The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) heard the worker, who identifies and presents as a man, applied for a new role in the Northern NSW Local Health District in 2023. He had worked for the state health service since 2020, after transitioning and changing his given names.

Not long after applying, a colleague rang him to confirm he had previously gone by other names because the former-name check condition applied to internal applicants. The worker confirmed his birth names, but said he felt humiliated that a colleague now knew he had previously used female names. He also raised concerns about being outed within his workplace.

Tribunal members Peter Roney KC and Michael Maher found the worker experienced escalating anxiety and distress. “He has endured panic attacks, rapid breathing, and from time to time can only manage two to four hours of sleep when he is required to engage with (the health district) about the matter,” they found. “He describes feeling sick to his stomach when considering he could be outed, a fact he is reminded of daily.”

Why the ‘former name’ check was discriminatory

NCAT accepted expert testimony that inadvertent use of “dead names” was likely to cause significant distress to transgender people. The tribunal concluded: “We find that a substantial proportion of transgender men and women employed by (the health district) would be unable to comply with the Former Name Check Condition,” they found.

The decision followed the worker making an internal complaint, as well as reports to the NSW Ombudsman and Anti-Discrimination NSW. The health district’s People and Culture Committee considered options to change the process in 2025, but decided change would be impractical and significantly increase workload.

Compensation and aggravated damages

After a four-day hearing, NCAT concluded indirect transgender discrimination in employment had been established. The worker was awarded $25,000 in non-monetary compensation and $10,000 in aggravated damages or compensation.

The tribunal said the aggravated damages related to the health district’s conduct during the hearing, including making “unfounded and offensive assertions”.

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And Republicans are not happy about it, calling James “too radical” for Texas.

Attorney General Ken Paxton took to X on 14 September to question James, writing: “What normal person can name their favourite drag queen this quickly?”

He added: “When James Talarico isn’t advocating for children to dress in drag, he’s watching drag performances and saying that Texas produces the best drag queens.”

“James Talarico is too weird and too radical for Texas.”

Talarico is currently running for the US Senate against Ken Paxton.

Who are Ken Paxton and James Talarico?

Paxton is the Republican Attorney General of Texas and a high-profile conservative figure in national US politics.

He has been a central player in Texas legal and political battles and has been associated with hardline positions in culture-war debates, including issues affecting LGBTQ+ Texans.

Paxton has previously used the same “weird” attack line against Talarico over trans kids, back in May 2026.

Talarico is a Texas Democratic state representative who has previously defended trans youth.

During a 9 March interview on MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, the politician said:

“The only thing the media wants to ask me about are trans athletes. What I would say is that the only minority destroying this country is the billionaires.”

“We are all focused on the wrong 1%. Trans people aren’t taking away our healthcare. Undocumented people aren’t defunding our schools… It’s the billionaires and their puppet politicians. And so we need not only the media, but all of us, to focus on the real problem at hand.”

However, Talarico recently reversed on his position on 9 September in an interview with FOX News, saying that he’s against trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness.

According to Newsweek, Talarico’s chances of beating Paxton in the Texas Senate race have “reached new highs” across four election and prediction trackers.

However, a Democrat has not won a statewide race in Texas in more than 30 years.

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Protesters were detained in Istanbul and Ankara. on Tuesday (13 September). In Istanbul, protesters had gathered outside the city’s main courthouse to demand the release of LGBTQ+ people arrested following raids on gay bars and queer organisations over the weekend.

The group unfurled a banner that read ‘Being LGBTQ is not a crime’ and were heard chanting “Long live the struggle for freedom!”, “Free those detained immediately!” and “Despite hatred, long live life!”, AFP reports.

Police who had been surveilling the gathering quickly moved in and detained the group, as well as two journalists who were covering the demonstration.

“I am very angry, frustrated and disappointed. I have been following cases concerning justice in Turkey for a very long time, and what we are seeing now is deeply disturbing,” a 44-year-old protester told AFP.

Two journalists covering the protest were among those detained.

The latest detentions come after police raided gay bars, organisation offices and activists’ homes in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Mersin on Sunday (13 September). More than 63 people were arrested, with current and former members of LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness groups among those targeted.

Several organisations had their websites blocked in the days leading up to the raids, Al Jazeera reports.

Turkey’s Justice Minister Akin Gürlek said in a social media post on Sunday that prosecutors were investigating 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses as part of what authorities called the “My Family is Safe” operation.

He said the investigation was intended to “protect children, the institution of the family, and public order”.

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

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Turkey, but conservative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ remain widespread and travellers are advised to be cautious when travelling.

The UK government’s foreign travel advice for Turkey states: “Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Turkey. However, many parts of Turkey are socially conservative and showing affection in public could receive unwelcome attention.”

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The Girls creator, actress and author, 40, and her husband Luis Felber, also 40, have welcomed their first child together. The couple have announced the arrival of their daughter, via surrogate. Dunham has spoken extensively over the years about how becoming a parent might look very different from the way she once imagined it.

What has Lena Dunham said about her desire to become a mother?

Dunham previously underwent a hysterectomy in 2017 at 31 after years of debilitating pain caused by endometriosis. Speaking earlier this year on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, she reflected on the complicated emotions surrounding the decision, explaining that while she needed relief from constant pain, she also had to grieve the loss of the future she had initially imagined for herself.

“It’s interesting because the framing is that you make a choice to do this, but if you’re in pain 24 hours a day, it isn’t really a choice,” she said at the time.

Dunham has said she always envisioned becoming a mother, describing motherhood as a major part of how she imagined her identity and future. After her surgery, she said she initially felt a weight around what had happened, but her perspective on parenthood gradually began to change as she met people who had built families in different ways.

“The amazing thing is, since then, I have met so many people who built their families in so many different ways, and I have really come to a place where I feel really excited,” she said in April. “Whatever way it happens, I will feel so grateful.”

Dunham and Felber welcomed their daughter via surrogate, marking a new chapter for the couple and the fulfilment of Dunham’s long-held dream of becoming a parent.

Who are Lena Dunham and Luis Felber?

Dunham is the creator, writer, director and star of HBO’s Girls (2012 – 2017), and has also worked across film, TV and publishing.

She married British-Peruvian musician Luis Felber, also known as Attawalpa, in 2021.

The couple had a small wedding ceremony in September 2021 at the Union Club in London after meeting earlier in January of that same year.

Dunham told The Times in July 2025 that she was expanding her family with Felber, saying, “It was a grief but it was also a relief,” she said. “I thought I would have the opportunity to experience my fertility and my cycle waning and it never was.”

“Instead it was a very quick, sharp cut-off…I will say we’re in the process of expanding our family in new ways,” she continued. “I want to safely meet our children and then figure out how to talk about it.”

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From queer-coded characters (Team Rocket, we’re looking at you), to the most fabulous, androgynous-presenting Pokémon, here is what we think your favourite character says about type of queer person you are.

Charmander

He’s cute, he’s a classic, he’s an all-round gay icon. If Charmander is your favourite, you’re probably a sweet baby gay. You’re popular and a little shy, but willing to stand up for your friends no matter what the cost, because loyalty is one of the most important values to you. That, and staying out until 4am dancing to “Padam Padam”.

Starmie

Starmie is a genderless badass: fierce, powerful and ready for a good time. If Starmie is your favourite Pokémon, you’re probably one of the coolest humans alive. You have a brilliant sense of style (much like Starmie, just look at the jewel) and you’re not afraid of going for what you want. You’re strong, confident and, of course, an absolute star.

Sylveon

The elegant and pink queer. As the lord, saviour and collective mascot for the trans Pokémon community, Sylveon is sweet, soft, and loved by all. If your favourite Pokémon is Sylveon, you probably have a pink gaming set-up (incredible, stunning, beautiful, we are jealous). Not to mention the fact that you’re also likely to be beautiful and elegant, and love to dance – to classy music, of course.

Psyduck

The stressed queer. Will somebody please give this poor baby a single day of rest? Psyduck’s Pokédex entry states that “It is constantly wracked by a headache” – and honestly, same. If Psyduck is your favourite Pokémon, please get some rest. You deserve it. 

Ditto

Pretty much the definition of gender ambiguity/gender fluidity. We too wish to be a genderless blob that can transform at will. If Ditto is your favourite, you’re definitely silly and goofy, you like to laugh and make others around you laugh. More importantly, you refuse to fit into any one box, but openly express yourself without shame or confinement. You do you!

Jynx

Drag queen extraordinaire – mother, if you will – Jynx was once feared and worshiped as the ‘Queen of Ice’, so if Jynx is your favourite Pokémon, you have our utmost respect. You’re no doubt lively, strong, confident and a great performer. You absolutely know how to strut your stuff on the runway. Shantay you stay.

Oshawott

The chaotic yet shy queer: handsome, happy and energetic, but with a mischievous side. Oshawott is the embodiment of a short king. If this character is your favourite, you’re outgoing and don’t mind a bit of attention, despite your shyness. You may struggle to make friends at first, but once you’ve really got to know someone, you’ll really make the effort to keep them in your life. 

Mr Mime

The cool dad queer. If your favourite is Mr. Mime, you love a good dad joke, you’ll be ready at the airport 10 hours before your flight, and you live in a Hawaiian shirt. Also, like Mr. Mime, you probably slap people who interrupt you.

Snorlax

The big cuddly queer. Snorlax is the “bear” gay – loveable, cuddly and a little bit fluffy. What more could you want? If Snorlax is your favourite, you probably love a full meal followed by a nap. You’re also likely to be known for being laid back, and you definitely need some time alone to recharge after a busy day. Or any day.

Gastly

The Halloween queer. Appearing only at night, to float around through the darkness, shrouded by purple mist. Hello? Gastly is the representation for all the autumnal, Halloween, pumpkin-spiced queers out there. If this is your pick of pokémons, you undoubtedly want to live in a haunted mansion on the top of a hill, your favourite movie is The Addams Family and you spend 99 per cent of your income on black eyeliner. Boo!

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Now, in honour of Pokémon turning we’re turning our attention to one specific critter we think exemplifies the wonder, variety and joy of what it means to be LGBTQ+.

Since it entered the gaming scene in 1996, the multi-media empire has been awash with queer-coded content. Think of Team Rocket’s Jessie and James, a pair of cross-dressing, campy baddies who always pulled off fabulous costumes. Or consider the ice and psychic Pokémon Jynx, who oozes drag couture and typifies mother energy.

Maybe even look at Blanche, the ultra-cool and collected Team Mystic leader from Pokémon Go who uses they/them pronouns.

Be it the escapism, the nostalgia, or the sense of community between fans, for three decades its colourful, relatively innocent world has deeply connected with LGBTQ+ folks. If you are so inclined, we have even written about what your favourite Pokémon says about the type of queer person you are.

To celebrate Pokémon Day, which takes place every year on 27 February and marks the date of the original 1996 release of the Red and Green versions on Game Boy in Japan, we will be taking a closer look at Pokémon’s amorphous legend, Ditto.

Who’s that Pokemon? It’s Ditto! 

Ditto was introduced to the franchise in Generation I, in the initial set of Pokémon games released in Japan in 1996 and is No132 in the original list of No151 Pokémon, which includes characters such as Pikachu and Mewtwo. 

With blob-like form, dot eyes and line mouth – almost always set in a smile – Ditto’s design is one of the most simplistic in the Pokémon world. According to Game Freak developers Junichi Masuda and Ken Sugimori, Ditto’s design was based on the smiley emoticon.

Across the franchise, Dittos have been shown to generally be light purple or pink, with rare shiny variants a blue colour. 

Since its first appearance, Ditto has featured in every main Pokémon title, apart from Ruby and Sapphire, in which it could only be obtained via trading from other games. It’s also appeared in Pokémon Go, Pokémon Snap and the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, though not titles such as Pokemon Legends Arceus.

Most people, however, will probably remember Ditto from its first appearance in the Pokémon anime in 1998 which was a key feature of Pokémania in the late 90s, alongside the video games and trading cards.  

In episode 37 of the first series, Ditto’s Mysterious Mansion, Ash, Misty and Brock shelter from the rain in a large house where they meet trainer Duplica, who hopes to one day become a “Ditto Master”.

The gang learns about Ditto’s ability to transform into any Pokémon but it turns out Duplica’s Ditto struggles to transform its face. 

Ditto is subsequently kidnapped by Team Rocket, who plan to transform it into a Dratini, which they can give to their boss Giovanni to impress him. But the terrific trio, along with Duplica, rescue our hero, who learns how to transform correctly in the process. 

Ditto also played a key role in the 2019 live-action film: Detective Pikachu.

Why is Ditto an LGBTQ+ favourite?

First off, let’s talk about the fact that Ditto is genderless. While this bit of information is likely to outrage bigots, there are lots of animal species in real life which do not have genders or distinct sexes: worms, starfish and various types of snails come to mind.

In fact, lots of animals naturally display queer behaviour, including penguins raising chicks in same-sex pairings, and male bearded dragons developing female brains. It should not be too much of a leap of faith to see that Pokémon can also feature such traits.

Furthermore, as we mentioned, Dittos come in shades of pink, purple and blue. When you put those colours together, what flag do they form part of? Yes, the genderfluid flag.

Genderqueer! Genderfluid! Gender non-conforming! Genderless!

This leads on to the next point: Ditto can breed with any Pokémon.

Bulbapedia, the Pokémon encyclopedia, states: “Ditto is well known for its unique ability to breed with any Pokémon other than the Pokémon in the No Eggs Discovered group and other Ditto, including some gender-unknown Pokémon, to produce eggs of the other’s species.”

Pansexual, right?

Finally, Ditto has the ability to transform into any Pokémon and anything, which is pretty queer.

This unassuming, little pink blob can turn itself into a Jigglypuff, Metagross or the god-like Arceus. There is something inherently queer about transforming yourself into whatever presentation you want in order to be your most authentic self, as well as helping overcome people’s expectations of you.

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Snyder made the comments while addressing the online backlash around his new film, The Last Photograph, which premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival on 13 September. The film has reportedly debuted to an 18% Rotten Tomatoes score and has been receiving intense criticism online, with some viewers dubbing Snyder a “facist” and a “homophobe” over the film.

In a 15 September Variety interview Zack Snyder discussed the criticism aimed at him and his work, saying: “Obviously I’m pro-gay. I made the gayest movie ever made… 300 is one of the gayest movies ever made. I always go, ‘Look, there are few movies where people come in straight and come out gay, and 300 is one of them.’”

He also compared the reaction to The Last Photograph with the response he said greeted 300 when it screened at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007, describing booing and walkouts and recalling being challenged about his politics and views.

Snyder on the film’s “male-centric” energy

Snyder has previously linked the “gay” reading of 300 to its focus on male bodies, male bonding and what he described as the “reality of Spartan culture”.

During a March 2024 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, he said: “Look, 300 in some ways is one of the gayest movies ever made. It is incredibly male-centric, male-obsessed.”

In the same discussion, Snyder added: “It was important to make sure there was a visceral sexuality to the way the men actually interacted. Regardless of whether you acknowledge it, it’s there.”

What is Snyder’s new film ‘The Last Photograph’?

The Last Photograph is a war/thriller film based on an original story by Snyder. Starring Stuart Martin and Fra Fee, it follows a former DEA agent who goes into a South American jungle with a war photographer to get revenge and find his missing niece, leading the harsh landscape to mix with his personal troubles.

Snyder is known for stylised, high-contrast action visuals and graphic-novel adaptations, and has often attracted polarised online debate around his work. As of now, there is no scheduled release date for The Last Photograph.

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Gallant, 37, is running against Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in New York’s First Congressional District, and will remain in the race despite the recent media reports about his past work as a model.

The army veteran and volunteer firefight, who is gay, previously appeared in BDSM-themed promotional photos for San Francisco fetish retailer Mr S Leather.

According to the New York Post, the images were taken between 2011 and 2020, while Gallant was also serving in the Army National Guard. He reportedly appeared in photos modelling leather, bondage and other fetish gear for the store.

In message to supporters on Monday (14 September), Gallant indiciated that he wouldn’t allow the furore to impact his political ambitions for New York’s First Congressional District.

“I have always been unapologetically me,” Gallant declared in a statement obtained by Newsday.

“These attacks on my identity have just made me stronger in my values and convictions.”

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday (17 September), Gallant doubled down with a fiery statement in which he declared he “would not be shamed into silence” by the leaked images, which he described as a “political hit”.

“Well, by now you’ve probably seen the stories and the pictures, but let’s be clear about what this is: This is a coordinated political hit meant to drive me out of this race, and this represents everything that’s wrong with our politics today”, Gallant said.

“Look, I am very proud of who I am and I won’t be shamed into silence. And I won’t allow my private life to be distorted and weaponised against me.

“I am not a politician, actually far from it. But I’ve been fighting for this country since I first enlisted in the army at 17 years old. And I wasn’t scared flying Black Hawk helicopters in the Middle East, and I sure as hell won’t let some pictures from my past scare me out of this race.

“So hear m when I say this: I’m in this to won. I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge an I’m not backing down now.

“Thank you for all of the ongoing support that we’ve received. Let’s go win this.”

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Hutchins said: “It is with profound sadness that I announce that my beloved wife, Bonnie Greer, has died aged 77 after a brief illness.” He described her as “an acclaimed playwright, author, critic, cultural and political commentator whose intelligence, courage and distinctive voice made an enduring contribution to British cultural and public life.”

He added: “To me, she was my partner, confidante and inspiration, and I feel profoundly privileged to have shared my life with her.” Hutchins said those closest to Greer would remember “her warmth, humour, generosity and extraordinary ability to bring people together.” He also asked: “At this immensely difficult time, we ask that our family’s privacy be respected. She will be deeply missed.”

Bonnie Greer’s cultural legacy

Born in Chicago in 1948, Greer moved to the UK in 1986 and became a familiar face on British television, including as a panellist on Newsnight and Question Time. She was made an OBE for services to the arts in 2010, and in 2022 became a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Greer served on the boards of major cultural institutions including the British Museum and the Royal Opera House. Her published work included the novels Hanging by Her Teeth (1994) and Entropy (2009).

Widely regarded as a prominent Black British cultural commentator, Greer was known for incisive TV and radio appearances and essays on politics, culture and identity. Her work and public persona positioned her as an influential voice in discussions of race and culture in Britain from the late 20th century onwards.

Tributes after her death

Women’s rights campaigner Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu paid tribute on social media, writing: “An honour to have marched with, shared the stage & known the absolute legend Bonnie Greer. Rest in Power big sis,” as quoted in tributes shared after the news.

Greer’s husband, David Hutchins, requested that people remember Greer’s “warmth, humour, generosity and extraordinary ability to bring people together”, alongside noting the family’s request for privacy at this time.

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In the post, shared by combat sports account Championship Rounds, Strickland is asked, “Any celebrity you’d love to fight?”, and he immediately responds by saying, “Elliot Page, that’s f****** all day long, that’s an easy dub. I’d beat the s*** out of him.”

As of 16 September, the post has 14.7M views, 24.4K likes and 524 reposts.

Why Elliot Page being singled out matters

Page is one of the most visible trans men in global entertainment, and his name is frequently pulled into online transphobia and culture-war pile-ons.

Strickland is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the UFC and is a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. He’s known for his brash public persona and controversial remarks in interviews and on social media, and has drawn criticism for inflammatory remarks, including comments widely described as misogynistic or anti-LGBTQ+.

He faced criticism in June after sharing an AI-generated video depicting himself violently attacking Dylan Mulvaney in a fighting ring.

Page came out as trans in 2020 and has been a prominent advocate for trans rights and LGBTQ+ visibility. Earlier this month, he said he had no acting offers after The Odyssey, implying he believed it may be because he is trans.

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After an initial small-time release as a Crave original in November, the super sexy queer ice hockey drama went supernova. It’s now on HBO, the home of The Last of Us and Severance, and reached UK shores in January 2026, on Sky. 

Online, the response has been rampant. Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, who play the red hot rivals in question Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, are now red hot Hollywood property too (in January, they presented at the Golden Globes, and in May they made their Met Gala debuts). Even Robbie GK and François Arnaud, who play side characters (and lovers) Kip Grady and Scott Hunter, have become the internet’s fixation.

Now that season one has wrapped up, it’s time to start dreaming of season two. Here’s everything we know about Heated Rivalry’s upcoming second season.

When is Heated Rivalry season two coming out?

First things first, we know that a second season of Heated Rivalry is on the way; Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams confirmed as such with a sweet viral video back in December. In an interview with Deadline, HBO’s boss Casey Bloys appeared to confirm that season three has been greenlit, too.

As for when season two might arrive, there’s good and bad news. The good news is that we’re not talking A Euphoria or Stranger Things wait time. The bad news is that there will still be a wait.

In December, the show’s director Jacob Tierney confirmed that season two won’t be released in 2026, as he hadn’t even started writing it at the time of season one dropping. He teased that while it would be released “a little bit later,” it is “still going to be soon”.

In a February interview with the Los Angeles Times, Tierney put a time frame on season two, saying that fans can expect it 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.

Season two is currently in production and set to conclude by the end of the year. The release window for Heated Rivalry season two is currently set for around April 2027.

What will Heated Rivalry season two be about?

Heated Rivalry season one ended with Ilya and Shane turning their risqué post-rink rendezvous into something serious during a weekend at Shane’s cottage. While there, they confessed their love for one another and began slowly referring to one another as their boyfriend. While at the cottage, Shane’s father also caught them kissing, leading to them coming out to Shane’s parents.

Heated Rivalry is the second book in author Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series, while season two of the show is set to focus on the sixth book: The Long Game.

Released in 2022, The Long Game returns to Shane and Ilya’s love story. 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?”

It sounds like season two will tug even harder on the heartstrings than season one.

“I’m interested to play at the dynamic that develops in The Long Game, which is, now that we’ve established we’re together and we’re choosing this, what does that look like to consistently choose through new obstacles, new self-realizations?” he told Entertainment Weekly.

“We’re in the real leagues now, and it’s cool to watch these people that have been in this heightened reality for so long. The other shoe drops that deepens the love, but that also tests some of their personal limits.”

In December, Tierney told Entertainment Weekly that while it won’t “be a shock” for fans to know that season two will focus on Ilya and Shane, there will be other characters thrown into the mix.

In his Los Angeles Times interview, Tierney said that there will be “diversions” into other characters’ plots in season two.

“Just like you can’t tell the story without Scott Hunter, you can’t really tell the story without Troy Barrett,” he said.

Troy Barrett is a character in book five of Reid’s series, Role Model, who didn’t appear in season one of the show. Charlie Gillespie has been cast as pro hockey player Troy, who develops a crush on Ottawa Centaurs’ social media manager, Harris Drover (Justice Smith).

Who will star in Heated Rivalry season two?

Well, if Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander are there, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will be too.

Kip and Scott are also set to return, and thus Robbie GK and François Arnaud will appear in season two.

Likewise, many other important side characters will return from season one. Christina Chang and Dylan Walsh will return as Shane’s parents, Yuna and David. There’s also Sophie Nélisse as Rose, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana, Callan Potter as Hayden, Kamilla Kowal as Jackie, and Benjamin Roy as JJ returning.

Season one included a slight hint at the widening of characters in season two with a brief look at bartender Kyle Swift, played by Matthew Finlan, who has a crush on Kip in Reid’s 2020 book Common Goal. 

Also, based on casting, it seems elements from Reid’s books Tough Guy and Role Model will be interwoven.

In Reid’s Tough Guy, defenceman Ryan Price (Daniel Diemer) is the focus as he transfers to the ice hockey team Toronto Guardians and struggles with anxiety. There, he reunites with musician and childhood flame, Fabian Salah (Shaheen Jafargholi).

Other key hockey players have also been cast, including Edvin Ryding as Luca Haas and Robert Naylor as Wyatt Hayes.

There’s also Kevin Zegers joining as the Centaurs’ Coach Wiebe. Meanwhile, Paul Gross is joining as Commissioner Roger Crowell, the head of the National Hockey League and the biggest villain in the romance books.

Season two also bolsters the wider Heated Rivalry world. Off the ice, Sabrina Jalees is playing hockey agent Farah Jalali, Milla Jovovich as Ilya’s therapist Dr Galina Molchalina, Emily Hampshire as Vanessa and also Priyanka as Tarek.

Tierney recently said that while there has certainly been interest in season two from high-profile Hollywood heavyweights, he’s keen to keep the talent Canadian.

“We need Canadian talent, and we love Canadian talent. It’s not a burden, but it’s also something we literally have to do to get our financing,” he said. Plus, casting relative unknowns was part of the charm of season one, and look how that turned out.

What else do we know about Heated Rivalry season two?

Specific details about Heated Rivalry season two remain scarce, but there’s a few things we’ve learnt along the way. 

For example, Tierney is pretty keen for the second season to follow a similar format to season one, with just six episodes. “I would always rather tighten the belt than get loosey-goosey… I would rather be like, ‘Let’s see how much story we can pack into these episodes,’” he explained.

Tierney has also confirmed that he will return to direct season two, but will be joined by co-writer Mike Goldbach.

We also know that the second season, like the first, won’t be co-produced by HBO and so won’t be “HBO-ified”.

“This is obviously a very successful creative collaboration between Jacob and Crave. I see no reason why we would be involved creatively,” Bloys said recently.

Furthermore, in September, Bloys revealed that they are going to host “a great premiere in New York in the spring” for the show’s second season.

Speaking about the second season, Bloys stated: “It’s the greatest acquisition in the history of television. I have no doubt in Jacob’s abilities, so I’m eagerly awaiting the episodes.”

Heated Rivalry is streaming now on HBO, Crave and NOW.

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

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The pair, both out gay actors, will appear in the fifth and final season of the acclaimed HBO and BBC drama. Created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, the series is currently in production.

The drama follows a group of young graduates who join Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London. The show has charted the ups and downs and the highly stressful realities of working in the financial sector.

Platt will play Matt Crenshaw, described as “a venture capitalist and an early backer of a wellness-tech company.”   

Platt is best known for his Tony Award-winning role in Dear Evan Hansen. He’s also starred in Theater Camp and the first two Pitch Perfect films.

Tovey will play Declan P. Davis, said to be “deputy to left-wing politician Nikesh Shah (Bally Gill).”

Tovey previously starred in the HBO series Looking, which follows three gay men in San Francisco. He has also starred in Being Human, Doctor Who and The History Boys.

‘We know when to leave a party.’

The casting of Tovey and Platt follows other recently announced season fivd additions. 

Girls’ Zosia Mamet plays Carmen Dame, a fitness influencer turned wellness-tech founder and CEO. Glee’s Dianna Agron is also joining to play Skip Binksy, the company’s CFO. These two characters are, presumably, closely linked to Platt’s Matt.

Also joining the final series is Sam Riley, Jessica Brown Findlay, Luke Manley, Bally Gill and Eduard Poliakov. 

It’s certainly an interesting time to join the cast of Industry. The fourth season upended the lives of Harper (Myha’la) and Yasmin (Marisa Abela).

For Harper, we last saw her achieve a breakthrough by exposing the fraudulent fintech firm Tender, led by CEO Henry Muck (Kit Harington).

On the other hand, things weren’t as joyous for Yasmin. Season four concluded with her cutting ties with Tender and divorcing her husband, Henry.

It sets up a dramatic arc for the forthcoming season as Yasmin found new alliances with far-right politicians. 

Speaking about the show’s conclusion, Down and Kay shared: “For some time now we have been thinking about how best to end the show on an unparalleled high. Unlike some of our characters, we know when to leave a party.” 

The post Russell Tovey and Ben Platt join Industry season five appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The 31-year-old actor and comedian, known for playing Ava Daniels in Hacks, shared the message as controversy mounts regarding the removal of American rapper Macklemore from Sheeran’s “Loop” tour after he spoke in support of Palestine during two performances in New Jersey in early September.

“Ed Sheeran i say this as a ginger. i hope you get a REALLY bad sun burn the kind on the back of your entire body where it hurts to lie down or walk or sit,” Einbinder wrote.

What did Hannah Einbinder post about Ed Sheeran’s net worth?

Einbinder’s Story included a screenshot of a Reddit post detailing a $400 million figure that matches Celebrity Net Worth’s estimate of Sheeran’s fortune.

Sheeran’s Divide tour brought in $775.6 million, as reported by Forbes, and Billboard reports his Mathematics tour grossed more than $875 million from 2022 to 2025.

A fifteen-year collaboration with Warner Music ended this year, with the label attributing 170 million album sales and 126 billion streams globally to his career. The Sunday Times Rich List estimated his wealth at £370 million ($448.6 million) in 2025.

Sheeran kicked off his “Loop” tour in January to support his album Play.

Why is Ed Sheeran’s US tour being discussed?

Einbinder’s post has also been circulating amid wider conversation about Sheeran’s US tour dates and the recent removal of rapper Macklemore from the US leg.

Earlier this month, Macklemore took to the stage as Ed Sheeran’s opening act at MetLife Stadium on 5 September, prompting a fresh round of celebrity reactions, including comments from Boy George and Paloma Faith.

During Macklemore’s performances for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 and 5 September, he sang “Hind’s Hall” and lead chants of “Free Palestine” to images of Gaza.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft later banned Macklemore from appearing with Sheeran at Gillette Stadium on 25 and 26 September, saying the venue would not provide a platform for “hate speech”.

Tour promoter Messina Touring Group told Rolling Stone that they received communications from venues stating they refused to host Macklemore, “which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans”, they said.

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In a Threads post on 14 September 2026, the Star Trek actor wrote: “Brad and I are celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary today, September 14, 2026, in New York City,” alongside a photo of the couple.

Takei also shared details of their wedding day, writing: “Brad and I were married on Sept 14, 2008, at the Democracy Forum of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

“We have been together for 40 years, but we couldn’t get married legally as ‘husband & husband’ until 2008, thanks to a ruling by the California Supreme Court that found the state ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.”

Where did George and Brad Takei get married?

Takei said he and Brad married on 14 September 2008 at the Democracy Forum of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

Brad also reshared the anniversary message on social media, writing that they were celebrating in New York City and adding: “40 years together, 18 married”.

Takei is best known as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, and has long used his public platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, including marriage rights. He is also a Japanese American public figure who has spoken widely about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during the Second World War and its impact on his family.

Wil Wheaton and Mark Hamill send congratulations

The couple’s anniversary prompted messages from fellow sci-fi favourites.

Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, congratulated them with the message: “Happy anniversary, you guys! Love to you both.”

Mark Hamill also offered his congratulations on Bluesky.

Takei has previously spoken about how marriage politics in California shaped his decision to come out publicly, including when he said he came out “in fury” after Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected bills that would have legalised gay marriage, at a time when he had already been with Brad Altman for 18 years.

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For the cover, the 38-year-old South African musician stripped down for a steamy photoshoot. Of course, he kept his cowboy aesthetic, with a cowboy hat and his iconic fringed mask.

The shoot set Peck bare a lot of skin and show off his tattoos as he strips off the plaid shirt and denim shorts, leaving him in only white briefs. Of course, he also models some revealing chaps.

Some of the photos also show Peck completely naked, but tastefully posing so as not to reveal too much!

Peck is no stranger to raunchy cover shoots; in 2024, he did a fully nude photoshoot for Paper Magazine.

Following the cover announcement, Playboy also dropped behind-the-scenes footage of the artist as he strips down for the shoot. 

“Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes!” one fan responded to the new content. Another wrote: “Yeehaw!”

The Playboy interview also gives context for what Peck finds sexy about the cowboy aesthetic. 

“Anything that plays with the OG trope of male strippers and images of what masculinity is supposed to be, tied to heterosexuality, is sexy,” he shares.

‘What’s sexier than a little bit of rebellion?’

“Not only is there a reality of gay cowboys in the world and in history, but I think the idea of a cowboy is such a trope of masculinity.

“What’s sexier than a little bit of rebellion? And chaps? If you don’t think that’s gay I don’t know what to tell you.”

Peck also opened up about his new album, Mule, arriving on 18 September.

“I hope that having an album that talks about it with openness and humor, as only a queer person probably could, about their hurt, opens a bit more awareness,” he says.

Peck has said the album is “a timeline of the year that I got sober” and explores his experiences with addiction and sobriety.

“So often, especially in queer community, there’s numbing going on and substance abuse that out of context people would recognize that people are maybe in crisis,” Peck told Playgirl.

“As queer people we find a lot of different ways to mask what we’re really feeling because it’s part of our survival.

“We have to become more attuned to noticing when someone is screaming out for help. And we need to be better about feeling okay to reach out to the people we care about.”

The full and exclusive interview can be found on Playgirl.

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Styles, who had amassed a large online following on social media and OnlyFans in recent years, was found dead on 20 August.

The adult content craeator’s Jaghab’s death was caused by alcohol and mitragynine toxicity, according to a Wayne County Medical Examiner autopsy seen by People.

A toxicology report found that Styles had a blood alcohol content of 0.168% and a blood mitragynine level of 87 ng/mL. The medical examiner noted that combined use o the two substances “increases the risk of sudden death”.

Mitragnine is more commonly known as Kratom. At low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects, and at high doses can produce a sedative effect.

Side effects from kratom use can include phychosis, hallucinations, delusion and confusion.

While not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act in the US, it has been listed by the Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) as a drug and chemical of concern. It is addictive and has not been approved for any medical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Born Zachary Christian Jaghab in January 1997, Styles was raised in Michigan and began working in the adult entertainment industry in 2021, building a following as both a performer and an online content creator.

In 2023, he was recognised at the GayVN Awards, winning a fan-voted award alongside performer Chris Damned, and went on to receive further nominations the following year.

In a family obituary, he was remembered as a “cherished son”, “beloved brother” and “adored uncle”, survived by his parents, siblings, nieces and nephew, and “many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends”.

The post Cause of death confirmed for gay adult star Christian Styles appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

The rumours all started when Marvel’s Wolverine narrative director Walt Williams used the word “yearning” to describe a central relationship in the new story following the beloved X-Men character.

Speaking to The Washington Post, Williams described Logan as “yearning” for Sabretooth. 

The outlet noted: “Even Logan’s famously violent rivalry with Sabretooth has room for love. When the two attack a military base, Sabretooth grabs the back of Logan’s head in a brief moment of yearning.

Williams added: “Logan feels that yearning and he gets scared and pulls away. Sabretooth feels that yearning and it makes him hurt and want to lash out to exert that hurt outward.

“Hate and love are so hand in hand… you hurt me so I’m going to hurt you, and we’re still going to be linked because now the pain is shared.”

The statements then spurred rumours about the gameplay, including a romantic storyline between Logan and Sabretooth.

‘It’s a brother / best friend thing.’

The game follows mutant Logan rejoining Team X to investigate the abduction of displaced mutants by industrialist Bolivar Trask and the Reavers militia.

So, is Wolverine a gay character in this game? Well, Insomniac Games director James Stevenson responded to the rumours.

He said that fans misinterpreted the studio’s original comments and confirmed the two characters will not have a romantic relationship.

Stevenson took to X (Twitter) to clarify the game’s content before it dropped on Tuesday (15 September).

Responding to a YouTuber’s video about the so-called romance, Stevenson replied, “No. They don’t,” confirming that their relationship is not romantic.

He also noted about the relationship: “It’s a brother / best friend thing. There ya go.”

“Can I still ship them tho?” one person teasingly replied to Stevenson’s post. 

Another responded: “Well the writer of the game seems to think they do.”

Despite this apparent misunderstanding, the game has received mixed reviews.

The Guardian wrote: “Logan is well realised by Liam McIntyre and some exquisite character art, but there are lapses in narrative and emotional arcs and some of the combat feels like a chore.”

Though, Empire added: “If you’re craving a visually striking, incredibly cinematic story-driven experience, complemented by some of the crunchiest combat to ever tax your thumbsticks, Wolverine has got your back.”

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The chart-topping sent punters into a frenzy after they descended on the venue after spending the day filming auditions for the latest series of The Voice UK in Manchester.

It was confirmed last week that former X Factor judge Cheryl will join former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly, rapper Aitch and Back Eyed Peas star will.i.am on The Voice UK judging panel after long-time judge Tom Jones was given the boot from the series.

Cheryl and Kelly were seen rubbing shoulders and dancing with club-goers at the popular venue, as well as treating fans to renditions of their hit tracks ‘Fight For This Love’ and ‘When Love Takes Over’.

Fans lapped up the unexpected display on social media, with one urging Cheryl to return to the pop stage at Mighty Hoopla, Manchester or Brighton Pride next year.

Former Girls Aloud star Cheryl boasts five UK Number One singles as a solo artists, but hasn’t released any solo material since 2019. Her last album, Only Human, was released 12 years ago, back in 2014.

Kelly meanwhile released her last extended play, K, back in 2021.

Longtime ally Cheryl was an early supporter of same-sex marriage, declaring back in 2012, “Marriage is far more than a man and a woman, you know. It’s a bond for life and whether you’re gay or straight or whatever, it makes no difference to being married. What marriage stands for is that you love that person.”

She added: “You want to commit yourself to that person forever. All the rights that a marriage gives you, why should the fact that you are attracted to the same sex make that any different? It makes no sense to me. The same relationship, the same beliefs … It’s crazy.

“I don’t understand why it’s even a big deal!”

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The editors of The Advocate, Out, Them, Pride.com, Out Traveler and Plus posted a joint editors’ Instagram statement on Monday (14 September) saying: “Our editors became aware of concerning reports this morning that Jay Katari — one of the board members of our parent company, equalpride — may have espoused beliefs that are antithetical to the mission of our brands,” adding: “Please know that Katari’s position has not influenced our reporting.”

Equalpride CEO Mark Berryhill announced Katari’s departure in an email to employees on Tuesday afternoon (15 September). Katari’s name and biography were removed from equalpride’s website shortly afterwards, as detailed in the email shared with staff.

In a statement shared by Berryhill, Katari said: “I have decided to step down from the Board of Directors of equalpride,” adding: “My intention was simply to volunteer my time and experience to support the incredible team and the important work they do for the LGBTQ+ community.”

What sparked the backlash

The dispute followed an investigation by independent journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas, which documented Katari’s social media activity, including an image of him wearing a MAGA hat. Ortega-Rojas identified no public statement in which Katari directly attacked LGBTQ+ people; however, he was reported to have appeared to make fun of the trans community in an Instagram bio listing “Pronouns-dude/bro/guy/man/Jedi.” 

Katari was listed by equalpride as a board member and “Strategic Advisor, Growth & Innovation”. On 31 August, Berryhill emailed employees to say he had “full confidence in Jay” and encouraged staff to prioritise meetings with Katari. He assured staff that said meetings with Katari were intended for Katari to better understand employees’ roles and work, and that Katari would not be playing an editorial role. After staff noted Katari had already met with at least one person involved in editorial or social media and sought other meetings, those conversations were halted by Berryhill.

Governance changes at equalpride

Berryhill also wrote that, under equalpride’s investment agreements, its lead investor group could appoint two directors without CEO or management approval, and that Katari joined through that process. He added that the investor group has now given him authority to appoint future board members, as set out in Berryhill’s statement after the resignation.

Equalpride has owned The Advocate, Out, Pride.com, Out Traveler and Plus since 2022 and acquired Them in February 2026. The company laid off journalists and editors at The Advocate, Out and Pride.com shortly before acquiring Them, and several existing Them staffers were cut during the acquisition process.

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The Very Reverend Micah Cronin took on the role in August and is leading an LGBTQ+ affirming congregation with an average Sunday attendance of around 70 people, as detailed in an Episcopal News Service interview.

Speaking about what the moment represents, Cronin said: “The way I see our moment in The Episcopal Church right now is being a church that has taken a stand to welcome and include because of its Christian faith.

“Just by me existing as a trans person and as a priest, I get to have conversations with people that very few people get to have. I think we have a chance to preach the Gospel in places it wouldn’t otherwise be heard.”

A milestone for trans inclusion

Cronin told Episcopal News Service that he grew up in conservative churches in rural Western New York, which did not accept him as a transgender man. He said he became Episcopalian at 19 after finding an affirming church in Olean, New York.

He previously served as a transitional deacon in the Diocese of New Jersey, and wrote in 2022 about engaging people who resist tolerance, including those with anti-trans views. In an Earth & Altar essay, he wrote: “We are to seek and serve Christ in those whose political attitudes appear repugnant, even dangerous, to us,” and also referenced serving those who are “homophobic” and “anti-transgender”.

The Episcopal Church is the US member church of the Anglican Communion, with dioceses across the United States and a long-running internal history of debates over sexuality and gender. Trans clergy visibility in Christian denominations has often been a focal point in broader political and media debates about LGBTQ+ inclusion in religious institutions.

Cronin added: “What I have found in The Episcopal Church is a place where I can exist exactly as who I am and be found by Jesus and help other people find Jesus.”

Support from TransEpiscopal

Reverend Cameron Partridge of TransEpiscopal, a group that works towards fully embracing trans and non-binary people in the Episcopal Church, described Cronin’s elevation as a milestone.

He said: “It is so moving how The Episcopal Church has been a place where [Cronin] could follow Jesus authentically and step more fully into his vocation as a human being and a priest.”

Partridge also referenced one of its founding members Reverend Gari Green’s earlier ministry in Milwaukee before her death in 2024, adding: “I think Gari would see this moment as a true sign of hope and transformative possibility for our church and our world.”

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Following the ruling, the Kennedy Center board voted (chaired by Trump and includes his cabinet members and allies) “almost unanimously” to shut down the building for “safety reasons, and so that it can begin the process of reconstruction.”

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the US.

Variety reported that despite the ruling, Trump stated the renovation project “cannot begin until such time as the DC Circuit rules on the Board’s approved name.

“If the ruling is a negative one, which it should not be, and is not overturned by the US Supreme Court, the Reconstruction and the Renovation of The Kennedy Center will not take place.”

The Justice Department’s attorneys are set to file for “an expedited appeal.” It’s expected to be filed Friday, CNN reported.

However, the center cannot close unless the federal judge Christopher Cooper lifts a temporary block that he put in place. 

At the time, Judge Cooper also issued a temporary block on Trump’s demand that the Kennedy Center close for two years of renovations. Furthermore, the judge called those plans an “ill-informed and seemingly preordained decision.”

‘Donald Trump only cares about the Kennedy Center for his vanity.’

Reportedly, Trump called into the Kenny Center meeting in which he “screamed” and “berated” Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who serves on the board, according to the CNN report. 

Beatty’s legal team also said Trump “Trump verbally berated” the congresswoman “for her efforts to save the Center.”

In a statement, Beatty said: “For years, the Kennedy Center has planned to undergo phased renovations, in which we both renovate and maintain some performances. This is how major performing arts centers in the country operate. But donors, patrons, and artists all fled after the unlawful attempt to rename this sacred memorial after Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump only cares about the Kennedy Center for his vanity. That is wrong and it is a breach of his fiduciary duty as a trustee. Congress established the Kennedy Center as a living memorial to President Kennedy, and I am proud to defend this cherished institution.”

In December 2025, the Kennedy Center board “voted unanimously” to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center.

Trump’s name was added to the façade, but in June, a judge ruled the President’s name must be removed.

“Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it,” US District Judge Cooper wrote on 29 May.

Following the ruling, the center removed Trump’s name from the façade and other materials. Since then, a tarp has covered the front façade.

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The 30-year-old Canadian actor will play the star of the third book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers, Tough Guy. 

Like Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), Diemer’s Ryan is a queer ice hockey star. However, Ryan’s story and romance differ greatly from the show’s central couple.

With season two now officially in production, here’s everything you need to know about Daniel Diemer and Ryan Price ahead of Heated Rivalry season two…

Who is Daniel Diemer in Heated Rivalry season two?

For the second season of Heated Rivalry, Daniel Diemer is joining the show as hockey enforcer and defenceman Ryan Price.

In Reid’s Tough Guy, Ryan is the focus as he transfers to the ice hockey team Toronto Guardians and struggles with anxiety. There, he reunites with musician and childhood flame, Fabian Salah (Shaheen Jafargholi).

Fabian is an androgynous Lebanese-Canadian musician. Fabian and Ryan knew each other when they were younger, but as adults there’s a spark between them that neither can ignore.

In Reid’s The Long Game, Ryan is retired and travels with Fabian while he’s on tour. He is also one of the very few aware of Shane and Ilya’s romance and helps coach young players at their Game Changers Hockey Camp.

Co-creators Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady said the pair were essential additions to the series. As reported by Variety: “Fabian and Ryan each bring a distinctive energy to the world Rachel Reid has created. They are bold, complicated and deeply compelling characters, and finding actors who could really take on all of those different sides was so important to us.”

‘They make these characters their own.’

Tierney and Brady added: “Daniel and Shaheen bring such confidence and emotional honesty to the roles. We can’t wait for audiences to see what they do with Fabian and Ryan and how they make these characters their own.”

Season two is set to draw mostly from The Long Game, which continues Ilya and Shane’s journey as a couple.

However, based on casting, it seems elements from Reid’s books Tough Guy and Role Model will be interwoven.

Role Model centres on the relationship between the Centaurs’ social media manager, Harris Drover (Justice Smith), and complicated hockey player Troy Barrett (Charlie Gillespie).  

Other key hockey players have also been cast, including Edvin Ryding as Luca Haas and Robert Naylor as Wyatt Hayes.

Season two also bolsters the wider Heated Rivalry world. Off the ice, Sabrina Jalees is playing hockey agent Farah Jalali, Milla Jovovich as Ilya’s therapist Dr Galina Molchalina, Emily Hampshire as Vanessa and also Priyanka as Tarek.

Is Daniel Diemer queer?

Diemer has not publicly shared his personal sexuality.

He previously starred in queer dramas like The Half of It, and he has an upcoming queer role in Heated Rivalry.

However, just because he’s taken on queer roles doesn’t mean this is a reflection his own identity.

What else has Daniel Diemer been in?

Diemer has appeared in several TV and film roles before Heated Rivalry.

He had a recurring role in the TV show Sacred Lies, Emma Fielding: More Bitter Than Death and Family Pictures, and the historical drama The Man in the High Castle.

More prominently, he’s best known for playing Tyson in Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Tyson is the titular character’s younger Cyclops half-brother.

Additionally, Diemer starred as Paul in the 2020 queer YA drama The Half of It. The character is a school jock whom Ellie (Leah Lewis) helps out by writing love letters. However, Ellie falls for the girls that Paul is trying to romance.

Heated Rivalry is streaming now on HBO, Crave and NOW. Season two is confirmed to premiere in spring 2027.

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Taber, a 23-year-old marketing manager from London, became visibly upset as he explained why he signed up for the series. “I’ve come on this show to come out because I’m bisexual and like, I’ve been in pain for so long now probably about a year and half, two years,” he said.

He continued: “I mean just the guilt and the shame that I’m carrying from it, and I don’t know, I just feel like I’ve let down a lot of people.”

Taber also said he had not told any of his friends and family before entering the house because he felt “shame”.

As he cried, Big Brother reassured him: “Frankie, Big Brother doesn’t think you’ve let anyone down.”

What Frankie said about guilt and shame

The Diary Room is the show’s confessional space, where housemates speak directly to Big Brother away from the rest of the group, and Taber’s admission quickly became one of the early talking points of the new series.

Coming-out moments on mainstream reality TV can resonate strongly because they play out in real time, with audiences watching someone navigate fear, relief and the need to be seen. For bisexual men, who are often under-represented or stereotyped on TV, explicit self-identification on a prime-time format can carry extra weight.

Taber’s timing also struck a chord with some viewers because September is Bi Visibility Month, with Bi Visibility Day set to take place on 23 September.

How Big Brother viewers reacted on X

Viewers reacted quickly on X, with Taber trending as fans shared messages of support and talked about bisexual representation.

One user wrote: “Frankie bisexual king coming out during bi visibility month let’s f**kin gooooo #bbuk”. Another posted: “So beautiful and brave from Frankie #BBUK”.

The moment arrived early in the run after ITV confirmed the series would begin on Sunday, 13 September at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, with a companion show airing straight after on most nights, and a spin-off, Big Brother: The Group Chat, airing Sunday to Thursday nights straight after Big Brother, as previously announced.

Earlier on Tuesday, the show shared a teaser clip showing Taber looking emotional while chatting to housemates in the bedroom. Big Brother airs on ITV2 and ITVX.

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The case, Re X (female partner non-acquisition of parental responsibility), involved a former same-sex couple and their child, X. AR began a relationship with BM while BM was pregnant, and when X was born, the two women registered the birth with AR listed as a parent alongside BM. X’s genetic father, LY, has had no involvement in the child’s life and did not participate in the proceedings.

BM later alleged that she had been coerced into naming AR on the birth certificate and made serious allegations of domestic abuse against her. AR disputes that account and says the registrar voluntarily provided a same-sex birth registration form and registered her as a parent without asking for further information.

Recorder Sirikanda KC ultimately ruled that AR was not a legal parent because X was not born through assisted reproduction covered by the relevant provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. The judge applied the reasoning of a recent Court of Appeal decision, Re J, which established that simply being named as a parent on a birth certificate does not necessarily make someone a legal parent or give them parental responsibility.

The ruling does not mean AR cannot seek contact with X. Because she says she has acted as a psychological parent and wants an ongoing relationship with the child, the judge directed her to apply for permission to bring a section 8 application under the Children Act 1989.

The judge also raised a broader concern about what happened at the registry office. He warned that, if the accounts given by the women are accurate, there could be a practice of unmarried same-sex female couples who are not civil partners registering births with a non-genetic, non-gestational partner listed as a parent despite the legal criteria not being met.

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Season two adapts Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and the series is set to debut on HBO and HBO Max on 25 December. The additions offer an early look at how the reboot plans to reinterpret some of the franchise’s most instantly recognisable supporting characters, from the Weasley family’s warm centre to two of Hogwarts’ most memorable student presences.

In the film franchise, Arthur Weasley was played by Mark Williams, while Shirley Henderson portrayed Moaning Myrtle. Colin Creevey was played by Hugh Mitchell in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The new franchise has been largely divisive due to author JK Rowling’s public comments on trans issues, which have prompted criticism from LGBTQ+ groups and some cast and creatives across the wider Potter ecosystem.

Backlash to Harry Potter cast

Bel Powley, who will play Aunt Petunia, recently spoke out to say she “strongly disagrees” with JK Rowling.

John Lithgow, who is playing Albus Dumbledore, has been asked a number of times about the backlash since his casting, with him saying in March that he was urged to walk away. “I do disagree with much of it,” he said on the Radio Hour podcast, “much of it I think has been twisted and misrepresented, and she has doubled down on it at her own cost.”

While Paapa Essiedu – who will play Professor Snape, something else which garnered uncalled for backlash as he is a Black man – has made it clear he stands by the trans community, despite his role.

He told The Sunday Times: “My points of view are mine and will continue to be so.”

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After an acclaimed first series heavy on LGBTQ+ stars including Alan Carr, Stephen Fry and Tom Daley, The Celebrity Traitors series two will see 21 more famous faces enter Claudia Winkleman’s iconic castle in the hope of surviving nightly murders.

Among them are more queer favourites including The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, Heartstopper actor Sebastian Croft, comedian Joe Lycett and US actress Myha’la, who you can get a first glimpse of in the newly-released trailer.

The Celebrity Traitors begins on Thursday 1 October at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series will air two nights a week on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8pm.

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A group of Maine residents used the state’s Freedom of Access Act to obtain hundreds of pages of communications which detailed how conservative groups such as Maine First shaped Regional School Unit 24’s policies regarding trans students, as reported by Bangor Daily News.

The Maine Monitor analysed more than 900 pages of records from Regional School Unit 24 which show board member Carla Jung regularly communicating with Heidi Sampson, head of the conservative Maine Education Initiative, as the district debated policies restricting which sports teams, bathrooms and other spaces transgender students could use.

Sampson advised Jung on potential legal representation, provided a sample school policy which targeted transgender people and encouraged the district to fight the state over its restrictions. During a December 2025 board meeting, Jung successfully moved to exclude the district’s longtime law firm and instead consult with Steve Smith Trial Lawyers, a firm that has been characterised as conservative.

The records also reveal significant disagreement within the board itself. Some members worried the new policy could put school administrators in the position of violating Maine law, while others questioned whether staff could, or should, be fired for refusing to enforce it.

At one point, board chair Jeffrey Alley questioned whether the board could face legal liability if it directed employees to “break the law”. He also asked what would happen if the superintendent refused to enforce the policy against a transgender student.

The district ultimately adopted rules separating school facilities by biological sex as determined at birth, aligning with the Trump administration’s position on transgender students and Title IX. Maine, however, is suing districts over policies it says violate the state’s Human Rights Act.

The documents also show Jung asking the superintendent about the sex listed on the birth certificate of a specific student, although the superintendent said he did not discuss an individual student with her.

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Cavelius, 29, was competing for TSV Abensberg against Leipzig Judo Club on 5 September when he faced Georgian judoka Akaki Japaridze for the second time in less than an hour. After Cavelius won their second bout, he raised a clenched fist towards his team in celebration. Japaridze then approached and repeatedly punched him, according to Cavelius’ club and the German Judo Federation.

Cavelius suffered severe facial injuries and required surgery at Leipzig University Hospital, where doctors fitted his jaw with three metal plates. He is expected to need at least 10–12 weeks to recover and will miss the World Judo Championships as a result, as reported by Outsports.

The injury could also have major consequences for his Olympic ambitions. Cavelius is currently ranked 41st in the world and had been pursuing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The German Judo Federation warned that his enforced absence could cause his ranking to drop further, potentially making Olympic qualification significantly more difficult.

Japaridze has acknowledged responsibility for the incident in a statement posted to his Instagram on 9 September, but claimed Cavelius’ celebration and alleged verbal provocation contributed to his actions. Cavelius has rejected that account, saying his celebration was directed at his own team and that he neither verbally nor physically attacked Japaridze.

The Georgian Judo Federation has said the attack contradicts the principles of judo in a statement, while Germany’s federation gave a statement condemning what it described as a severe, unprovoked assault.

There is no indication that Cavelius was attacked because he is gay. He made history at Paris 2024 as the first out gay man to compete in Olympic judo and has become an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in the sport.

Now, an assault that had nothing to do with the outcome of a judo match could leave him paying an enormous price in his career for simply being its victim.

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The Dutch beauty guru, who shot to fame on YouTube in 2015 came out publicly as transgender in 2020, will take over the reins as host from supermodel Leomie Anderson when series 8 of Glow Up hits screens in 2027, Val Garland and Dominic Skinner set to return in their capacity as judges.

Glow Up sees budding make-up artists compete in a series of weekly challenges in the hope of being named ‘Britain’s Next Make-Up Star’.

Over seven series, the show has championed a diverse range of young make-up artists from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and makes a point of listing all contestants’ pronouns on screen.

NikkieTutorials, who has previously appeared on Glow Up as a guest judge and hosted the Dutch edition of the show, boast more than 15 million subscribes on YouTube and has served as a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations since 2020.

In a statement, she said: “I’m so incredibly honoured to take over from Leomie, and I promise I’ll take very good care of this baby. I’ve been lucky enough to pop into the Glow Up studio as a guest judge for quite a few seasons now… but this time I’m staying!

“Make-up has been my entire world for as long as I can remember, so getting to be part of the Glow Up family in this whole new way really is a dream come true.”

British model Anderson, who took over from Maya Jama as Glow Up host in 2023, commented: “After three incredible seasons on Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-up Star, I have decided that I will be leaving, and handing the make-up brushes over to someone new.

“My Glow Up journey has been amazing, I have gotten to watch some incredibly talented MUAs express themselves, push themselves and grow from shy creatives to full on professional make-up artists.

“My Glow Up journey wouldn’t have been the same without my fave’s Val and Dom and all the amazing guest judges that have come through. And also I wanted to say a massive thank you, to you, the audience, for tuning in, joining us in the comments and tagging us in all your amazing looks.”

Carl Callam, BBC Commissioning Editor, said: “I am really excited to welcome NikkieTutorials as our new host. Nikkie is no stranger to our audience. And with her global following and influence, her passion for both make-up and the creative industry means we know she will be amazing.”

Glow Up series eight is set to begin filming this month and will air on the BBC in 2027.

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The results come from the full survey report, which is based on responses from 1,156 LGBTQ+ people in London who had used at least one recreational drug in the previous 12 months. Overall, 28% said they had experienced a drug-related bereavement in the past five years, rising to 33% among respondents in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.

The report also highlights high levels of harm associated with the three chemsex drugs GHB/GBL, crystal meth and mephedrone. Respondents who used at least one of those substances were almost three times more likely to describe their recreational drug use as harmful than those who used other drugs. Of the respondents, 560 reported using at least one of the three substances, as set out in details of the findings.

Marc Svensson, founder and director of You Are Loved CIC, said: “These drugs aren’t interchangeable, and GHB/GBL and crystal meth are causing the most harm. A third of the respondents are also telling us that chemsex isn’t a word they use about themselves. We must listen to both of those things when we design support.”

What the survey found

Among GHB/GBL users, two-thirds said they had passed out or fallen asleep involuntarily while using the drug, which the report classifies as overdoses. For crystal meth, nearly 60% of users reported some level of concern about their use, and 41% said they used it at home alone.

The survey also found that almost a third of people using the three drugs would not describe their drug use as chemsex, a point also highlighted in a separate write-up of the report.

Who took part, and what it means

The sample was self-selected and predominantly comprised gay men (87%), cisgender men (91%) and white respondents (80%), so it should not be treated as a population-level estimate for all LGBTQ+ people or queer Londoners.

You Are Loved CIC is a London-based community organisation focused on LGBTQ+ wellbeing and peer-led support, often operating in harm-reduction and mental health-adjacent spaces, including an LGBTQ+ online directory launched in honour of Robin Windsor.

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