The study uses data gathered from 445 young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria under the care of four clinics in Canada between 2012 and 2017.

The clinics were Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Diversity Clinic, IWK Trans Health Clinic at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, BC Children’s Hospital Gender Clinic, and Alberta Children’s Hospital Metta Clinic.

Of the sample group, 331 participants were assigned female at birth, and 114 were assigned male at birth. 353 underwent gender-affirming hormone therapy. Four of them later stopped hormones, and just one ceased hormone treatment and returned to identifying as their sex assigned at birth.

13 participants later returned to identifying as their sex assigned at birth after an average of roughly 2.5 years, while some of the participants shifted between a binary and non-binary gender identity after about 2.5 years.

Gender fluidity

In the study, adolescents were found to have a more fluid gender identity if they initially identified as non-binary.

However, none of these non-binary identifying adolescents reverted to a binary identity that aligned with their sex assigned at birth. Almost 80% of these non-binary participants began hormone therapy, with a discontinuation rate of 1.1%.

None of the young people who stopped puberty blockers or secondary supportive medical treatments due to a change in their gender identity ended up identifying with their sex assigned at birth.

From this study, it can be concluded that an overwhelming majority of young people who were a part of university-associated clinics in Canada to receive gender-affirming care still identify as transgender or nonbinary, with over 97% still identifying as such.

In total, only 2.9% chose to begin identifying their gender with their sex assigned at birth within a time frame of 2.4 years.

The post New study challenges claim that trans teens later regret gender-affirming care appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

JKP, among many other topics, carries books that deal with gender diversity and sexuality for both adult readers and young people. Assistant editor Sarah Thomson, in a now-removed blog post, said that some JKP readers had expressed their desire to explore LGBTQ+ subjects without sharing what they were reading with those around them.

Thomson wrote, “Sometimes this was a young trans person in an unsupportive household, sometimes it was someone who thought they might be autistic but didn’t want to announce it to everyone around them with a book cover.”

On JKP’s ‘safety cover’ listing, they write, “At JKP, we believe that everyone should be able to access the books they need. They should be able to read about themselves and others, to see themselves on the page, and to live openly without fear. However, we also understand that safety and acceptance are not a universal reality, and that some of our readers may not be able to enjoy all our books in public or at home.”

Although the use of a safety cover may help vulnerable LGBTQ+ people learn and educate themselves safely, there are other uses for a safety cover, such as to replace a disliked cover or to protect a book from damage.

JKP is a publishing house founded in 1987 which focuses on topics like mental health, gender diversity, adoption, neurodiversity, autism, social work, and arts therapies.

“Every week we get messages from people that say how their lives have been changed by the books that we publish, how we’ve helped them feel included in a society where difference is all too often frowned upon… Many of our authors have lived experience. They are the experts, and it’s our job to make sure their voices are heard. We want our books to inspire readers to change society for the better,” they note on their website.

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IL26-638 would apply specifically to girls’ sports teams, creating certain eligibility requirements for K-12 athletes.

As a result, female students would have to prove their sex assigned at birth, and criticism has emerged regarding the enforcement provisions outlined in the bill’s literature.

Under the proposal, female students would need to have their sex assigned at birth verified through genetic screening, testosterone level testing, or a physical examination of reproductive anatomy before being eligible to compete on girls’ teams.

The bill’s text does not set guidelines in terms of who would conduct the exams, who would pay for them, when they need to take place, or how the policy would be enforced.

27 states have implemented measures banning transgender girls from participating in female sports teams since 2020 under the guise of fairness and concern for girls’ and women’s safety.

“Extreme and unworkable concept”

Paperwork for IL26-638 identifies its targeted purpose is to protect “the integrity and fairness of women’s interscholastic sports necessitates that students compete in athletic activities consistent with the gender assigned at birth.”

It continues: “Leveraging the existing physical examination process to verify biological sex ensures equity, safety, and competitive balance in sports intended exclusively for female students, while respecting the rights and opportunities of all participants.”

“Sex testing is, in its nature, an extreme and unworkable concept,” GLAD Law’s senior staff attorney Christ Erchull told The Cut in a 3 August interview.

“The sad and cynical truth is that people are funding these ballot initiatives because they want to drive Republican voter turnout for a midterm election. It is just like in 2006, when Republicans poured money into ballot initiatives to oppose marriage equality,” Erchull continued.

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Published in JAMA Pediatrics on 4 August, the study shows how puberty blockers only contribute to a “modest and uncertain” loss in bone density in trans youth that is “partially recovered” when they start gender-affirming hormone therapy. 

A meta-analysis was conducted of 10 independent studies that included data on bone density for 751 trans children under 18. Within the sample, there were 427 who were assigned male at birth and 324 who were assigned female at birth.

Most of the studies took place over the course of around three years and analysed bone density within the five vertebrae of the spine’s lower lumbar region, the total hip and the top of the femur. 

Results showed that bone growth in these areas slowed “numerically below the baseline” while the trans minors were on puberty blockers, compared to usual figures seen among cisgender children of the same age. 

MedPage Today also reported that researchers found that the changes “were generally not statistically different across most skeletal sites,” meaning that any bone density loss observed occurred consistently throughout the three body sites. 

“A modest and uncertain shortfall”

Loss in bone density was explained by puberty blockers reducing non-fat body issue and increasing fat mass, changes which can impact interactions between bone and muscle while the body is developing during puberty. 

Researchers said that the loss in bone density was “at most a modest and uncertain shortfall in catch-up rather than a demonstrated persistent deficit.” 

Daniele Tienforti, MD, one of the researchers who presented the paper, said: “Across different cohorts and healthcare settings, we observed the same overall trajectory: bone mineral density increased and bone accrual resumed after the introduction of sex steroids.”

The meta-analysis also found that bone density was often higher among trans minors with higher body mass indexes, those who used puberty blockers for short periods or started them at an older age, and those who had started undergoing gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy.

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The finding comes from the 2026 Sexually Liberal City Index, compiled by adult entertainment platform Erobella, which scored 41 cities worldwide across four areas: sex-work law, LGBTQ+ life, reproductive health and adult lifestyle.

San Francisco topped the LGBTQ+ category specifically, scoring 70 out of 100, ahead of Manchester on 62 and Cologne on 61.

The city was praised for its enduring community infrastructure, from the Castro to its Pride traditions, and the highest concentration of sex worker organisations of any city measured.

The full top 10 for LGBTQ+ life was: San Francisco, Manchester, Cologne, Amsterdam, Miami, Atlanta, Glasgow, Berlin, Paris and Vancouver.

Amsterdam claimed the overall crown for the second year running, with the report crediting its strong legal protections and long history of LGBTQ+ acceptance.

San Francisco was the only American city in the overall top 10, and the report found that US cities tended to combine vibrant LGBTQ+ and nightlife scenes with weaker scores on legal and policy protections.

Miami, for instance, achieved maximum marks for its gay bars, venues and events, yet ranked only 10th overall due to low scores on gender-affirmation and anti-discrimination protections. The study explicitly noted that American cities were “fighting under the current administration”.

Manchester climbed to third place overall, comfortably outperforming every other UK city.

Glasgow ranked eighth and London, despite its size, sat in 23rd.

At the very bottom of the index sat Cape Town, Tokyo and Moscow, the latter scoring a single point in the LGBTQ+ category

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The event, billed as “Kennedy Davenport: Birthday and 30th Anniversary Celebration”, is due to take place at Station 4 in Dallas on 9 September.

It had originally announced a large cast of Drag Race alumni, including Mrs Kasha Davis, Bosco, Latrice Royale, Jasmine Masters, Ra’Jah O’Hara, Morgan McMichaels, Alexis Mateo and Shangela, among others.

In the days since, several performers have announced they will no longer take part. While most did not name Shangela directly, the withdrawals followed the reveal of the full line-up.

“I want to address my decision to step away from an upcoming event,” Morgan McMichaels wrote on X. “When I agreed to participate, I was not aware of [the] casting of the event. Once I learned, the decision to step away was a natural and immediate one for me, as my participation no longer aligned with my values.”

Mrs Kasha Davis said: “I removed myself from the show. I will not be appearing in Dallas.”

Bosco also confirmed: “I’ll no longer be appearing in Dallas in September.”

Davenport’s niece, fellow Drag Race star A’Keria C. Davenport, indicated the situation had since been resolved.

“When I was asked by my aunt to be a part of her bday celebration that’s all I knew,” she wrote. “After further discussion she made the decision to remove the person from the line up.”

Shangela, whose real name is Darius Pierce, has faced multiple allegations of sexual assault in recent years.

A 2023 Rolling Stone investigation detailed accusations from several men, while separate civil lawsuits were filed in 2023 and 2025.

Pierce has consistently and strenuously denied all the allegations, describing them as “entirely meritless” and saying they “perpetuate damaging stereotypes”.

No criminal charges have been brought against him.

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Speaking at a press conference for the Canadian Open in Montreal, Sabalenka shared her thoughts on the WTA’s policy. “I think it’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour,” she said. 

“Biologically, men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not really be fair for women to compete against biological men,” she added, referring to trans women athletes.

The new policy requires all players to undergo genetic sex testing to remain eligible to compete, despite there being no known transgender women anywhere in professional tennis.

SRY gene testing policy

Under the updated policy, players will have to pass a one-time screening for the SRY gene, which helps determine biological sex, via a cheek swab or blood test. 

The WTA confirmed the change to Reuters, saying screening would begin in 2026 and that it was committed to “treating all players with dignity.”

“I believe it took them a little while to make the decision. I support it, but for me I am focusing on myself, on my goals, you know, whatever it takes,” Salalenka continued. 

“If they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that. It’s pretty fair, and let’s keep it that way.”

Sabalenka previously shared her thoughts on trans athletes while appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored in December.

“I have nothing to do against [the trans community] but I feel like they still have a huge advantage over the women and I think it’s just not fair to a woman to face basically biological men,” she said. 

“It’s not fair. The woman has been working her whole life to reach her limit and then she has to face a man, who is biologically much stronger so for me I don’t agree with this kind of stuff in sport.”

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The government guidance, which was first published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in June, says that transgender people should use either gender-neutral facilities or those that align with their sex assigned at birth as opposed to their gender identity. 

The new guidance has been met with criticism from trans rights advocates and MPs alike. In July, the Scottish Greens urged the UK government to scrap the code, calling it “authoritarian and cruel.”

“It will cause real harm to trans people who have accessed these spaces and services for years without incident,” said the party’s equalities spokesperson, Kate Nevens.

“Trans people want the same thing as everyone else, to live their lives free from prejudice, discrimination and violence. Instead, this guidance will legitimise intrusive questioning, encourage suspicion and make everyday life less safe,” Nevens told the National.

Nevens also called the code “confusing, divisive and unworkable,” and that it won’t just affect trans people but “anyone who doesn’t conform to gender stereotypes.”

Devastating impact

The Good Law Project also called the new code of practice “harmful” and said that it will “exclude and segregate trans people.”

The impending code of practice is not legally binding, but it “strongly encourages” businesses, service providers and associations to offer only single-sex services based on biological sex, as per the Equality Act 2010.

“It is set to have a devastating impact on trans people’s lives,” the Good Law Project said in a statement shared on 15 July.

“The code says that offering single-sex services only according to ‘biological sex’ is likely to indirectly discriminate against trans people,” the statement continued.

“But instead of saying that organisations can provide trans-inclusive services, the guidance treats trans people like a third sex, suggesting they have to use separate ‘third’ spaces and services, rather than the ordinary ones provided for men and women.”

The Good Law Project then went on to highlight that forcing trans people to use third spaces will create “stigma” and “risks outing them”.

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Mariusz Smietana, 46, and Dariusz Wawrzenczyk, 37, were sentenced at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of assault by beating over the attack on Alex Grant, 34, and his partner in Gospel Oak, Camden.

The court heard the couple were holding hands as they walked home from swimming at the Highgate Men’s Ponds on Hampstead Heath, shortly after 10pm on 1 July 2025, when they were targeted on Mansfield Road.

Prosecutor René De Silva said the pair approached the couple, spat on their legs and shouted homophobic slurs in Polish.

The abuse escalated when Smietana chased the men down the street and threw fruit at them, which CCTV showed he had taken from a nearby shop without paying.

In a victim impact statement, Grant described the lasting effect of the attack.

“The hate and vitriol we encountered that night has made me realise that even today I am, as a gay man, still vulnerable to violent homophobia,” he said.

“What had been a quiet summer evening spent enjoying the weather swimming with my boyfriend turned into a night full of fear and angst which lasted for many days afterwards.” He said he had ended the night “visibly shaken, restless, and unable to sleep”.

District Judge Vanessa Lloyd ruled that the offence was aggravated by hostility based on the couple’s sexual orientation. “The offence was motivated by or demonstrated hostility based on sexual orientation,” she told the court.

However, the judge found that the custody threshold had not been crossed, and sentenced both men, who represented themselves with the help of a Polish interpreter, to 12-month community orders.

They were also ordered to pay costs. The court heard Smietana, of Wembley, had previously received a caution for shoplifting in 2015.

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Production for the ice hockey romance’s sophomore outing is officially underway in Toronto, Canada, with show stars Conor Storrie and Hudson Williams reprising their roles as secret lovers Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander respectively.

With filming taking place in public locations and Storrie and Williams now bona fide superstars, show bosses have urged fans to give both the show’s stars and crew the “space they need” to carry out filming.

“To our incredible fans and everyone who’s been sharing in the excitement for the show,” a statement shared on Heated Rivalry‘s offcial social media accounts reads.

“Your support, enthusiasm, and kindness have meant the world to us. As we gear up for more Heated Rivalry, please help us make it the best it can be.

“If you happen to come across one of our filming locations, please give our cast and crew the space they need to do what they do best.

“We promise it’ll be worth the wait.”

In a February interview with the Los Angeles Times, series showrunner Tierney confirmed that fans can expect season two of Heated Rivalry to arrive in spring 2027.

“As much as I appreciate how rabid and interested people are at this point, the first season worked because I trusted my gut with this, and I’m going to do that again,” he said.

Heated Rivalry is the second book in author Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series of gay ice hockey erotica. Season two of the show is set to focus on the sixth book in the series;, The Long Game.

Released in 2022, The Long Game returns to Shane and Ilya’s love story ten years after the events of Heated Rivalry. While they are still together, the pro sportsmen are still publicly closeted.

“Ten years. That’s how long Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other. How long they’ve been keeping their relationship a secret. From friends, from family… from the league,” reads an official synopsis of the book.

“If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. He loves Ilya, but what if going public ruins everything?”

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Filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Monday (3 August), the lawsuit argues that the Office of Personnel Management’s policy unlawfully discriminates against transgender employees in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex-based workplace discrimination.

The complaint alleges that the government continues to cover many of the same medications, hormones and surgical procedures when they are prescribed for other medical conditions, but excludes them when they are used as part of gender-affirming care.

The plaintiffs say the policy has resulted in denied claims, cancelled treatment plans and significant financial hardship. One State Department employee, who has received hormone therapy since 2018, alleges he now faces more than $100,000 (£74,360) in out-of-pocket costs after medically necessary gender-affirming surgery was no longer covered by his insurance.

“Our message to the Trump administration is simple: ‘We’ll see you in court’”

Another plaintiff who is a transgender State Department employee says routine hormone therapy, blood work and follow-up care have also been excluded. A Postal Service employee says continuing treatment for his transgender daughter could force the family to drain its savings.

The lawsuit also challenges a temporary exception for people already “mid-treatment,” arguing that the government never clearly defined who qualifies. Beginning in 2027, insurers will reportedly be required to eliminate those exceptions.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which is backing the lawsuit, said the case seeks to restore healthcare coverage for tens of thousands of transgender federal employees, retirees and their dependents. According to the Williams Institute, an estimated 39,400 transgender people covered by federal employee health plans could be affected by the policy.

“Our message to the Trump administration is simple: We’ll see you in court,” Human Rights Campaign Foundation President Kelley Robinson said in a 3 August press release.

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Professional dancer Gu, who joined Strictly in 2022 and lifted the famous glitterball trophy with celebrity partner Karen Cairney last year, came out publicly in an interview on ITV’s Lorraine in 2024, where he reflected on the difficulty of being gay in his home country.

“Myself, I moved to this country. I had a different life. I am finding my true self in this country,” the performer said at the time.

“Being gay in China, it’s really hard to talk about it. You can’t tell a word in telly, public, no word.”

Gu, who is set to try and evade police-style surveillance for two weeks on Celebrity Hunted, which supports Stand Up to Cancer, admitted that his mum had found it “hard” to come to terms with his sexuality, but that she had been fully supportive of his move to the UK, where he has been able to embrace his true self publicly.

“I think, because I came out to my mum… she’s a single mum who raised me, it’s hard for her”, he said. “But I’m so lucky to have her, she’s so open. The time when I told her I want to move to UK and I want to get this job on Strictly, she actually supported me 100% because she knew I would be happier there.”

Homosexuality has been legal in China since 1997, but same-sex marriage remains illegal and there are virtually no protections for LGBTQ+ people.

Same-sex couples have been able to apply for a “guardianship appointment” since 2017, which affords them certain rights to share assets and inheritance, but they are not allowed to adopt.

Trans citizens are only permitted to change their gender after undergoing gender-reassignment surgery. Gender-affirming care is only permitted for people over the age of 18, and they must have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, have applied for gender-reassignment surgery for at least five years, have no criminal record and be unmarried.

Gu is set to return to the Strictly ballroom when the competitive dancing show returns this autumn, and the star previously told Attitude that he would like to be paired with a male celebrity for the first time to inspire young LGBTQ+ Asians.

“Just for a little Asian boy at home, or for anyone watching, to see two men dance – it’s sexy,” he said.

Last month, Gu showed off a dramatic drag-style transformation for Asian Pride UK, complete with a towering beehive wig and full-on glam.

Celebrity Hunted airs on on Tuesday 4 August at 9pm BST on Channel 4.

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Roque posted a series of photos to their TikTok account on 1 August celebrating their accomplishment. The first photo showed Roque taking a selfie with text written across the screen, reading, “Plan A: Get cast in a Marvel movie, become the first POC transgender character in the MCU, have the coolest screen family ever.”

The next slide, which had “There was no Plan B” written across the top, showed a collage of pictures featuring Roque on set, as well as their name in the film’s credits.

The post quickly went viral, racking up over one and a half million views in just a few days with thousands of comments celebrating Roque’s performance and the trans visibility in the MCU that came alongside it.

Roque wrote in the caption on the video: “Actually still in shock that this is real, it was such an honour being able to be a part of this movie!” before urging fans to go out and see the film.

Trans actor Maikol Roque plays EJ in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Roque’s character in the film is EJ, the son of Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas), who is an NYPD detective and a strong ally of Spider-Man. Roque acted alongside both Colón-Zayas and Nina Rose Galano, who played DeWolff’s daughter and EJ’s sister, Marley, in the film.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has swung into cinemas with one of the biggest box office openings in movie history, smashing expectations with a record-breaking $355 million (£264 million) domestic debut in the US and $927 million (£689 million) worldwide in its opening weekend.

The Marvel and Sony blockbuster now holds the second-largest domestic opening of all time, trailing only Avengers: Endgame, while also becoming the second-biggest global opening weekend in box office history.

With overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has also helped deliver the highest-grossing weekend in box office history, cementing its place as one of the biggest cinematic events of the year.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in cinemas now.

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The “Petal” singer, 33, addressed fans directly in during her latest Eternal Sunshine Tour show in Chicago on Monday night (3 August), just hour after her publicist confirmed the star would be “taking a step back” from public life amid scrutiny over her health and appearance.

Reading from a pre-prepared notes, Grande revealed that “the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I had decided to plan… quietly, a long time ago.”

The Wicked star, whose latest music video for “Petal” sparked a renewed wave of public concern over her appearance, continued: “I heard my fans were worried negativity was ruining things for me but… that could not be more than the opposite.

“Boundaries need to be set, human beings do need a break sometimes.”

An emotional Grande, who has also withdrawn from next year’s stage production of Sunday in the Park with George, in which she was due to appear with Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey, paid tribute to fans during the mid-show speech.

“No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or not as real to me as this love that we share”, she said.

A representative for Grande told People magazine on Monday that the performer would be taking a “well-earned break” amid “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.

The Eternal Sunshine Tour is due to which conclude 1 September following a 10-night run in London.

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In the film, Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) turns up at the apartment of his girlfriend Minerva (Charli XCX) hoping for closure on their failing relationship, only to have the door answered by a very naked new man, played by Wilde.

Director Araki revealed that he had written just one requirement for the role: “It’s literally in the script written as like the dude with the big d**k,” he told Out.

“I knew that it would need to be somebody who worked in adult films, because it’s not like actors can just audition,” Araki said.

He landed on Wilde, whose professionalism was key given the scene also featured Charli xcx. “I didn’t want some kind of creepy dude in that scene,” Araki said. “He was so nice and so professional, and it was great.”

Wilde is a well-known figure in the adult industry, known for his work with major studios including Falcon, Raging Stallion and Kink.com.

He has spoken about being a deliberately, ahem, versatile performer across the spectrum of sexuality. “I like being a diverse performer. I perform with men, women, trans men, trans women… anybody identifying as anything, it doesn’t really matter to me,” he told The Gay Goods last year.

The casting was kept so quiet that some of the film’s own actors didn’t realise until afterwards. Mason Gooding, who didn’t share scenes with Wilde, said he only found out when three separate people texted him: “He’s in your movie.”

Speaking about Wilde’s performance, Araki said: “He’s amazing in the movie, and it’s such a cool, funny scene,” he said. “He really nailed it. Yeah, so to speak. Nailed it.”

Meanwhile, the most popular gay adult performers of 2025 were revealed by adult sire PornHub – you can check them out here.

I Want Your Sex is in cinemas now.

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The statue of the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner will stand at the junction of Victoria Street and Stanley Street, which marks the entrance to Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ district, Attitude reports.

The Pride Quarter held particular significance to The Vivienne, also known as James Lee Williams, as it was the setting for the beginning of their drag career. They starred in shows at Pink, Garlands and Superstar Boudoir before taking their art form further afield.

The statue project is being led by House of Vivienne CIC, which was established by the star’s family and LGBTQ+ platform Proudly Said following Williams’ tragic death in 2025.

Liverpool Business Improvement District provided initial funding to help the project get off the ground, but a further £100,000 is needed to commission and install the statue. Community fundraising efforts are expected to make up the rest of the costs.

The statue is intended to be a permanent “guardian angel” for the Pride Quarter, Attitude reported. It has also been designed to be “a welcoming focal point around which people can gather, sit and, fittingly, have a catch-up with The Vivienne.”

Chanel Williams, the late star’s sister and a director for House of The Vivienne CIC, said: “James gave everything to Liverpool and Liverpool gave everything back to him. This city saw him, accepted him, and helped him become The Vivienne.”

She continued: “A permanent statue in the Pride Quarter feels like the right way to make sure nobody forgets that, and to remind anyone who might be struggling that they do not have to do it alone. That was what James believed, and it is what we are going to keep saying.”

Proudly Said’s John Hyland, who is leading the statue’s organisation, said that it will be both a celebration of life and a statement on Liverpool’s queer community.

“The Vivienne was the Pride Quarter, and James had a way of making everyone who walked through any one of those doors feel like they belonged. That didn’t stop when the cameras arrived and their star shot into the sky,” said Hyland.

“This statue is Liverpool acknowledging what the LGBTQ+ community already knows. But it’s also the beginning of something bigger. The Pride Quarter deserves investment, attention and a future, and this is the first statement of intent that it’s going to get both.”

The Vivienne, who had been open about her struggles with drug addiction during her time on Drag Race, was found dead in her Cheshire home in January 2025 after suffering cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use.

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The actor, who previously starred in Disney’s sitcom Pair of Kings, was set to play Hades, God of the Underworld, in the hit musical.

According to OnStage, Segers posted videos titled: ‘TRANS FAIRNESS?’, ‘NO MORE TRANS?’ and ‘HE… I MEAN SHE BROKE THE RECORD’ to his social media channels. In the videos, he opposed trans inclusion in women’s sports and mocked the concept of sharing pronouns.

The show’s producers comment on Segers’ departure in a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly on 2 August.

“The producers of Hadestown and Geno Segers have mutually agreed that Mr Segers will no longer join the Broadway production,” they said, adding that his recasting will be announced shortly. The producers did not cite the reason for Segers’ dismissal.

Amber Iman, who is set to play Hades’ wife Persephone in the production, shared her thoughts on the matter. “I wasn’t posting, But I was not quiet,” she said on her Instagram stories on 2 August.

“Sometimes you gotta get off social media and demand answers. Cuz I’ll be damned if my ‘husband’ is a clown and we’re not at the circus. ONWARD.”

Segers shared an apology to “everyone impacted by [his] words” to his Instagram account on 3 August.

“I am fully committed to listening, educating myself, and elevating my standards,” the post continued. “I will work tirelessly to earn the opportunity to make things right.”

He also extended his apologies to the cast, creative team and producers of the show. “I accept full responsibility for my words and acknowledge the necessity of immediate accountability.”

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He graduated with a BA in media production from Sunderland university before securing a job at BBC Radio 5 Live. In 2018 he launched a popular podcast called Help I Sexted My Boss, in which he helped listeners with their dilemmas alongside his friend, etiquette guru William Hanson.

In 2020, he was a runner-up in the twentieth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! which further catapulted him into the limelight… and also sparked rampant discussion, speculation and rumours about his sexuality. This speculation was condemned by some online commenters, with one taking to a forum to write:

“If Jordan wanted to talk about (his sexuality), he would – and the pressure he’s bound to be under should everyone continue searching for, or talking about his sexuality is something no one should face.

“Whether Jordan North is gay, straight, bisexual or beyond is completely his business, and given he’s been on our radio waves for years now and our TV screens for weeks, if he wanted to share that he would’ve already.”

Is Jordan North gay? Is he bisexual? Is it any of our business?

Everyone has a right to a private life, and Jordan North is no different. He’s never disclosed his sexuality or gone into great detail about his love life, and he shouldn’t face any pressure to reveal anything about himself. In fact, speculation and pressure like this can be actively harmful to celebs.

In February 2023, Heartstopper star Kit Connor spoke out against people making “harmful” assumptions about others’ sexuality based on the way they look or act.

“The idea that you can tell someone’s sexuality based on the way that they look, the way that they talk, the way that they walk, the way that they dress, is quite frankly ridiculous and it’s really quite harmful,” he said.

Connor endured intense speculation about his own sexuality after the series first aired in 2022, and was pressured to come out as bisexual.

One thing that BBC Radio One Jordan North has opened up about is just how bad he is at dating: he confessed that he is so bad at romance that he once shook a love interest’s hand at the end of the night.

North spoke about the night out on his podcast, saying: “I went on a first date about 18 months ago and I’m not good at these because I once shook my date’s hand at the end of the evening. I think you’re supposed to hug them or kiss them. It was awkward. You’re not supposed to shake hands are you really, it’s very British.”

He also discussed the etiquette of who should pay on a date, saying: “I agree that if it’s a man and a woman going on a first date then the (man) should pay. If it’s a same-sex couple then whoever initiated should pay.”

In another podcast episode, he claimed that a “gay ghost” was haunting his house, telling Hanson:

“I say this with slight trepidation but I think the gay ghost has returned to my new house. The other night at around 2am the shower decided to turn itself on. I s*** myself and at first I thought it was a burglar. I picked up the first thing on my bedside table – a can of deodorant.

“I go in and the shower was spitting and I think it’s the gay ghost saying he’s back.

Jordan North: The Truth About Vaping airs on BBC Three at 9pm, and is already available on iPlayer.

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The installation, titled “The Kissing Couple,” featured enormous figures resembling the two world leaders leaning in for a kiss while dressed in Delft blue-and-white costumes and holding tulips – a reference to the traditional Dutch ceramic figurines found in souvenir shops across the Netherlands.

The float travelled through Amsterdam’s famous canals on 1 August as hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered for the annual Pride celebration, where around 80 decorated boats filled the route with music, colour and protest.

“We did not want to provoke, but to pause power for a moment and highlight something human,” organisers behind the installation wrote on their website.

Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, whose government has overseen sweeping restrictive policies against LGBTQ+ people in Russia, including laws restricting LGBTQ+ organisations, public expression and discussions of queer identities.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, an out gay man and the first sitting Dutch prime minister to participate in the Canal Parade, posted a video to X saying the celebration carried “greater significance than ever” as LGBTQ+ rights and safety face growing pressure internationally.

His comments came just days after an attack targeting a Pride event in Berlin left one person dead and 29 injured on 25 July.

Security was increased at Pride events across Europe following the attack, including in Amsterdam, where police patrols monitored the canals during the parade.

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Taking to Bluesky on 2 August, Jennings wrote: “I saw yesterday that some right-wing outlets were running stories about me, which I’m used to. But this time I’m going to say something about it, because these were framed to imply that I was aligned with their own transphobia.”

He went on to explain that the claims were not true.

“For the record: NOPE,” he wrote. “Honestly, I don’t think there’s an issue today I care about on a personal level more deeply than trans rights. And it’s rough out there right now. Bigots on one side of the political aisle and too many cowards on the other.”

Jennings then explained that everyone who knows him “even a little” or has followed him on social media knows that he’s a trans ally. 

“Our institutions are literally trying to erase trans people right now, and it p*sses me off. A snarky reply to one bad take on Bluesky doesn’t mean that’s changed at all,” he continued.

Jennings’ ‘snarky’ comment

The reports from right-wing media come after Jennings shared another post to Bluesky in which he sarcastically dismissed calls from trans activists to boycott The New York Times’ word games. 

In an initial post about the Spelling Bee, Jennings wrote: “My wife and I have a game where we try to invent the day’s grossest-sounding word on NYT Spelling Bee.”

Another Bluesky user responded to the post, writing: “I wish people who care about trans people could understand that playing NYT games is still an insult to trans people.”

“This may be true of others but I actually got express permission from the trans community to keep NYT games and recipes,” Jennings responded. “I also have a news subscription, which is arguably worse, so I had to specifically send in a written request. Took 30 days but I got approved.”

In his 2 August posts, Jennings continued: “My TV job is apolitical, but I’m proud that one of the things we make is a space that’s trans- and [non-binary]-friendly, and that’s not going to change either. 

“So that’s the thing to know, if you’re a tabloid that’s going to name-check me in another round of transphobic s*** about Bluesky discourse. I don’t stand with you. I stand with my trans friends and family members.”

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Pastor Alvin Christian, who runs God’s Store House Food Bank in Bluefield, West Virginia, said in a since-deleted Facebook Live video that he refused to accept supplies after discovering that some organisations connected to food assistance donations “support” LGBTQ+ people, as per Friendly Atheist, who first reported the story on 30 July.

“Are y’all tied in or partners with LGBQ, T, whatever? And they said ‘yes.’ I done some more research and found out that they are part of the gay rights movement,” Christian said in the Facebook Live.

“To stand with faith in God, I refuse to receive food from anybody that is tied into that,” Christian continued, referring to LGBTQ+ inclusion. He added that he would not be “part of a gay rights movement” because of partnerships involving Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.

Christian then posted another video, which was archived by a Facebook user, thatshowcased empty shelves, empty freezers and an empty warehouse.

“As you can see, our cupboards are empty, our freezers are empty. We have nothing in the warehouse as far as food-wise as of this moment,” he said.

God’s Store House Food Bank

Before the disruption, God’s Store House Food Bank had become a major resource for the local community, reportedly serving more than 800 families daily and around 8,000 unique families every month across four counties in West Virginia and Virginia.

Christian later said the food bank was not rejecting donations outright, but claimed he did not want to purchase from organisations where money could indirectly support LGBTQ+ groups. However, Feeding America is a nonprofit network of 200 food banks that distributes donated food and does not sell supplies to food banks.

The pastor also said he would continue to provide food to anyone in need, claiming, “I will not discriminate against anybody.” But critics have pointed out the contradiction between welcoming LGBTQ+ people seeking assistance while rejecting organisations because they support LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Christian has said he is searching for another food supplier and asked supporters to pray that “God will open another door.”

The decision is particularly significant given that LGBTQ+ people experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity. According to information from Feeding America’s Chief Equity Officer Ami McReynolds from a 2022 podcast appearance, 22% of LGBTQ+ adults live in poverty, making them twice as likely as others to experience hunger.

A report from the USDA in 2022 has also found transgender people were “almost 2.5 times more likely than cisgender people to face food insufficiency during the pandemic.”

A 2020 study from the Williams Institute noted that LGBTQ+ people can be hesitant to access faith-based aid programmes because of fears of discrimination or judgment. Actions like Christian’s, critics argue, risk reinforcing those concerns and making vulnerable people less likely to seek help.

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In 2023, Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City shared a post to Facebook saying that anyone who “identifies as anything other” than a man or woman was “not welcome” in the salon. 

“If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer,” owner Christine Geiger wrote. “You are not welcome at this salon. Period.” 

She continued: “Should you request to have a particular pronoun used please not we may simply refer to you as ‘hey you’. Regardless of MI HB 4744. (Kiss my *SS Governor Witchmere.)”

Geiger presumably meant to type MI HB 4474, which was introduced in June 2023. The bill expanded Michigan’s hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability and age alongside race, religion, sex and national origin. 

“This is America; free speech,” Geiger continued. “This small business has the right to refuse services. We are not bound to any oaths as realtors are regarding discrimination.”

Violation of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

On 27 July, the commission ruled that the studio violated the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which protects people from unfair treatment and discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics. 

According to UpNorthLive, more than 20 discrimination complaints were filed against Studio 8 Hair Lab for the comments, which formed the basis of the case. 

The commission also found that the hair salon retaliated against three of the complaints filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights by counter-filing a civil lawsuit against them. 

Following the ruling, Studio 8 Hair Lab and Geiger were ordered to immediately stop publishing discriminatory statements and cease retaliation against the complainants. 

The salon was also ordered to remove the challenged Facebook posts, post statements online and at the premises saying that it will not refuse goods or services based on protected characteristics under state law, complete civil rights and anti-discrimination compliance training, and pay attorney fees and other costs relating to the lawsuit.

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The event recently saw around 15,000 scouts, troop leaders and volunteers come together for a 10-day adventure retreat at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, according to the Associated Press. 

However, the US Secretary of War’s decision to cut diversity initiatives meant that previous spaces for queer scouts, women and people of colour were no more. 

According to AP, some scouts that were scheduled to attend backed out of the event following news of the cuts. 

“Scouting fundamentally is a safe place for young people to have fun,” Samuel J. Aronson, an assistant scoutmaster who has previously organised inclusive events for the National Jamboree, told AP. 

“In the absence of these spaces, we’re denying all that, both the safety and the fun, to thousands of young people.”

A Scouting America spokesperson said that the organisation remains “fully committed to welcoming and serving all youth,” but did not further address the policy changes. 

Attacks on diversity initiative

In February this year, Hegseth began an ongoing rift between the Pentagon and Scouting America, previously known as the Boy Scouts of America, when he threatened to cut government funding to the organisation if they did not comply with anti-DEI initiatives. 

Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote a lengthy X post on 2 February, saying: “Scouting America’s leadership has made decisions that run counter to the values of this administration and this Department of War, including an embrace of DEl and other social justice, gender-fluid ideological stances. This is unacceptable.”

In 2013, Boy Scouts of America began admitting out gay scouts. Two years later, the organisation lifted its ban on adults in leadership positions who are also “open or avowed homosexuals”.

In 2017, the Boy Scouts announced girls would be accepted as Cub Scouts and later accepted into the flagship Boy Scout program, and began welcoming transgender boys into its boys-only programs.

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Kesha made headlines this week for asking fans to send her their teeth, going so far as to provide them a PO Box address.

However, Kesha is not the only celebrity working on a weird collection; here are some of the most bizarre…

Kesha

Kesha used her recent appearance on Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang’s podcast, Las Culturistas, to share details about her collection of teeth.

The omnisexual star explained: “Well, the teeth started when I became obsessed with my fans. And then someone was like, ‘My child lost their teeth’ and I was like, ‘Can I have them?’ because I want to make jewellery out of it.

“And so then I made a necklace and an earring and then a belt and then a crown. Oh, the crown’s wild.”

She confessed she started her collection as it “freaks out straight men”.

The star previously told Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper that she keeps the teeth of her loved ones and pets, as it “reminds me when I have a little piece of the people I love”.

Amanda Seyfried

Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried has the rather quirky hobby of guiding a taxidermy collection.

Her interest in the preservation process began after she visited the famous Paris taxidermy shop Deyrolle.

Seyfried spoke about her collection on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 2012. On the show, she explained that she names the specimens and sees them as low-maintenance pets.

A decade later, in 2022, O’Brien gifted Seyfried a taxidermy raccoon that came with a jet pack, which Seyfried then cuddled through their interview.

Angelina Jolie 

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Mr. & Mrs. Smith star Angelina Jolie is an acting legend and also a long-term collector of antique daggers and knives.

What started as a childhood hobby, after visiting a Renaissance fair with her mother, became an adult fascination. 

Though the size and exact content of her knife collection is unknown, Jolie is said to have an impressive collection of historical pieces, custom folding knives, and handmade butterfly knives.

She’s not just a collector but a skilled knife handler, as she proved in a 1998 appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. During the show, she showed off her flipping techniques with a butterfly knife. 

Demi Moore

Rumour is that The Substance’s Demi Moore has a collection of vintage porcelain and antique dolls worth $2million.

According to The New York Times, the 63-year-old actor is “the world’s most high-profile doll collector”. She has reportedly kept a separate residence to house her 2,000 dolls

Her favourite is said to be the Gene Marshall fashion doll, a collectable inspired by Hollywood’s Golden Age. 

Speaking about her “obsession”, Moore told W Mag in 2019: “I love figurative art. When I look at the little faces of things that I have, whether they’re like little animals or little something or others. 

“I’ve always got little faces looking at me. If you go up and look at my carry-on bag, I have a little bear, and I have a little Dil Pickles, you know, from Rugrats?”

Elton John 

Elton John is known for his signature, eccentric looks, but he has a particular fascination for eyewear. 

These days, John is rarely seen without a pair of sunglasses. But it’s rare he wears the same pair repeatedly; that’s because he’s said to have over 250,000 pairs of glasses in his collection. 

“I don’t have an iPod or a mobile phone or a computer,” he said in 2010. “I do have a quarter of a million pairs of glasses, but I don’t even have a mobile phone!”

He’s so enamoured by glasses, he even has his own brand: Elton John Eyewear. “Glasses have been instrumental in my life, and I know the power they hold. They’ve helped me express myself,” he said of his love of eyewear.

Emma Roberts

Moore is not the only celebrity doll collector on this list; American Horror Story star Emma Roberts also has a handsome collection of dolls.

The 35-year-old is said to have a bookshelf of dolls, which she refers to as her “doll wall”. During her Architectural Digest tour, Roberts showed off her collection that lives in her office.

“I know that it’s polarising, but I feel like with dolls, I want to enjoy them,” she told Inverse. She continued: “I can’t explain it, I wanted to hang out with them. I want to also put them up on the shelf in a more organic way than just in the box.”

Roberts has been a doll collector since she was a child, when she started gathering Barbie dolls. She loves Barbies so much, she even has a Mattel symbol tattooed on her foot

In 2018, she shared her love for dolls with her Instagram followers, posting: “Where my doll lovers at?”

Janet Jackson

Iconic singer Janet Jackson is said to have a penchant for collecting pig memorabilia. It is perhaps one of the oddest collectables on this list.

Her pig collection began in 2006: “I always wanted a hobby, so I decided to collect pigs. I have no idea why! And everyone started giving them to me.” 

However, her pig-themed collection soon grew out of hand. “I had hundreds of pigs. I mean, really, what was I supposed to do with them? So I gave it up!” 

Leonardo DiCaprio

After starring as heartthrob Jack in the iconic 1997 film Titanic, actor Leonardo DiCaprio is said to have filled one of his homes with Titanic memorabilia.

A tribute to his tragedy, DiCaprio’s Malibu beach house is said to have been Titanic-themed.

“Everything was Titanic, Titanic towels, Titanic posters, Titanic everywhere,” interior designer Megan Weaver shared.

“I don’t think that’s something he would do now, but back then . . . again, this was like the ’90s. I think the film wasn’t even that old [yet],” the designer remarked.

“It was also not his main house, and he hardly went there, so I think it was probably his mom who did it.”

Martha Stewart

American businesswoman, writer and gay icon Martha Stewart reportedly has a shed built on her New York home estate dedicated to storing baskets.

Known as the Basket House, this space houses hundreds of antique, vintage, and contemporary baskets.

On her blog, she shared details of her basket collection. Stewart shared: “A good number of these baskets were used during my catering days. They always bring back fond memories.”

She also outlined her appreciation for the practical process of basketmaking: “Baskets are made using different techniques, such as ‘plaiting’, which uses materials that are wide and braid like, ‘twining’, which uses materials from roots and tree bark.

“Human civilisations all around the world embraced the craft of basket weaving.”

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks’ weirdly wonderful collection is that of vintage manual typewriters. The 70-year-old Forrest Gump actor is said to own over 300 typewriters from the 1930s onward.

Last year, Hanks selected 35 items from his famous collection for a public exhibition. Though he does use a laptop, Hanks is said to use a typewriter to take notes, including his grocery lists.

Amongst Hanks’ vintage typewriters, he famously has models like the Hermes 3000, Olivetti Valentine, and 1955 Rheinmetall. His love for typewriters also sparked the idea of his short story collection Uncommon Type.

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The challenge came from a number of groups or individuals, including the Bayswater Support Group which give “support for parents of children IDing as trans”.

They asked that the trial be blocked, arguing it was unlawful. However the High Court has ruled it can go ahead after a two-day hearing.

In a statement, the PATHWAYS Trial research team said: “We welcome the Court’s decision. The safety and welfare of young people will remain our highest priority in carrying out this research. 

“PATHWAYS Trial is a carefully designed study to give much needed evidence about the potential benefits and risks of puberty suppression to improve NHS care.  

“A small number of young people with long-term gender incongruence, who have already received comprehensive psychological and social support through NHS Gender Services, will be eligible. 

“Only a small proportion of young people attending NHS Gender Services will take part in PATHWAYS Trial.   

“The study has strict eligibility requirements, and young people must already have received significant psychological and social support through NHS Gender Services to take part. Before taking part, young people will also have physical and mental health checks, be assessed by the independent national multidisciplinary team, demonstrate they understand the potential risks involved. They must provide informed assent and their parent or legal guardian must consent. 

“The design of PATHWAYS Trial has been carefully reviewed by independent researchers and has been approved by the UK’s health research regulators, the HRA and MHRA. The study has extensive safeguards, including strict eligibility criteria, consent processes, physical and mental health monitoring before and during the study, and continued psychological and social support.”

James Esses, from the Bayswater Support Group, said: “Vulnerable children should never be used as guinea pigs in medical experimentation that may lead them down a path towards irreversible physiological and emotional damage, including infertility.

“This trial is the antithesis of child safeguarding and I will now be consulting with my lawyers regarding the possibility of an appeal.”

Keira Bell, who detransitioned, said it was a “tragedy” that the court had refused the legal challenge over the trial.

The trial came about after a review by Dr Cass, who argued the evidence was “remarkably weak” when it came to the use of puberty blockers. She said in June that “more children will be harmed if we don’t do the trial than if we do”.

Outside of the PATHWAYS Trial, puberty blockers are currently unavailable for new patients under the age of 18.

In June, the trial set the minimum age requirements for participants. Trans boys aged 11 and over, and trans girls aged 12 and over, will be permitted to take part.

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The 41-year-old, who is the daughter of “hard man” actor Ray Winstone, has been acting professionally since 2004 and has appeared in a wide array of film and TV projects.

Winstone joins Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, and Dame Sarah Storey in the Strictly line-up.

Before she steps onto the dance floor, here’s everything you need to know about Jaime Winstone…

Is Jaime Winstone an LGBTQ+ ally?

Winstone continues to be a vocal LGBTQ+ ally, frequently showing up for the community through her appearances at queer events and her support of fundraising. 

Last year she posted ahead of Pride Month: “Celebrating Queerness and its incredible worldwide community.

“This is not a phase, Queer has always been here and is not going anywhere.

“However the community needs support more than ever and I continue my Allyship with strength, love and joy.

“[Queer Was Always Here] have designed a new range of tees and hats for the launch party raising funds for [Choose Love]’s work with LGBT+ refugees.”

Was Jaime Winstone in EastEnders?

Yes, Winstone has appeared in EastEnders in 2022 and 2025 as a younger Peggy Mitchell.

She first appeared in 2022 in a flashback episode set in 1979 that explored the Mitchell family’s past.

Then, in 2025, she reprised her EastEnders role as Peggy in hallucinations experienced by character Phil Mitchell for the serial’s 40th anniversary week.

The episode won ‘Best Single Episode’ at the 2025 British Soap Awards.

Furthermore, in the 2017 BBC drama Babs, Winstone portrayed Barbara Windsor, who famously played Peggy.

What movies and TV has Jaime Winstone been in?

Winstone has appeared in 22 credited films, most notably Made in Dagenham, Love, Rosie, and Tomb Raider. 

She has also appeared in several TV shows, including Mad Dogs, Five Daughters and Foyle’s War.

Additionally, Strictly will not be the first time the actor has appeared as a contestant on a reality show. In 2022, she appeared on The Masked Singer, finishing joint 7th/8th place with a double-elimination round.

Away from the screen, Jaime has enjoyed a successful modelling career, walking for the likes of Vivienne Westwood, and starred in the West End production of 2:22 A Ghost Story.

Who is Jaime Winstone’s husband?

Winstone has been in a relationship with James Suckling since 2015.

The pair got engaged in June 2022 during the Glastonbury Festivaland married in October 2023 in Sicily, Italy.

Winstone has one child with her husband, James. Their son, Raymond, was born in February 2016.

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Eric Conn, a pastor at Refuge Church in Utah and CEO and founder of New Christendom Press, took to X on Wednesday (29 July) to claim that women’s sports are “propaganda” of the “Longhouse”, a phrase used to describe Western society as hyper-institutionalised and dominated by feminine social norms.

Conn’s comments were in response to a tweet from Brandi Kruse about the Seattle Storm co-owner, Celeste Keaton, being suspended after an altercation with two Sophie Cunningham fans. Sophie Cunningham made headlines recently for her opinions on trans athletes, asserting her belief that she wants to “protect women’s sports”.

The fans were holding signs reading “Thank you, Sophie for speaking up for the girls!” They were also wearing T-shirts depicting XX and XY chromosomes. Kruse alleges that Keaton called the girls “f****** insane”, leading to her suspension.

In Conn’s tweet in response to Kruse on 29 July, he said: “Women’s sports are a key propaganda and discipleship tool of the Longhouse TM. WNBA is a hot bed of androgyny and homosexuality that inevitably leads to transgenderism.”

Despite these claims, there has only been one out non-binary trans player in the WNBA. Layshia Clarendon was the first out non-binary player in the WNBA and the first to undergo top surgery. They retired in 2024, and there are no current out non-binary or trans players.

Conn’s comments follow Scott Yenor, senior fellow of the Heritage Foundation, calling for Title IX, the law that stops sex-based bias in schools and allows for fair sports access, to be rewritten to remove the need for equality between men’s and women’s sports programming at colleges and universities.

Following the recent ruling that said states can exclude trans people from school sports without violating Title IX, Yenor wrote a report claiming that women would rather do yoga than play “competitive varsity sports” and that they should be excluded from some sports entirely.

He went on to say that the law needs to take into account the “genuine differences between the sexes” in order to “sustain vibrant women’s sports” and “expand male opportunities”. Yenor also claimed that funding for women’s sports is causing a reduction in funding for men’s sports, which he says no one wants to play.

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The Paramount+ spy thriller follows Joe (Saldaña), a soldier who attempts to balance her personal and professional lives while serving as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror. Saldaña’s character is a CIA senior case officer in charge of the Lioness program. 

The actor is also a vocal LGBTQ+ ally who has spoken about her experiences with sexual fluidity, even stating “girls are such better kissers”.

The show is helmed by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan, who serves as a creator, showrunner and also writer on Lioness. Additionally, Saldaña is joined on the show by The Shawshank Redemption’s Morgan Freeman, The Night Agent’s Genesis Rodriguez and Babygirl’s Nicole Kidman.

At the season premiere in New York City, Saldaña told People: “I do believe that Joe [McNamara] could’ve been a man. We’ve seen various stories of men like Joe.

“And Kaitlyn [Meade] could’ve been a man, the same way [Byron] Westfield could’ve been a woman, Kyle [McManus] could’ve been a woman. These are incredible, complex individuals [and] any actor who challenges themselves can rise to that occasion.”

‘It kind of defies gender and race’

Saldaña highlighted that the ability to pen layered and fluid characters is “what makes a really good writer”.

“When you write something so incredible that it kind of defies gender and race, and it’s just about the merit of that human being, I feel like you give yourself the opportunity of a wider range of actors that can come in and sort of vie for that part,” she continued.

“I have a great deal of respect for men that really know how to write women.

“I’m happy to say that, after playing one of his female characters for three seasons, I’m incredibly honoured that he wrote Joe as a woman.”

Season three of Lioness, according to the synopsis, sees Joe confronting “enemies operating in the shadows, leaving her to reckon with a war that now reaches into every part of her life”.

Lioness has featured LGBTQ+ representation throughout its previous seasons. In Season 1, operative Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira) and Aaliyah (Stephanie Nur), the daughter of a suspect, formed an intimate bond while on an undercover mission.

Season three of Lioness premieres on August 2 on Paramount+.

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The actor, who played Artie Abrams throughout the hit musical series, took to X on 29 July to condemn conspiracy theories that have resurfaced following renewed discussion about a possible Glee revival.

“Let me log off today because the way too many of you talk about real people who have passed as a ‘sacrifice’ or a ‘curse’ in regards to a TV show is f****** diabolical and untethered from any sort of humanity or reality,” McHale wrote. He ended the post bluntly: “Get f*****.”

His comments come after Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy revealed in a 27 July interview with People that he has considered revisiting the series, noting that a new generation of viewers has recently discovered the show.

He said: “That show is interesting because it’s come back around. So many young people now watch it. And I’m like, ‘Maybe we should revisit that show.’

“My nostalgia and love for that show is enough that I’m like, ‘Well, maybe people would like to see a new incarnation of that in some capacity.’ So yeah, I love that show and I loved what it became and what it meant to so many people.”

Glee cast members who have died

Since the series premiered in 2009, three prominent cast members have died.

Cory Monteith died from an accidental drug overdose in 2013 at the age of 31.

Mark Salling died by suicide in 2018 at the age of 35 while awaiting sentencing for a CSAM conviction.

In 2020, Naya Rivera died at the age of 33 in an accidental drowning while boating with her four-year-old son, whom authorities said she was able to help back onto the boat before disappearing beneath the water.

For years, some corners of the internet have referred to Glee as a “cursed” show, linking the tragedies together despite each involving very different circumstances.

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Raven – who famously now does RuPaul’s makeup and has even won Emmy’s for it – was included in the cast reveal and promos for the international series, and was adamant that she was competing.

In the first episode, the other contestants couldn’t quite believe she was there and refused to accept she was competing.

But she did and placed safe in the first episode, which was a sewing challenge.

However, host Michelle Visage has ruvealed the truth in the second episode – and it was all Liza Minelli, lies!

‘Was it all fake again?’

Visage enters the werkroom and announces an extra special guest judge for the week and, of course, it turns out to be Raven.

Nicole Paige Brooks fumes: “I’m not happy. Yeah, I’m not excited about this. Now that she’s revealed as a f****** judge, what was all that bonding? Was it all fake again?”

Visage explains: “Raven is not – I repeat, is not – a contestant. I asked Raven to be my mole to get to know you all as quickly as possible. And now, that assignment has come to an end.”

Raven, speaking in a confessional, says: “I was gonna compete just like anyone else. I went through it, mentally, but I think I did show you that I am that b****. And I’ll always be that b****.”

She adds: “The biggest surprise was reconnecting with Nicole Paige Brooks. I was really hard with Nicole in season two. But I’ve changed, and I do really, genuinely like Nicole. Nicole’s a special sister to me… an older sister.”

Drag Race Down Under vs The World airs on Stan in Australia and WOW Presents Plus elsewhere.

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The post Drag Race Down Under vs The World finally reveals truth to Raven casting appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.