Speaking at a New York event with People on 20 April, Cumming shared that he’s stayed close with several of his former co-stars over the past two decades, including Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, Patrick Stewart, and James Marsden.

“I’m very chummy with Ian… I’ve seen Rebecca over the years… Patrick, I’ve seen quite a lot,” he said, adding that many of them have remained in touch long after the film wrapped.

Reflecting on why those connections endured, Cumming didn’t sugarcoat the experience: “It’s one of those films where I think we all were so traumatised we were bonded in trauma, so we stayed in touch.”

The actor has previously spoken about the difficulties of filming, including long hours in makeup and a challenging on-set environment, describing himself as “miserable” during production.

Now, more than 20 years later, Cumming is stepping back into the role of Nightcrawler for Avengers: Doomsday, and this time he says the experience has been very different.

He called the return “really lovely”, adding that it felt “really healing and really nice to go back to something that… was a terrible experience when I did it the first time.”

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The happy news comes after a recent court date for Wilson, who is currently involved with a defamation trial.

In more positive news, on 4 May, Wilson shared on Instagram that the newest addition to their family had been born, and revealed the little girl’s name.

She wrote: “Proud to announce the birth of our second daughter Rose Estelle! What a gorgeous blessing to have another little girl! Now on May 4th it’s now four of us!

“Ramona and I are feeling blessed to grow our family, thank you everyone for all the well wishes.”

Wilson, who announced she and Agruma were expecting their second child in December, was inundated with support from fans and famous faces.

Paris Hilton commented: “Congratulations loves.” Below Deck icon Hannah Ferrier said: “She is so gorgeous lovely! Congratulations.”

Wilson’s Pitch Perfect co-star Elizabeth Banks said: “Welcome to the world!” While Real Housewives of Beverly Hills OG Kyle Richards commented: “Oh my goodness. She is so beautiful and perfect. Congratulations.”

Meanwhile, Agruma commented: “Cheers to our family! It’s four of us now.”

Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma’s growing family

Rebel Wilson announced her relationship with Ramona Agruma in June 2022, after having dated men. She said: “Maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.”

Her announcement came ahead of an article from The Sydney Morning Herald which was set to out her, which caused backlash for the publication.

The couple announced their engagement on 19 February, 2023 and tied the knot in a ceremony in Italy on 28 September, 2024.

They welcomed their first child, a daughter born via surrogacy, in November 2022.

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The post Rebel Wilson and wife welcome second child as they share sweet name appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The victim is reported by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to have suffered a fractured wrist, marks and bruising across his legs, arms, stomach and back, and a contusion to his forehead.

Andre Brown Jr., who is currently in custody in Polk County, will face enhanced charges as his alleged actions constitute a hate crime, as reported by the Miami Herald.

Brown Jr. was taken into custody in Polk County on Sunday (3 May) following reports that three children in his care had been physically abused, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office has not released details on why the children were in Brown Jr.’s care at the time or if they are relatives of his.

The investigation began after a nine-year-old girl sent a text message to her mother expressing fear over Brown Jr.’s violence, prompting law enforcement intervention. Deputies say the children reported that Brown targeted the five-year-old specifically because he believed the child was gay. The two other children also sustained injuries during the incident.

Brown admitted to deputies later on that he chose to hit the five-year-old boy to “beat the gay out of him if possible, but since it wasn’t possible he would beat him more,” a press release said.

The man also faces an additional charge of resisting arrest after reportedly struggling with deputies and shouting slurs during his detention.

Brown’s criminal history includes domestic battery strangulation, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping with intent to commit a felony, home invasion robbery with a firearm, and battery on a law enforcement officer, according to a press release.

The post Man charged with hate crime after trying to ‘beat gay out of child’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

For those not in the know, Cameo allows fans to buy personalised video messages from a range of celebrities. Prices vary depending on that celebrity’s star power (or ego size), with Margolyes charging from around £100/$130.

While she is currently marked as unavailable on the site, she has revealed she’s earned more than £500,000 since joining.

Speaking to comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who just got confirmed for Celebrity Traitors series two, on his podcast, The Romesh Ranganathan Show, she admitted she’s “grateful” for the platform.

“As of now, I’ve made I think £570,000 at the last count,” Margolyes said. “That’s the whole shebang, since I joined Cameo.”

She went on: “I try not to spend more than a couple hours on it a day, because life’s for living.”

It’s common for fans to request birthday messages for friends, but with Margolyes to-the-point, no holds barred humour, she gets requests for other messages.

She explained: “One of the things I noticed is that the cameos now are asking for advice and what they call pep-talks, rather than happy birthday or something like that.

“It’s difficult because they don’t give you enough information to know that you’re telling them useful stuff.”

She added: “But I’m very grateful to Cameo, I have to be honest, because it means that I can spend rather more freely than I would have done otherwise.”

Miriam Margolyes on Cameo

As of 5 May, Margolyes is “unavailable” on the site, with fans prompted to join a waitlist for if or when she returns.

However she has 2,111 reviews, and a 4.94 star rating.

One person reviewed her, writing: “Absolutely f****** brilliant. Thank you so much.”

Another said: “Perfect as expected, you are just perfect and cheer me up every day thanks so so much.”

A third commented: “God I love this woman. I will treasure my video for years to come.”

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The post Lesbian icon Miriam Margolyes reveals incredible earnings from Cameo appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The community-owned pre-professional soccer club, which competes in the USL W League, announced that it had signed Isaac Ranson.

Ranson is joining the team off the back of an accomplished college soccer career at Cal State Fullerton, during which he won the Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year award not once but twice.

Speaking to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Aurora club president Saara Hassoun said: “Aurora believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to play soccer, and we are glad that we are able to provide a safe environment for Isaac to continue his stellar career. Our players, coaches, and organisation are unified in welcoming Isaac to Aurora.”

Ranson has previously spoken about his identity. In an interview with The Big West last year, he shared that he used to be in denial about being trans, and had a hard time accepting that he was queer.

“I wasn’t truly living who I was inside,” he said. “In my second year of college, I began really thinking about my gender, and I was still in denial a lot. But, around that time, I started hearing more terms and more representation of transgender and non-binary people.”

He went on to say how he began truly embracing who he was at the end of this second year at college.

“That summer of 2023 is when I decided to cut my hair short, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Ranson recalled. “When I turned and looked in the mirror, I literally cried tears of happiness. The reflection I saw was the person I had felt like on the inside.”

He continued: “With my haircut and binder, I just felt so confident and powerful. It was very affirming for me and my identity.”

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The post Minnesota women’s team signs trans man as first out trans player appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The book, narrated by Hernandez and released through Simon & Schuster, tells her story of a self-produced tour around the country, a summer of stand-up and surviving on the road.

Bringing comedy and documentary-style audio to the memoir genre, listeners can expect to travel from Stonewall to unexpected pockets of queer community in the US.

In an exclusive sneak peek for PinkNews, Hernandez talks about being a trans comedienne in the current landscape.

By Roz Hernandez…

It’s February of 2025, and I’ve never been more transgender. In the eyes of the law, I am a woman. Hair no longer grows where I don’t want it to, everybody that I meet calls me “she;” and the only male clothing I own are a few items that have been left behind from the volunteer work that I do with the straight-identifying male community. Donald Trump has just been sworn in for a second term, and his campaign spent millions of dollars on advertisements that specifically attacked people like me. Christian nationalism is on the rise, and the movement’s top priority seems to be ending the acceptance of transgender people.

Meanwhile, I have a set tonight at a comedy club in LA, because traditionally, those are where comedians are supposed to perform. I’ve just arrived at my destination, and I do not want to go in. I eat my last few bites of my Taco Bell cheesy bean and rice burrito from the dollar menu for sustenance—by now, I have mastered the artform of eating while driving from gig to gig. I take a swig of my Mountain Dew Baja Blast, a drink that I like to believe my abuela’s abuela would have made for my ancestors in the old country. On this night thereis a big issue: I just don’t feel like talking about anything. Being trans isn’t funny right now, and the only joke that I’m excited to do is a new one about sleeping with a man who had a crucifix necklace on. As a niche star, I’m not the only act on the bill, and I can’t guarantee that anybody in the audience will know my vibe ahead of time. This makes me nervous. I’m on year twelve of making audiences laugh as a stand-up comedian, so my skills are sharp and my voice is strong. But at the same time, it feels harder than ever to do my job. Jokes about transness and religion are now hot-button political statements that could put me in physical danger if the wrong person heard. I just want to make people laugh.

Just a few years ago, things looked very different, and the world was clambering for opportunities to embrace trans identities. We were the “it” girls. Ts Madison, Laverne Cox, the stars of the FX series Pose, Transparent, even Caitlyn Jenner became household names. Trans people were in commercials and gaining massive followings on social media. The door was opened for our voices to be heard, but over the past year or so, that door has been slammed shut and dead bolted twice, honey. I feel like an ex-girlfriend looking through the door’s peephole, trying to convince you that I deserve another chance. I’ve had great momentum leading up to this point; I was on lists of up-and-coming comedians, I have the respect of many of my comedy heroes, I host a successful podcast on a great network, I even was cast as a star of a TV show on a major streamer (a reality TV show, but a TV show). But the culture has shifted, and I get the feeling my gender identity is preventing me from achieving more mainstream success.

There are many different types of transgender women. I happen to be one that traveled the gay-boy to drag-queen to trans-lady pipeline. My days as a full-time drag queen in Los Angeles were crucial for me as a gateway to connect with my femininity. I spent a few years doing sets at comedy clubs in full drag for ten dollars or less, and then driving myself over to the gay club to get real money.

Comedy is my passion, and I’m proud of my queer identity, but to tell you the truth, it was challenging for me to do stand-up looking like that. Drag is all about artifice, at least the way I was doing it. The hair, the name, the boobs—it’s all fake. So for me to perform, telling audiences stories about my everyday life without context, something was off. I remember talking about going on a date once, and during the joke, I realized that these people thought I went on dates wearing gaudy costume jewelry and a two-foot-tall wig.

So I stepped away from the persona and went full time. I ditched the wigs and grew my own hair out. I needed to figure out who I really was, and not hide. It certainly wasn’t pretty at first, but it was real. People began to hear me and understand who I am, which is something that I never really experienced. I became beloved by dozens of gay people and straight ladies with bangs.

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The post Living for the Dead star Roz Hernandez shares exclusive audiobook excerpt appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The likes of Luke Evans, Nicholas Hoult and Damson Idris all turned up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in differing leather looks.

The dress code for the evening was “Fashion is Art”, with guests taking inspiration from the museum’s “Costume Art” exhibition.

While many of the ladies turned up in variations of a “naked dress”, plenty of the men transformed into leather daddies – and we’re so here for it.

Luke Evans

Gay actor Luke Evans paid homage to Tom of Finland in his Palomo Wool outfit.

Luke Evans (from behind)

His all-brown ensemble featured a studded leather jacket, matching flared trousers, gloves and a hat, and even a leather tie.

Nicholas Hoult

Skins icon Nicholas Hoult was dressed in Prada on the night, in a leather jacket and pants – also debuting a shaved head.

Bill Skarsgård

It star Bill Skarsgård wore a long leather jacket over his suit, having been dressed by Thom Browne.

Patrick Schwarzenegger

In a cropped leather jacket from Public School, White Lotus actor Patrick Schwarzenegger accessorised with gloves and a cane.

Rauw Alejandro

Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Rauw Alejandro went for a slightly different look, in patent leather from Saint Laurent.

Damson Idris

British actor Damson Idris wore Prada, with a long leather jacket over a red leather top.

Romeo Beckham

“Daddy” might be a stretch for 23-year-old Romeo Beckham, but the son of Victoria and David made his Met Gala debut in Burberry, with leather lapels.

Daniel Lee (and Cher!)

No surprise, considering Burberry dressed young Romeo Beckham, but the fashion house’s chief creative officer Daniel Lee also wore leather.

Lee also posed with Cher, also dressed in a custom Burberry leather look.

Zac Posen

Fashion designer Zac Posen, who walked the cream carpet with Kendall Jenner, wore a gold leather jacket, with shading which gave a muscular look.

Adrien Brody

Opting just for leather pants, Adrien Brody kept the rest of his look fairly basic with a blazer and open-collar shirt.

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The post Luke Evans, Nicholas Hoult and more bring ‘leather daddy’ to Met Gala 2026 appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Philip is an Antiguan-American model and musician who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. In 2018, she became the first-ever Black, transgender and physically disabled model to be represented by a major modelling industry.

Since the start of her career, she has modelled in a number of major high-fashion photoshoots and campaigns, including Moschino’s spring/summer 2022 fashion show. Her appearance made her the first model to use a wheelchair to walk for a major luxury fashion brand.

Philip shared her experience of attending the Met Gala as a disabled person with Vogue on 4 May.

“For so long, disabled people were not represented anywhere,” she said. “The thought of even being able to exist at an event like this… nobody even went there. To go from that to now, somehow finding myself there, I can’t say how blessed and honored I feel attending.”

The model made her debut at the Met Gala in a look by designer Louise Linderoth, who is also disabled and a wheelchair user.

Philip continued: “I think that for a long time, it’s been easy to see a disabled person in the public eye and label them an activist because we have no other choice but to speak up for ourselves in the spaces that we inhabit, because other people are not familiar with our bodies or how to accommodate us.

“We’re given the title of activist because we are challenging a social system. I think that people realize that there’s no choice but to do that if you have a disability in a major public space, because we have been so historically marginalized and pushed aside.”

She also shared that the “fascist shift” in global society has meant that many people are returning to ableism as well as “eugenics and harmful rhetoric” toward disabled people.

“However, it’s also so important that we’re showing disabled people as a part of the fashion industry – as models, as talent, as photographers versus purely just activists and advocates,” she said.

“It shows that there is more variety to the disabled experience, and desires of disabled people, beyond challenging big social causes. At the end of the day, so many of us are just people who maybe feel passionately about something and want to contribute.”

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The post Trans model Aariana Rose Philip makes history as first wheelchair user to attend Met Gala appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

While the Dolls – Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Roberts – didn’t specifically say the axed tour dates were down to low sales, they said it came after “taking an honest look at the North American run”.

Their PCD Forever Tour was due to kick off in June, with dates across the US and Canada. It then moves to Europe in September, including dates at Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester and London, in England.

The girls confirmed that their planned performance at West Hollywood Pride on 6 June would still be going ahead.

“We could not think of a more meaningful place to celebrate with our fans,” they wrote in a statement on Instagram.

“The LGBTQ+ community has shown us so much love and support throughout our career, and we’re honored to be part of a weekend rooted in joy, pride, music, and chosen family.”

They then confirmed the UK and Europe dates were still happening.

The group said: “The response has been incredible, with several shows already sold out. We are putting everything into making this show a true celebration of the music and the memories, for the fans who have been with us from the beginning and those discovering us for the first time.

“We’re working hard to create the kind of show we’ve always dreamed of bringing to you. We cannot wait to bring this reunion to Europe and make these nights unforgettable.”

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The post Pussycat Dolls cancel US leg of tour after low ticket sales as they thank LGBTQ+ fans appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The star, who turned 80 in January, spoke to fans in an Instagram Reel, explaining she had “some good news and a little bad news”. Recently, Parton has been keeping fans updated about her health struggles, which came after her husband Carl Thomas Dean died in March last year.

The “Jolene” singer said: “The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day.

“Now, the bad news is that it’s gonna take me a little while before I’m up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say.”

Parton said she couldn’t be “dizzy” on stage in “five-inch heels”, adding: “And you know I’m gonna be wearing them.”

But she gave fans hope, describing herself as a classic car that needed to be restored to become “better than ever”.

Parton, who has previously mentioned kidney stones, also joked: “Lord, they dig more stones out of me a year than the rock quarry in Rockwood, Tenn.

“But seriously, my immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple of years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding their strength.”

She said that her Las Vegas residency, which had already been rescheduled for September 2026, was cancelled, but added she hoped to see her fans soon.

Also mentioning the death of her husband, and having a “year of firsts” without him, she said: “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you; you have been a big part of my healing.”

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The post Dolly Parton cancels Las Vegas residency after health issues as she gives update appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The couple announced the pregnancy in a sweet joint Instagram post on 4 May, with the caption: “Limited Edition Scouse Beanie Baby coming soon!”

A carousel showed images of Feldstein and Roberts together in soft pink and white outfits, Feldstein on her own holding her baby bump, and a two-tiered white cake covered in pink ribbons with the words “B&B are having a baby!” iced around the cake board.

Friends and fans were quick to celebrate the announcement in the comments, with the likes of Ariana Grande, Ashley Park and Cat Cohen commenting heart and heart eyes emojis.

Feldstein’s best friend, actor Ben Platt, commented: “The universe is healing.”

Meanwhile, her Booksmart co-star Kaitlyn Dever said: “My pups are having a puppy!” and the film’s director Olivia Wilde wrote: “Luckiest baby. And I’m finally a grandma!”

Feldstein and Roberts met on the set of the 2019 film How to Build a Girl, on which Feldstein starred and Roberts served as a producer. They tied the knot at the summer camp venue Cedar Lakes Estate in the Hudson Valley, New York State in May 2023.

At the time, Feldstein explained in an interview with Vogue that the wedding location was the couple’s “happy place”, as much as it was a tribute to her family’s love of summer camps.

“I grew up going to summer camp for 10 years, and my parents and both sets of my grandparents met at summer camp, so camp is a lineage of love through the generations of my family,” she began.

“Even though we met in London and fell in love on a film set, to get married at a camp was a truly beautiful emotional homecoming.”

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The post Beanie Feldstein pregnant with first baby with wife Bonnie-Chance Roberts appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The two leading men, who play rivals-turned-lovers in the Crave hockey drama, proved their star power by attending the annual event just months after they shot to international superstardom.

Connor Storrie in Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co.

Storrie, fresh from a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co.

He stepped onto the cream carpet in a tailored suit, before shedding the jacket to reveal a sleeveless, ruffled shirt.

The actor, who plays Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry, accessorised with a gold watch and his bulging muscles, after admitting he “has it easy” when it comes to the Met.

Referencing the hours of preparation many of the women in attendance have, he told GQ beforehand: “I think comparatively to a lot of other people who are involved, I think I have it pretty easy.”

He also said he was “excited to see Huddy at some point”, meaning his co-star Hudson Williams. “I haven’t seen him in a long time,” Storrie said.

Hudson Williams in Balenciaga

And speaking of Hudson Williams, the Shane Hollander actor arrived in an eggshell blue suit, complete with bolero jacket.

The matador look featured black embellishments and a long train, with the front left open, showing his sculpted body as he walked the cream carpet.

Williams also had a grungy makeup look by Aika Flores, who was inspired by “where innocence fractures and grace darkens, the white swan shedding softness to emerge as something sharper, untouchable, and entirely reborn”.

The star actually left his hotel in a white robe though, alongside Odessa A’zion.

While we’ve not seen any professional photos of the Storrie and Williams just yet, we’re hoping one or both broke the famous “no selfies” rule and we’ll see some on social media soon.

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The singer, who often adopts a more gender-fluid style, turned up to fashion’s biggest night as an aged-up version of himself.

The 32-year-old looked 50 years older with completely grey hair and a salt and pepper beard, as well as prosthetic makeup, created by Mike Marino. Marino is the artist behind many of Heidi Klum’s incredible Halloween costumes.

This year’s theme was “Costume Art”, with the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art looking at differing types of bodies in art and fashion, including the “Aging Body”.

While he could have gone for a basic tux, the performer – real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – went full throttle on the theme with the help of Marino.

Bad Bunny designed his all-black tuxedo with Zara, giving a nod to Charles James’ “Bustle” gown, which is on display at the institute, with his oversized bow. He accessorised with a black cane, even using it to walk, showing he was in full character on the night.

‘Give this guy an Oscar’

Social media users were stunned by the transformation, with one even saying: “Bro even acting the part of old. Give this guy an Oscar.”

Another commented on X: “None of the guys doing it like Benito. Sorry!”

Someone else wrote: “The details are tremendous. He even has age spots on his hands. Hats off to BB and the makeup artist who executed this costume.”

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The post Bad Bunny unrecognisable as he arrives at Met Gala dressed as old man appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The controversial bill, which is currently moving through the government, seeks to not only criminalise same-sex relationships with harsher penalties but also target the “promotion” of LGBTQ+ identities, as well as incentivise public accusations of Ghanaians who are thought to be in queer relationships.

Earlier in April, Maxine made multiple social media posts claiming that MP John Ntim Fordjour, who supports the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, is her lover. These claims quickly gained traction online and in the media, even escalating to the subject being introduced on the floor of Parliament two weeks ago.

Afterwards, Fordjour addressed Maxine’s claims on television, categorically denying he had ever met the artist and expressing confusion as to why she would claim they were engaged in a romantic relationship.

In a 28 April statement posted to her Instagram, Maxine revealed her claims were intended as satire – a tool which she sought to use to better highlight how harmful the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill would be to all Ghanaians.

Maxine said the legislation creates a culture where “ordinary lives become a matter for criminal suspicion,” putting both queer people and the wider public at risk.

She pointed out that the posts, which sparked widespread backlash and media frenzy, were designed to demonstrate how easily accusations can spiral under a law that encourages suspicion and reporting.

By naming a high-profile politician in her posts, Maxine said she wanted to show how damaging even unverified claims can be – especially in an environment where accusations carry legal and social consequences. She showed that if such allegations could shake a powerful public figure with access to legal protection, the impact on everyday people would be far more severe.

Maxine has refused to retract her statements, with her legal team defending them as protected political commentary. Instead, she’s calling for dialogue – urging Fordjour and other supporters of the bill to reflect on its broader implications for dignity, safety, and human rights.

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The post Trans artist admits ‘affair’ claim with Ghana MP was satire to expose anti-LGBTQ+ bill appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

With the likes of Bella Ramsey, Sebastian Croft and Joe Lycett heading to the Scottish castle, some eagle-eyed fans noticed there were fewer names confirmed than expected.

So far, all four series of the civilian version have had at least 22 participants. This year’s Celebrity Traitors has just 21 names confirmed, leading some fans to believe a surprise addition will be revealed on the show.

It’s not necessarily clear why they’ve got their tin-foil hats on, considering Celebrity Traitors series one only had 19 contestants, including winning traitor Alan Carr, but the theories have us hopeful that a gay favourite could be the surprise star.

On Reddit, one fan asked: “Only 21 cast members, a secret 22nd or a late drop out?”

Some suggested an early-out from the first series, like pop star Paloma Faith, could be set to return. Others pointed at previous stories in the press which said Danny Dyer, Bob Mortimer or even Girls Aloud icon Cheryl were in talks to film the show.

And even ITV star Ross King got in on the theories, saying on Lorraine: “I know some of the fans are a little upset that there’s been no mention of Cheryl so far. Who knows? They might just drop someone in, social media will go mad.”

Who has been confirmed for Celebrity Traitors series two?

The famous faces announced to be heading to Andross Castle were revealed in a cheeky video on social media on 2 May.

They include broadcasters Amol Rajan and Hannah Fry, actors Bella Ramsey, Jerry Hall, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Richard E Grant, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft, and Sharon Rooney, television host Maya Jama, singers James Blunt and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, comedians James Acaster, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, and social media star King Kenny.

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The post Celebrity Traitors fans already have huge theory after line-up clue appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The complaint centres on the 30-second “Glide Test” advert and other spots in the same series.

In its complaint, One Million Moms said the ad contains “highly suggestive and offensive sexual innuendos”, and described bisexual actress Fox as “provocatively dressed” in “a figure-hugging, all-black leather ensemble”.

The adverts cast Fox as a professor from F.O.X. (the Foundation for Odour Excellence), “teaching” men the benefits of Dr. Squatch products.

Across the series, the commercials end with the tagline “let your stick do the talking”, referring to a stick of deodorant.

One of the more explicit gags appears in the “Manliness 101” advert, where Fox tells a lecture hall: “Men, whip out your sticks!” She then adds: “Not that stick, Johnson.”

One Million Moms wrote: “This type of advertising is entirely unnecessary,” adding: “Dr. Squatch has deliberately chosen to produce controversial advertisements instead of wholesome ones. One Million Moms find this highly inappropriate.”

The group’s petition text urges supporters to tell the company: “As a parent, I am highly offended by your inappropriate, sensual marketing campaigns. It is irresponsible to use sexual innuendos in advertisements. Everyone knows children repeat what they hear. I urge Dr. Squatch to cancel these commercials immediately. Until you clean up your ads, I cannot purchase your products with good conscience.”

One Million Moms’ history of targeting LGBTQ-inclusive ads

One Million Moms is a project of the American Family Association, which actively opposes queer people appearing in society.

The group has also repeatedly targeted LGBTQ-inclusive advertising, including campaigns against adverts featuring lesbian couples, male same-sex couples, and a non-binary celebrity.

As of Monday morning, the petition reportedly claimed over 8,100 signers.

Megan Fox and queer visibility

Fox became a major pop-culture figure after roles including Transformers (2007) and Jennifer’s Body (2009), the latter later embraced as a cult classic.

She has been open about her bisexuality for many years and has spoken about it publicly. In June 2021, she celebrated Pride Month in an Instagram post, writing that she has “put the B in #LGBTQIA for over two decades”.

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The Department of Justice said Thursday (30 April) that its Civil Rights Division will look into whether districts provided proper notice to parents about student exposure to what the Trump administration has called “sexual orientation and gender ideology”, and whether districts allowed parents to opt their children out of said educational programs.

Officials also announced they will investigate whether transgender students are allowed to access facilities and sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Officials have not cited specific incidents or materials prompting the probes, and emphasised that no conclusions have been reached. However, the move has raised alarm among state leaders and educators, with critics arguing the investigations risk framing LGBTQ+ inclusion as a legal liability rather than a matter of student support and safety.

The inquiries are part of a broader federal push to reshape how civil rights law is applied to gender identity in schools. Even without formal findings, investigations like these can carry major consequences and potentially pressure districts to change policies, scale back inclusive practices, or risk losing federal funding.

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The proclamation was introduced by District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, the first openly gay, Black man elected to the council.

As per the San Antonio Report, it read: “Whereas acknowledging these often overlooked or erased histories as essential to counter misinformation and ensure that the culture, knowledge and experience of trans ancestors are preserved and shared as a source of well-being and a toolkit for liberation today…”

The proclamation officially recognises May 4–10 as Trans History Week and highlights the importance of acknowledging and preserving the histories of transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex people.

It emphasises the need to counter misinformation, address historical erasure, and ensure that trans experiences are recorded and shared as part of broader cultural and civil rights history.

Council members and advocates described the decision as a significant step for visibility and inclusion in Texas.

Trans+ History Week is a global, Trans-led initiative that encourages education and reflection on trans and gender-diverse history. The week culminates in Trans+ History Day on May 6, which commemorates the 1933 Nazi raid on the world’s first transgender clinic in Berlin.

Local advocates welcomed the proclamation, saying it sends an important message of recognition to trans people in the city and reinforces the value of documenting LGBTQ+ history as part of the wider civil rights movement.

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The reports come after the pair were seen together at DIVA Awards 2026 in London, where onlookers told the Daily Mail they appeared inseparable.

McGuinness, who split from Paddy McGuinness in 2024 after 11 years of marriage, has been open about wanting a same-sex relationship: “I would love to have a wife one day, not like a legalised marriage, but like a blessing, a celebration of love and all of that,” she said. “I would love to just be saying, this is my wife.”

She also joked in a recent interview on podcast It Started With a Kiss that she’s a “five-star lesbian” and a “giver,” while emphasising she’s taking her time when it comes to relationships.

“I don’t want to bring somebody into my personal life too quickly. I like the separate life,” she said, adding that her children remain her priority.

Adams, an Olympic gold medallist and former Strictly Come Dancing star, split from partner Ella Baig in 2025. Adams’ representatives declined to comment on the dating rumours.

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For the first series, names were (unsuccessfully) kept under wraps until after filming, even though pesky paps caught them arriving in Scotland for filming.

This time, they decided to get ahead of the game and confirmed the names in a fun video on social media, with filming starting now before it airs later in the year.

Celebrity Traitors (and the regular version) has a huge queer fanbase, thanks to the backstabbing, the campery and the shocking moments. We’re still not over Alan Carr’s winning moment in series one, and can’t wait to see who emerges victorious this time around.

So as the next group of celebrities check in to Andross Castle and get their poker faces ready, we’re taking a look at the queer members of this year’s cast.

Bella Ramsey

Best known for their roles in HBO hits Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, non-binary star Bella Ramsey will no doubt be hoping to their acting skills will come in handy.

Ramsey, who prefers they/them pronouns, has spoken about labels and sexuality, saying they are “not 100 per cent straight”. But they said that “gender and sexuality-wise, labels do not feel comfy for me in any capacity”.

Joe Lycett

Comedian Joe Lycett has often spoken about his sexuality, labelling himself both bisexual and pansexual.

He told Attitude in 2015 that being bisexual has “its own challenges” and people have “no box to put you in”. Lycett added: “It just means you fancy people of all genders.”

In 2024, he revealed he and his girlfriend had welcomed a son. After he shared his baby news, he clarified again his pansexuality – and while he did it in a humorous way, it got the point across.

Myha’la

Industry star Myha’la has publicly identified as queer and bi. Speaking to Them earlier this year, she poke of the “strictness” around bisexual women.

“I feel really lucky that I’m no longer surrounded by people who quantify or qualify or compare their queerness to mine or to someone else’s or police how much space I can take up in any given community because of the optics or whatever,” she said.

Myha’la is married to actor Armando Rivera. She added: “To be fair, none of y’all know how gay my man is.”

Sebastian Croft

Best known for his role in Netflix favourite Heartstopper, Sebastian Croft has identified as queer.

The actor and singer has also referenced his identity and sexuality in his music, singing in his song “Tokyo”: “Met a boy in the south of France / A whirlwind of a queer romance / ‘Cause he was perfect but something’s wrong.”

Croft also co-created the “Queer Was Always Here” initiative with fellow actor Connor Jessup in 2025. Described as a “community dedicated to queer lives, queer art and queer history”, the initiative aims to raise funds for LGBTQIA+ refugees and displaced people, in collaboration with Choose Love.

Bonus: James Blunt

While he is a straight man, James Blunt said in a 2015 episode of Today that he “would like to be considered an honorary gay man”. He added: “To call me gay is a compliment … Also, if I’d been macho, I’d just have had an audience full of men.”

Who else is confirmed for Celebrity Traitors series 2?

The full line-up for Celebrity Traitors series two also includes: Amol Rajan, Hannah Fry, James Acaster, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Richard E Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp and Sharon Rooney.

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From 1998 to 2014, the cisgender star played Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street. Hayley was the first permanent transgender character to appear in a soap, and during her years on the ITV show Hesmondhalgh won a number of awards for the role.

It was confirmed over the weekend that Hesmondhalgh will be returning to screens for the second series of Celebrity Traitors – and we can’t wait to see her camping it up in the Scottish castle.

And as we enter Trans+ History Week (4-10 May), we wanted to take a trip down memory lane and remember how she brought some much-needed, positive trans representation to the British public.

Speaking on a 2022 episode of ITV talk show Lorraine, Hesmondhalgh said she was “proud” of playing loveable Hayley, as “the press were absolutely awful about those issues”.

She went on: “As a cisgender person, I wouldn’t be able to play that part now, so it’s kind of good that I left when I did.”

Hesmondhalgh, who has appeared in queer shows such as Cucumber and Banana, added: “There are so many good trans actors now. But I’m proud that I played that part.”

Who is on Celebrity Traitors series 2?

Over the weekend, the full cast of Celebrity Traitors series two was confirmed in a teaser video from the BBC – and it’s set to be a big one.

The group heading to Scotland to film this time, alongside Julie Hesmondhalgh, are Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, Hannah Fry, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Richard E Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft and Sharon Rooney.

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Among them was Ellen, 35, from Hayward’s Heath, who wasted no time in asking who else was part of the LGBTQ+ community. After coming out as gay later in life, the childcare practitioner struggled with physical closeness and had anxiety about intimacy, worrying that she would “do it wrong”.

Speaking exclusively to PinkNews, Ellen reveals how joining a church made her hit a roadblock when it came to figuring herself out, and how Virgin Island has positively changed her life.

Like co-star Joy, whose younger years in the church made her think she had to convert gay friends, Ellen came from a religious background in her 20s which made it difficult for her to come out.

She tells us: “I decided to go to church for a little bit. I thought it was a great way of meeting people, because I’d just come back to the UK from being away working.

“They spoke a lot about ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’, that sex was a sin outside of marriage.”

She goes on: “I was like, ‘There’s nothing wrong with me, I fancy guys.’ I kept on trying to fancy guys, but I knew that something wasn’t quite right.”

Ellen explains that she had a close female friend outside of the church and, eventually, “that was when the moment clicked”.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I really fancy you,'” she explains. “It was kind of more coming out to myself.”

Sadly, when she spoke to people within her church, they told her to go and speak to the pastor.

“I knew about conversion therapy because I had a friend who was trans, so I knew it was a bad thing,” she tells us. “So I just left the church.”

Unfortunately, when Ellen told her friend her feelings, “she flipped” and the friendship ended.

‘The thought of a penis repulsed me in a way that wasn’t normal’

However Ellen realised she was definitely attracted to women, but “there was something in me thinking, ‘I’ll just ignore it'”, even though, looking back, she recalled fancying teachers or other female figures in her childhood.

She laughs: “The thought of a penis sort of repulsed me in a way that wasn’t normal. I’m sure they’re all great!”

Ellen eventually came out to her dad in 2023, telling him she was bisexual. “I thought that would be less of a blow, but I was sure in my heart,” she said, speaking of realising she was gay.

Her dad was incredibly supportive, but she joked her mum found it “easier to digest” that she was going on Virgin Island than to hear her come out.

Ellen explains she identifies as gay or queer as it “feels more comfortable”.

After coming out, she had a relationship with a girlfriend that lasted around seven months, but they didn’t do anything sexual.

“I was very anxious to do anything,” she tells us. “I just thought, I can’t just come out later in life and be expected to know everything.

‘I was so disgusted with my body’

“It was difficult, because I really wanted to pursue the relationship and take my clothes off, but I was so disgusted with my body and how I was. I didn’t know how to go into the next stage of the relationship.”

She explains: “Going back a few years, I dated guys, and there was one guy who was the nicest guy in the world.”

But when she thought things were progressing to the bedroom, she broke up with him. “To this day I feel dreadful,” she says. “I did the common thing of, ‘It’s me, it’s all me, it’s nothing to do with you,’ and, actually, it was me. I was gay, and I didn’t fancy him. At the time, I didn’t know what was going on.”

She says her relationship with the woman was “so much easier”, but her insecurities led to her signing up for Virgin Island.

On the show, she says she grew close to participants Tegan and Millie, who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community. She explains she didn’t have much experience within the community, so was keen to gain some queer friends.

Knowing she wasn’t alone on the show, she says, helped her during the therapy sessions. On the show, participants go through a number of different types of workshops to build their confidence, help them get rid of anxiety and help them understand intimacy.

“The fact there was other people that were accepting of me was an added bonus,” Ellen says. “Everyone was really lovely. It’s amazing to hear from a different perspective now everyone’s stories, when they’re coming out and we’re watching it.”

‘Since coming out, I can just be me’

The show has seriously impacted Ellen in a good way, she tells us.

“I just feel like I don’t have to hide,” she says. “I just feel like I can be me, and I don’t have to try and fit myself into a box. It’s amazing. Since coming out, I can just be me.”

She says: “It’s just given me so much confidence, even in a social situation, just to approach people and chat to them.

“I can look in the mirror now and I don’t feel disgusted. I can have a bath – before I would just shower and try not to look at myself. I can look at other women and not feel like that’s a bad thing.”

She says: “At church, we were told even lust was a sin and you couldn’t look at someone that you liked. Well, how the heck are you supposed to find someone to talk to them, if you can’t look at someone and find them attractive?

‘I need everyone to wear a rainbow bracelet!’

“Even now, I’ll do things and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, that’s because of the show.’ It’s so amazing – the show, the therapy. People think they’re going there for sex, but people don’t see the outside. All the welfare team, the support around it, during and after.”

It also helped her realise dating women might not be as straight forward as she hoped. When she met Millie and Tegan, Tegan said she was “obviously” queer, but Ellen says it wasn’t obvious to her, as she didn’t have that experience within the community.

She laughs: “One of the reasons why I potentially haven’t met and had many dates with women, is because I can’t tell. I need everyone to wear a rainbow bracelet!”

Now though, things are looking up. She’s been going on walks with Dykes Who Hike, which is a group based in London.

“I turned up at Epping Forest for my first walk, and was like, ‘Oh, this is where all the dykes have been hiding all my life,” she says.

“The show’s given me the confidence in that respect to go out there and find my people.”

Virgin Island airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 9pm on Channel 4.

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This year, the theme is Costume Art, with Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams co-chairs alongside Anna Wintour. Jeff and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are honorary chairs and sponsors, while Saint Laurent is sponsoring too.

Other names set to attend include trans model Alex Consani (who recently got announced for American Horror Story’s new season), Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and Sabrina Carpenter, among many others.

It’s rumoured that the likes of Bad Bunny, Chappell Roan, Hunter Schafer, and Heated Rivalry favourites Connor Storrie, François Arnaud and Hudson Williams are also on the guest list.

But for those set to walk the famous steps, there are a strict set of rules they must follow.

No social media

A well-documented rule, but guests are expected to keep their phones away and focus on the exclusive party instead.

That means selfies are frowned upon too – though everyone will remember the infamous toilet photos from over the years, including the 2021 shot of Troye Sivan at a urinal, taken by Tom Daley.

No smoking or vaping

Again, this should be a given, considering smoking has been banned in most enclosed workplaces since March 2003. Anyone caught could be issued a $100 fine – which is small change to most of those in attendance, but still.

However it seems the celeb guests need a reminder, as “no smoking or vaping” signs have been seen in the bathroom selfies in recent years.

Guests like Bella Hadid and Dakota Johnson have been snapped secretly sparking up in the loos in the past.

Anna Wintour has final say

Anna Wintour reportedly has the final say on what guests wear – and they are all encouraged to follow the theme. Of course, some people make more effort with the theme than others, but if Wintour isn’t a fan, then it’s not coming in.

That’s if they even get in, to start with. Guests are personally selected and approved, and it’s reported the entry fee this year is $100,000.

Most of the time, the celebrity guests don’t pay for this themselves and are instead invited by a fashion house, who cover the cost, dress them and have them on their tables.

Don’t touch the artwork

Another obvious sounding one, but guests must not touch the artwork on display at the venue.

Stick to the seating plan

Guests go through months of planning and stress and then can’t even sit next to their friends when they get inside.

Met Gala organiser Eaddy Kiernan told Vogue in 2023: “We really try to think very carefully about who’s sitting next to each other. Our ideal pairing would maybe be two people who we think will just get on like a house on fire but who may not even realise that they have a lot in common.”

Meanwhile, Vogue director of special projects Sylvana Ward Durrett said in the 2016 documentary, The First Monday in May: “A lot of thought goes into who sits next to who, if they sat together last year, if they’ve sat next to each other at other events, so much goes into it, it’s shocking.”

Food bans

A number of foods are said to be banned from being served, though, to be fair, it makes a lot of sense.

It’s reported that parsley is banned, because nobody wants it getting stuck in their teeth after all that effort of getting glam.

And then to avoid any bad breath issues, onion and garlic are off the menu.

So-called “messy” food isn’t served either, for obvious reasons. So no picky bits for those A-listers.

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Emergency services were called to St Nicholas Street in the early hours of 24 April, where a man in his 30s was found unconscious with serious facial injuries.

He was taken to the hospital, but his condition later deteriorated. Police say he is now in a critical but stable condition.

Avon and Somerset Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and are searching for a group of three or four men believed to be responsible. The suspects reportedly fled on foot before leaving the area in a car.

A second man sustained minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment. His account helped officers identify a possible homophobic motive.

Neighbourhood chief inspector Keith Smith said police are “treating this incident seriously” and are working with local LGBTQ+ and equality groups as enquiries continue.

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Police have said the fire that tore through Milton Keynes LGBTQ+ nightclub Pink Punters was accidental, after a man was released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of arson.

Thames Valley Police said a joint investigation with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service concluded the blaze was not deliberate. Chief Superintendent Emma Baillie said, as per BBC News: “Following a thorough joint investigation with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, we have found no evidence of any criminality.” She added: “The fire is believed to have been accidental in nature, and thankfully no one was injured.”

The fire broke out at the venue on Watling Street in the early hours of Sunday, 26 April. Emergency services arrived shortly after 2am, with staff, customers and nearby residents safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.

A 51-year-old man from Milton Keynes had been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, but has since been eliminated from enquiries.

Police and fire service findings

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service said its specialist fire investigation team supported police in the investigation and confirmed the fire was accidental.

Baillie also praised venue staff for their swift response, saying it ensured everyone was able to leave the building safely.

What Pink Punters means to the community

Pink Punters is a long-running LGBTQ+ nightclub in Milton Keynes of more than 20 years. It is widely known as one of the UK’s best-known LGBTQ+ nightlife venues outside London, with a reputation for drag nights and weekend club events.

Owner Frank McMahon said he was “profoundly relieved” investigators had ruled out arson and confirmed the fire was not a deliberate attack or a hate crime.

“The building was lost, but lives were protected, and that remains the most important fact of all,” he said, praising staff for their response during the emergency. Pink Punters has said it plans to return in the future.

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This direct push back against a policy introduced under Donald Trump comes as part of a class action lawsuit filed by two transgender women currently incarcerated in Oregon.

US Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke issued a preliminary injunction requiring the state to move away from the default placement of trans women in men’s facilities and instead carry out individualised safety assessments for each of the transgender women in custody, as reported by The Oregonian.

Clarke emphasised that housing decisions must begin with the presumption that trans women should be placed according to their gender identity, unless a specific case review determines otherwise.

“It is undisputed in the record before the Court that this default presumption, and their overwhelming placement in men’s prisons, has exposed transgender women inmates to a high risk of violence and sexual assault.

“The undisputed facts additionally show that ODOC has systemically failed to appropriately address this exposure,” Clarke wrote in his ruling.

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The posts, which referred to Minaj as a “beast of a lady” over past comments about trans children, quickly circulated online.

Petras and Minaj previously collaborated on the track ‘Alone’ from Petras’ 2023 album ‘Feed the Beast’.

In a statement to People, a representative for Petras said the messages were not written by the singer.

“Kim Petras launched a new chat feature on her website yesterday where her name was meant to be user-protected, however earlier today someone other than Kim was able to use the name and type things without her knowledge or approval,” the statement read.

Following the incident, the chat feature was disabled.

Petras also posted on X about it, saying: “Website was hacked, nothing in that chat room came from me. You’ve lost your chat room privileges.”

Fans in the replies were quick to respond. One said: “OMG good cause that chat was just straight evil.” Another said: “This is why we can’t have nice things… stay strong, we know it wans’t you!” A third added: “People always ruining it for us.”

Meanwhile, some joked the message was reminiscent of Rita Ora’s infamous 2014 post on what was then Twitter.

A tweet appeared on Ora’s account which read: “Dropping my new song Monday if this gets 100,000 retweets.”

Not long after, and when the post was nowhere near that number, she tweeted: “By the way my Twitter got hacked somebody is threatening to release new music I’ve worked really hard on. Nothing comes out until I’m ready.”

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The vote, which took place on 29 April, is now being sent to the European Commission, the EU’s main executive body that can introduce the legislation.

The issue was discussed following a petition from the European Citizens’ Initiative. The petition in question featured more than 1.2million signatures, which have been collected since 2024, in support of a conversion therapy ban.

Ahead of the vote, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a debate on the topic earlier this week. The debate resulted in the committee calling for stronger enforcement of the European Union’s LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030, as well as an EU-wide ban on conversion therapy.

In a statement published on 29 April, EESC president Séamus Boland said: “These so-called conversion practices or therapies are not only harmful, they are a profound violation of human dignity and fundamental rights.”

He continued: “Let us be absolutely clear: there is nothing to fix or cure. What needs to change is not people, but the systems, attitudes, and structures that deny them their dignity.”

Conversion therapy is a broad term which refers to several practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Research suggests that conversion therapy takes place all across the world, and can range from forms of “talk therapy” to physical abuse or “aversion therapy”.

Conversion therapy is already banned in seven EU countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece and Malta. The latter was the first to ban the practice in 2016.

Most medical organisations view conversion therapy as a pseudoscientific and damaging practice. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has described it as “harmful” and has instructed its members to “refrain from attempts” to change a person’s sexual orientation.

Studies have found that those who are subjected to conversion therapy have an increased risk of suicidal ideation.

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The contribution, made through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, was highlighted by former NFL player Carl Nassib, who came out as gay in 2021 while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders and has since worked closely with the organisation.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for their extraordinary $1million donation to The Trevor Project and everyone at the Atlanta Falcons for their heartfelt support,” Nassib wrote in a 30 April LinkedIn post.

“This donation helps fund counsellor training, enhance volunteer services and ensure our critical programs reach LGBTQ+ youth in their most vulnerable moments. Thank you again to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, this gift will save lives,” Nassib concluded.

Laurette M., who oversees The Trevor Project’s relationships with “major donors” also posted a message thanking the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, writing: “It’s always powerful to see an organisation invest not only in the communities around it, but also in the culture it builds internally.

“Creating space for learning, reflection, and connection like this matters more than people often realise.”

The move marks a notable show of allyship in a league that has historically struggled with LGBTQ+ inclusion.

With no active NFL players publicly coming out in the five years since Nassib, high-profile backing like this signals a shift that could help foster a more supportive culture both on and off the field.

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Days of Our Lives has recast gay character Javi Hernandez, with out actor Jacob Martinez set to take over the role.

Peacock has shared a first-look Instagram video teasing Martinez in Salem ahead of his debut on 30 June, after Deadline announced the news.

Martinez, 28, replaces Al Calderon, 32, who announced his exit from the soap in August 2025. The show films around 10 months in advance, meaning Calderon is still appearing as Javi and his final episodes are expected to air sometime in May.

Calderon also welcomed the new Javi in the comments, writing: “LET’S GO BOYYYYY.”

A break is expected before Martinez’s episodes begin. It’s reported that Javi will temporarily move away amid his marriage to Leo Stark, played by out Daytime Emmy-winning actor Greg Rikaart, according to Soap Opera Network.

Reacting to the casting news, Martinez wrote in a thank-you post: “THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams,” adding: “I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem.”

What we know about the on-screen handover

With Calderon’s final episodes expected in May and Martinez arriving on 30 June, viewers are likely to see a short gap between the two actors’ runs as Javi.

The first-look clip offers an early glimpse of Martinez in the role as the show prepares to bring the character back into Salem.

Who is Jacob Martinez?

Martinez is a US actor and musical theatre performer. He graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2018 and recently starred in In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater in Manhattan.

He previously reflected on reconciling being queer with his Christian faith in a January 2020 Instagram post. In another caption about attending Pride, he wrote: “Fear, pain, self hate, confusion. All these emotions I’m far too familiar with,” adding: “This was my first pride since officially coming out, and who would have thought that in doing so, I would draw closer to the God who FREES me from those unwanted thoughts and feelings.”

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