things have come out with regard to myself and my partner. We have always been transparent about it and not ashamed of what we do. We have full time jobs and also have adult professions, in which we abide by all EU and UK laws. We have never broken any laws or put anything into dispute. We also follow high standards in which we follow social media community guidelines and also keeping up to date with the ever changing UK online safety act.”

He added: “It is with sincere regret I am resigning as Reform councillor for Haydock Ward. This is due to the immense pressures from the media, from individuals within the town hall, from certain parties and individuals who were not elected as councillor over a conflict of interest with regards to being a public figure in office and doing the adult profession.

“I was told to apologise to the public and stop doing what I was doing if I was in for a chance of staying being a councillor but I refused because I have done no wrong doing and I’m not lying just to stay in office. I am, who I am. I’m proud of what I do, there is no shame of it and I am proud to be a gay individual in this community.”

Mousdell went on to thank Reform UK for the “great opportunity”, also saying that other councillors he met “regardless of party” had been “lovely people” who “deserve full respect”.

His resignation comes after Reform UK appeared to show support for Mousdell, though his statement suggests behind-the-scenes it may have been a different story.

A Reform UK spokesperson said: “While Cllr Mousdell’s lifestyle choices may not be to everyone’s taste, he has not broken the law. What consenting adults do in their private lives is their own business.

“The electorate were fully aware of Cllr Mousdell’s lifestyle choices weeks before the election and still decided to elect Stephen as their councillor.

“Cllr Mousdell is an asset to his local community, even receiving the St Helens Mayor’s Good Citizen Award for his services to the borough.”

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

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Dhaka is a London-based Indian visual artist, working with moving images and photography to tell visual stories. Her work is drawn to the negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding difficult topics and lesser-known communities. Her objective is to encourage conversations. by keeping human emotion and relatability at the heart of her work. Her practice does not offer answers – it provokes thought, holds discomfort, and creates space for honest conversation.

In Belonging & The Scene, Dutch Pup Momo shares how a friend found acceptance within the kink community, despite not necessarily sharing the same kinks.

Momo says: “A friend of mine, Mike, said, ‘Well, actually, I’m not kinky. I’m HIV-positive – undetectable, but HIV-positive.'”

He explains that when Mike says when he first got his diagnosis, he was “ostracised by almost everyone” he met.

Mike told Momo: “They felt threatened by me. The only community that did not push me away was the kink community.”

The conversation left Momo questioning what it was about his community that had made Mike feel safe, where others had not.

He says: “I think a great thing for the rest of the wider society to learn from is that, in the kink community, we inherently accept one another, we respect each other, even in the absence of understanding what our kinks are.

“I would say in wider society, it even compares to xenophobia in the modern world, where people often naturally have a fear of things that they don’t understand, or that are different.”

Momo says his community has an “unspoken understanding and respect” for each other, regardless of their interests.

Speaking of Mike, he adds: “There Mike found acceptance, even when people didn’t understand or didn’t relate – they didn’t feel threatened by him.”

Dhaka told PinkNews: “My experience working with the kink community was honestly really positive. As a first-time director, I feel I got very lucky with Momo. He was not only open about his own life and experiences, but he also helped me understand things that I may not have even known to ask.”

Momo goes on to reference the film Fifty Shades of Grey, which he says was a “bad representation” as, rather than showing safe practices, it was a “demonstration of an abusive relationship”.

“The fact that it went so mainstream makes us look like we practice that way and treat subs in this bad way without a care,” he says. “That was a very unfortunate outcome from a mainstream Hollywood film.”

Dhaka said: “It was important for him to say clearly that this is not what the community is really about. That stayed with me because it showed how much he cared about the community being represented honestly.”

She continued: “A lot of the work was actually shot in Momo’s home, so there was a lot of trust involved. The piece would not have been possible without that support. He shared so much archival material with me, his mother shared childhood footage, his friends shared moments from past events, and his friend Jack helped with the puppy play scene at the end.

“What moved me most was how welcoming everyone was. There was no judgement. People were kind, open, and willing to let me into their world. I think that is what people often miss from the outside. The community is not just about what people assume it is. It is also about friendship, care, acceptance, and finding a place where you can belong.”

Belonging & the Scene has won awards in the UK, USA and Australia, and has screened at more than 20 film festivals. It currently also has a rating of 9.6 on IMDb.

The film is currently not available on public platforms, as Dhaka is still sending it to film festivals, though the trailer is available on YouTube.

Additionally, anyone who would like to watch the full film can DM her on Instagram – @monicadhakaofficial – and she will happily share a private link to view it. After festival submissions are complete, it will be available on YouTube.

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

The post How the kink community helped a HIV-positive man feel safe and accepted appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey features a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Odysseus’ son Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope. Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron are all also starring.

Among the extended cast is trans icon Elliot Page. Although the character he is playing has not yet been confirmed, rumours are circulating that he’s taking on the role of famed warrior Achilles.

Many right-wing cinema-goers have made their less than positive feelings known on Page’s casting, including Newsmax anchor Rob Finnerty.

Finnerty shared his thoughts on his news segment that aired this week. “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 said.

Obviously, his first mistake is that Page is a trans man. His second is not realising that Achilles is famously a character from Greek mythology – not a historical figure – and did not actually exist.

Achilles is known for the role he played in Homer’s The Iliad, but he also appeared in The Odyssey as a spirit that communicates with Odysseus when he travels to the underworld which, again, isn’t a physical place.

“Achilles, who is described throughout history as being a superhuman warrior, deadly on the battlefield, he even defeated Hector of Troy,” Finnerty continued. Hector of Troy was also not a historical figure.

“You might even remember Brad Pitt played Achilles in a movie 20 years ago, meaning we go from Brad Pitt to a girl who dresses as a guy who’s five-foot-one, 118 pounds,” he continued. “That’s the person who’s going to be playing the greatest warrior in history because to the left that is normal. That’s okay.”

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

“I’ve got nothing against Lupita. But I do have a problem with the complete re-writing of history. Helen of Troy was not Black. That’s not me being mean, that’s me telling the truth. The real, actual truth, which we tend to do a lot of here.”

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

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According to police, 61-year-old Andrew Sheets recorded a 40-minute video at the April 18 Pride festival using a body camera, later uploading the footage to a YouTube channel, which authorities have confirmed is run by Sheets.

Investigators say the video included footage filmed inside a men’s public restroom, including two men using urinals who reportedly did not know they were being recorded. “Yes, I did go in. Public bathroom. Nobody was in there. I went to the stall to pee,” Sheets said.

Sheets has been charged with one count of digital video voyeurism and one count of distribution, with a court appearance scheduled for June 1.

Sheets later told local media outlet Gulf Coast News that he attended the event to document what he described as “grooming”. Authorities also said private security initially denied him entry to the event because he was carrying a handgun, which he left to store in his car. According to the booking report, after returning without a firearm, Sheets entered the Pride festival and interacted with vendors, as shown in a video posted to his YouTube channel, which remains up as of the time of reporting. Afterwards, Sheets later returned to the front entrance of the festival carrying a rifle and a large sign.

In a statement following the arrest, Naples Pride said: “The irony is difficult to ignore. A man who publicly accused our community of ‘grooming’ now stands accused of unlawfully recording people in a place where privacy is expected.” Organisers also thanked local law enforcement for taking the matter seriously and helping protect the safety and privacy of attendees.

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