Sophia Perry

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Despite war, Pride persists in Kharkiv: ‘We stay here and continue our work’

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In the north-east of Ukraine, a mere 18 miles from the Russian border, sits the city of Kharkiv, home to Kharkiv Pride. Since Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country’s second-largest city has faced relentless strikes by Russian forces with more than 8,000 of its buildings – including schools and homes – destroyed, thousands of people killed and injured whilst countless more have fled westward to Kyiv or abroad for safety.  But despite the on-going war, the destruction, the uncertainty, Pride persists.  When the conflict began, Kharkiv was quickly identified as one of Russia’s main targets given its proximity to […]

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Gay couple killed in Air India crash honoured at Pride event they were due to attend

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A minute’s silence was held at a Pride event to honour a gay couple who were amongst the more than 240 passengers killed in the Air India crash.  On Thursday (12 June) the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was destined for London Gatwick but crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport, plummeting from the air and into a building in the suburb of Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat state. The couple, Former BBC TV show DanceX contestant Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, 45, and his husband Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39, were amongst the 53 Britons on the flight when it crashed.  The two men ran […]

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The cowardly big businesses that rolled back LGBTQ+ support in 2024

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Like the residents of Munchkinland celebrating Elphaba’s watery demise in Wicked‘s opening number, anti-‘woke’ pundits are delightedly banging the drum that diversity, equality and inclusion policies (DEI) – aimed at reducing discrimination in the workplace – are dead, dunzo and pushing up daises. “The death of DEI is finally here,” Michael Deacon proclaimed, “the DEI cult is now imploding,” Sam Ashworth-Hayes declared – citing car manufacturer Jaguaras the first fatality – “the DEI game is up,” Matthew Lynn insisted.  You get the picture.  Whilst you could argue these statements are just the overzealous sells of attention grabbing headlines, it is undeniable the […]

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Black & Decker becomes latest firm to face a boycott over DEI – but what is Consumers’ Research?

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Tool company Stanley Black & Decker is the latest US firm to face right-wing criticism and calls for a boycott for having diversity, equality and inclusion policies (DEI) in place Consumers’ Research, which describes itself as an independent educational organisation which dates back to 1929, and which boasts that it targets “wokeness” in businesses, has called out the Connecticut-based company for supporting racial equality, LGBTQ+ causes and net-zero climate goals.  The not-for-profit organisation was originally set up to test consumer products and report the results, a bit like Which? – the United Kingdom organisation that promotes informed consumer choice by testing products. However, in […]

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UK Labour Leader Keir Starmer says he doesn’t want schools teaching young people about transgender identities

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Labour leader Keir Starmer has said he is “not in favour” of “gender ideology” being taught in schools, despite his education spokesperson suggesting the party would review the Conservatives controversial guidance on trans pupils.  Keir Starmer, who was previously applauded for condemning Rishi Sunak’s anti-trans ‘jokes’, has stated his opposition to the teaching of so-called “gender ideology” – a phrase which is widely considered an anti-trans dogwhistle.  Speaking with reporters during a school visit in Kettering, Starmer said: “No, I’m not in favour of ideology being taught in our schools on gender,” he said.  “I think we need to complete the consultation process […]

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University investigating after trans woman filmed and confronted in campus bathroom

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Western Carolina University in North Carolina is investigating after a student confronted and filmed a trans woman in toilets on the campus grounds. In the clip, which was filmed on the Western Carolina University (WCU) campus, the person behind the camera can be heard asking the trans woman what she is doing in the female toilets.  “Going to the bathroom,” the trans individual responds.  “Why are you in the girls’ bathroom?” the camera operator probes, continuing to challenge the trans woman’s presence.  In response, the person being questioned replies that she is a trans girl, to which the woman retorts: […]

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Saudi Arabia hosting 2034 World Cup leaves LGBTQ+ football fans horrified

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LGBTQ+ football fans have reacted with shock to the news that Saudi Arabia will host the men’s football World Cup in 2034, after Australia chose not to bid for the tournament.  Saudi Arabia’s relationship with football has been the source of controversy in recent months, with many fans and pundits accusing the nation of using sportswashing to hide its long list of human rights violations.  On Tuesday (31 October), mere hours before the deadline for declarations of interest, Football Australia released a statement in which it said that, after considering “all factors” following the success of the women’s World Cup – hosted jointly with […]

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First trans woman to compete in international cricket match: ‘I never dreamed I would do this’

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A Canadian cricket player is set to become the first trans woman to compete in an international match.  Danielle McGahey has been named by Cricket Canada as part of the country’s squad as they compete to qualify for nest year’s Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Canada will take on Argentina, Brazil and the United States in the ICC Americas Qualifiers in Los Angeles next week, where they will vie for a place in the global play-offs.   A native Australian, McGahey moved to Canada in February 2020 and has spoken of her pride at representing her adoptive country on the international stage.  Speaking […]

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Overwhelming number of trans people in UK pelted with verbal abuse, study finds

Nearly three quarters of trans people in the UK have faced verbal abuse in the last year, shocking new figures from a leading LGBTQ+ charity have revealed.  Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity, has shared new data which highlights the raft of vile abuse both LGBTQ+, and non-LGBTQ+, young people face in the wake of rising homophobic and transphobic rhetoric.  The figures are part of a new report by the charity called Positive Futures, set to be published on 1 June, which examines the experiences of LGBTQ+ young adults in the UK.  The report will cover a range of […]

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Most dating apps have zero tolerance for transphobia

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Most top dating apps are entirely inclusive of trans people, which will come as terrible news to transphobes who are still raging over lesbian dating app HER’s ongoing support of its transgender users. In recent weeks, HER has faced the vitriol of anti-trans bigots expressing outrage that the platform, which has been trans-inclusive “since day one”, welcomes trans and non-binary people. And it’s not just HER. Leading dating apps such as Tinder, OkCupid, Hinge and Grindr are all trans inclusive and have zero-tolerance policies when it comes to transphobia on their platforms. The pile-on faced by HER resulted in its Twitter account […]

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