Temperatures in the UK are in that awkward spring period, when one day will see you in shorts and a T-shirt, and the next you’ll be bundled up in a coat getting rained on.

But new data from Deliveroo has found that as soon as temperatures hit 16°C, Brits get the Aperol in.

Orders for the bright orange aperitif soared by almost 400 per cent when temperatures warmed up to 16°C, suggesting us Brits don’t need a certified heatwave as an excuse.

Similarly, Deliveroo recorded a surge in customers looking for “picky bits” – think dips, olives, sausage rolls etc – when the weather got sunnier and thermometers hit 18°C.

‘A glimpse of sunshine is enough’

Suzy McClintock, VP of Consumer and New Verticals at Deliveroo said: “The moment the thermometer hits 16°C, it’s like a silent signal goes off across the nation. We’ve found that Brits don’t need a heatwave to catch those summer feelings; just a glimpse of sunshine is enough to send Aperol orders through the roof.

“Whether it’s a spontaneous park picnic or the first ‘Picky Bits’ dinner of the year in the garden, we’re seeing a real shift in how people shop as soon as the winter chill lifts. With our grocery partners like Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, we’re ready to bring the summer essentials to doorsteps in as little as 20 minutes – because when the British sun actually decides to show up, you won’t want to miss the moment!”

Biggest Aperol fans in the UK

Deliveroo’s data found that certain areas of the UK were quicker to get their Aperol orders in than others once things got warmer.

The so-called ‘sunshine capitals’ were:

1. London
2. Manchester
3. Brighton
4. Camberley
5. Crawley
6. Bristol
7. Birmingham
8. Oxford
9. Edinburgh
10. Cambridge

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Legally, things have come a long way in a short time. Civil partnerships were introduced in 2004, and same-sex marriage was only legalised in England and Wales in 2013. That means many couples were together for years, sometimes decades, before their relationships were formally recognised in law.

Today, the process of divorce is the same regardless of who you are, thanks to a change in the law as recent as 2022. However, when you look a little closer, particularly at children, finances and how modern families are structured, things can feel more complicated than the law might suggest. 

So, is divorce different for LGBTQ+ couples?

In strict legal terms, no. LGBTQ+ couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to divorce, and the introduction of no-fault divorce under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 has ensured that divorce can be less acrimonious than under the previous system. 

Now, one or both of you simply confirm that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. After a minimum 20-week reflection period, a conditional order can be granted, followed by a final order which legally ends the marriage. The process can be concluded in as little as seven months. 

The same applies to civil partnerships. The dissolution process works in much the same way as divorce, and if a civil partnership has been converted into a marriage, the divorce procedure is exactly the same.

The system is designed to reduce conflict. But while the process itself is consistent, the reality around it and the acrimony that can ensue will vary depending on your relationship and family set-up.

When children are involved, things can become more complex

If you have children, the law is clear that their welfare comes first. The court’s priority is always what’s in the child’s best interests, not the parents’.

If you’re not able to agree arrangements between you, the court can make a Child Arrangements Order. This sets out where a child lives and how much time they spend with each parent.

For LGBTQ+ families, though, an added issue can be legal parenthood, which is the legal status of being a parent and the rights and entitlements that come with that.

The birth mother will, as a point of law, always have parental responsibility in the first instance. This means that if your child was born through surrogacy, for instance, your legal status as a parent may require the intervention of the court. 

Moreover, LGBTQ+ couples may undertake donor conception. Again, parenthood will be a question of law and will depend on the case specifics, like whether the child was conceived at a licensed fertility clinic at the UK, whether consent forms have been signed and whether you are married. If your legal parenthood hasn’t been clearly established, that can affect your ability to make decisions or apply to the court without permission. In some cases, therefore, further steps may be needed to secure parental responsibility or formalise arrangements.

What happens to finances after a break-up?

As with divorce itself, same-sex couples are entitled to the same financial remedies as opposite-sex couples if married or in a civil partnership.

Financial settlements are governed by section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. This means the court considers a range of factors, including your income, earning capacity, financial needs, the standard of living during the marriage and the contributions each of you has made.

There’s no fixed formula, but the starting point is fairness, dictated in the first instance by your needs. The court has wide powers and can order things like lump sum payments, spousal maintenance, the transfer or sale of property, and pension sharing.

Where possible, the aim is to reach a clean break. That means putting a financial agreement in place so neither of you can make future claims against the other.

For LGBTQ+ couples, timing can sometimes add a layer of complexity. Because same-sex marriage has only been legally recognised in recent years, you may have built up assets long before you were able to marry. While the court can take the wider relationship into account, questions can arise about how those earlier assets should be treated. Cohabitation can be taken into account when one considers the length of a marriage, and this is often not known to couples. 

What if you weren’t married or in a civil partnership?

If you are not married or in a civil partnership, the legal position is very different.

You don’t have access to the same financial claims as divorcing couples. Instead, disputes tend to be dealt with under property and trust law, most commonly the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA). That focuses on ownership and intention, rather than what might feel fair.

In practical terms, that means even if you’ve been together for a long time, your rights may be limited, especially if assets are in one person’s name. For LGBTQ+ couples who were together before marriage was an option, this can be particularly significant.

Why LGBTQ+ separations can still feel more complicated

Even with legal equality in place, LGBTQ+ relationships don’t always fit neatly into traditional legal frameworks. Families might involve donor or surrogacy arrangements, shared parenting in different forms, or roles that were never formally documented. There may be a rejection of the heteronormative ideals of marriage and the nuclear family, upon which family law is founded and generally considered. 

That does not mean the law can’t deal with these situations. Indeed, the family courts are well-versed at assisting LGBTQ+ families. However, it does mean that the starting point is not always straightforward.

If you are going through a separation, getting clarity early on can make a real difference. Understanding your legal position, especially regarding parental responsibility and financial claims, can help you avoid uncertainty later and make more confident decisions from the outset, avoiding conflict and seeking early resolution often outside of the court arena. This can mean an outcome that you and your ex-partner are both happy with, which accords with what is in the best interests of you both and any family you may have. 

The bottom line

Equality in family law has removed a lot of the barriers for LGBTQ+ couples, but it hasn’t erased the complexities that can come with LGBTQ+ relationships and family life generally.

When those relationships break down, the details matter. And knowing your rights isn’t just helpful, it can shape what happens next.

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A court in Senegal has handed down the first conviction after the country’s newly toughened anti-LGBTQ+ law criminalising same-sex acts, sentencing a 24-year-old man to six years in prison and a $3,300 fine. The case is an early sign of how quickly the harsher penalties are being enforced.

On 10 April, the man was convicted in Pikine-Guédiawaye, a suburb of Dakar, for “acts against nature and public indecency”, and sentenced to six years in prison. He was arrested earlier this month.

Human Rights Watch researcher Larissa Kojoué said the law has created a climate of “constant fear” for LGBTQ+ people in Senegal.

Speaking to the Associated Press, she said arrests have intensified “because now there is backing from the state apparatus.”

At the time of the arrest, Kojoué also said: “Criminalising same‑sex conduct and arresting people for their sexual orientation or gender expression violates multiple internationally protected rights, including to equality and nondiscrimination.”

What changed in Senegal’s law

The new legislation was passed last month and signed into law by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye after being approved by the National Assembly with an overwhelming majority.

It doubled the maximum penalty for same-sex acts from five to 10 years in prison. The law also introduced prison sentences of between three and seven years for the “promotion” or “financing” of homosexuality.

Rapid enforcement

Senegal is a majority-Muslim country in West Africa where same-sex sexual activity has long been criminalised under provisions often framed as “acts against nature”. LGBTQ+ people and those perceived to be LGBTQ+ have faced periodic waves of arrests, public outing, and mob harassment, with significant stigma and safety risks.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised Senegal’s criminalisation framework as incompatible with international human rights protections.

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The Melbourne-based Lesbian Action Group has been fighting for an exemption to Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act for years, with the most recent court date on 15 April being its third attempt.

The group’s first attempt at securing the exemption was in 2023, when it submitted a later rejected application to the Human Rights Commission. The second was in the form of an appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal, which was dismissed.

Lesbian Action Group describes itself as a group that supports “lesbians who were born female and are same sex attracted” to “enable them to live their lives to the full and enjoy the benefits of inclusive Lesbian cultural events and gatherings in Australia from a Radical Feminist perspective”.

During the proceedings, Justice Moshinsky found that exemptions to the Sex Discrimination Act could be allowed even if they permitted conduct that would otherwise be discriminatory, ABC reported.

He also ruled that the tribunal was wrong to say that discriminating against transgender women would automatically be unlawful, as he believed it is possible that the discrimination could result in a “positive” outcome.

Following Justice Moshinsky’s ruling, Lesbian Action Group still cannot ban trans women from their public events, but the Administrative Review Tribunal must reconsider the case.

Posting to X on 15 April following the ruling, Lesbian Action Group said: “So, the judgment is out and we are VERY happy! We are so grateful to our legal team and all the wonderful supporters on X, here in Australia and around the world!”

Despite the group’s celebration, the legal director of Equality Australia, Heather Corkhill, said that it was only a technical win.

“The court has not endorsed discrimination against trans women, and it has not decided whether the exemption should be granted,” she said outside the court. “It has simply identified legal errors in the tribunal’s reasoning, so the matter must now be reconsidered.”

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Ella Morgan – who rose to fame on Married At First Sight UK in 2023 – is said to be joining the next celebrity series of the Channel 4 show.

While trans contestants have previously appeared on the civilian version of the popular series, Ella would be the first trans celeb to take part.

A source told The Sun that bosses are continuing to prioritise inclusive casting, adding: “Ella was a tough cookie before finding fame on MAFS and a few years in the spotlight have made her more than ready to take it all on.”

The reality star has used her platform to advocate for trans visibility and representation, and now looks set to take on one of TV’s toughest challenges.

Ella Morgan’s career so far

Ella Morgan became a fan-favourite on MAFS, ending the series paired with a different husband than who she married at first.

Her romance with JJ Slater didn’t last, and she eventually signed up for Celebs Go Dating in 2024. On the show, she started dating Alex James Ali. They continued their relationship for a while after the show, but split up after a few months.

Morgan has also worked in theatre, in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens, hosted for Brighton Pride 2024 and London Pride 2025, and signed a modelling contract with fashion brand PrettyLittleThing.

She also became the first trans celebrity to represent retailer Superdrug in 2025, even fronting a campaign for the high street store.

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Out ice hockey player Luke Prokop has shared a candid, joking account of the “really gay s***” he says goes on in hockey locker rooms, from constant bum-slapping to explicit body talk among teammates.

In a clip from his appearance on No Straight Answers, hosted by Zoe Boyd, Prokop says: “Like, we do some really gay s*** in hockey.” When Boyd suggests bum-slapping, Prokop replies: “All the time.”

Prokop also describes how common it is for players to comment on one another’s bodies. “Like, guys will talk about the size of everyone, and like … sometimes I’m standing there, this is all happening around me, and I’m like, ‘You guys are gayer than me.’” He adds: “Honestly, some of them are. And it’s every day, too. They’re talking about each others c**** every day. It’s so weird.”

The locker-room exchange is reportedly from a clip Boyd posted that does not appear in the finished interview.

Prokop’s coming out

Prokop, 23, also spoke about coming out and settling into teams after being open about his sexuality. He said he first came out to his sister, then his mum, before telling anyone else.

He later came out to his four closest straight male friends “around the kitchen island” at his home. Prokop described a long silence before he finally said: “Uh, I’m gay.”

He recalled one friend breaking the tension by asking a question, then responding: “Okay, so you’re gay. When can we start hunting for men?” Prokop said the moment was “so sweet” and “hilarious”, adding that his group chat with those friends is now titled “I have a question”.

Dressing room antics

Prokop said joking with teammates helped reduce awkwardness when joining new teams.

“A lot of guys on the team forget that I’m gay. Which is how I wanted it to be because I never wanted it to be awkward or weird for anyone else,” he said, adding that he encouraged teammates to make “a gay one-liner” if the opportunity came up.

Prokop plays for the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, after coming out publicly in July 2021 as a Nashville Predators prospect.

The Canadian defenceman became the first player under NHL contract to come out as gay in 2021. Wider debates about hockey’s approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion have also played out around league decisions, including when Pride jerseys were banned during warm-ups, over claims they were a “distraction”.

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A TV series inspired by Meryl Wilsner’s bestselling sapphic football romance novel Cleat Cute is in development at Amazon MGM Studios under the title Playing the Field. Wilsner shared the update, which was first reported by Deadline, in an Instagram post, praising the team behind the adaptation.

Playing the Field is described as an ensemble comedy following four players on a professional women’s football team, Crescent City, based in New Orleans. The will-they-won’t-they relationship between Grace Henderson and Phoebe Matthews is set to be central to the storyline.

Sarah Tapscott is attached as writer and showrunner, as well as executive producer. Former basketball player Sue Bird and former footballer Megan Rapinoe are on board as executive producers too, alongside Jeff Wachtel and Jared Berenholz with Future Shack Entertainment, Camille Bernier-Green, Emily Rasenick, and Wilsner.

No release date has been confirmed as of yet.

Wilsner wrote on Instagram: “When I tell you this could not be in better hands, I mean it… I’m so excited to see where [Sarah Tapscott] takes my favourite fictional soccer lesbians.”

What is Cleat Cute about?

In the novel’s set-up, Grace Henderson has been a star of the US women’s soccer team for a decade, until an injury sidelines her.

Phoebe Matthews, an up-and-comer, takes her spot, and the pair develop a connection while competing for the same position as they prepare for the World Cup.

The TV adaptation shifts the focus to an ensemble of four teammates, keeping Grace and Phoebe’s romance as the emotional grab.

Who’s behind Playing the Field?

Tapscott has previously worked on The Sex Lives of College Girls, The Big Leap and New Girl, and is a co-executive producer on Not Suitable For Work.

Wilsner is known for writing queer romance with happily-ever-afters, including Something to Talk About, Mistakes Were Made and My Best Friend’s Honeymoon.

Bird and Rapinoe are both openly gay, and Rapinoe announced her retirement from football after the World Cup.

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The “Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act,” set to take effect in July, applies not only to medical care but also to social transitions, such as requesting different pronouns, names, or access to gender-aligned spaces.

The legislation allows parents to sue individuals or institutions that fail to comply, with penalties reaching up to $100,000 per violation.

Idaho state Sen. Carl Bjerke and state Rep. Bruce Skaug said in a joint statement that the law will “reinforce the fundamental right of parents and guardians to oversee the medical and social upbringing of their children”.

Medical professionals have raised alarm about the lack of any safety exemptions, noting that forced disclosure could expose some young people to rejection, abuse, or homelessness in unsupportive households.

Speaking to the Idaho Capital Sun, Idaho physician Dr Jessica Rolynn, who provides gender-affirming care, warned: “Not every home is safe. Some youth face rejection, emotional harm, or even homeless when sensitive information is revealed without careful planning.

“This bill contains no mechanism for safety assessment and no allowance for clinical discretion.”

The measure is the latest in a series of anti-LGBTQ+ policies signed by Little, including laws restricting bathroom access and limiting Pride displays in public spaces.

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Euphoria has sparked fresh backlash after viewers spotted Zendaya‘s character Rue wearing a Saint Michael hoodie reported to cost around $1,000, despite the character being portrayed as broke and in serious debt in the series three premiere.

The hoodie has been widely discussed online because the episode also establishes that Rue owes her drug dealer $100,000, and has been working for dealer Laurie for two years in an attempt to pay off the debt.

Some of the reactions have been blunt. One viewer wrote: “Rue has holes in her socks but yet she’s wearing a $1000+ hoodie?” Another added: “Rue if you don’t sell that hoodie and pay that lady back”.

READ MORE: Euphoria fans brand Sydney Sweeney scene a ‘humiliation ritual’ as Cassie enters adult industry

The scrutiny has not been limited to one item. Rue is also shown wearing a patchwork jacket from the same brand, reported to have originally cost $4,050 and to be reduced to $2,835.

Other characters’ wardrobes have also been pulled into the debate, with fans highlighting Jacob Elordi’s plaid Bottega Veneta shirt, retailing for $6,080. His character Nate also wore a $1,143 brown polo shirt from the same designer brand.

During the season three premiere, Nate spoke with fiancé Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) about wanting to keep costs of their upcoming wedding down, which Cassie was not happy with.

Elordi became a brand ambassador for Bottega Veneta in 2024, however season three costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas told the New York Times she sourced his character’s wardrobe before speaking to him about it.

She explained: “[Nate’s] employees don’t know that it’s Bottega. They’re just like, Oh it’s like a flannel. But the investors are like, Oh, I see that woven leather belt, they see the Rolex, they know what’s up.”

Why Rue’s hoodie is causing backlash

The latest round of “fashion detective” posts taps into a long-running conversation about how Euphoria balances gritty storylines with high-end styling. For some viewers, the luxury labels feel at odds with plotlines built around financial struggles and crisis.

Others have argued that many audience members will not recognise specific pieces as designer at all, especially when the items read on screen as a standard graphic hoodie or plaid shirt.

Newman-Thomas explained to the New York Times that Saint Michael is owned by her friend Cali DeWitt. She said that with showrunner Sam Levinson, they wanted a “Gonzo journalist aesthetic” for Rue, and Saint Michael provided them appropriate clothing options.

Heidi Bivens’ ‘f*** it’ approach

The show’s former costume designer Heidi Bivens previously addressed the realism debate in a 2022 interview with Dazed. “Oh f*** it! I was so sensitive to all of those comments during the first season,” she said.

Bivens added: “But in the second season of Euphoria I was just like ‘come on, this is not reality’. Sure the show deals with real issues but Sam had given all of the departments permission to break any preconceived idea of what we thought the reality of the show was.”

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Employers have been waiting for guidance on policies surrounding single-sex spaces since the ruling in April 2025 that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 meant “biological sex” only.

A review of the EHRC was launched under Rishi Sunak’s government in 2024. By August 2025, the review was complete and the EHRC argued trans people had no “legal right” to access gender-specific facilities. The EHRC wrote to a number of organisations, recommending they restrict single-sex spaces on the basis of “biological sex”. In February 2026, the EHRC confirmed they would be taking no further action regarding its review into single-sex spaces.

READ MORE: Bridget Phillipson says trans people must not be used as a political punchbag

On 13 February, the High Court ruled that service providers did not need to exclude trans people from using the correct facilities, despite the EHRC’s guidance.

However, High Court Justice Swift ruled that while the EHRC’s interpretation of the law was not accurate, single-sex spaces in workspaces must remain trans-exclusionary.

Bridget Phillipson’s statement

Bridget Phillipson met with NHS nurse Jennifer Melle, who reached a settlement with an NHS trust after an incident which stemmed from Melle using a trans patient’s incorrect pronouns.

During the meeting, Phillipson said the EHRC’s revised code of practice, which has not yet been presented to Parliament, had not been delayed.

She said: “What I would say, however, is the code of practice applies to services and associations. It doesn’t apply to the workplace regulations.”

‘Our vision has always been a world where everyone, everywhere has equal rights’

Following Phillipson’s comments, Stonewall has released a statement.

It reads: “We are pleased to see the Government and EHRC working constructively to ensure the Code is legally accurate and supports service providers to treat everyone with equal dignity and respect.

“We have consistently said that the Code needs to bring clarity and balance the needs, rights and dignity of all people, across all protected characteristics, under the Equality Act. 

“Following a year of complex judgments in the Courts and the uncertainty this has created, it is essential that organisations can look to the Code for practical, workable guidance and feel confident about their legal obligations. 

“We look forward to seeing the Code once laid in Parliament and will continue to work with policymakers, parliamentarians and broader stakeholders to ensure LGBTQ+ people have equal protections under the law. Our vision has always been a world where everyone, everywhere has equal rights.”

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Bass and Fatone both spoke of the moment in an interview for Fatone’s upcoming docu-series Boy Band Confidential, with a clip from the series being shared by USA Today on 13 April.

“We go out one night, we all go back to Lance’s house,” Fatone recalls.

“I pass out in one of his guest bedrooms. I wake up at, like, 3:00 in the morning. I’m like, ‘Ah, I got to leave.’ I go to his bedroom, open up the door. There’s nobody in there.”

He explained how he went to check Bass’ office, saying: “I open the door, and he’s sitting there, and there’s a guy straddling on top of him.”

Bass continued the story. “I was at my computer and my boyfriend at the time – my very, very first boyfriend – was sitting on my lap,” he remembered.

As per the story, Fatone “got quiet” and apologised for walking in, but Bass encouraged Fatone to enter the room so they could talk.

“I was like, ‘Surprise!’ He’s like, ‘Oh, please. I don’t care,’” said Bass. “I knew he wouldn’t care, but it was just so nice to hear those words, and finally [have] one of the members of your group know and be like, ‘I don’t care.’”

When Bass asked Fatone to keep the news to himself, Fatone was more than happy to oblige.

“I go, ‘Lance, I love you,’” Fatone recalled. “I said, ‘You’re my brother. You let me know when it’s right for you to tell. I’m not saying nothing to the guys.’”

‘I back him up 100 per cent’

Bass eventually publicly came out as gay in 2006 in an interview with People. At the time, he said: “I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys’ careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said [that I was gay], it would overpower everything.”

He continued: “I didn’t know: Could that be the end of NSYNC? So I had that weight on me of like, ‘Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it’s bad.’ So I just never did.”

Fatone also contributed to the interview, speaking in support of Bass for his sexuality and his decision to come out.

“He took years to really think about how he was going to tell everyone,” Fatone said. “I back him up 100 per cent.”

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Actor Craig Lamar Traylor returned as Stevie Kenarban, Malcolm’s friend, and it was revealed he is in a relationship with a man, and together they have adopted a son.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair also introduced the titular character’s non-binary sibling, Kelly. Malcolm’s mum Lois fell pregnant with Kelly in the original series finale.

And while many have applauded the revived show for it’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, it has upset some purists who complained it has changed too much.

Discussing Stevie, one said on X: “Wait why is Stevie gay, he literally was into girls as a kid what the f***?”

Another said: “No way they made Stevie gay in the new Malcolm in the Middle, I will not be watching. Woke a*******.”

Someone else said: “They made the Malcolm in the Middle reboot woke as f***, Stevie is a gay female looking … Lois and Hal have a non-binary daughter. Probably more to come!”

And another added: “What a load of nonsense. Stevie was always into women, nobody was gay, woke stuff was barely a thing back then.”

Fans defend Malcolm in the Middle reboot

Of course, for every person complaining about the revival, there were plenty others defending the changes Life’s Still Unfair introduced.

One said: “Stevie being gay, a dad, with piercings and married to a white man is the most wonderful thing they could have done… A beauty of a scene the best character development. Love it.”

Another cheered: “Stevie is gay. He has a husband and they have a son together. And I couldn’t be happier with this decision! And anyone who doesn’t like it, come at me one by one. I’ve got enough for all of you!”

A third wrote on X: “Stevie is gay, Kelly is non-binary, Malcolm’s friends are in a gay polyamorous relationship, with a kid, and if you don’t like it you can go cry about it no one cares.”

Meanwhile, others pointed out that there hadn’t been an explicit label put on Stevie. One said: “They made Stevie have a relationship with a guy, but no word regarding his sexuality; could be bi, pan, whatever.”

Another said: “People who don’t understand Stevie being bi don’t understand Stevie’s character.”

Craig Lamar Traylor on returning as Stevie

Craig Lamar Traylor spoke at the premiere about returning, admitting he’d been “scared” because so much time had passed since he first played Stevie.

He wrote on Instagram: “For all of the fans of the original show I’m sure it may look like a lot has changed. Age, looks, children, relationships on and off the show. We’ve all grown.

“One thing I can say is, I’ve always been me before during after and now. That will never change and I encourage those loving life and living their truth to have the courage to keep it up despite what anyone says or thinks. We are in this thing together.

“Malcolm In The Middle has always celebrated being other and in that it’s so human so real so familiar and I’m happy to say with conviction that is the truth of the new series and I love @behindmalcolm the cast and crew for being the realest in the business.”

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is available to stream on Disney+

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Speakeasy-themed sapphic bar and cafe The Pearl announced via Instagram on 11 April that it would be closing its doors for good at the end of the month after just one year of business.

“This statement comes with a lot of respect and appreciation for everyone who patrons the bar and makes this space what it is,” The Pearl wrote.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we have loved getting to create a space for everyone in our community. It’s communities that often get overlooked that don’t get safe spaces and we have taken great pride in providing that space seeing how much these communities have grown at The Pearl.”

Management shared that they had “worked tirelessly” to find solutions but concluded that they were not in a position to continue doing business.

“It has been an absolute pleasure and honour to get to serve everyone who has walked into our space and we wish [we] could have sustained it for the long haul,” the statement continues. “While this is an incredibly disappointing announcement to make, what was built here matters.”

Many patrons expressed sadness at the announcement in the comments and asked what it would take to save The Pearl.

“Damn, what a bummer on so many levels,” commented one Instagram user. “Pretty shocking too with how absolutely insanely packed the Pearl has been since the rebrand. People love this space — I bet they’d do a lot to help it stay open.”

“All the male gay bars in Denver should donate a lil,” wrote another.

The Pearl was then prompted to start a fundraiser on GoFundMe, which attracted even more support for the space.

“We have never wanted to close our doors and shut off such a special and unique space, full of our queer, trans, and biopic community,” the description reads. “Our events have brought so much queer joy, we can’t stand to lose them, and seeing the response from you all wanting to keep us alive, we will give everything we have, and I truly think between our community and the Pearl’s commitment, we can save this sacred lesbian space.”

Incredibly, the fundraiser exceeded its $80,000 goal from 1,400 donors by 12 April, and the donations were paused at $83,296.

In an update, The Pearl’s management thanked the community for its “amazing” support. It’s unclear how long the donations will allow the venue to remain open but The Pearl confirmed that the funds would be used to pay the venue’s back rent and the staff’s wages.

“Your support means so much to us. Much love to you all. We couldn’t do this without you and our dedicated staff.”

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The Monday (13 April) appearance featured Arkansas DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons, who delivered a McDonald’s order to the presser to help showcase the impact of the administration’s “no tax on tips” policy.

While Trump was taking questions from the press he abruptly shifted topics, asking Simmons: “Do you think that men should play in women’s sports?”

“I really don’t have an opinion on that,” Simmons said. Trump replied: “You don’t? I’ll bet you do,” before Simmons firmly redirecting the conversation, saying: “No. I’m here about no tax on tips.”

At another point in the conference, Trump grabbed a $100 bill and handed it to Simmons after a reporter asked Simmons: “Are the White House good tippers?”

“Thank you, you reminded me,” Trump said afterwards, smiling and pointing at the reporter.

The interaction reflects a broader pattern of Trump introducing anti-trans talking points into unrelated settings, even as many Americans remain focused on everyday concerns like income and healthcare.

For Simmons, who says her husband has been navigating cancer treatment and financial strain, the moment underscored that disconnect.

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The trans Republican made the comments to OutKick, telling right-wing reporter Tomi Lahren that she regrets accepting the accolade given her current campaign to keep trans women out of women’s sports.

“Here I am fighting the battle to keep biological men out of women’s sports because it’s not right… and I want to protect women,” she said. “I started thinking what a hypocrite I am, trying to keep biological men out of women’s sports, but I’m a biological man, and they gave me Glamour’s Woman of the Year award.”

Jenner, who became an Olympic gold medalist before transitioning, went on to clarify that she considers herself biologically female following surgery, but said her XY chromosomes mean the award was a step too far.

The reality star said: “Genetically, I’m still XY. There’s nothing I can do about that. And I’m fine with it. I’m just glad that I can wake up in the morning and just be myself… So I have no regrets about what I did.”

Despite her feelings on trans women in sports, Jenner did add that she thinks the US has gone “too far right” on trans issues, and called bathroom bans “not right” and “not safe”.

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Speaking to comedian and host Zach Noe Towers, Tierney said: “As you know, I am undetectable, I’m HIV-positive undetectable,” before describing the stigma he says still follows people living with HIV.

Tierney also spoke about getting HIV at 34 and how it affected him. “And I acquired HIV when I was 34, and it was really, really bad. I got very, very, very sick, lost a lot of weight, had a lot of bad medical complications that a lot of people don’t,” he said.

He added that the person who transmitted HIV to him was “off their meds” and had a “very high viral” load, urging others: “So please stay on your meds.”

Later in the episode, Tierney said he developed Type 1 diabetes and went undiagnosed for months, until an HIV doctor identified what was wrong. He said he was “only two weeks away from complete kidney failure” or “a coma nobody could ever get you out of” before the diagnosis. “There was like a year and a half where I just was basically dying all the time,” Tierney said.

Tierney also described himself as a “full disclosure person”, and claimed that in Canada non-disclosure can be treated as a criminal offence even if someone is undetectable because “the laws have not officially caught up yet”.

‘So glad he’s still with us’

The clip has prompted a wave of appreciative comments from viewers thanking Tierney for speaking openly about HIV, treatment, and stigma.

One person said: “Truly heartening that we can now discuss this horrible disease without complete pessimism. So glad he’s still with us and creating beautiful things.”

Another said: “How beautiful that he centres sexual queer joy and freedom with Heated Rivalry, and has not allowed his diagnosis to turn him bitter.”

A third added: “The more I hear from this man the more proud I am to be a fellow Canadian.”

Jacob Tierney’s rise

The podcast episode was recorded in spring of ’22 and has been revisited more recently as Tierney’s profile has risen with the success of gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry.

He has a reputation for frank, comedic storytelling and for discussing sex and relationships without prudishness, and has spoken about his plans for season two of Heated Rivalry.

Tierney also recently slammed racist backlash directed at Hudson Williams being part of Heated Rivalry.

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A 64-year-old man in Oslo has “likely been cured” after being in HIV remission for five years after receiving a stem-cell transplant from his brother, whose rare CCR5Δ32/Δ32 mutation is linked to resistance to many strains of HIV.

However, clinicians involved in the case have stressed this is not a realistic route to a widely available cure.

The transplant was carried out to treat the man’s bone marrow cancer. He was diagnosed with HIV in 2006, aged 44, and later stopped antiretroviral medication 24 months after the transplant.

Researchers published the case in Nature Microbiology on Monday. Two years after the procedure, tissue samples from his blood and gut showed no HIV DNA in the host DNA. An analysis of more than 65 million immune system cells also found no virus capable of multiplying, alongside no detectable HIV-specific T-cell responses.

The study authors wrote: “Replication-competent virus and HIV-specific T cell responses were absent, and HIV antibody responses showed a gradual decline,” adding: “The absence of HIV-specific T cell responses in our data supports the hypothesis that such an absence correlates with sustained HIV remission.”

Why this case is so rare

The man’s brother happened to have the CCR5Δ32/Δ32 mutation, and his donor cells eventually replaced the patient’s immune cells in his blood, bone marrow, and gut tissues. Scientists involved said this kind of outcome is unlikely and might not be achievable in other patients.

Study co-author Anders Eivind Myhre said: “A sibling has a 25 per cent probability of being a match for a transplant, and the frequency of CCR5Δ32/Δ32 is around one per cent” in northern European populations.

What it means for HIV care

Stem-cell transplantation is a high-risk intervention, generally reserved for serious blood cancers and other life-threatening conditions. CCR5 is a key co-receptor used by many HIV strains to enter immune cells, which is why CCR5-targeting has long been a major avenue in HIV treatment and cure research. Clinicians also distinguish between a sterilising cure (no virus anywhere) and long-term remission without treatment.

For most people living with HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) allows an undetectable viral load and a normal lifespan. The principle of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) is widely accepted: people with sustained undetectable viral load do not sexually transmit HIV. LGBTQ+ communities, particularly gay and bisexual men, have also been central to HIV activism, research advocacy, and public health messaging.

Study author Marius Trøseid told Live Science the patient “feels like he has won the lottery twice … He was cured of his bone marrow disease, which could be fatal, and he’s also now cured of HIV, most likely.”

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Barton has been the director of Birmingham Pride since 2009, but has revealed he intends to leave after the 30th anniversary comes in 2027.

This year, the Pride festival has had prices cut significantly to make it more accessible due to concerns surrounding the cost of living crisis.

The parade itself is free to attend, but it is followed by a two-day event for which attendees must buy a ticket.

However Barton has told BirminghamLive that he intends to make it completely free for its special 30th anniversary in 2027.

He said: “In 1997 I attended the first Birmingham Pride, 2027 will be the 30th anniversary. I’d love to bring it full circle. In my own mind, I’d love for it to be a free festival.”

The event was free to attend in the past, however organisers found the need to balance costs for security, cleaning and talent.

But Barton says it is possible to make it free, and he will resign once he does it.

“I feel like once that’s done, I think it’ll be my time to then say, we brought it full circle and I will need to pass the baton on,” he said.

Birmingham Pride 2026 line-up

This year’s Birmingham Pride is taking place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May.

Performers on the Saturday include Katy B, Sigala and Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard.

On the Sunday, Girls Aloud icon Nadine Coyle headlines, while Björn Again, Boney M and Amelle of Sugababes fame will perform.

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In late March, the sportsman claimed on Instagram that his daughter saw the singer at their hotel in São Paulo, which they were staying at for Lollapalooze.

He claimed that the young girl, who is the daughter of Jorginho’s wife Catherine Harding and actor Jude Law, walked by Roan to check it was actually her. Then, he said, Roan’s security guard approached them and berated them.

At the time, the “Pink Pony Club” singer denied having any involvement, saying nobody had even approached her and that the security guard was not employed by her.

And Jorginho has now rolled back his claims, wanting to “clarify everything now that new information has come to light”.

Jorginho’s new statement on Chappell Roan

He said on his Instagram Story: “I made my initial statement in the heat of the moment, after hearing that my child and wife had been approached by an adult male security guard in an intimidating way. I reacted as any father would. My priority is, and always will be, protecting my family, and that is exactly what I did.”

Jorginho went on to say that the incident “did occur as it was originally described”, but he only had limited information.

He continued: “Since then, I have become aware of new information that has changed my understanding of parts of what happened. Chappell Roan made a public statement, reached out privately to Catherine, and our teams also spoke directly. It became clear that she had no knowledge of what took place at breakfast and had not asked anyone to approach them. She was understanding and sympathetic to what had happened to our child.”

The security guard in question, Pascal Duvier, also came out publicly to confirm he was not part of Roan’s personal security team and to “take full responsibility”.

Jorginho acknowledged Duvier’s statement, saying: “While we still do not know what prompted him to approach them, and do not believe an 11-year-old at breakfast could reasonably be seen as any kind of security threat, it is now clear that he was not acting on behalf of Chappell.”

He continued: “It was, ultimately, a misunderstanding in that respect, and I am glad to set the record straight. It’s important to me that this is clarified fairly and accurately. I regret the impact this situation has had on Chappell Roan, Catherine, Ada, and our family.”

The footballer thanked fans for support he’d received during the ordeal and slammed online attacks aimed at his family and also Roan.

He finished by saying: “As far as I am concerned, this matter is closed.”

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Orange is the New Black star Rose, 40, claimed on Threads that Perry, 41, “sexually assaulted” her in a nightclub in Melbourne almost 20 years ago.

When someone responded light-heartedly referencing Perry’s song ‘I Kissed a Girl’, Rose told them: “She didn’t kiss me. She saw me ‘resting’ on my best friends lap to avoid her and bent down, pulled her underwear to the side and rubbed her disgusting vagina on my face until my eyes snapped open and I projectile vomited on her.”

Now, a representative for Perry has responded, providing a statement to PinkNews.

It reads: “The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous reckless lies.

“Ms Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named.”

Rose has responded to multiple posts on Threads about the statement from Perry’s camp.

In one, she said: “Well-documented history of what now? I have never, ever, made serious public allegations on social media like this.”

PinkNews has contacted a representative for Ruby Rose for comment.

Rose claimed on Threads that she told people about the alleged incident “but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because [she] didn’t know how else to handle it”.

She added: “Later she agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret. But I did tell y’all she wasn’t a good person.”

Rose continued: “You don’t need people to believe you, you just need to get it out of your poor body, before it gives you cancer.”

The social media situation started after Complex posted about Perry’s reaction to Justin Bieber’s Coachella set.

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The 26-year-old attended the first weekend of music festival Coachella (10-12 April), with Justin Bieber headlining on Saturday night.

He uploaded a “Get Ready With Me” video to TikTok on Sunday, exclaiming: “I literally almost got into my first fight last night. My friends had to pull me away from somebody.”

READ MORE: James Charles’ followers are all saying the same thing about his Coachella looks

Applying his makeup, Charles went on a lengthy rant about the price of AirBnBs and Ubers due to the festival in California.

He then turned his attention to his near-fight, explaining that he and his friends wanted to grab a drink from the VIP section, where the bar is located on a raised platform area.

However he said that some people choose to sit on the stairs there, as it gives a good view of the main stage.

Charles said: “So the only way through is basically to politely step over people and granted, most that are sitting on the stairs are well aware of this, so will move or shift over to allow people through. Well, not this lady last night.”

He claimed: “My friend was in front of me, he politely said ‘excuse me’, stepped over her and was all good. I was right behind him, when I said ‘excuse me’ and got ready to politely step over her, she moves herself over and says ‘nope, you can go in over there’.

“I said ‘nope, I’m gonna go in right here, excuse me.’

“Then she moves over again, moves her feet so when I take a little step, I accidentally step on the very tip of her shoe. Not her open toes in a sandal, not a cute little sneaker, but a heavy duty boot, and I know that because I looked down after she literally grabs both sides of her head and [screams] making a whole entire scene for no reason.”

He went on: “Of course everyone starts looking and before I even had the opportunity to say sorry for stepping on her shoe, she’s already cussing me out and at this point – I’m a very, very, very nice person, until you give me a reason not to be.

“I snapped. I f****** snapped. I was like you f****** dumb a** b****, you’re lucky I only stepped on the tip of your shoe and not your f****** face.”

Charles explained his friend grabbed him and moved him on to avoid any more of a situation.

“This weekend can really bring out the worst in people,” Charles finished by saying.

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Melle, from Croydon in London, said the patient, at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, racially abused her after she referred to them as “he” and “Mr”.

According to gender-critical group Sex Matters, Melle said she could not use the patient’s correct pronouns due to her Christian faith and instead offered to use their name.

She was subsequently given a written warning after the May 2024 incident, but was suspended with full pay in March 2025 after talking about it with the media.

Melle speaking to the media let to concerns from NHS officials that she could potentially breach patient confidentiality.

The patient involved was also warned that threatening and racist language would not be tolerated by Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Trust.

Following her suspension, Melle was reinstated in January of this year after a private disciplinary meeting. It was decided she would face no more action over the alleged breach of patient confidentiality.

However she is still facing ongoing investigations with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Melle took the NHS trust to an employment tribunal, claiming harassment, direct discrimination and indirect discrimination because of her Christian beliefs, as per the BBC.

Now, the trust has settled with Melle before the tribunal was set to begin today (13 April), according to advocacy group Christian Concern. The terms of the settlement will remain confidential, due to its legal terms.

Melle, who was supported during her legal battle by the Christian Legal Centre and the Darlington Nursing Union, said: “I am glad that my employer has finally decided to extend an olive branch to me.”

She went on: “It should never have come to this. No nurse or other medical professionals should ever have to face what I have faced simply for telling the truth, doing their job, and reporting racist abuse and physical threats from a patient.”

In her statement, Melle said she was being “pursued” for speaking about her experience, and for misgendering the patient. She said: “I will continue to stand up, not just for myself, but for all nurses who deserve protection and respect.”

An Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust spokesperson said: “Racial abuse of our staff is never acceptable, nor is discussing a patient’s private medical information publicly.

“We are sorry that Miss Melle had this experience and we issued a written warning to this patient, but we expect all staff to maintain patient confidentiality at all times.”

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The policy change, first reported by Transitics via Substack on 9 April, weeks after it took effect, requires residents to present an amended birth certificate to update their gender marker.

But because the state has already blocked those amendments, the rule creates a de facto ban on accurate identification for many trans people.

The move is part of a broader wave of restrictions across the US, with multiple Republican-led states tightening rules around identity documents in recent months.

In Wyoming’s case, the change follows earlier legal and administrative shifts, including the rollback of a long-standing policy that allowed gender marker updates on birth certificates via court order in November 2025.

With no media coverage or public comment during the rule-making process, the policy was implemented largely unnoticed.

Advocates say the impact could be significant. Without IDs that reflect their identity, transgender residents may face barriers in everyday situations – from voting and travel to employment and housing – while also risking being outed in routine interactions.

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Civil rights advocate and MS NOW host Rev. Al Sharpton asked him: “When you ran for president, you met me and we went [to a] well-publicised lunch at Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem. Just so my calendar’s clear, should I be reserving a table at Sylvia’s? Are you going to run again?”

Buttigieg replied: “You save me a seat. I’ll be there.” The statement received an uproar of cheers from the room.

The politician previously ran for president in 2020, and became the first out gay candidate to seek the Democratic nomination. He was also the youngest candidate in the 2020 primary race at 38 years old.

His campaign gained momentum, despite him being considered a lower-tier candidate when he first launched in April 2019. He ended up winning the most delegates in the Iowa caucuses and tried with Bernie Sanders for the most delegates in the New Hampshire primary.

He then placed fourth in the South Carolina primary, and dropped out of the race in March 2020. Instead, he endorsed Joe Biden for president.

During his race, Buttigieg’s major political positions included the abolition of the US Electoral College, support for labour unions, tighter gun controls, a public health insurance option with an individual mandate, addressing climate change, the development of pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and tighter laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.

During his appearance at the National Action Network convention, Buttigieg criticised the Trump administration’s handling of inflation.

Speaking on MS NOW chat show Morning Joe, he said: “It’s not just everything that this president and this administration are doing wrong. It’s what you are missing out on because of that and what will happen if we do it right.”

Buttigieg continued: “Your everyday life could be better. If you have people who actually are making your cost of living lower, making sure that we’re building more energy resources so that your power bill goes down, people making sure you get paid more, making sure in this country that one job is enough.”

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Season three of the hit HBO show picks up five years after the events of the second, with Cassie, now engaged to Jacob Elordi‘s character Nate, making money by selling adult content online.

Viewers watched as Cassie dressed up in lingerie while sucking on a baby’s pacifier, and donning dog ears and a nose, as Nate yanked on her leash.

Euphoria has never been one to shy away from the shock factor, but it seems things have gone too far for some fans.

“This is so embarrassing even for Jacob. But how Sydney Sweeney can agree to do something like this? It’s like a humiliation ritual,” one wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another said: “How did Sydney Sweeney agree to this?” A third wrote: “This show is actually horrendous but trust I will be sat to watch Sydney embarrass herself for a cheque.”

Someone else questioned the direction of showrunner Sam Levinson, saying: “The way my jaw dropped. What is wrong with Sam Levinson?”

Another added: “Sam Levinson’s obsession with these kinds of scenes is getting exhausting … Sydney Sweeney deserves better writing than this constant shock factor.”

Meanwhile, others disagreed, saying Sweeney was just doing her job. “They’re acting omg get a grip,” one wrote.

What happens in Euphoria season three?

Euphoria season three premiered on 12 April, four years after season two ended on 27 February, 2022.

The story picks up five years later, with the characters living separate lives for the most part.

Cassie and Nate are engaged, with Cassie trying to make it as an adult influencer.

Maddy (Alexa Demie) is working as a talent manager, while Lexi (Maude Apatow) is a production assistant for a Warner Bros show.

Meanwhile, Rue (Zendaya) is working as a drug mule working to pay off her debits, and Jules (Hunter Schafer) is living as a sugar baby in New York.

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Miles, who is Latino-Canadian, told LGBTQ Nation on 7 April that he was travelling from Toronto to Las Vegas when he was pulled aside at the airport, and his luggage and phone were searched.

“My privacy was violated,” he claimed. “I was subjected to derogatory comments, with an unsettling focus on my sexual orientation and my sex life. All of this happened on two hours of sleep. I was starving, dehydrated, and in a state of complete exhaustion. I was treated like a criminal despite having done nothing wrong. I felt coerced, manipulated, and powerless. I am devastated.”

Miles was on his way to attend the annual GayVN Awards, which honour people in the gay adult entertainment industry. He had six nominations and subsequently won one of them.

‘I was treated like a criminal despite having done nothing wrong’

The star details that he was detained for two hours, and questioned and interrogated “with an unsettling focus on [his] sexual orientation”. He said: “They accused me of escorting with no evidence.”

Miles went on to say that security went through his luggage and questioned him over the amount of medication, which included PrEP, fibre pills and dietary supplements, he was travelling with, despite finding nothing illegal.

“The officer was fixated on why I had so much luggage and medication with me,” Miles said. “I had three pieces of luggage with me because, in addition to the awards show in Vegas, I was then going to meet my boyfriend in Florida for the Atlantis cruise. They were asking why I had so [many] ‘gay clothes’ with me.”

Miles was eventually allowed to fly but missed his flight and had to return the next day. However, Miles was told by a Customs officer that he had a flag on his account, and he was required to do a secondary screening.

“This officer decided to be a lot more thorough with his search and interrogation.” Miles said. “After about two hours of intense interrogation, he found evidence that I do p*** on my personal phone. Then, over the next two hours, they found evidence of escorting on my other [professional] phone.”

The evidence they found was text conversations Miles had had with past clients, confirming he was an escort, as well as messages with potential clients in Las Vegas, although no solid plans had been made.

The first lot of messages caused him to be banned from the United States for 10 years.

However, Miles insisted that there is a difference between his work as an escort and prostitution. “Escorting is an exchange of money for time spent with an individual,” he said. “For example, most of my clients are looking for ‘the boyfriend’ experience. Or someone to go to dinner with. Prostitution is an exchange of money for sexual services. There was never any evidence of prostitution on my phone, only escorting.”

According to QNews, sex worker advocates often warn that US Customs can deny people entry if they are believed to have engaged in sex work, even if they have no prior convictions or plans to work on their trip.

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David Geffen has reportedly reached a divorce settlement with ex-husband Donovan Michaels, after court paperwork showed the case is now marked “uncontested”.

The 83-year-old billionaire entertainment mogul and Michaels, 33, were together for seven years before marrying in May 2023, and they did not have a prenup. Geffen, who had a ‘special arrangement’ with Cher in the 1970s, filed for divorce in May 2025, citing irreconcilable differences.

The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, according to TMZ.

Court documents are said to indicate both parties have agreed on remaining financial issues. Those issues were previously understood to include spousal support, division of property and attorney fees, even after the pair were declared legally single in November.

How the split escalated

The divorce turned contentious in mid-2025 when Michaels, who also goes by David Armstrong, filed a lawsuit two months after the divorce filing. The complaint included allegations about exploitation and controlling behaviour, as well as claims about how the relationship began.

In the complaint, Michaels alleged he first met Geffen in 2016 on a sugar daddy website, “where men like Geffen shop for the vulnerable”. The lawsuit also described an alleged $10,000 payment for sex on their first night together.

Michaels later dropped the lawsuit in October 2025, requesting it be dismissed “without prejudice”, meaning it could be re-filed.

David Geffen’s net worth

Geffen has an estimated net worth of $9billion. During the dispute, he had reportedly said he would be willing to pay $50,000 a month in spousal support for 12 months, and claimed he had given Michaels $200,000 since the split while covering $15,000 monthly rent.

Geffen co-founded Asylum Records and Geffen Records, and later co-founded DreamWorks SKG with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg. A major arts philanthropist, his name is attached to prominent cultural institutions, and he publicly came out as gay in the early 1990s, becoming one of the most prominent openly gay figures in US business.

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In a 10 April interview with Out, Cherry said the series reflects a more honest version of reality, in which identities and relationships aren’t confined to rigid labels.

“I like how season one started off with queer storylines. It was queer storylines that I had never seen in TV or in movies before, but I knew that people were like that in real life,” Cherry said.

Speaking about her own views, Cherry emphasised that sexuality exists on a spectrum, rejecting the idea that it’s “black and white”.

“When it comes to sexuality, things are not black and white. Sexuality is absolutely on a spectrum for every single person,” she said.

Cherry also pushed back on misconceptions around being sex-positive, saying: “To me, being sex-positive doesn’t mean everyone needs to go out and have a ton of sex. It just means don’t judge people for their sexuality or the fact they have sex.”

Chloe Cherry in Euphoria

Chloe Cherry was introduced as Faye in season two of Euphoria. Faye is a drug addict who becomes friends with Zendaya’s character, Rue.

Viewers watched as both characters struggled with their sobriety issues.

In season three, set five years after season two, Faye is now living a quieter life as a housewife. On the other hand, Rue is caught up with a drug cartel.

Cherry was previously an adult entertainer, having appeared in more than 200 adult movies before transitioning to becoming an actress.

However she said: “Genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, I would not recommend a singular person on this Earth get into the adult industry in an attempt to do something that is movies or TV or anything that’s not in the adult industry.”

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Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs said in a letter to the Peter Tatchell Foundation that while police officers had been expected to uphold laws of the time, “some individuals in policing acted in ways that went beyond what the law required and caused harm”.

Riggs wrote: “The manner in which certain laws were enforced prior to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 2003 was, in many cases, inappropriate, discriminatory, and fell short of the standards the public should expect.”

‘I want to express sincere regret and offer a heartfelt apology’

The letter continued: “On behalf of Staffordshire Police, I want to express sincere regret and offer a heartfelt apology for the actions and behaviours that led to ill-treatment or harm experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Thankfully, we have come a long way since then and we are now a much more inclusive and diverse organisation that plays an active role in engaging positively with our LGBTQ+ community, both internally and externally.”

Riggs continued to say that the force is encouraging people to report hate crimes, having introcued third-party reporting centres to make it easier.

“I am pleased that more people are now reporting hate crime than ever before, and, in turn, we now see more prosecutions for hate crime,” the letter continued.

Riggs explained that Staffordshire Police has a hate crime champion in every team, with the LGBTQ+ network running the ‘Hate Crime Spotlight’ initiative to help local teams in how to respond to and investigate hate crimes.

The statement continued: “While I am proud of our progress, there is still more work to do, and I always welcome the feedback of the LGBTQ+ communities on how we can improve our service.”

Peter Tatchell’s response

In response to the letter from Becky Riggs, Peter Tatchell said: “This apology is a much-appreciated acknowledgement of the suffering caused by decades of discriminatory policing. We are pleased to see that Staffordshire Police are committed to match their words with sustained action nowadays to ensure LGBT+ people are protected, respected and treated equally.

“The Peter Tatchell Foundation continues to call on police forces across the UK to formally recognise past abuses, say sorry and commit to ongoing engagement with LGBT+ communities. 

“So far 22 forces have apologised, including London’s Metropolitan Police. This is many times more police apologies than in any other country in the world. 

“We are continuing to press the other 23 Chief Constables who have not said sorry to follow the lead of Staffordshire and the 21 other forces. Notable refusals to say sorry include the Chief Constables of the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland – the three forces with the worst history of homophobic witch-hunts. 

“While Staffordshire Police say ‘there is still more work to do’, the apology marks a significant moment in confronting a painful chapter in policing history – and a reminder that rebuilding trust requires both honesty about the past and vigilance in the present.”

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Orbán, a close ally of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, had introduced a number of unpopular policies during his time as Hungary’s Prime Minister. His party, Fidesz, lost by a landslide to Magyar’s Tisza.

Magyar wanted to move Hungary away from its close ties to Russia, to bring the country closer to the EU and Ukraine.

His win follows the Hungarian Parliament banning Pride events in March last year. A bill passed which banned holding or attending assemblies that violated child protection laws – promoting or displaying homosexuality or gender diversity to under-18s.

Punishments ranged from 6,500 forints (£15/$21) to 200,000 forints (£475/$638), or up to a year in prison for organisers.

Protests followed and Budapest Pride went ahead on 28 June despite the ban, with up to 200,000 people in attendance. Many of those who went attended to support the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary, but to also defend democracy.

A smaller Pride march was held in the rural city of Pécs on 4 October, with organiser Geza Buzas-Habel now facing criminal charges.

LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary

Homosexuality is legal in Hungary. Same-sex marriage is banned, though registered partnership for same-sex couples became legal in 2009. This gives same-sex couples the same rights as married couples, apart for with adoption, assisted reproduction or taking a surname.

In 2021, an anti-LGBTQ+ law was introduced which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality or gender change to those under 18 on “child protection” grounds.

Films and television shows that featured homosexuality or gender diversity were also given the same age restrictions as horror, drugs, violence and other adult themes.

Then, the ban on Pride marches came in 2025.

Péter Magyar’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights

Péter Magyar said following the pride ban that the government passed the bill to distract attention from Hungarians who were suffering around the country.

He said that if the Tisza Party was elected, they would protect the right of assembly.

However, Magyar has been criticised for not outwardly speaking about LGBTQ+ rights specifically. It’s reported that his campaign for the election did not include significant changes to policies which Orbán was criticised for – including conservative LGBTQ+ rights.

Speaking to AFP ahead of the election, rights activist Geza Buzas-Habel said: “The main opposition [Magyar] is unwilling to communicate on LGBTQ rights, so we must pressure them.”

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