Poppy-Jay St. Palmer

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Iceland ranks top in 2026 map of most trans-friendly countries in Europe

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A new 2026 ranking of the most trans-friendly countries in Europe and Central Asia has been released, and Iceland has come out on top. The annual Trans Rights Index and Map, which comes from Transgender Europe, documents the protections and opportunities available for trans and non-binary people within each European and Central Asian country. It comes in partnership with ILGA Europe’s Rainbow Map and is co-funded by the European Union. The index scores countries in a number of different indicator categories, includingLegal Gender Recognition, Asylum, Hate Crime/Speech, Non-Discrimination, Health and Family. Iceland scored 30 out of 32, with full marks in all but two categories. […]

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Founder of ‘women-only’ app loses appeal after landmark trans discrimination ruling

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A “women-only” social media app has lost an appeal to overturn a ruling that found it discriminatory against trans women. In January 2022, Giggle for Girls, marketed as a female-only space that allows women to find roommates, engage in freelance work, find friendship groups and more, came under fire for excluding trans women with its use of artificial intelligence. A court ruling in August 2024 found that Australian businesswoman and founder of Sall Grover and her app had unlawfully discriminated against trans woman Roxanne Tickle when her membership was withdrawn. Grover, whose Wikipedia page describes her as a “self-identified trans-exclusionary radical feminist”, filed the notice […]

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Meta hits all-time low for LGBTQ+ safety in new GLAAD report

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A new social media report from GLAAD shows that Meta has hit an all-time low when it comes to safety for its LGBTQ+ users. The LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation’s Social Media Safety Index confirmed that Meta’s policy changes on Facebook, Instagram and Threads have made the platforms more harmful for queer users, particularly trans and non-binary people. The news comes after a year in which Meta has been scaling back best practice policies surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and loosening its hateful conduct policies. In 2025, Meta’s policy changes included allowing anti-LGBTQ+ terminology when referring to queer people, removing protections for LGBTQ+ people, modifying sections of its Hateful […]

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GLAAD president slams FCC crackdown on trans media

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The president and CEO of GLAAD has called out Brendan Carr and the Federal Communications Commission for their inquiry on trans representation in media, saying it’s causing “harm [to] LGBTQ Americans”. “Parents should absolutely have a say in what their kids watch, and parents already know that seeing an LGBTQ person on screen or in real life does no harm,” Sarah Kate Ellis of GLAAD said in a statement on 22 April. “What does cause harm is government overreach. Under Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission is once again attempting to dictate what can be seen on television.” The FCC announced on […]

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LGBTQ+ community raises $83k to save city’s only lesbian bar

Denver’s LGBTQ+ community has come together to raise $83,000 and save the city’s only lesbian bar. 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 […]

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Trump’s Education Department ends agreement to protect trans students

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The Trump administration has backed out of an agreement to protect trans students in five district schools and a college. AP reported that the Education Department terminated the agreements, which were previously negotiated by the Obama and Biden administrations under Title IX, on 6 April. Title IX is a civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and other education programmes that receive funding from the federal government. The previous administrations interpreted the law to include protections for LGBTQ+ students, particularly trans students. The original agreement pledged to help protect trans students by setting a federal obligation for the schools to run measures like faculty training […]

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India passes limiting trans protection bill that redefines who qualifies as trans

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The Lok Sabha, also known as India’s House of the People, has passed a new bill that limits the rights of transgender people in the country. Passed on 24 March, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 makes amendments to the previous 2019 law that pertains to the rights and wellbeing of trans people. The amendments redefine who qualifies as trans people and therefore who is protected by the law, and also introduces a new system for identity certification and stricter punishment for offences against the trans community. Under the new bill, a medical board will be formed to […]

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Leigh Ryswyk makes history as the first AFL player to come out as gay

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Leigh Ryswyk has made history as the first male Australian Football League (AFL) player to come out as gay. Speaking on radio show GayFL on 25 March, Ryswyk shared that he has been out to close friends for the last five years. “There will be people though, if they do listen to this, it will be the first time they know about this,” he said. “I’m a very private person, so it’s not all over my social media, and things like that, and that’s fine.” He continued: “It can be a bit of a shock to some people, they might not […]

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Kentucky to pass bill that would declare trans people mentally ill

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Kentucky is on track to pass a new bill that would declare transgender people mentally ill and ban trans teachers from working. State senator Gex Williams proposed the amendment to House Bill 759, which relates to teacher certification. The amendment itself does not mention trans people specifically, but would forbid the certification of teachers who have been diagnosed with or treated for any “disorder that is excluded from the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990”. The ADA sets out a list of “disorders” that are not protected by law, including “gender identity disorders”. Other listed disorders include transexualism, pedophilia, kleptomania, compulsive […]

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Man sentenced after defrauding gay men on dating apps for over £28,000

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A man who coerced gay men on dating apps and defrauded them for a total of £28,488 has been sentenced to three years in prison. Between July 2022 and November 2024, 26-year-old Thomas Godden was found to have tricked three men into thinking they were in romantic relationships with him. He then exploited them to send him money for what they thought were day-to-day costs, travel expenses and more, and ensured them that he would repay them. One of the men he victimised sent him more than £26,000. An investigation carried out by the City of London Police found that […]

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