As Pat Green took the stage at the Valley View 365U school board meeting on April 14, 2025, he recalled another night years earlier, when he picked up his 13-year-old son from the hospital. His son, who is trans and had recently come out as queer, had been shoved into a locker so hard that he needed four staples in his forehead.

“I hear the families of LGBTQI+ youth like mine,” Green tells the board. “And I just wanted to say thank you, and for God’s sake, don’t go backwards. … I almost lost the most precious gift God ever gave me.”

In the room with Green were also members of Awake Illinois, a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate and anti-government extremist group known for fighting against the rights of trans kids. They had filed a federal civil rights complaint against the district for allegedly violating Title IX by allowing transgender students access to bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their genders.

When Green’s son, now 25, came out over a decade ago in eighth grade, he faced slurs daily and was told to use the faculty bathroom if he didn’t want to use the girls’ restroom.

“By the end of freshman year, the light my son used to have had turned into dread. Soon after came the cutting, the suicidal ideation, the grades slipping from honour student to barely passing,” Green told Uncloseted Media and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Despite Green’s emotional appeal to the school board, Awake Illinois founder Shannon Adcock told the board that “failure to address the Title IX violations will invite severe repercussions, including the termination of federal funding for noncompliant institutions, which would mean $20million in this district’s case.”

Voices like Adcock’s prompted Green to start attending school board meetings. He noticed an increasing number of complaints and lawsuits from conservative parent groups targeting transgender-inclusive school policies in Illinois that were resulting in legal and financial strain for school districts.

Documents obtained by Uncloseted Media and the Chicago Sun-Times under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) found that Deerfield School District 109 has paid nearly $360,000 – the equivalent of four average teachers’ salaries – to fend off an ongoing lawsuit and pay for security costs spawned from complaints about trans-affirming bathroom and locker room policies.

That amount is the equivalent of 37% of all federal funds the district received last year. It included more than $255,000 for legal defence, over $30,000 in school security upgrades and $4,000 for extra staff to screen threats.

“When schools are forced to fight lawsuits over issues that aren’t a problem for the vast majority of people, it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars. Straight up monetarily, why are we spending so much time prosecuting and persecuting a minuscule part of the population? Why do you want your tax dollars doing that?” Allaina Humphreys, founder of Bolingbrook Pride, told Uncloseted Media and the Chicago Sun-Times.

While these suits are playing out across the state, school officials say they are following policies that align with the Illinois Human Rights Act, which state regulators and courts say require schools to allow transgender students to use facilities consistent with their gender identity. That interpretation was reinforced by the Illinois Human Rights Commission ruling in 2019 and subsequent state guidance issued in 2021.

But none of this is stopping parents like Adcock. “Federal law reigns supreme,” she said at a Naperville district meeting three months after filing the first of her complaints. “Only recently have trans cultists tried to contest [Title IX].” Adcock did not respond to requests for comment.

“I think the muddying of it comes from all of [Trump’s] executive orders,” says Humphreys. “This administration has used them … to dictate policy that it has no right to dictate. But that doesn’t mean people aren’t using it as a basis for legal action.”

Why Deerfield Had to Pay Nearly $360,000

Last spring, during a series of fiery school board meetings, Deerfield parent Nicole Georgas said her cisgender daughter refused to change for gym class after seeing a trans girl in the locker room. Georgas says administrators made her daughter change in front of them and the other student.

“My daughter refused to take part in having her privacy being violated,” Georgas said at a school board meeting last March.

The school district denies the allegations and says they are committed to obeying state law.

Despite this, Georgas – who declined to comment for this story – filed a federal civil rights complaint in March 2025 with the Department of Justice. Conservative legal groups Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies and Liberty Justice Center then cited Georgas’ story in complaints to the Department of Education.

America First Legal – a conservative legal group cofounded by Trump adviser Stephen Miller that has waged a litany of legal attacks against the LGBTQ community – then got in the mix. They urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Deerfield Schools District employees, asking federal prosecutors to look at whether school administrators coordinated enforcement of district policy in a way that violated students’ rights. Though no charges are identified in the referral itself, the letter invokes federal civil rights criminal statutes, which can carry penalties ranging from fines and probation to multi-year prison sentences.

In the Deerfield referral and accompanying press materials, America First Legal repeatedly referred to the transgender student as a “male” or a “boy ‘identifying’ as a girl,” and described school policies recognising students’ gender identities as “radical gender ideology” and “transgender madness.”

Following this, Georgas sued the district seeking an injunction, punitive damages and money for emotional distress. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights repeated Georgas’ claim that students were “allegedly forced” to change in front of the transgender student, and cited previous Trump administration executive orders regarding gender.

Georgas’ message gained even more attention when she appeared on Laura Ingraham’s and the late Charlie Kirk’s shows, where she used transphobic dog whistles to describe the trans student.

“They have continued to have the biological male student present in the locker room with the girls, and they are absolutely in violation with President Trump’s executive order,” Georgas said on Kirk’s show.

Shortly after her appearance on Fox News, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt about Georgas’ case. “We are not going to tolerate such behaviour by men pretending to be women. The president will continue to strongly stand for the rights of women and girls, not just in sports and on athletic fields, but also private spaces like locker rooms and bathrooms,” Leavitt told the reporter.

Georgas is moving to make her ongoing lawsuit a class action before her daughter graduates from middle school, which would void the case entirely.

Parallel Efforts Across the Country

According to Liz Mikitarian, a retired kindergarten teacher and the founder of STOP Moms for Liberty, the coordinated efforts to undermine the rights of trans students in Illinois mimic a strategy playing out nationwide.

Parallel Title IX investigations have cropped up in at least 18 educational institutions across 10 states following similar complaints about the policies, including in Wisconsin, California, Kansas, Colorado, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Washington. Some of these led to the Trump administration attempting to cut federal funds from public schools in Minnesota, Virginia and Maine.

“They feed these outlets that produce more hate,” Mikitarian told Uncloseted Media and the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s a model of misinforming people and making them afraid of something, and that works, especially when it’s people’s children. … [But] it’s a grift and people are catching on.”

Financial Burdens

All of these complaints are costing significant time and money and frustrating many parents who see them as a waste of school resources.

Deerfield parent Elizabeth Castro attended the meetings in her child’s district last year and says it was shocking to look around the country and see the same “manufactured controversy”.

“You realise it’s so much bigger when you see all the communities around the country that have dealt with this exact same pattern,” Castro told Uncloseted Media and the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Deerfield school district still hasn’t heard from the federal government, school officials say. And the Department of Education didn’t respond to a request for updates on the investigations.

“Schools should not be forced to divert hundreds of thousands of dollars away from classrooms, student services, mental health supports, accessibility accommodations and educational programming simply to defend their efforts to support vulnerable students,” Asher McMaher, the executive director of Trans Up Front IL, told Uncloseted Media and the Chicago Sun-Times. “These are vital public resources that should be invested in children, not spent responding to coordinated attacks on transgender youth and the institutions working to protect them.”

Policy Matters

Beyond the lost money and the chaos, the lawsuits and complaints have affected the trans kids who are at the center of these debates.

“The human cost is even greater than the financial one,” says McMaher. “These actions create fear, uncertainty and instability for transgender students and their families, many of whom are already navigating significant challenges. … The greatest tragedy is that these costs are entirely avoidable, yet they continue to grow as attacks on transgender youth are increasingly normalised and encouraged at the national level.”

According to Corey Lascano, LGBTQ coordinator for the Chicago Teachers Union, policies inform school culture, which is concerning especially when school is “the only place where [some trans youth] can feel safe to be themselves.”

“When you already exist in a world where there are no safe places and your government is adding to that, it’s dehumanising. … I worry about the suicide rate [for trans youth] increasing in Illinois,” Lascano says.

Pat Green, who is still grappling with the bullying his son experienced, shares Lascano’s concerns. “From the time he was born, he had this light,” says Green. “When he was at his old school, it was just gone. … I’m really scared about the way things are right now. I remember the fear of wondering if I was going to lose my son. [These groups] are not protecting children. They are causing so much harm.”

Readers affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans free on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.

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

The post $360,000 and counting – school districts are spending big bucks to fight anti-trans lawsuits appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

She said that the officer “spent like 10 minutes” questioning her about whether her license was real. “I explained to him that I am a transgender woman,” Ripper said. “It has to say ‘M’ legally.”

She continued: “He just awkwardly gave it back to me and sent me on my way with a verbal warning.”

However, this week Ripper received a notice informing her that she had failed to appear in county court for an arraignment after being charged for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.

The charge is a class B misdemeanour and could result in six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 and a permanent criminal record. She was also informed that if she didn’t appear in jail within 30 days, her license would be revoked.

“I literally got this notice in the mail after getting back from work so I can’t even call anyone to double-check,” she told Transistics News earlier this week.

“Everything I know about the case itself is from searching the case number on the notice. I’m just a little scared and freaking out.”

Transistics News has since confirmed that the charges against Ripper have been dismissed by the county prosecutor as of 23 June, but Ripper’s struggle is just one of the many that have and will be faced by transgender Kansans as a result of SB 244.

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

The post Charges dropped against Kansas trans woman threatened with jail for ‘invalid’ male license appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The fashion guru spoke on a recent episode of the Dinner’s On Me podcast about how he and another of the show’s stars had a “heated argument” because he wasn’t out to his family while filming season one.

“I’ve never said this before, and I won’t say who it was, but during filming of that first season, somebody on the cast was quite frustrated with me when they found out that I wasn’t out to my family,” France said.

He went on to say that his co-star told him: “Basically, ‘You’re kind of a traitor to us on the show if you’re not out.’ Like, ‘How can you be on Queer Eye and not be singing it from the rooftops?’”

France went on to say that he told the other cast member that they “had no idea” what his “experience is as a queer Muslim, a queer brown person, a queer immigrant”.

Ultimately, France came out to his family two days before the show’s premiere, saying that the experience was “absolutely shocking” but that his family wasn’t hostile, just inexperienced with the LGBTQ+ community.

He told the podcast that he “was navigating something so different to everybody else at the time, so it felt really heavy. But once my family accepted it and understood it, now, gosh, they’re a huge part of my life. They love my husband, they love my kids. We are so close again.”

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

The post Queer Eye star called Tan France ‘traitor’ for not being out filming season 1 appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

A full report shared with Out on 18 June shows that “femboy” was the most-searched term this month by a wide margin.

Coming in second was “twink”, a term that has reigned supreme worldwide for a long time. However, it was recently dethroned as the most popular search term with users in the United States, with “Black” winning the title in the country this time last year.

The stats also showed that almost half of all viewers of erotic gay content are women, with the audience being made up of 50.7 percent male and 49.7 percent female.

These figures mark an increase since last year, which saw women make up just 47 percent of the gay p*rn viewership.

Most people who use the erotic video site are aged between 18 and 24, a demographic that also showed a very enthusiastic interest in cartoon content.

The list of most searched gay adult film performers has also had a bit of a shake-up this Pride. Tyler Wu has taken the top spot, replacing Malik Delgaty.

Delgaty, Ethan Lestray, Legrand Wolf and Falcon Al all round out the top five, while Joey Mills, Foxy Alex and Rhyheim Shabazz, who all featured last year, failed to make the list.

The report also highlighted viewing habits in US states, and revealed that Rhode Island and Maryland use Pornhub the most.

The District of Columbia also got a shoutout, with the news that people in the area watch 35 percent more content on the site than the national average.

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

The post Pornhub’s Pride Month stats reveal most-searched term in June appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The first four episodes debuted on BBC iPlayer on 23 June (coinciding with the heatwave blasting the UK!) and it’s safe to say sparks are already flying.

For those living under a rock, the show sees pairings of girls meet for the first time to share a kiss, before they move into a stunning Italian masseria, all as host Dannii Minogue watches from afar.

It was confirmed earlier this year that the show, which also had two seasons of I Kissed A Boy, would end after the current run finished airing.

“It’s bittersweet,” Faye says, speaking to PinkNews. “We’re definitely going out with a bang, reminding everyone that we’re still here. I’m very grateful to have been a part of it, and how exciting that that can live on and stay in people’s conversations.”

Nikita agrees, saying: “In the queer community, I Kissed is such a big thing. It’s talked about among the queer community so much, so it is a shame, but like Faye said, so grateful to actually have lived that experience and get to share it over the world.”

“It is ridiculously disappointing that it’s being cancelled,” adds Imogen. “Everyone’s got their opinions on that, and it is so rubbish, but to be able to have been a part of the last ever I Kissed A Girl is such a proud moment. It’s such an honour to have been a part of it, we’ll just have to go out with a bang.”

And with just four episodes out so far (two more each Tuesday for the next three weeks), they are certainly already bringing it.

Things kick off with the first kiss, with the girls telling us there were seriously nervous.

“You’re sweating and everything before, you don’t know what to do,” Ebony tells us.

Nikita adds: “I was honestly so scared. My mouth was so dry. I thought I’d forgot how to kiss. Genuinely one of the scariest moments of my life, I’m not even being dramatic about it.”

“All that was going through my head was, like, ‘Oh my God, what if I know her?'” Imogen says. And as it turns out, some of the cast did know each other.

“It’s awful out there,” she jokes. “I don’t think I have ever spoke to somebody that doesn’t know one of my exes or doesn’t know one of my ex’s exes, or my friends. Everybody is connected. I live in Manchester – I could speak to somebody that lives in London and they still know somebody that I know.”

“It’s a hard life being a lesbian,” Ebony laughs.

Before long in the masseria, connections start to form – whether that’s romantic or platonic – and initial couples start to drift.

Ashlea tells us: “It’s difficult because you’re trying to find your feet by yourself, getting to know people, get to know your match, internalising all that, as well as trying to be entertaining. But everyone was really welcoming and lovely.”

Faye says: “We all got on so well as people, especially for the first night, we were all just having such a laugh, it was so much fun. I kept forgetting that I’m here to flirt and fancy people – you’ve got to get your head back in the game!”

Ashlea adds: “You’d be lounging around the pool, and you’d be like, ‘Oh, actually, I need to get a graft on!'”

Some girls went in with a strict idea of who they were looking for, but in the masseria, it all goes out the beautifually architected windows.

“One of the coolest things about being on the show was having that exposure to people from all different types of background and walks of life,” says Nikita. “We all got to have time, no distractions, just chatting to people. We got to learn so much more.

“It really helped open my mind and my knowledge, especially about queerness, because I do have queer friends, but these are queer friends from different walks of life.”

One person who went for someone outside of their usual type was Ashlea. She says: “Getting with Renee, she on paper is not my normal type that I’d go for out on the outside – masc, and is a friend beforehand. But in there, when you have such deep conversations with people and all you have to do is talk and understand them and their lives, you do fall into a trap of like actually falling for the person rather than basing it on looks alone.”

Imogen also explores a connection with Ebony, with the pair having known each other beforehand, which Imogen says was a “shock”.

“We’d never ever spoken in that way,” she tells us. “It had always just been platonic and typically I’m not Ebony’s type, so that definitely shocked me. I normally do just go off looks, and I’m not saying that Ebony’s not beautiful, you are, but I would typically stick to my type, regardless of their personality.”

But, Tyra says: “You couldn’t be super surprised about anything, because we were in a situation where we had to completely throw ourselves out of our comfort zones and explore things we wouldn’t typically explore.”

Soon, the dreaded “Kiss Off” approaches, in which girls must kiss their current partner, or save their kiss for another girl in the hope that they do the same. Anyone left unkissed is sadly sent packing.

“It’s very intense,” says Ashlea, “mortifying. You don’t see, but filming of that is hours on end, waiting around for everyone’s decisions. It’s very intense. Cold as well, because it’s night.”

Faye agrees, saying: “It’s very surreal, because you go from having a laugh with your friends in one to everything’s just so intense. You’re all stood there thinking, I’ve been living this up and I could just be going home now.”

“You’re riddled with anxiety,” Imogen says. “Even when you are so confident that this person is gonna kiss you, you don’t know what’s gonna happen. It’s the fear of the unknown.”

Tyra adds: “Like Immy said, you can be so sure that you’re staying, but you’re gonna lose someone with this. So it’s like, ‘Okay, yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna be fine, by my friend might not be.'”

Luckily, Ms Minogue is on hand to keep everyone calm. “She just made you feel loved in that moment,” Faye says, “like she was rooting for you.”

Ashlea adds: “She actually took the time to get to know us, our pairings, and understood why we were together, and our own individual journeys.”

Unfortunately, some journeys were cut short, but the girls are all leaving the show with a sense of pride that they showed up for queer women out there, especially during a time when the LGBTQ+ community faces constant attacks.

Imogen says: “I feel a lot more compassion for the lesbians that fit the stereotype of looking like a lesbian, because when you visibly look that way it’s a lot harder and you’re more prone to abuse. For me, if I don’t tell someone I’m a lesbian, it’s not a problem – apart from having to come out to literally every single person that I speak to.

“At the moment, in the media and even in person, in some way we’re backtracking. Like, it’s 2026, why is this still a problem?”

Tyra adds: “The younger generation, what message does it send to them? Finally we were in this space where we have shows like I Kissed A Girl, queer women were very much in the public eye – like the first season totally changed my perception of myself, inwards I was like, ‘Wow, finally people in the media I can relate to.’ To have that taken away so soon after it being given to us, I think that’s a really scary message to the younger generation.

“I just hope we can do something to push that message of, we don’t belong on the side. I hope we continue to be loud and proud about it.”

I Kissed A Girl is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

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

The post I Kissed A Girl season 2 cast on sparks flying, kiss-offs and show axe appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The Seattle World Cup host committee designated the Group G match on Friday as the first-ever Pride match, with Iran and Egypt being picked randomly for the bout. The countries, which have been historically anti-LGBTQ+, have spent months protesting the match, along with other organisations.

However, the Seattle organising committee has stuck to their guns, confirming that the Pride Match between the two teams on Friday will go ahead as planned to coincide with the start of Seattle Pride weekend. And with FIFA ruling that Pride flags are allowed in stadiums for World Cup matches, despite threats to stop games over them from Iran, it is sure to be an extra gay game.

Hedda McLendon, Seattle FQC26’s senior vice president of legacy, told Outsports: “We anticipate a lot of rainbow flags in the stadium and T-shirts with rainbow flags on them. Let’s welcome people to Seattle. It’s the World Cup. And let’s show them how we Pride. It’s not a day, it’s not a weekend here. It’s a month.”

This follows on from Iran asking FIFA to ban Pride flags from stadiums during World Cup matches as part of a list of demands. The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran argued that only officially recognised national flags should be displayed during matches. However, FIFA confirmed that rainbow flags and LGBTQ+ expressions would be allowed.

The city is also prepared for protests, with designated protest zones outside of the stadium to allow for safe demonstrations. The city’s mayor confirmed the move following recent matches in Southern California, which saw protests against Iran’s current regime and the FIFA ban on the “Lion and Sun” pre-revolutionary flag.

“We are very much expecting and prepared for protest activity, which is why we have many designated protest zones in the stadium area, and our law enforcement is very prepared to deal with that,” Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said.

In 2022, when Qatar, which imprisons people for being gay, hosted the FIFA World Cup, LGBTQ+ fans travelling for matches were warned to respect the local culture. It seems as though Seattle is following these guidelines by supporting the LGBTQ+ community and highlighting Pride Month.

Meanwhile, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has written a letter to the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, to urge the suspension of 11 teams – Iran and Egypt, as well as Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Algeria – which would not permit a gay player to be on their teams. Tatchell argues the discrimination would go against FIFA rules, which prohibit sexuality-based discrimination.

There are currently no out gay or bisexual players in the men’s World Cup. As of today (24 June), Qatar, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Uzbekistan have not qualified for the Knockout Stage of the World Cup.

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

The post World Cup Pride Match between Iran and Egypt to go ahead appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Mayfield shared on Facebook in April that she was in late-stage kidney failure and that she had been advised to start dialysis within a month. However, she made the choice to seek alternative medicine.

Her passing was confirmed to Watermark Out News by her best friend Manny Carames–West, who said that Mayfield had been like a sister to him.

“She always talked about it, and I think she did a good job of sort of prepping the people who were close to her for that this eventually was going to become a reality, because she was getting tired of the struggle,” Carames-West told the publication. “Not only did she have a struggle with the world accepting who she was, but her body was attacking her constantly.”

Mayfield was a passionate advocate for the intersex community. She was born with a 47XXY chromosome variation, meaning she was born with a partial uterus, one ovary, one testicle, one cracked fallopian tube, male-sized lungs, a female-sized heart, breast tissue and a diminished Adam’s apple.

She was assigned male at birth but later came to realise that she was a woman. Mayfield spoke with love about the years that she had lived as a man, as she recognised that the experiences she had helped shape her into the woman she became.

Mayfield was a vocal and passionate advocate for the intersex community, seeking to educate others and encourage a greater understanding of what intersex means and the challenges intersex people face.

In 2024, Mayfield spoke to Watermark Out News about how her job as an advocate for the intersex community would never be done. She said: “I know I’m creating ripples that long term might make a difference. That’s important to me. Nobody said advocacy was easy… but once it finds you, you feel like you need to keep doing it for the people behind you.”

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

The post Intersex activist Juleigh Mayfield dies aged 51 appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Authorities say a police officer, a civilian and the suspected gunman were killed during the incident in the city’s Côte-des-Neighs neighbourhood on Monday, 22 June.

A second officer was injured and remains in a stable condition.

While Montreal police have not officially identified the suspect, multiple Canadian media outlets and the Associated Press have named him as 25-year-old Seth Scott Hatfield, from Lethbridge, Alberta.

Police have not yet confirmed a motive, but reports indicate investigators are examining a 104-page manifesto allegedly left behind by the suspect.

The document reportedly contained misogynistic “incel” ideology, called for violence against a range of targets, and referenced pornography companies among them, according to BBC News.

The shooting took place close to the offices of Aylo, the company behind Pornhub and other adult entertainment platforms.

Local reports said windows were damaged at the building during the incident, though authorities have not publicly linked the attack to any specific target.

In a statement, published by the New York Post, Aylo said: “We are aware of recent media reports about yesterday’s shooting, including reports discussing a possible connection to Aylo and Pornhub. The investigation remains ongoing, and we will not speculate on motive or share unconfirmed information.”

The post Three dead after shooting near Pornhub parent company’s HQ in Montreal appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

According to official records obtained by TMZ, Von – whose legal name is Dawson Bacon – was arrested for a second time on Saturday, 20 June and charged with one count of misdemeanour DUI in Nevada. Further details about the incident have not yet been made public.

The latest arrest comes just weeks after the 23-year-old was taken into custody in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident involving his partner.

Court records cited by TMZ show that Von was also arrested on 2 June and charged with two felonies: domestic battery by strangulation and coercion constituting domestic violence involving the threat or use of physical force.

He also faces a misdemeanour domestic battery charge. Police alleged that Von attempted to strangle his partner at a Las Vegas residence, though authorities have released few additional details about the alleged incident.

Following his arrest, Von denied the allegations, telling Out that the charges would “be dropped” and that “this was all a publicity stunt”.

The allegations remain unproven, and the case is ongoing.

Von rose to prominence in the gay adult entertainment industry after entering the business at 18 and has built a substantial online following.

In 2024, he received multiple nominations at the GayVN Awards, winning Favourite Twink and Favourite C***.

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

The post Adult star Drake Von arrested again in Las Vegas and charged with DUI appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Storrie is in the French capital for fashion week, and was pictured sitting beside Madonna and Kate Moss at the Saint Laurent show on 23 June. Fans have been excited by his latest appearance, ahead of filming for Heated Rivalry season two which is expected in July.

But on X (formerly Twitter), one fan reportedly had a less exciting time in Paris. The user, who many online know as “Club Chalamet” for her Timothée Chalamet fan account, but who has since turned her attention to Storrie, shared a series of images of another fan, claiming the person “assaulted” her.

The person claimed she had been waiting at the hotel and trying to shade from the sun, so was wearing a cap, sunglasses and an SPF facial mask, so “looked a bit incognito”.

She claimed she noticed another fan looking at her as if they knew who she was and she “started getting nervous”. The user claimed that she eventually felt someone “forcefully” pulling her back by her backpack, before the other fan “glared” at her and tried to remove her face mask.

She claimed the fan “proceeded to tell everyone within ear shot that I’m a stalker”.

Before long, the other fan was identified, and they wrote on X: “So um. Just had a fight with Club Chalamet.” They later added: “Hi babe. Just stopped you from running towards Connor and assaulting him, security can back me up, so can many fans.”

‘Waiting outside of a celebrity’s hotel is loser behaviour’

While some other users online have seemingly chosen their side in the beef, others have criticised both parties.

One person said: “Acting like you’re better than Club Chalamet while you are also waiting outside a celeb’s hotel is f****** insane behaviour.”

Another said: “Why would you ever think you’re noble for manhandling an elderly woman for being the exact kind of freak as you?”

A third said: “You were both standing in the sun for hours to get a glimpse of a man for under a minute. There is no age where that isn’t sad as hell.”

While someone else said: “Parasocial relationships moved from fans thinking they know their favourite celebrity to fans self appointing themselves as body guards for said celebrity, somehow.”

And another added: “No matter how you spin it, waiting outside of a celebrity’s hotel is loser behaviour.”

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

The post Connor Storrie fans ‘fight’ at Paris hotel as they wait for Heated Rivalry star appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

On 23 June, the singer and Wicked star shared a carousel of photos which showed her life recently. However one photo in particular caught attention.

In the snap, Grande could be seen petting a dog as she crouched down to the floor. However, due to the camera angle, fans could see down her top.

Rather than delete the photo (as of time of publication, at least), the 32-year-old shared it to her story for an extra spotlight, perhaps not realising what fans could see.

She then shared a video in which she and friend Liz Gillies recreated a scene from the 1995 movie Showgirls, which they first released in 2023 for Halloween.

In it, Gillies, as Cristal Connors, tells Grande, as Nomi Malone: “You have great t***. They’re really beautiful.” Grande responds: “Thank you.”

Fans were in stitches over her reaction. One said on X: “Ariana ‘accidentally’ posting her full t**** on Instagram then posting this on her story I’m crying.”

Another said: “She’s so f****** funny OMG.” A third commented: “She really don’t gaf [give a f***].”

The fun photos, which also showed Grande with friends including Gillies, and included shots from her current tour, comes after she launched her Brighter Days Foundation, which will help the LGBTQ+ community.

It was also reported earlier this month that Grande and her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater have split up, after almost three years together.

According to People, they “quietly” ended things “several months ago” and have remained “amicable”.

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

The post Ariana Grande pokes fun at own wardrobe malfunction with cheeky comeback appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The cast was revealed on 23 June, with the series set to premiere on WOW Presents Plus on 24 July.

The drag artist, whose real name is David Petruschin, first competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race season two in 2010, finishing as runner-up, before returning for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season one in 2012 and again placing runner-up. Fans have said she was “robbed” given her incredible performances on each season, but now may be her chance at glory.

Raven later joined the show behind-the-scenes during filming for season nine in 2017 and has remained through to season 18, earning one Emmy Award and two additional nods for her work.

Raven will compete alongside 10 other queens: Art Simone, Coco Jumbo, Estrella Xtravaganza, Flor, LaLa Ri, Miss Jade So, Michael Marouli, Nikita Iman, Nicole Paige Brooks and Vybe. Michelle Visage hosts, with Rhys Nicholson and Drag Race Down Under season four winner Lazy Susan on the judging panel.

Raven’s return to competition

Raven’s casting marks a rare switch from behind-the-scenes fixture to contestant again, after becoming a key part of the franchise’s on-screen polish through her long-running role as RuPaul’s make-up artist. As Raven, she also co-hosts the Drag Race companion fashion YouTube series Fashion Photo RuView.

Raven is widely regarded as one of the franchise’s most influential early-era contestants, known for sharp confessionals, a polished mug, and fashion-forward drag. Her partnership with Raja on Fashion Photo RuView helped shape fandom language around runway critique (toots/boots), and her aesthetic and techniques have been heavily emulated across drag and beauty communities.

What we know about Down Under vs the World

Drag Race Down Under vs the World is the third vs the World spin-off, following British and Canadian-set editions. It also builds on the Down Under branch of the franchise, which was renamed Drag Race Down Under in March 2024 when RuPaul stepped down as host and Visage took over for season four.

Visage previously said she had “zero hesitation” about hosting Drag Race Down Under. “Also, what a freaking honour. Me and some of our fabulous queens from Down Under joining me? It’s just wonderful,” she added.

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

The post ‘Robbed’ RuPaul’s Drag Race icon finally returning to compete after 14 years appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Police in Victoria, Australia have identified 95 attacks on gay or bisexual men since June 2024. Chad Hughes, Thorne Harbour Health’s chief executive said 42 arrests have been made in relation to the attacks.

However, Hughes said he believes the “true number” is much higher, with victims reluctant to come forward over mistrust of the police.

Jenna Tuke, from Switchboard Victoria, said some victims were scared they could be outed to family members in their home countries, and were extorted.

Tuke said: “We’ve heard a lot of stories of people who’ve been … contacted after the offence and asked to deposit tens of thousands of dollars in an account ‘otherwise, this video will be shared with everyone in your contacts.’

“We’ve certainly seen a pattern of overseas students being targeted in countries where … homosexuality is illegal.”

Tuke added that the “family implications for those people are absolutely massive”, as per The Guardian.

According to Tuke, one person who called Switchboard Victoria said they had until 10pm to give the blackmailer money, before the blackmailer said they’d tell the victim’s family about their sexuality.

She added: “We’re hearing those types of stories quite frequently.

“It does appear that they may be targeting people who they think are not ‘out’, and for whom the kind of consequences of being outed as gay or queer will be greater.”

While the cases differ, they share similar details. Victims were invited to meet in a public place, but were then physically attacked, filmed, and in a number of incidents, extorted.

‘It was just pure hatred’

At a recent community meeting, Hughes said 12 men shared they’d been victims of similar attacks, but just two reported them to the police. One of those “regretted that”.

He said: “The attacks are deliberate and humiliating. The victims are forced to recite slurs on camera and footage is shared online to give the perpetrators status with their target audiences: others in the manosphere.”

Some of the attackers are reportedly as young as 13, with victims specifically targeted due to their perceived sexuality.

One witness said at the inquiry that he had been speaking to someone on an app for around a month before agreeing to meet in public in August 2024. He was then attacked by two teenagers.

He said: “They turned up to a park with a knife bigger than any of you have in your kitchen and held it to me … it was just pure hatred.”

The man said he felt there hadn’t been “any justice” as one teen was found guilty without recording a conviction, and the other was never charged. He said they were only arrested because there had been three other attacks “on the same street in broad daylight once again”.

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

The post Gay students from countries that criminalise homosexuality extorted with ‘outing’ threats appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Trans advocacy group Gender Liberation Movement published the letter, which was addressed to NYC Pride’s Board of Directors and Leadership, on 22 June.

“We write as LGBTQ+ organisations, advocates, community leaders, allies, and New Yorkers who believe that Pride must remain rooted in solidarity with those most under attack,” the letter begins.

“Across the country, transgender youth and their families are facing an unprecedented assault on their rights, dignity, and access to healthcare.”

The letter praises institutions that have “courageously defended trans youth” despite pressure from the Trump administration. However, it also criticises hospitals that have caved to government attacks and specifically calls out three by name.

“Several New York City hospital systems, including NYU Langone, Mt. Sinai, and New York Presbyterian, have instead chosen to preemptively end gender-affirming care for young people, capitulating to the attacks by the Trump Administration,” the letter states.

The organisation goes on to say that ending access to gender-affirming care “puts trans youth at risk” and has had “devastating consequences.”

“Families have been forced to seek care elsewhere, endure significant disruptions to treatment, and confront uncertainty about their children’s futures,” the statement continues, as per The Advocate. “At a moment when trans youth need institutions to stand firm, these hospitals chose cowardice over courage.”

It then calls on NYC Pride to ban the named hospitals from participating in current and future marches and festivals surrounding Pride in the city, “unless and until they restore the care and publicly commit to protecting trans youth and their families.”

“Institutions cannot claim solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities one day a year while abandoning trans youth when political pressure mounts,” the statement reads.

“We’re in a historical moment where, as a community, we must be unequivocal about our support for the next generations. Trans youth are not expendable or political pawns. They deserve access to healthcare that allows them to have a future worth living.”

According to the group, 2026 NYC Pride grand marshals Bowen Yang, Dominique Jackson, Peppermint and Jay Walks from Gays Against Guns have all signed the letter.

Former grand marshals, including Michelle Visage, TS Madison, Jazz Jennings, Cayenne Doroshow and Raquel Willis, have all also backed the statement.

The letter is also supported by a number of other LGBTQ+ community members, trans children and their families, LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations and queer leaders. It concludes with an invitation for others to support the cause via the GLM website.

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

The post NYC Pride urged to ban hospitals that stopped providing care for trans kids appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Wembley Stadium has confirmed it is relaxing its usual water bottle rules for Harry Styles’ show on 23 June, allowing fans to bring metal or hard plastic bottles as London braces for extreme heat and a Met Office red warning later this week.

The venue is also cutting the price of bottled water sold across its bars by 50 per cent, and making free sun cream available from information points inside the stadium. Fans can refill permitted bottles at free water points around Wembley, and empty soft-plastic bottles up to 500ml are also allowed.

A spokesperson for Wembley said, as per The Mirror: “Our traditional policies around water bottles have been relaxed for the past few events as temperatures have risen, and we would encourage guests to bring bottles as per above and refill them inside the stadium.”

Wembley’s guidance also urges people to pace themselves in the heat: “Avoid consuming too much alcohol. Stay hydrated with water.”

Stadium bosses has advised attendees to take breaks in shaded areas, wear sun cream, dress in loose, breathable clothing and avoid arriving too early. The Met Office red extreme heat warning is in place from Wednesday morning into Thursday night.

With heat affecting travel, National Rail urged people to “please only travel if absolutely necessary” in its travel advice issued on Tuesday.

Harry Styles Wembley timings

Styles is continuing his record-breaking 12-night Wembley Stadium residency on 23 June, with Shania Twain appearing as a special guest.

Doors open at 5pm, Twain is due on stage at 6.55pm, and Styles is expected to begin at 8.15pm, with a 10.30pm curfew/end time.

The residency began on 12 June and continues through to 4 July, with remaining dates including 26, 27 and 29 June, plus 1, 3 and 4 July.

Styles has a fashion-forward, gender-nonconforming style and an inclusive concert atmosphere that often includes visible Pride flags, without publicly labelling his own sexuality.

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

The post Wembley Stadium changes rules for Harry Styles gig as London roasts in heatwave appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Last week, Judge Lady Ross ruled that prison guidance allowing some trans prisoners to be held in jails matching their gender identity, rather than their sex at birth, was unlawful. She said sex segregation in prisons must be based on biological sex.

The challenge was brought by campaign group For Women Scotland, which argued only those born biologically female should be held in the women’s estate.

For Women Scotland’s Susan Smith welcomed the “comprehensive victory.” “This has been a long fight, and one which should never have been needed,” she said.

Lady Ross said trans prisoners retain human rights, but this did not give them an automatic right to be housed in a prison for the opposite biological sex.

The Scottish Government said it would not appeal, and that the policy had already been withdrawn. The SPS said it would now house people according to their biological sex, and safely transfer the small number affected.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling last year, also won by For Women Scotland, which found that the words “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act refer to biological sex, and do not include a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate.

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

The post Trans woman prisoners in Scotland to be removed from female jails appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The survey comes from Data for Progress, a progressive US-based research group, and was shared with The Advocate on 19 June.

Results showed that more than half of Americans polled – 51 percent, in fact – said they were more likely to vote for a candidate who actively supports LGBTQ+ rights.

Just 16 percent said they did not know which kind of candidate they would prefer when it comes to support for the queer community.

Despite almost a third of respondents saying they would prefer an anti-LGBTQ+ candidate, only one percent of people said that LGBTQ+ issues are what they consider most while voting.

Alongside the polling statistics, Data for Progress also noted that President Donald Trump and other Republican candidates spent at least $215million on televised ads that targeted Democratic candidates about supposed trans issues during the 2024 election cycle.

The Data for Progress results come after a continued attack on Pride Month, during which many Republican-governed states have declared the month of June to be a celebration of opposing values.

Indiana and Tennessee both proclaimed this June to be ‘Nuclear Family Month’, Alabama declared it ‘Strong Families Month’, Illinois declared it just regular ‘Family Month’, and Arkansas and Utah are celebrating ‘Fidelity Month’.

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

The post 32% of US voters prefer candidates who oppose LGBTQ+ rights, study shows appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The 30-year-old man, who is identified as “Louis Kim”, was arrested in Pattaya after allegedly uploading explicit videos of himself to social media which, according to Pattaya Mail, he admitted to police. It’s alleged he was also found with a large amount of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy, during a police raid.

His arrest came after local authorities got a search warrant as part of a wider crackdown of transnational crime as well as online offences. Images shared by Khaosod Online show the heavily tattooed-man being questioned by police.

The man was charged under the country’s Computer Crime Act for importing obscene content into a computer system accessible to the public. He has also been charged under Thailand’s Penal Code for the distribution of the content. Under narcotics laws, he is facing charges for possession of Category 1 and 2 drugs, with intent to sell.

According to Thai Examiner, the man previously caused controversy in May in Thailand for live-streaming sexual activity on social media.

It’s reported that immigration police plan to expand the investigation to determine where the drugs came from, and if the man is part of a wider network.

As per The Thaiger, if convicted, the charge under the Computer Crime Act could see a prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of up to 100,000 baht (£2,282/$3,017), or both.

The charge for distributing explicit material could result in up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht (£1,369/$1,810), or both.

Meanwhile, the drug charges could carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to 2million baht (£45,610/$60,263).

Section 287 of the Thai Penal Code makes it illegal to produce, distribute or possess obscene materials for the purpose of trade, though the law is often unenforced.

The post Adult creator arrested in Thailand for sharing explicit content and drug possession appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Murphy, who first caused controversy after comments about puberty blockers, opened up a discussion on X (formerly Twitter) about trans people, claiming “they” are “changing the historical record, denying sexual orientation, piggybacking on their rights movement, undermining public acceptance and dismantling the culture” of the LGBTQ+ community.

She claimed that trans people coming out during childhood was “significantly decreasing the numbers and with that, altering the power dynamic irrevocably in the future”.

Her initial post caused backlash, with one fan attempting to tell her: “We LGBT+ people live together in harmony as a community,” before adding: “Don’t let all this discussion overshadow your talent and your music.”

In response, Murphy said: “I need to know my audience has my back. So my position must be clear; nothing in between will do. It’s important to claim some territory on which an artist can safely stand. I do not want trans activists, aware or unaware of my stance, at my concerts, and neither do my fans. Other than that, all are welcome.”

‘I would recommend a tour of Russia’

Her declaration caused more backlash, with one person saying: “Are we to declare our hatred of LGBTQIA people at the venue or when we buy a ticket? Not that it matters now cos you’ve well and truly sunk your career. Not only are the vast majority of fans pro-LGBTQIA but also are the musicians and the industry you fester in.”

Another said: “You can very well return to events sharing your view. I would recommend a tour of Russia, where ‘LGBT’ is officially banned as an ‘extremist movement’.”

Someone else said: “Róisín Murphy banning ‘trans activists’ from her gigs is pretty telling tbh. When a kid draws up a list of who’s not invited to their birthday party, the rest of the class tend to quit in sympathy, love.”

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

The post Roisin Murphy faces backlash as she says ‘trans activists’ not welcome at her gigs appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The Emmy-nominated actor was speaking on NPR’s Fresh Air to promote her new memoir, Transcendent, released earlier this week.

In the Netflix series Cox played Sophia Burset, and flashback scenes showing the character before transition were performed by her brother M Lamar.

Cox explained that producers had initially planned to hire another actor for the role. “[I] asked my brother if he’d be open to it. And he said, ‘How much does it pay?'” she recalled.

“And then he ended up going in for the audition, but he had an advantage because he kind of looks a little bit like me.”

She added that the experience was not entirely comfortable for him.

“So he booked it and did it and he had regrets about it for a while because he has his own work and his own life and he wants to be defined by his work and not mine,” she said.

Cox said their relationship is now “healthier than it’s ever been”.

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

The post Laverne Cox says brother had ‘regrets’ over playing her pre-transition in OITNB appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Morgan Armstrong sued Tennessee Christian Preparatory School in Cleveland after it banned her from the ceremony and withheld her diploma.

Under the settlement she received the payout and her diploma, and the school is barred from making disparaging comments about her to colleges.

Armstrong, a star basketball player, had come out on social media, posting photos with her girlfriend captioned “cat’s out of the bag.”

She then privately messaged friends asking them to like the post, writing: “Go and comment on my post, I have some ruthless Trump supporting ‘Jesus’ mfs on there.”

The school then summoned her family and presented a letter accusing her of “a disparaging remark, reflecting the people at Tennessee Christian”, barring her from graduation and threatening to forward her posts to colleges, as per WSMV4.

Her attorney, Daniel Horwitz, said Armstrong had never posted anything about the school, and that it had ignored its own policy, under which a first social media violation should bring just a one-day suspension.

On the day she was due to graduate, Armstrong and her family protested across the street.

“It was difficult having to stand across the street knowing that the people I’ve grown up with for the last four years were able to walk across the stage and I wasn’t allowed to,” she said.

At the time of the lawsuit, Head of School Jared Tilley said the school “firmly rejects the misleading allegations” and remained committed to delivering Armstrong’s diploma.

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

The post Christian school to pay $10,000 to gay student banned from graduation after coming out appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Madonna has said her planned biopic collapsed after a “falling out” over budget, with the project now reportedly being reworked as a Netflix series with Shawn Levy.

In an Interview magazine conversation, the 66-year-old said she had spent years developing the film. “I was supposed to make a movie about my life. I worked on my script for two years and spent two years at Universal Studios with the line producers doing budgeting and casting,” she said.

Madonna described the split as a dispute over money. “We had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget because I needed, I’ve had an extraordinary life. I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget. You know what I mean?” she said.

She also suggested the breakdown created a second problem: the script itself. “That was a whole other long process, because I couldn’t use the script I had with Universal unless I bought it from them for an extortionate price, even though I wrote it,” Madonna said.

From Universal film to Netflix series

Madonna said she then began looking at how her story might work in a different format. “I started trying to understand how making a series would work. It’s a very, very different process,” she said, adding that meeting writers and finding a showrunner took “another eight or nine months”.

The project is now reportedly back in development as a Netflix series, with Madonna collaborating with the streamer and director Shawn Levy. Julia Garner had been expected to play Madonna in the Universal version, with Madonna set to direct.

Madonna on ‘soul-destroying’ scrolling

Madonna also shared her scepticism about social media. “We think if we look at Instagram for two hours, we’ve actually been with somebody,” she said. “It’s mesmerising and also soul-destroying.”

She added: “If I go on Instagram for more than 10 minutes, I get depressed, and I don’t want to go there. Why am I giving this non-existent entity power over my soul, my brain, my vision of myself, my vision of the world?”

Madonna said: “Time is precious, and that’s something I’ve known all my life. Time’s precious. What can I get done? What can I do?”

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

The post Madonna says her biopic has been scrapped over ‘falling out’ on budget appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

In February this year, Marhamah Rosli, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), said that replacing “LGBT” with something else will influence online algorithms from showing LGBTQ+ content in the country, and therefore prevent the “normalisation” of queer culture.

Speaking during a Parliament session, she said: “The more we utter, write, or state [‘LGBT’], the more ‘pop-out’ content related to it will appear. Without realising it, we are promoting the culture unknowingly.”

Malaysia has a Muslim-majority population, but the country is not as strict as others in its approach to Islamic laws. However, Malaysian LGBTQ+ people have long faced harsh persecution.

Male-male and male-female anal sex is criminalised by federal law, and can result in 20 years imprisonment with caning, fines and deportation. In State Shariah law, both gay and lesbian sex are illegal for Muslims in all states and federal territories, except Pahang.

The country holds no protections, such as anti-discrimination laws or the right to change one’s legal gender, for LGBTQ+ people.

‘It contributes directly to violence, discrimination, and violations of dignity and equality’

Malaysian LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation Justice for Sisters reported that 307 queer people were arrested in the country under both federal and state laws in 2025 alone.

Justice for Sisters responded to the recent term change in a statement.

“The term ‘budaya songsang’ dehumanises LGBT people, fuels misinformation, and reinforces the dangerous belief that LGBT people should be ‘corrected,’” the statement reads.

“It contributes directly to violence, discrimination, and violations of dignity and equality under Articles 5 and 8 of the Federal Constitution.”

Amnesty International Malaysia’s campaigner Qistina Johari also spoke out about the change. “We strongly condemn this appalling decision by the government,” Johari said.

“When public officials label LGBTI people as ‘deviant’, they are not upholding morality — they are legitimising hate and discrimination against a highly vulnerable group. Words from those in power carry weight and real-world consequences.”

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

The post Malaysia government officially changes term ‘LGBT’ to ‘deviant culture’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Dr Hilary Cass has defended the NHS-backed Pathways puberty blockers trial as a harm-reduction measure, saying she is “absolutely convinced that more children will be harmed if we don’t do the trial than if we do”.

Cass made the comments in a BBC interview, as the study faces political pressure and a legal challenge calling for it to be scrapped.

The Pathways clinical trial, which confirmed the minimum ages for young participants, will be run by researchers at Kings College London (KCL). Researchers plan to examine the impact of puberty blockers on participants’ physical, social and emotional wellbeing, such as bone density, brain function and fertility.

Cass claimed that since UK-wide restrictions were introduced, “some of the hype about risks have been exaggerated in that we genuinely don’t know if there are harms”.

She described the trial as “essential” to answer whether the drugs are helpful, adding that young people will be “closely monitored in every respect” and that the drugs would be stopped if concerns emerge.

Cass also claimed that, without a regulated trial, young people would continue to access medication through “unregulated and dangerous routes”.

She said: “Today we have young people turning up in the clinics on testosterone at 11, which we know is irreversible,” adding that puberty blockers might give more time for therapeutic support. Previous guidance said testosterone should not be prescribed in the UK for children under 16 seeking gender treatment.

Pathways trial timeline and safeguards

The research was recommended after Cass’s 2024 review of children’s gender medicine, which suggested weak evidence behind puberty blockers’ use. In 2024, the government brought in a UK-wide, indefinite ban on puberty blockers being prescribed privately or through the NHS for children’s gender care.

The trial was announced in November 2025 before being paused in February of this year when medical regulators proposed a minimum age of 14 for participation. KCL researchers later agreed minimum ages of 11 for trans male participants and 12 for trans female participants. It’s understood the trial will start in August, subject to ongoing legal action.

Political and legal pressure

Health Secretary James Murray told Parliament on Monday: “I have felt uncomfortable and uneasy about some of the challenges raised by this matter.” He added: “But for me, following the clinical advice, basing future decisions on clinical evidence, is the right way to move forward in the context of me having received the most robust assurances about the safeguards which are in place to protect young people involved in this trial from receiving harm.”

Campaigners bringing legal action argue the trial is unethical, saying children can’t give properly informed consent to take part. TransActual’s healthcare director Chay Brown welcomed the trial, but said the NHS should reverse the puberty blocker ban and “provide timely and holistic care for all trans people on the basis of informed consent – not the latest moral panic”.

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

The post Dr Hilary Cass says ‘more children will be harmed’ without puberty blockers trial appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Throughout his career, he signed iconic acts including Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Westlife, Ace of Base, and Alicia Keys among many others. He also worked with Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson on their Grammy-winning albums Breakaway (2006) and Jennifer Hudson (2009) respectively.

But his personal life also made headlines when he came out as bisexual in 2013, at the age of 80.

Before then, he had been married and divorced twice. First to Helen Cohen between 1956 and 1965, and then to Janet Adelberg from 1965 to 1985.

He came out as bisexual in 2013 in his autobiography The Soundtrack of My Life, which would later become a documentary.

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine’s Anthony DeCurtis, he explained: “After my second marriage failed … I just found that I would open myself up to the possibility of a relationship based on the person and not on gender.”

He went on: “It was frankly intimidating in the sense that the adage is true… nobody believes it. You’re either gay or straight or you’re lying. You get tired of not making any progress.”

What Clive Davis said about being bisexual

In his book, Davis said his first sexual encounter with a man was in “the era of Studio 54”. At the time, he was married to Janet Adelberg.

He wrote: “On this night, after imbibing enough alcohol, I was open to responding to his sexual overtures. Was I nervous? Absolutely. Did the heavens open up? No. But it was satisfying.”

Davis said he then went through a period of “soul searching and self-analysis” and then dated men and women after his split from Adelberg.

Speaking to Katie Couric, he explained: “You don’t have to be only one thing or another.

“I opened myself up to the possibility that I could have a relationship with a man as well as the two that I had with a woman.”

While speaking with Nightline, he explained that he didn’t have sex with a man “for over 50 years” but he “wasn’t repressed” as he had “very good sexual relationships with women”.

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

The post Why late music mogul Clive Davis came out as bisexual aged 80 appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Romeo Beckham is set to make his acting debut in Forty Love, a gay tennis romance film that centres on desire, competition and identity, with a French cinema release set for 25 November.

An image was released alongside the film’s first-look reveal by Variety and international sales push.

In Forty Love, Beckham plays a charismatic new rival to tennis superstar Sacha Gallo, portrayed by Paul Kircher. Sacha has been training alongside his dad to win a big trophy in Paris, but the arrival of Beckham’s character unsettles everything he thinks he knows about “competition, ambition and himself”.

The synopsis frames the rivalry as something more intimate: “For the first time, he faces an opponent of an entirely different nature, love,” it reads. It continues: “A force as exhilarating as it is destabilising, and far more dangerous than anything he has encountered on the court.”

While some fans may be confused by Beckham’s casting, he has a history with tennis. He decided to (briefly) ditch a potential career in football for tennis in the mid 2010s, even training with Andy Murray. However he returned to his football dreams in 2020.

Cast, director and release plans

The film is directed by fashion photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti, in his first feature as a director. Beckham stars opposite Kircher, Guillaume Canet and Benjamin Voisin, with an appearance from Catherine Deneuve. The score is by 070 Shake and Johan Lenox.

The film is produced by Hugo Sélignac and Paco de Bary at Chi-Fou-Mi Productions (a Mediawan company) and co-produced by Studiocanal and Manna Studios.

Sélignac said of Carlotti: “There is a rare tenderness, melancholy and strength in his images, and his move into directing felt like a natural next step to me.”

Chloé Marquet, Studiocanal’s head of international sales for films and TV, said: “Carlotti’s singular visual language gives the film a real edge, while its exploration of desire, competition and identity will resonate with audiences worldwide.”

What Romeo Beckham is doing next

Beckham is the second son of David and Victoria Beckham and has grown up in the public eye as part of one of Britain’s most high-profile celebrity families.

He has worked as a model and brand ambassador in fashion, and has modelled for luxury brands including Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. Aside from modelling, he has played football like dad David, playing for teams including Brentford B.

The film will see Romeo follow in mum Victoria’s footsteps, after her history-making performance in Spice World: The Movie. And no, we’re not being sarcastic. “And I’m Victoria, Malcolm!” is one of the best-delivered lines in all of film history.

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

The post Romeo Beckham to make acting debut in gay tennis film… yes, really appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

David Hockney’s funeral has already taken place in private, with only his partner and great-nephew present, his publicist Erica Bolton has confirmed in a statement.

As per The Independent, Bolton said: “The funeral has already taken place.” She added: “We would like to clarify that it was David’s clear wish that his funeral should be attended only by his partner, JP, and his great-nephew Richard; and that their privacy would be respected.”

Bolton also said: “The vast majority of his works will be given to foundations in furtherance of his legacy, as well as to public institutions throughout the world.”

Hockney died at his home in London on 11 June, aged 88, it was confirmed.

Memorials planned for 2027

Bolton said the first memorial service in celebration of Hockney’s life and work will take place in London in spring 2027, with memorials in Yorkshire, Paris and Los Angeles to follow.

Tributes have continued to come in from across the art world. Dame Tracey Emin described Hockney as: “A proud chain-smoking homosexual, who flew the flag higher than any other British artist.”

David Hockney’s life and legacy

Born in Bradford in 1937, Hockney became one of Britain’s most influential post-war artists, associated with pop art and later celebrated for bold colour, draughtsmanship and experimentation. His Los Angeles swimming-pool paintings and intimate portraits helped define a modern, sunlit visual language that became instantly recognisable in global popular culture.

He was an early, high-profile British artist to be openly gay, and his work frequently explored desire, intimacy and domestic life with men without euphemism, including art made before gay intimacy was legal. In later decades he embraced new tools including iPhone and iPad drawing, championing technology as a serious medium for art-making.

An exhibition of Hockney’s work is running at Serpentine Galleries in London until August, it has been announced.

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

The post David Hockney’s funeral had just two people there as plans for painting legacy revealed appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Speaking on On The Mend with Matt Willis, the 47-year-old singer-songwriter said the crisis followed a tough break-up while he was appearing in the West End revival of Cabaret.

“I just had a breakdown, and I did this experimental course which I won’t name as I don’t want anyone to do it as I don’t think it’s very good, it was a bit dangerous,” Young said.

He recalled speaking to director Rufus Norris during the run, telling him: “Rufus I don’t want to panic you but I am having an emotional breakdown,” adding: “I think I will make it through.”

Will Young on trauma and misdiagnosis

Young said he began dissociating during the show’s run, describing it as a protective response to what he was going through.

“It’s a protective mechanism, and I just left my body and suddenly I couldn’t recognise my face in the mirror,” he said. “It was horrific and I felt like a walking ghost.”

Young also described trying to explain what he was experiencing while being prescribed medication. “I was completely misdiagnosed as bipolar and I wasn’t bipolar – I had trauma,” he said.

‘For the last 14 years I haven’t really been living’

Young said he remained dissociated “until fairly recently”, and that it made life “difficult” for many years. Reflecting on the impact, he said: “For the last 14 years I haven’t really been living if I am honest, I actually don’t know how I’m still here, I really don’t.”

Young won the first series of Pop Idol in 2002 and became one of the UK’s defining early-2000s pop stars. He is openly gay and has been a prominent LGBTQ+ public figure in British entertainment for decades, with hits including ‘Leave Right Now’, as well as theatre work including West End roles. He has also spoken publicly in the past about mental health, grief and personal wellbeing.

Young said being in a happy and loving relationship has helped him recover.

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

The post Will Young says he was misdiagnosed with bipolar in mental health emergency appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

NHS England’s Pathways Trial for puberty blockers has introduced minimum entry ages of 11 for trans boys and 12 for trans girls, alongside revised safeguards ahead of its planned start date.

The changes were set out in an update on the Pathways clinical trial published on 19 June.

The £10million, two-year study was launched late last year, but was put on pause by officials in February of this year over concerns for safety and welfare. It is scheduled to commence on 1 August 2026 under the updated guidance.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said: “The modified protocol includes strengthened safeguards including the introduction of minimum ages of entry to the trial and more clearly defined discontinuation measures.”

The revised protocol also gives clearer guidance on when treatment should be stopped, including monitoring “safety for bone health, cognition, and vaginal bleeding”, as well as providing more detailed information for participants on fertility preservation.

What participation will involve

Young people taking part will undergo more than 13 hours of medical assessments and complete around 50 forms before accessing treatment, alongside physical examinations. Half of participants will receive puberty blockers immediately, while others will wait one year.

Children must have parental consent and must meet eligibility requirements to take part, including “demonstrating a good understanding of the intervention and its possible benefits and risks”.

Debate and reaction

In 2024, the UK introduced restrictions on prescribing puberty blockers to under-18s outside research settings, intensifying criticism of NHS gender services.

The Cass Review has remained a major reference point in political and clinical debate, including when the British Medical Association said they no longer opposed it, apart from the ban on puberty blockers.

LGBT+ Conservatives said they oppose the trial, writing on X: “If we are willing to restrict social media to protect young people, we should be even more cautious about medical interventions with lifelong consequences,” adding: “We support Kemi Badenoch in putting children’s wellbeing first.”

From the perspective of trans advocacy groups, Chay Brown, health director for TransActual, said: “It breaks my heart when I think of the young people affected.”

Brown added: “This research is not about the safety of these medications, which have been used for this very purpose since 1989. It is the result of an ideological view at the very top of the NHS that being trans is a ‘less desirable outcome.’”

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

The post NHS Pathways puberty blockers trial sets minimum ages for trans youngsters appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

On Monday morning (22 June), Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation as leader of the Labour party. He will remain as the prime minister until a replacement is found in the coming months.

Streeting, who resigned as Health Secretary in May, was among the names expected to run for the Labour leadership, alongside LGBTQ+ ally Andy Burnham. However he has now confirmed his intention to support Burnham in an “inclusive” party.

Streeting published a statement on his official X account, which said Starmer “has made the right decision to stand down as the Leader of the Labour Party that he saved”.

He went on to praise Burnham for his victory in the Makerfield by-election, which he said “has proven that Labour can still win if we have the courage to change”. “It was a victory for unity and hope over division and hatred,” he added.

Streeting continued: “Andy has shown what Labour can be when we are inclusive, united, and in touch with the lives of the people this Party was founded to represent.”

He said that he quit his Government position as the party was “losing the fight to nationalists in every corner of the country”. Since then, he has been speaking to former councillors, activists and local voters in constituencies which Labour lost in the May 7 elections.

‘I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too’

“I’ve also been setting out ideas to change our country: a plan for Britain to grow again and grow together, with a progressive capitalism focused on wealth creation as much as wealth distribution; to lead the world in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and protect people from its risks; to modernise our public services; to give Britain energy security; to build stronger alliances with democracies around the world and a new Special Relationship with Europe; and to change the culture of our Party so that it is more inclusive and open to ideas,” he wrote.

Streeting went on to say that he is “convinced that there is a place for those ideas” under the leadership of Burnham, adding: “He is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions; and that he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism.”

He finished the letter by signing off: “We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our Party and our country needs. That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.

“We were elected to change our country, to show that politics can be a force for good, and to spread opportunity for everyone. With Andy, we still can.”

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

The post Wes Streeting confirms he won’t run for Labour leader as he backs Andy Burnham appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.