BREAKING NEWS

A petition calling for a public inquiry into the long-term impact of Section 28 — Margaret Thatcher's law banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools — has passed fifteen thousand signatures, triggering a requirement for the government to issue an official response. The petition, which runs until September, argues that the hostile culture created by the law continued well beyond its repeal in 2003 and still affects LGBTQ+ people throughout their lives. If it reaches one hundred thousand signatures, it could be debated in Parliament.

Historic moment at the men's World Cup. American assistant referee Brooke Mayo has become the first openly gay match official to take part in a men's FIFA World Cup, running the line in today's Group A fixture between the Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta. Mayo, who is 37, has spoken previously about the difficulties of growing up gay in the South and about how the football pitch is the place where she feels most supported being her authentic self.

Pride in Surrey has announced it is postponing this year's Guildford festival until the eleventh of September 2027, citing rising costs and a sharp fall in corporate sponsorship. Organisers say many Pride events across the country are facing similar difficulties this year. They have also clarified that Surrey County Council played no part in the decision — though they noted the council has never offered support or attended the event in any capacity. All tickets have been refunded.

British drag legend Myra DuBois has been cast in Titanique at the Criterion Theatre, joining the cast from the first of September. DuBois will play the role of Ruth, describing it as the role of a lifetime and promising to bring it "dramatique gravitas, levity, brevity and integrity." The Céline Dion musical parody has been a runaway success since opening in London, winning an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and picking up four Tony nominations following its Broadway transfer earlier this year.

Sir Ian McKellen has revealed he shouted "Mar-a-Lago!" on set to get himself into a suitably furious headspace while filming a scene in which his character Magneto destroys New Jersey in the upcoming Marvel film Avengers: Doomsday. The 87-year-old, who plays the X-Men archvillain in the film due out in December, said the directors told him to look more furious — so he did just that. He then joked to his interviewer: "Will I be allowed back in the country?"

If you're planning a trip to Edinburgh in August, DIVA magazine has put together a bumper guide to LGBTQIA+ shows at this year's Fringe. Highlights include Rosie Jones with a new stand-up hour about dating and disability, Temi Wilkey celebrating the joys of single life in Lover Girl, and Dee Allum tackling football, mortality and trans identity in Raumdeuter. There's also absurdist physical theatre, a Hamlet reimagining in which the prince mourns a dead pig, and a late-night queer cabaret show called Those People. Something for everyone.

And finally. Actor Alan Cumming is backing a new fundraising initiative for H.I.V. charities - the Terrence Higgins Trust and George House Trust, inspired by his role in Channel 4's Tip Toe. Limited edition T-shirts bearing the branding of Spit-and-Polish — the fictional Manchester gay bar run by his H.I.V.-positive character Leo — are now on sale, with all proceeds split between the two charities. Cumming said that while treatments have transformed life for people living with H.I.V. , stigma, judgement and isolation remain very real problems for many.

And finally. Pop star Ariana Grande has launched a new foundation dedicated to supporting the queer community. The Brighter-Days-Ahead-Foundation will channel funding across four areas — defending queer rights, expanding access to mental health support, amplifying queer voices and stories, and providing emergency aid during crises. Grande said it has always been her privilege to support these causes and she is now able to extend that reach further.

Doctor-Who and It's-a-Sin creator Russell T Davies is writing his television memoirs. Titled The-Queerest-of-Folk: A-Life-in-Television and co-written with journalist Boyd Hilton, the book promises secrets, gossip and some hard truths drawn from nearly five decades in the industry — from Queer as Folk and Coronation Street through to his latest Channel 4 drama Tip Toe. It's due to be published in October.

If you're looking for a Pride getaway with a difference this summer, Gothenburg in Sweden is being tipped as one of Europe's most underrated queer city breaks. The city's West Pride festival, founded in 2007, takes over streets, squares and even trams throughout June with a programme combining performances, art exhibitions and community events. Gothenburg also boasts Sweden's first queer monument, a memorial tracing key moments in the city's queer history, and year-round queer venues including the much-loved bar that describes itself proudly as straight friendly.

With the Feefa World Cup now underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico, gay fans are being urged to think carefully about their safety at this year's tournament. England's official gay fan group, Three Lions Pride, has already announced it will not be attending, saying it cannot advise members they will be safe as openly queer supporters. A report by Human Rights Watch described a climate of fear in the United States, where a raft of executive orders has stripped back rights for queer people — particularly trans communities. Canada is considered the most welcoming of the three host nations, while Mexico, despite having some of the most progressive laws in Latin America, has the second-highest rate of gay hate crimes in the region.

RuPaul's-Drag-Race-UK winner Danny Beard has been cast as Paul O'Grady in a brand new stage show called SAVAGE. Written by Coronation-Street and Beautiful-Thing-playwright-Jonathan-Harvey, the production traces O'Grady's journey from working-class Birkenhead to becoming one of Britain's best-loved entertainers through his alter ego Lily Savage. The show has been created with O'Grady's blessing and draws on his own autobiographies. It opens at Curve in Leicester in February next year before heading on a national tour and transferring to the West End.

And finally. EastEnders fans have a treat in store this Pride month with drag artist and RuPaul's Drag Race star La-Vwah set to make a cameo in Walford, performing at The Queen Vic. It's a moment La-Vwah has reportedly long dreamed of, and her scenes are expected to air in early July to coincide with Pride in London.

If you're heading to Pride-in-London on Saturday the fourth of July, Attitude magazine has put together a guide to after-party-events running into the early hours across the capital. Options range from a queer techno rave in Shoreditch and an all-night party at Fire in Vauxhall, to east London's Howl Pride festival across five Hackney Wick venues with 85 DJs on the bill. The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is also throwing open its doors from eight in the evening through to five the following morning.

Communities across America are marking ten years since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded in the early hours of the 12th of June 2016. The attack on the popular venue remains the deadliest assault on the queer community in United States history. Survivors and families of victims have used the anniversary to renew calls for tighter gun laws, saying a decade of campaigning has yet to produce the change they were promised.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for open public discussion of LGBTQ+ rights, telling a cultural event in Kyiv that those defending the country deserve equal rights regardless of, in his words, prejudices held by people from the fifteenth century. His comments come as Ukraine's parliament debates changes to the Civil Code, with LGBTQ+ organisations warning that some proposed provisions could undermine the country's commitments under its EU accession process.

LGBTQ+ people in Rochford, Essex say they feel unwelcome after the district's new Reform-controlled council moved to ban Pride flags and events in local libraries. The council said it was scaling back activities linked to particular groups or themes — a decision community members have described as straight out of Trumpland.

The art world is mourning the loss of David Hockney, widely regarded as one of the most significant queer artists of the twentieth century. His 1967 painting A Bigger Splash became an iconic presence in gay households around the world, and admirers say Hockney's lasting contribution was challenging homophobia not through provocation, but by quietly reshaping ideas of beauty, intimacy and desire.

Organisers have revealed final details for Pride in London, which takes place on Saturday the 5th of July. More than thirty-five thousand participants are expected to join the parade through central London, with around six hundred groups taking part and stages planned across the West End. Organisers say it will once again be one of the largest Pride celebrations in Europe.

Charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony. linked to the organisation of Pride events in the Hungarian capital have been dropped. The move comes amid continuing debate over restrictions affecting Pride celebrations in Hungary, with campaigners describing the decision as a positive development for freedom of assembly.

New guidance on police strip-searches has been welcomed by campaigners after concerns were raised about the treatment of queer people and other minority groups. The National Police Chiefs’ Council says the changes will strengthen safeguards, improve oversight and help build confidence among communities that have reported negative experiences when dealing with the police.

A new report has ranked the best and worst states in the United States for queer people. California topped the list thanks to its legal protections and healthcare access, while Tennessee was ranked last, followed by Oklahoma and Florida. Researchers say the findings highlight a growing divide in rights and protections depending on where people live.

David Furnish has warned that international cuts to HIV funding could put decades of progress at risk. Speaking ahead of a major global conference, the filmmaker and campaigner said reductions in support could lead to more infections and fewer people receiving treatment, particularly in lower-income countries.

Drag performer and actor Jinkx Monsoon is heading to the West End, having been cast in the London production of Oh, Mary. The Tony Award-winning star, best known for winning RuPaul’s Drag Race twice, will take on the lead role in the comedy when it opens later this year.

The BBC has confirmed that I Kissed A Girl will return for a second series. The dating show, which brings together women looking for love, is expected to return later this year, with producers promising more romance, drama and unforgettable moments as the franchise continues to grow.