The 2024 Olympics opened in Paris in spectacular style with thousands of athletes sailing along the River Seine past lively performers on bridges, banks and rooftops in an ambitious take on an opening ceremony.  Swapping a stadium for a waterway for the first time to open the 'greatest show on earth', the near four-hour spectacle culminated in French judo great Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-Jose Perec lighting a cauldron shaped like a hot air balloon that rose high above the Parisian sky. Red, white and blue fireworks had raised the Tricolore above Austerlitz Bridge before 6,800 athletes from 205 delegations travelled on 85 boats and barges past some of the French capital's most famous landmarks.  There were surprise performances through the ceremony, including a cabaret number from American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga, as well as an emotional return of Canadian icon Celine Dion. The day had started with major disruption when the French train network was hit by arson attacks and heavy rain in the evening put paid to the original plan by artistic director Thomas Jolly to use the Parisian sun to "make the water sparkle".  The lashing rain may have forced athletes to add rain ponchos and umbrellas to their planned outfits but it did not detract from the lively journey through French history, art and sport told by some 2,000 musicians, dancers and other artists. The last two boats to parade - first the United States as the next hosts for Los Angeles 2028 and then France - had the largest numbers of athletes on board, while other barges carried several delegations together.  Rower Helen Glover and diver Tom Daley were Great Britain's flagbearers in Paris, which is hosting the summer Games for a third time and the first time in 100 years. More than 10,500 athletes will compete across 32 sports at the Games, which will close on 11 August.

The owners of one of the largest botanical gardens in the world have hit back against a backlash and harassment over its staff’s decision to share their pronouns.  The Royal Botanic Gardens, in Kew, south west London, became the centre point of an anti-trans backlash after signs posted around the displays featured information about several members, including their pronouns.  So-called gender-critical users on social media began harassing members of the organisation, telling them that no one “gives a toss” about their gender identity.  Others demanded that Kew remove the signs, which include information on the queer symbolism of certain plants, claiming that they were “absurd” and “embarrassing.”  One person wrote: “I still remember my first visit to Kew when I was about 10. I was captivated. You ruin everything.” The organisation was forced to share a statement following the backlash, writing in a post on X/Twitter that it was against bigotry and harassment in all its forms.  “We’re deeply disappointed to see some of our staff and students subjected to online harassment,” the post reads. “Hatred and intolerance have no place at Kew, and we’re more committed than ever to embracing diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all.” It also reiterated a list of its priorities and core missions, which includes community access schemes, ensuring that everyone has access to its educational programmes, and inspiring the next generations of botanists. Last year, as part of that mission, the botanical gardens hosted an event celebrating queer nature, including the diversity of plants and fungi. The event aimed to show how the traditional and arguably outdated concepts of gender don’t extend to plants, and how stamens and stigma – commonly referred to as the “male” and “female” parts of a flower – can both develop on certain species.

Elon Musk‘s trans daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson has hit back at her estranged father and accused him of being an absent dad after the X owner misgendered her and said in an interview that she was “killed by the woke mind virus.” Speaking to the The Daily Wire this week, the Tesla CEO said of Vivian: “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys [to transition].”  “This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on,” the SpaceX founder continued. “And we had COVID going on. So there was a lot of confusion. And I was told [Vivian] might commit suicide.” “He was there, I want to say, maybe 10% of the time,” Vivian has now alleged, in an interview with NBC News, of Musk’s approach to fatherhood.  “That’s generous. He had half custody, and he fully was not there.”   “I think he was under the assumption that I wasn’t going to say anything and I would just let this go unchallenged,” she continued. “Which I’m not going to do, because if you’re going to lie about me, like, blatantly to an audience of millions, I’m not just gonna let that slide.” Wilson, 20, says she has not spoken to her father in four years.  “He was cold,” she said of Musk’s parenting. “He’s very quick to anger. He is uncaring and narcissistic.” Vivian is one of Musk’s children with his ex-wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson. Vivian is a twin alongside her brother, Griffin. She transitioned at 16.  Wilson also alleges that Musk has been less involved in her life than her mother, despite them having joint custody. The NBC report also states that Wilson said Musk hadn’t been tricked into agreeing to her gender-related treatment and that, ‘after initially having hesitated, he knew what he was doing when he agreed to her treatment, which required consent from her parents.’ In April 2022, Vivian applied to change her legal name and gender. In relating court documents, she said she no longer wanted to “be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form.”

Police have said they will not tolerate any form of hate crime ahead of this year's Liverpool Pride. Thousands are expected to descend on the city for the annual celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community on Saturday.  Merseyside Police are asking people to remain vigilant during events across the city centre.  Supt Geoff Stewart urged people to "look out for each other" while enjoying the celebrations The Pride march will take place from St George's Hall in Liverpool from 10:30 BST and will move through the city centre and the Pride Quarter before making its way to the Pier Head. Police said they have been working in conjunction with Liverpool City Region's LGBT+ charity, LCR Pride Foundation, to plan security measures across the day. Supt Stewart said visitors could expect to see a higher policing presence during the march and across the city centre. "We use a variety of tactics to disrupt any potential criminality and keep people safe, so you'll spot the high-visibility patrols, but probably not the plain-clothes officers also working this weekend, he added. "We expect large numbers of people to head to bars, clubs and restaurants across the event weekend." He said visitors should "trust their instincts and report any suspicious or unusual activity" on the day.  A mobile police station will be present at Brunswick Street, near the Cunard Building on the waterfront during the celebrations. In addition to policing the event, the force also has several police officers and staff who chose to volunteer to take part in the march themselves, along with their friends and family. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "Inclusion remains one of my force priorities and this is because I believe that the more diverse we become, the greater operational understanding we develop and the better the service we provide to our communities."

Barack Obama has endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic presidential nominee, ending days of speculation over whether he would support her.  Former President Obama and ex-First Lady Michelle Obama said in a joint statement that they believe Ms Harris has the "vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands".  Mr Obama was reportedly among more than 100 prominent Democrats Ms Harris spoke to after President Joe Biden announced last Sunday he was dropping out of the race. In a statement at the time, Mr Obama praised Mr Biden's exit, but stopped short of endorsing Ms Harris.  The US vice-president has already secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, setting her on course to become the official nominee at the party convention in August. The Obamas said in Friday's statement that they could not be "more thrilled to endorse" Ms Harris. They vowed to do "everything we can" to elect her.  "We agree with President Biden," said the couple's statement, "choosing Kamala was one of the best decisions he’s made. She has the resume to prove it."  They cited her record as California’s attorney general, a US senator and then vice-president.  "But Kamala has more than a resume," the statement continued. "She has the vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands. "There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people. "At a time when the stakes have never been higher, she gives us all reason to hope." The statement was accompanied by a video, of Ms Harris taking a phone call from the Obamas in which they pledge their support.  "Oh my goodness," says the vice-president in the clip. "Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me."

The BBC  has confirmed that the United Kingdom will compete at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland. The UK will be joining the list of the countries who have confirmed their participation at  the upcoming Eurovision 2025 edition.  The BBC is yet to determine the mechanism it will use to select the 2025 UK’s entry and act. In recent years the United Kingdom has selected its Eurovision entry and act via an internal selection. The United Kingdom debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and has won the competition five times (1967, 1969, 1975, 1981, 1997). The country has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 66 times and has enjoyed great success in Europe’s favorite television show. The UK hold the record of being the country who has placed 2nd the most times in the competition,  Many big names have flown the British flag at the Eurovision Song Contest: Sandie Shaw, Olivia Newton John, Lulu, Buckz Fizz, Brotherhod of Man, Cliff Richard, Clodagh Rogers, Mary Hopkin, Michael Ball, Sonia, Gina G, Bonny Tyler and Sam Ryder.  Olly Alexander represented the United Kingdom at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo with his entry ‘Dizzy‘.  Those are our two options now that the Swiss broadcaster has whittled down the initial batch of bids to a final two. One of these two cities will host the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland in May 2025. The final decision will be made in late August. Interested cities had until the end of June to submit their bids to SRG on the basis of an extensive catalogue of requirements.  Key to the assessment of the bids submitted were criteria such as arena concept, public transport links, sustainability, available hotel accommodation, security and waste disposal concepts, investment, event experience, and support and motivation from the city as a whole, as well as many other factors. 

A man was hit on the head with an umbrella in a homophobic attack in London earlier this week. Linus Karp of Awkward Productions was attacked while walking with his partner, Joseph Martin, in Soho on Tuesday (23 July). Awkward Productions is known for shows like Gwyneth Goes Skiing and Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story.  Posting on Instagram on Wednesday (24 July) Karp said they were on Dean Street when the attack happened. “A man has hit me with an umbrella, the wooden handle hitting my head with such force it fell off and into the road. I have never felt a blow like it.”  Karp said that Martin managed to use his hand to soften the blow. This made the attacker say: “You saved his life, I would’ve killed him!” before he walked away. “My crime: being visibly queer,” Karp added. Martin then ran after the man, tackled him, and held him until police arrived. “Pretty spectacular stuff actually – he’s a masc hero,” Karp wrote later calling Martin a “fucking superhero.” Karp also said the man “kept calling me a paedophile and rapist, so I have no doubt that it was a queerphobic hate time.” Thanking members of the public who helped during the incident the performer then urged people to be cautious. “After many hours at a&e I’m home, and besides a very sore head I am fine,” Karp said. “It’s just not something you’d ever think would happen to yourself,” he said pointing to rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes. “It’s scary to see the queerphobic rhetoric so much of the media and politicians are using – as it does have real life impact again and again, and I am lucky to be all right and home safe,” he added. Posting later on Instagram stories Karp reiterated he was ok. “[The] Main thing is that I am full of anger at the level of queerphobia that exists in the UK right now and the voices that keep igniting it.” He went on to say, “I am a cis man, but have no doubt that it’s the consistent abhorrent transphobia in this country that leads to attacks like this 

Diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover have been chosen as Great Britain's flagbearers at the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Four-time Olympic medallist Daley, 30, will contest his fifth Olympics after ending his long wait for gold at Tokyo 2020 in the men's 10m synchro.   “I am extremely proud. Being able to be flagbearer at the opening ceremony is a dream come true," Daley told BBC Sport. Two-time Olympic champion Glover, 38, is competing at her fourth Games and said carrying the British flag would be "the biggest honour of my life". The Paris 2024 opening ceremony, held on the River Seine, takes place on Friday, 26 July. Each national delegation, totalling around 10,500 athletes, will travel a six kilometre route on boats along the river. Daley is set to become the first British diver to compete in five Games, having come out of retirement to compete in Tokyo three years ago. An Olympian at the age of just 14 at Beijing 2008, Daley won gold alongside Matty Lee in Tokyo to add to three bronze medals he has achieved in individual and synchronised 10m events. In Paris, he will seek to defend his title alongside team-mate Noah Williams. “This Olympics is something I would consider to be a bonus Olympics," said Daley, whose son, Robbie, convinced him to return. "This Olympics has been about enjoying it, embracing every moment and taking everything in as much as I can. To be flagbearer too is just the icing on the cake."  Glover, who has three children, bids for her third Olympic title after coming out of retirement for a second time - ending her career following both the Rio and Tokyo Games. The three-time world champion, who will compete in Paris as part of the women’s four, became the first mother to row for Great Britain at an Olympics when she finished fourth alongside Polly Swann in the women's pairs in Tokyo.

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Morphine Love Dion is “grateful to be alive” after they were involved in a car crash that resulted in one person’s death. Five others were also injured, including Drag Race Canada‘s Kaos. The crash took place at around 3:30 am on Sunday (21 July) in the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles. Reports indicated that emergency services initially responded to a single-vehicle crash before other vehicles collided creating a pile up. As per ABC7, the California Highway Patrol said one person became trapped in their car and died of their injuries. Six people, including Morphine and Kaos, were taken to hospital.  A statement posted to Morphine’s Instagram account on Monday (22 July) read: “Morphine was in a serious car accident while in an Uber. She suffered multiple injuries but is grateful to be alive. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Some space and time is appreciated as she focuses on healing.” Morphine’s season 16 sister, Xunami Muse, joined in with those sending love to Morphine. On X she posted: “Send my sister some good energy. It’s been the scariest two days ever but so happy her and everyone else that was in the car are doing fine.” Morphine appeared on season 16 of Drag Race where they placed fifth. They won the show’s lip-sync LaLaPaRuza claiming the title of Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses and $50,000. The Miami-based queen was in California for RuPaul’s Drag Con LA. Kaos was in the same car as Morphine. She appeared in the third season of Canada’s Drag Race then posted an Instagram story on Monday (23 July). She said she was ok and was “on bed rest” and would explain what happened when she had recovered more. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly Uber said: “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this gut-wrenching crash. We are working to get in touch with the driver and riders to check on their well-being.”

A man has been charged with attempted murder after a 17-year-old trans girl was stabbed with a butcher’s knife at Miami International Airport. Homeless Alexander Love, 29, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and attempted premeditated murder. He was denied bail at a Dade County court hearing on Monday (22 July). According to the police, the victim was sitting on the floor in Terminal J at Miami International Airport, eating at around 11.30pm on Saturday (20 July) when she was attacked. It is alleged that she was stabbed 18 times, resulting in injuries to her arms, shoulders, neck, face, head and legs, before the assailant tried to throw her over the railings from the fourth-floor of the airport. 

The teen was able to free herself and run to safety, where she was treated for her injuries and taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center where she underwent emergency surgery. 

According to local media, the stabbing caused a panic and many passengers thought there was an active shooter at the airport. “It was pretty scary for a lot of people,” one passenger told WSVN Miami. “Everybody was just running.”  Another person said: “We heard the escalation of a fight and somebody said [to] run.”It’s unclear if Love knew the victim knew or if the alleged attack was motivated by the her gender identity but the police are not ruling out the possibility.

Morphine Love Dion, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16, has been injured in a car crash that left one person dead.  Morphine, who placed on the sixteenth season of flagship franchise RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2024, was attending fan convention DragCon LA on the 19 and 20 July.  As confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, she was injured early Sunday morning in a crash that left one person dead. Five others were also reportedly injured in the accident on the 10 freeway in L.A.’s Jefferson Park area.  A statement posted to the Miami based performer’s Instagram Story read that, “Morphine was in a serious car accident while in an Uber.  “She suffered multiple injuries but is grateful to be alive. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Some space and time is appreciated as she focuses on healing.” Canada's Drag race star  Kaos, who appeared on season three of the Brooke Lynn-Hytes hosted spinoff, was also involved in the crash, as confirmed by Xunami Muse, who wrote on X that the pair were in the same car.  Kaos, who was eliminated in ninth place during the 2022 season, posted a similar statement to Morphine. “I am OK, just been on bed rest,” she wrote. “I will be making a post explaining what happened this weekend once I am in the right headspace and also can explain it all and the accident. “For now resting and sorry won’t be posting any DragCon stuff right now either that will come later prob next week!” The California Highway Patrol were called to the one-vehicle accident at around 3.30am, according to local news, although other cars are said to have crashed at the scene and created a pile-up. One person was trapped in their car and later died from their injuries, police told ABC7. An Uber spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly: “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this gut-wrenching crash. We are working to get in touch with the driver and riders to check on their well-being.”

A borough is preparing to celebrate its first ever Pride festival.  Knowsley Pride will include a week of community activities to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, culminating in the main event on Friday 2 August.  Liverpool drag artist Filla will be hosting, with Ru Paul's Drag Race UK star, Sister Sister, among the acts appearing.  "For many in the local LGBTQ+ community, the only options to socialise or celebrate involve travelling into city centres, but Knowsley Pride brings the festivities into the heart of our borough," Filla said.  "As a ‘Kirkby girl’ myself, having a local Pride event like this is incredibly important," Filla added.  The event, which takes place at Court Hey Park, Huyton, has been organised by the One Knowsley charity in conjunction with Knowsley Pride Steering Group and with funding from The Michael Causer Foundation.  A spokesperson for Knowsley Pride said the event was taking place on the 16th anniversary of the death of openly gay teenager, Michael Causer. Michael Causer's family believe his murder was a hate crime, though a judge dismissed homophobia as a motive when jailing the 18-year-old's killer.  Mr Causer's family set up the Michael Causer Foundation in his name to support young LGBT people across North West England. One Knowsley took over the running of it in 2023. They said that a vigil would be held at the conclusion of the festival to acknowledge Mr Causer’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Mr Causer, who was born in Whiston, was murdered in 2008, with his death leading to the return of Liverpool Pride in 2010 after a 15-year hiatus. Racheal Jones, chief executive of One Knowsley, said they were "committed to ensuring the memory and legacy of Michael Causer continues with the annual vigil in his name, promoting inclusivity and equality across the borough in a collective mission against hate".

"It would be fantastic news" if Celine Dion were to perform at the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, French President Emmanuel Macron has said amid speculation that she will make an appearance. The Canadian singer was pictured in the French capital ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday.  But Mr Macron stopped short of confirming if the My Heart Will Go On singer was taking part.  Dion, who records music in English and French, is among a host of stars, including Lady Gaga, rumoured to be taking part.  "Apparently she has arrived in Paris, it's great!" Mr Macron said speaking to French broadcaster France 2. "I would be immensely happy if she could be at this opening ceremony, like all our compatriots." "I will not reveal anything, what [opening ceremony director] Thomas Jolly and all his teams have prepared. There is also a surprise," he added, before continuing with a smile: "I am not responsible for his schedule."  An appearance by Dion would mark a comeback after she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022, forcing her to cancel several live shows. The syndrome is a neurological condition that causes muscles to spasm.  Speculation has also been that Lady Gaga could perform at the opening ceremony. She was pictured arriving in Paris on Monday.

The pop icon sang Edith Piaf's La Vie En Rose in the 2018 film A Star Is Born.  French R&B singer Aya Nakamura is also rumoured to be performing. For the first time in the history of the summer Olympic Games, the opening ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, it will be held along the River Seine with a huge security operation in place. Athletes will parade in boats through the centre of Paris, before it comes to an end at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.  The show has been designed by theatre director Thomas Jolly.

Tom Daley has celebrated his arrival at Paris 2024 by testing out the infamous beds in the Olympic Village. The star had better get comfortable, as this is where he’ll be staying for the next three weeks. The Paris Olympics take place from Friday 26 July to Sunday 11 August 2024. The cardboard ‘anti-sex’ beds were introduced at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, supposedly to discourage sex between athletes and restrict the spread of Covid-19. “For those wondering about the cardboard beds in the village, I’m going to show you what they look like,” the diver told fans on TikTok yesterday (22 July 2024).   “This is cardboard,” the 30-year-old continued. “As you can see, it’s like a box. Then you’ve got the mattress. Then these cardboard boxes, here, like so, with the mattress on top, and a mattress topper.  “And we get our own little Paris 24 [bedspread].” Later in the video, Tom is seen jumping up and down. “And as you can see, they’re pretty sturdy!” he adds, as he poses on all fours, giggling.  

“The way you went straight into that all-fours position,” commented one Tom fan on the Instagram version of the video. Assume the position!” joked a second. “That pose at the end was no accident!” a third furthermore added. Why the beds have made a reappearance is unclear, as there is no ban on sex between athletes at the Olympics, according to reports. Mélissa Chovino, a spokesperson for the Paris 2024 organising committee, recently told SELF “there was no intimacy ban in Tokyo [either], but rather health restrictions linked to COVID.”  “Paris 2024 is not imposing, nor have we been asked to implement, any restrictions in this regard,” Chovino added .Ilona Maher, a Team USA rugby player, meanwhile said that International Olympic Committee is “not policing what people are doing in the village.”

Elon Musk claims he was “tricked” into helping his estranged trans child, adding she was killed by the “woke mind virus.” But the child he’s talking about is actually alive.

Vivian Jenna Wilson is one of Musk’s children with his ex-wife, the Canadian author Justine Wilson. Vivian, now 20, is a twin alongside her brother, Griffin.  

In April 2022, Vivian applied to change her legal name and gender. In relating court documents, she said she no longer wanted to “be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form.” The estrangement follows Music tweeting, then deleting, “pronouns suck” on X, formerly Twitter, in 2020. Musk, who now owns X, also tweeted in 2020 [as per the BBC]: “I absolutely support trans. But all these pronouns are an aesthetic nightmare.”  In a new interview with conservative commentator Jordan Peterson for The Daily Wire, Musk discussed his relationship – or lack of one – with Vivian.  “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk told Peterson, referencing Vivian, before deadnaming her. “This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on,” he continued. “And we had COVID going on. So there was a lot of confusion. And I was told [Vivian] might commit suicide.” Peterson then jumped in to say the idea Vivian might take her life was a “lie.” He then claimed high suicide rates for trans people were due to “underlying depression and anxiety, not the gender dysphoria.”  He then said clinicians and medical experts were “too cowardly” to admit this. However, there is a great deal of evidence pointing to gender-affirming care lowering suicide ideation in trans people. One American study found there was a 40% drop in depression, suicide, and suicidal ideation among transgender and non-binary youth aged 13-17 if they were on gender-affirming hormone therapy. 

The BBC's director general has apologised to Strictly Come Dancing contestants who have had negative experiences on the show. Tim Davie said he was "disappointed" to hear that several celebrity contestants had complained about abusive behaviour by their dance partners in rehearsals.  The BBC One show's professionals should not cross the line between being competitive and "unacceptable behaviour", he warned. "There will be a degree of competitiveness and will to do well, but there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind." Strictly professionals Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice have both left the show afer allegations about their behaviour in training.  Pernice has denied "any accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour".

Di Prima's spokesman has admitted the dancer kicked partner Zara McDermott in rehearsal. He has said he deeply regrets "the events that led to my departure from Strictly", and that his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime".  Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Mr Davie said he was "very sorry that anyone has had an experience that hasn’t been wholly positive that’s something we do need to reflect on and I’m sorry about that". "There are clearly learnings specifically about oversight in the training rooms that we had needed to address," he added. With the "benefit of hindsight, you think could we have done more?" he added.  He also confirmed the show will return this autumn, despite its problems.  Last week, the BBC announced it will put a member of Strictly production staff in all rehearsals in the future to observe behaviour. There will also be enhanced training and two new dedicated welfare producers - one for the celebrity contestants and the other for the professional dancers.

Vice-President Kamala Harris has attracted the support of enough Democratic delegates to become the party's nominee for president, the BBC's US partner CBS News reports. A survey by the Associated Press, on Monday evening said Ms Harris had received the endorsement of more than the 1,976 delegates needed to win the nomination in the first round of voting. Ms Harris said she was "proud" to have secured "broad support" and looked forward to formally accepting the nomination.

Delegates are people who are selected to represent their electoral area at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), the party's key nominating event.  Such endorsements are non-binding, but if the total holds between now and when delegates cast their votes, scheduled to take place from 1-7 August, Ms Harris would formally clinch the party's nomination. Delegations from at least 27 states have issued statements of their full delegations supporting Ms Harris, according to CBS.  The survey is an indication of the groundswell of support for Ms Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday.

Since Mr Biden's  announcement, millions of dollars in donations have poured into her campaign and leading Democrats have lined up to support her bid as the Democratic nominee.  Speaking to staff at her campaign's headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday evening, Ms Harris told campaign staff: "We have 106 days until Election Day and in that time, we have some hard work to do."  Ms Harris took the team through her vision of the country and the views that she says separate this campaign from Trump's, saying she would gladly put her record up against his. "Our campaign has always been about two different versions of what we see as the future of our country," she said. "One focuses on the future, the other focuses on the past. Donald Trump wants to take our country backwards.

In the wake of continued concerns over his physical health and age, Biden announced on Sunday (21 July) that he would not be seeking a second term in the White House. In a letter on social media, he offered his “full support and endorsement” for Harris to be the Democrats’ nominee to face former president Donald Trump in November. “It’s time to come together and beat Trump,” he wrote. “Let’s do this.” In response, Harris said she was “honoured” to have the president’s backing, and intended to “earn and win this nomination”, adding: “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic party – and our nation – to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.” But what do we know about her when it comes to issues affecting the queer community? The good news is that Kamala Harris has a long history of LGBTQ+ advocacy. Her history with LGBTQ+ activism started in 2003 after she was elected district attorney in San Francisco. The following year, after same-sex marriage was declared legal in the city, Harris was involved in conducting marriages for same-sex couples, which she called “one of the most joyful” moments of her career. After becoming state attorney general, Harris worked to promote LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality throughout the Golden State. Alongside governor Jerry Brown, she also opposed Proposition 8, which revoked marriage equality in in 2008. The battle raged on until 2013, by which point, then president Barack Obama was heavily in favour of codifying LGBTQ+ marriage equality nationwide and would do so just a few years later. However, while Harris’ track record spoke for itself, she was on shaky ground with the community during the 2020 presidential election over her history as a prosecutor and what some described as a misstep on trans issues and sex work.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is “no longer business-critical” at Microsoft, a leaked email claims.  The email was sent by a team leader following Microsoft’s decision to make all their colleagues redundant. Sent to thousands of people on 1 July, the email, seen by Business Insider, said the entire team was let go because of “changing business needs”. The number of employees affected is unclear. “True systems-change work associated with DEI programmes everywhere are no longer business-critical or smart as they were in 2020,” the unidentified team leader wrote.  Jeff Jones, a spokesman for the multi-national tech giant, said: “Our D&I commitments remain unchanged. Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritising accountability and continuing to focus on this work.” Following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, and the resulting Black Lives Matter movement, businesses pledged to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Microsoft committed to doubling the number of Black leaders by 2025. This recent news from Microsoft does fit the pattern of tech giants reducing their DEI initiatives. Despite the promise of a more inclusive workplace, including extra representation for marginalised groups in leadership positions, other companies have also scaled back their DEI schemes. Bloomberg reported that online video-conference company Zoom laid off a team earlier this year. Google and Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp, reduced their DEI programmes in 2023, according to CNBC. More recently, American-based tractor manufacturer John Deere abandoned its LGBTQ+-inclusion strategy in the face of a backlash from right-wing pundits, and rural chain Tractor Supply also faced criticism over its DEI efforts.

The US Presidential election is already shaping up to be an interesting one, and the actual vote isn’t until November! The top pick for the Democratic candidate is now Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out on Sunday (21 July). And she’s getting support from some influential voices, including US cabinet member Pete Buttigieg as well as brat icon Charli XCX.  Biden’s exit from the race follows weeks of calls for him to do so after poor performances in debates and in speeches. On Sunday he said his exit was “In the best interest of my party and the country.” He also threw his support behind Harris. In response, Harris thanked Biden for his service and leadership. She went on to say: “I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.” The VP has also been backed by senior Democratic Party figures. Transportation Secretary, and first out gay US cabinet member, Pete Buttigieg, joined them. In a statement on Sunday, Buttigieg said “Kamala Harris is now the right person to take up the torch.” He added: “I will do all that I can to help her win this election.” Elsewhere, Harris also won the support of ‘Girl, so confusing’ singer Charli XCX who posted on X: “Kamala IS brat.” At the time of writing the post had 235,000 likes on the platform with many fans sharing gifs and memes of the VP in support. One video shared around sees clips of Harris played over the top of the ‘Von dutch’ remix with Addison Rae. Harris has certainly lent herself to pop and meme culture through a fun-Aunt vibe and series of iconic moments. One from a 2023 speech sees her recount an expression her mother used to say. “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” 

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Giovanni Pernice has insisted “I’ll be back” after facing allegations about his behaviour on the show. His former dance partner Amanda Abbington had claimed his behaviour on Strictly was “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”, in an interview with the Sun on Sunday, 

It had been widely reported that Sherlock star Abbington experienced difficulties working with her dance partner Pernice on the show in 2023.  Strictly has confirmed the dancer will not be returning for the show's series this year, and his spokesperson has previously said he refuted the allegations and denied any accusations of abusive or threatening behaviour. On stage during his tour in Manchester on Sunday, Pernice said: “Let’s see what this mad woman has got to say next." He did not name anyone. The 33-year-old Italian dancer has been on the BBC One celebrity dancing contest since 2015, winning it in 2021 with actress Rose Ayling-Ellis. Abbington, who withdrew from last year's series in October, has told the Sunday newspaper she feared a backlash if she complained and claimed the BBC had known about his behaviour for years. In the interview, Abbington said: "I found Giovanni's behaviour unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean. I couldn't sit back and let him do that to other people." Pernice was on stage on Sunday with Strictly judge Anton Du Beke for the final stop on the Anton and Giovanni Together Live Tour.  Initially, the pair did not acknowledge the media storm that has surrounded Strictly in recent weeks. It felt almost like a parallel universe. Away from the newspaper headlines, here we had jokes, background dancers and a dizzying number of costume changes. At one point, Pernice and Du Beke were sparring over whether spaghetti bolognese is better than fish and chips. The next minute, Pernice was working the crowd, urging them all to shout "yee-haw" back at him.

Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 Presidential race has sent ripples around the world, with a number of global leaders reacting to the news. He also endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris and said he would "focus all my energies on my duties as President" for the rest of his term. Many of his allies paid tribute to his foreign policy achievements and acknowledged the difficulty of his decision. "Thanks to [Biden], transatlantic cooperation is close, Nato is strong and the USA is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves recognition," Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X.  The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he "respects" Mr Biden's decision and "looks forward" to working together for the rest of his presidency.  I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, President Biden will have made his decision based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people," Mr Starmer added. 

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Mr Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden, calling the president a "true friend" to Canadians. "He’s a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country," Mr Trudeau said.  Some noted the difficulty of Mr Biden's decision to step away from power.  Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Mr Biden had "made difficult decisions" throughout his political career that have "kept the world safer, and democracy and freedom stronger". "I know that you were guided by the same principles when announcing your latest decision. Perhaps the most difficult one in your life," he said. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida noted that Biden's announcement is one the US president considers "the best political decision he can make". Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, described Mr Biden's decision to withdraw as "responsible and personally difficult... but all the more valuable".

American screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black has posted support for Kamala Harris following the news that Joe Biden is to end his election campaign and endorse his vice president for the democrat nomination. Posting  his first post on Threads Lance Black said "  I’ve had the tremendous good fortune of knowing and admiring @kamalaharris since the very early days of working on the film MILK in San Francisco. She is a deeply good person who knows how to fight for what matters most for Americans, and when she fights, she wins. I am deeply moved to join President @joebiden in expressing my full support for Vice President Harris, and will do all I can to support her in this critical moment for our country. ❤️🤍💙 

Harris, vice-president of the US, was the first woman and the first black person to serve as California's attorney general, the top lawyer and law enforcement official in America's most populous state. She gained a reputation as one of the Democratic Party's rising stars, coming to power after being elected as California's junior US senator in 2017 before setting her sights on the presidential nomination in 2020.  However, her adept debate performances were not enough to compensate for poorly articulated policies. It was Biden who returned the now 59-year-old to the national spotlight by putting her on his ticket as the Democrat vice-presidential candidate in that same race. After Biden and Harris won the election, she focused on several key initiatives and has been instrumental in some of the Biden administration's most touted accomplishments, including the launch of a nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour, highlighting harm caused by abortion ban, and calling on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v Wade for abortion rights.

US President Joe Biden has announced that he will end his candidacy for re-election, saying "it is in the best interest of my party and the country".  It comes four months before Americans go to the polls, upending the race for the White House. It follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats after a faltering debate performance against Republican Donald Trump at the end of June. Following the announcement on Sunday evening, President Biden gave his endorsement in the presidential race to Vice President Kamala Harris.   In his endorsement, he said his “first decision as the party nominee in 2020” was to select Ms Harris, and said “it’s been the best decision I’ve made”.  Kamala Harris said she would do "everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party, and unite our nation to defeat Donald Trump". In a letter posted to his social media account announcing his resignation, he said it had been the greatest honour of his life to serve as president. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling the duties as President for the remainder of my term," he wrote in his statement.  Calls for Biden to withdraw from the race began to grow after a disastrous debate performance in late June against Donald Trump. During the debate he was criticised for often being incoherent and speaking in a weak voice - something which his party claimed as down to a cold. Following it, there were growing calls from within his own party for him to stand aside, with a growing number of congressional Democrats worried his campaign would hurt their own re-election chances in November. A handful of senators, who sit in the upper chamber of Congress, also called for him to withdraw. Less than two weeks ago, President Biden hosted a summit with Nato leaders, knowing he would face intense scrutiny following his debate performance.

US President Joe Biden has announced that he will end his candidacy for re-election.  His full statement, which he posted on X,  "My Fellow Americans, over the past three-and-a-half years, we have made great progress as a nation. "Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We've made historic investments in rebuilding our nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. "We've provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.  "I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We've protected and preserved our democracy. And we've revitalised and strengthened our alliances around the world. "It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.  "I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision. "For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me re-elected. "I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me. "I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can't do - when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America."

The Metropolitan Police has appealed to the public to help it identify a suspect after three painted Pride flags in north-east London were vandalised for a third time.

The incident, which happened outside Forest Gate railway station on 19 July, is being treated as a homophobic and transphobic hate crime, the force said.  

It follows previous incidents of damage on 23 and 26 June outside the same station. Det Insp James Rush said the force would "not tolerate these disgusting, inexcusable hate crimes in Forest Gate".  A spokesperson for the force said it has examined CCTV in the area, made house-to-house inquiries and done forensic investigations. No arrests have been made. The incidents in June and July are being treated as linked. Det Insp Rush said: “We stand with the local LGBTQ+ community.

"We are committed to continuing our thorough investigation and attempting to identify the offender, who we believe is the same person who committed the damage in June at the same location.  “The Met is clear that there is no place for hate in London and my team are already working at pace to complete all lines of inquiry.

“I want to directly address the local community in Forest Gate. Someone knows who this person is. Do the right thing and tell police, or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers."  Caron Harrison, co-founder of Forest Gayte Pride, external, said: “Once again the LGBTQI+ community in Forest Gate and further afield is appalled at the defacing of our flags. "We have had an amazing amount of love and support from our many allies and are hopeful that this person will be caught and dealt with.  Anyone with information was asked to contact the police on 101 quoting reference 1117/17JUL24. Anonymous reports can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. “They can try to intimidate us and paint over our flags but they cannot paint over our pride.”

A festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community has brought thousands of people to a city centre for the first time. The Northern Pride Festival takes place in Newcastle each year but is usually based further out in Exhibition Park and the Town Moor. This year's theme of "unapologetically visible" aims to bring 80,000 people to stages and events around the city centre. Northern Pride director, Ste Dunn, said he wanted Newcastle to feel like a "safe space" for everybody.  Pride in the City began on Friday and runs until Sunday, with the main stage based at Central Park, near the Centre for Life. The stage is hosting performances from drag artists and tribute acts and will even see the crowd join in through "Kroud Karaoke". 

Other events are taking place at Northern Stage, Grey's Monument and Market Village in Old Eldon Square.  

The annual Pride march earlier saw hundreds of people walk from the civic centre through to Northumberland Street and Grey Street before winding back through the city. Northern Pride said the festival had been designed to highlight the valuable impact the LGBTQ+ community had on society.  Mr Dunn said he was proud many of the community's allies also took part in the festival. "What we are trying to do here is really fight for our rights," he said. "There are so many injustices and challenges that we are having as a community and we can't do it on our own."

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has said complaints about professional dancers on the show have come as a "shock". The BBC programme has been hit by damaging allegations concerning former dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.  Pernice has denied "any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour". On Thursday, Di Prima's spokesman admitted he made a "mistake" by kicking celebrity partner Zara McDermott once during rehearsals.  Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, Revel Horwood said he found out about the allegations "through the press".  "It’s a shock and news to me," he said. "The judges are never present at any of the teaching and we literally come in on a Saturday and judge what we see before us.   "We’re kept very, very separate to the rest of the company, so for us it’s complete news." He said he reads about something every day and thinks "that can't be right", adding he would "wait and see" the outcome of the investigations. Earlier this week, the BBC announced it would put a member of the Strictly production staff in all future rehearsals, and that there would also be two new dedicated welfare producers. The corporation insisted it would always take any issues seriously and act when made aware of inappropriate behaviour. Revel Horwood said he welcomed the BBC's decision to give stars chaperones during rehearsals, adding he had seen that in the theatre as well. "When I was in Annie, we had chaperones everywhere because of the kids and laws and all of that stuff," he said.  "I've noticed in the theatre world, we have chaperones and people we can speak to if you're having a down day. "So, we have psychologists on the shows now and all of that. "I think it’s just a normal progression of what is happening in life." Asked if he was worried about the future of Strictly, he said: "I don't think so."

Microsoft says it estimates that 8.5m computers around the world were disabled by the global IT outage. It’s the first time that a number has been put on the incident, which is still causing problems around the world.  The glitch came from a cyber security company called CrowdStrike which sent out a corrupted software update to its huge number of customers.  Microsoft, which is helping customers recover said in a blog post: "we currently estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices." The post by David Weston, vice-president, enterprise and OS at the firm, says this number is less than 1% of all Windows machines worldwide, but that "the broad economic and societal impacts reflect the use of CrowdStrike by enterprises that run many critical services". The company can be very accurate on how many devices were disabled by the outage as it has performance telemetry to many by their internet connections. The tech giant - which was keen to point out that this was not an issue with it’s software - says the incident highlights how important it is for companies such as CrowdStrike to use quality control checks on updates before sending them out. “It’s also a reminder of how important it is for all of us across the tech ecosystem to prioritize operating with safe deployment and disaster recovery using the mechanisms that exist,” Mr Weston said. The fall out from the IT glitch has been enormous and was already one of the worst cyber-incidents in history. The number given by Microsoft means it is probably the largest ever cyber-event, eclipsing all previous hacks and outages. The closest to this is the WannaCry cyber-attack in 2017 that is estimated to have impacted around 300,000 computers in 150 countries. There was a similar costly and disruptive attack called NotPetya a month later. Cyber agencies in the UK and Australia are warning people to be vigilant to fake emails, calls and websites that pretend to be official.

Lewis Hamilton says Ralf Schumacher's decision to come out as gay "sends such a positive message" but that Formula 1 needs to make more progress on inclusivity.  Schumacher, who raced in F1 from 1997 to 2007 and won six grands prix, said in a social media post, at the weekend that he was in a same-sex relationship.  Hamilton said: "Clearly he has not felt comfortable being able to say it in the past. It is definitely not a new thing. "But it shows that we are in a time finally when we can take that step and don't have to fear. And hopefully he will be able to say that he's, I think, so far had only positive feedback from people [in F1] and that's because of the time we're living in and the changes we are." Schumacher's sexuality was known within F1 when he was racing, but the German, the brother of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, had never discussed it publicly and within the sport his privacy was respected. Hamilton, speaking at the Hungarian Grand Prix before Sunday's 13th round of the F1 season, said that all sports "have a long way to go" before all members of society felt comfortable. "It is one thing saying it’s inclusive and it’s another actually making sure people feel comfortable in the environments," the Mercedes driver said. "This is a male-dominated space and as far as I know he is one of the first to at least publicly be speaking in that respect. "We are very inclusive within our team, but the sport does need to continue to do more to make people feel more comfortable, make women feel more welcome in this space, because I know they have not always been treated well in this space. So we can 100% do more." Other F1 drivers also welcomed Schumacher’s move. McLaren’s Lando Norris said: "It's a good thing. From an inclusivity and diversity point of view, F1, McLaren, we have pushed for it a lot over the last three or four years especially, the whole world kind of moved in that direction.

Businesses and services around the world are slowly recovering after a massive IT outage affected computer systems for hours on Thursday and Friday.

Businesses, banks, hospitals and airlines were among the worst-hit after cyber-security firm Crowdstrike issued a faulty software update which affected Microsoft Windows. Crowdstrike's CEO apologised for the disruption and said a fix had been issued, but admitted it could be "some time" before all systems were back up and running. While some airline services are beginning to return to normal after thousands of flights were cancelled, operators expect some delays and cancellations to persist through the weekend.  Many businesses are now dealing with backlogs and missed orders that could take days to resolve. Health services in Britain, Israel and Germany also suffered problems, with some operations cancelled. The global chaos has sparked concern over the vulnerability of the world's interconnected technologies, and the extent to which a single software glitch could have such widespread impact. The issue began at 19:00 GMT on Thursday, affecting Windows users running cybersecurity software CrowdStrike Falcon, according to Microsoft, though the full extent of the problem only became clear by Friday morning. But by Friday evening, the problems were easing in many parts of the globe, with many airports saying that while there were still issues with check-in and payment systems, most flights were now running. Hong Kong International Airport has resumed normal operations, according to Chinese state media. The website Downdetector, which detects sites which may be having tech issues, showed fewer sites in the UK which were experiencing problems by the end of the day.  Microsoft has also said that several reboots may be required, with some users reporting that as many as 15 could be needed before the problem is fixed.

Disruption to flights is expected to continue across the UK after massive outages hit computer systems globally on Friday. Airports have said their systems are working again but that journeys could still be affected by delays and cancellations into the weekend. A number of airports have said passengers should continue to check for potential disruption affecting their flights before they travel. The outages came on one of the busiest days of the year, with many schools in England and Wales having broken up for summer this week. GPs, pharmacies, banks, payment systems, and train services were also affected. The problems were caused by a faulty software update for Microsoft Windows issued by cyber-security firm Crowdstrike.  London Gatwick said its system were "operating as normal" but that "some delays and cancellations will however continue this evening and over the weekend". Manchester Airport, where check-in was for a period on Friday being carried out out manually, said its check-in systems were up and running but that flights "may still be subject to delays and cancellations".  Belfast International said it was operating as normal but that "we recommend passengers keep in contact with their airlines". As of Friday evening, 338 flights in and out of the UK - 167 departures and 171 arrivals - had been cancelled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.  Simon Calder, travel correspondent for the Independent, said the passengers he had spoken to at airports were "absolutely despondent". Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Saturday, he said the ordeal was "horrible" for those hoping to travel in and out of the UK. “There are 50,000 British travellers waking up this morning where they didn’t expect to be,” he added. On the rail network, National Rail said the issue was no longer affecting operators, though some operators are still advising customers to check their journey before travelling.

The global IT outage has caused disruption across the UK, including to healthcare, transport and banking. GPs have been struggling to access their records systems, which include online bookings. Pharmacy services, such as access to prescriptions, have also been affected. The disruption has led to long queues at UK airports and knocked some TV channels off air. Cyber security firm Crowdstrike said the global IT problems were caused by a defect in a content update and were not due to a security incident or cyberattack.  "The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed," said George Kurtz, CEO of Crowdstrike. Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden said the global outage was not a security attack or a hostile act. He said: "The cause appears to be a software error in an update ... a fix is being put in place."

"We're very conscious that people are still being inconvenienced because of this, not just here in the UK, but in many other countries too."  Long queues have been reported at airports. 285 flights in and out of the UK have been cancelled - 143 departures and 142 arrivals - as of 17:00 BST, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

British Airways said some flights were "likely to experience disruption". The UK's largest airport, Heathrow, said the outage was affecting "select systems".  The outage meant several retailers were unable to take card payments for part of the day.  Gail's, Morrisons, Ladbrokes, Jempson's, Waitrose and Booths were among the chains affected - though some have since said the issue has been fixed. Melanie Pizzey, CEO of the Global Payroll Association, said that this could have "very serious implications" for companies that pay their employees on a weekly basis - and could create a backlog for those that pay each month. National Rail said the train network was experiencing "widespread IT issues" and warned that customers could experience short-notice cancellations.

CCTV images have been released of five men believed to have been involved in launching a tirade of homophobic slurs at a member of the public in Birmingham. The verbal assault occurred outside Café Soya in The Arcadian, a shopping centre in the city’s Chinese Quarter close to the gay village. The police have appealed for witnesses and shared CCTV shots on X/Twitter of five men they want to speak to. The images show a group who appear to be in their teens or early twenties, wearing a mix of hoodies and polo shirts. “We want to speak to them following a disorder outside Café Soya in the Arcadian, Birmingham on Saturday 30 March, the post reads. “A member of the public who tried to intervene was also assaulted and was subjected to homophobic comments.”  Anyone with information is urged to contact the police, quoting crime reference number 20/331067/24. Information can also be passed to @crimestoppersuk anonymously on 0800 555 111.  Data released last year showed that almost three-quarters of trans people in the UK had faced verbal abuse in the year to May 2023. 

At the start of this year, the Metropolitan Police released photos of a man they wished to speak to in connection with a suspected hate crime that occurred at London’s busy Bank Tube station.  

The attack followed a spate of hate crimes in the capital, including the stabbing of a couple outside The Two Brewers bar in Clapham – a popular LGBTQ+ venue – in August, an assault on a couple in Brixton just a week later, and an attack on a man and his partner in Chadwell Heath in October.

Swiss broadcaster SRG has confirmed that it is down to the final two candidates in determining the Host City of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest - Basel and Geneva. Those are our two options now that the Swiss broadcaster has whittled down the initial batch of bids to a final two. One of these two cities will host the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland in May 2025. The final decision will be made in late August. Interested cities had until the end of June to submit their bids to SRG on the basis of an extensive catalogue of requirements Key to the assessment of the bids submitted were criteria such as arena concept, public transport links, sustainability, available hotel accommodation, security and waste disposal concepts, investment, event experience, and support and motivation from the city as a whole, as well as many other factors.  The bids submitted by the cities Basel, Geneva, Zurich and Berne/Biel have been carefully reviewed by a Eurovision Song Contest core team working group over the last few weeks and further expanded on in on-site meetings with delegations from the cities.  The assessment comprised quantitative and qualitative criteria, as well as applicant cities' commitment and creative ideas, with the aim of making the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 an event to remember.  The careful assessment of the submitted bids was supervised by the accounting and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The ESC 2025 Steering Committee headed up by SRG Director General Gilles Marchand followed the recommendation of the core team and opted for the two city bids that performed best and will now be further consolidated: Basel and Geneva. The 69th Eurovision Song Contest heads to Switzerland in 2025 thanks to Nemo's win in Malmö with The Code. The song triumphed in the Grand Final with a score of 591 points, giving Switzerland its third Eurovision win in the history at the Contest.

A global study has found that 86.3% of LGBTQ+ professionals worldwide don’t feel safe to be their authentic selves. The research by myGwork which gathered insights from over 1,000 participants across 65 countries, sheds light on various aspects of LGBTQ+ life, with a particular focus on mental health and workplace experiences.  According to the study, 44.6% of LGBTQ+ professionals reported experiencing depression at some point in their lives. This figure was higher for certain groups within the LGBTQ+ community, with 53.3% of trans and non-binary participants and 59% of bi+/plurisexual individuals reporting experiences of depression. The survey also found that approximately one-third (31%) of LGBTQ+ professionals have experienced generalised anxiety disorder. These figures highlight the mental health challenges faced by many in the LGBTQ+ community. In the workplace, the study revealed that three-quarters of LGBTQ+ respondents felt their employers did not offer adequate mental health support or training. However, there were also some positive findings. Over half (58%) of LGBTQ+ professionals reported being open about their sexual orientation with everyone or most people at work. This figure rose to 80.5% for those employed by organisations partnered with myGwork, suggesting that inclusive workplace cultures can have a significant positive impact. Adrien and Pierre Gaubert, co-founders of myGwork, commented in a statement: “Our latest research highlights the significant mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ professionals globally. It is vital to recognise their unique struggles and provide comprehensive mental health support. Workplaces must not only be inclusive but also actively support LGBTQ+ individuals to foster thriving environments.” The study’s report includes recommendations for employers and policymakers on implementing more robust mental health support systems and fostering inclusive work environments

The spokesman for Strictly Come Dancing's Graziano Di Prima has confirmed the star kicked celebrity partner Zara McDermott once during rehearsals last year, which led to his removal from the show. "There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right," Mark Borkowski told BBC News. "And he knows that. "He knows he's made a mistake. He apologised at the time." Di Prima thought the matter had been resolved, but video of the incident is believed to have been brought to the attention of the BBC last week, and the dancer was then removed from this year's line-up.  The show has been at the centre of controversy after complaints about fellow professional dancer Giovanni Pernice as well as Di Prima. Pernice has denied "any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour". On Saturday, Di Prima said he "deeply regrets" the events that led to his departure, and that his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime".  Ex-Love Island star and documentary presenter McDermott then posted her own statement saying she was involved in incidents in the training room that she now finds "incredibly distressing" to watch back.  The video has not been made public, and the circumstances surrounding it are not known. BBC News has not seen the video, but understands the video shows Di Prima kick McDermott during a rehearsal.  Mr Borkowski said Di Prima did not clearly remember the incident, but did not deny there was a kick and the spokesperson accepted that he had "crossed the line". He did, however, deny reports that he spat on his dance partner.  Di Prima "does remember that he was pushing [McDermott] quite hard" in training on the day in question, Mr Borkowski said. "But he doesn't recognise some of the issues surrounding it," he added, referring to recent newspaper reports.

Ralf Schumacher expressed his gratitude to friends, family, and fans for the loving swell of support he received after coming out in an Instagram post last weekend.  Schumacher sent out a July 16 followup, posting a photo of himself with boyfriend and business manager Étienne and writing, "Heartfelt thanks for the many congratulations and comments."  "We are very happy, and thank all of you," Schumacher added. The coming out post, which Schumacher made on July 14, had showed the couple watching a sunset over the ocean with their arms wrapped around each other. "The most beautiful thing in life is when one has the right partner at his side with whom one can share everything," Schumacher captioned the romantic image. Schumacher's public embrace of authenticity is groundbreaking, with the racer being only the second F1 racer to come out. "The only other known male gay driver in the history of Formula One was the late Briton Mike Beuttler, who raced from 1971 to 1973 and died in 1988," CNN recalled. The 49-year-old "won six grands prix in an 11-year career that ended in 2007," CNN added. "He was previously married to Cora, with whom he has a son, David, 22." The coming out post garnered a host of supportive messages, including a quote in English attributed to Andre Braugher's "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character, Captain Holt, that read, "Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place Echoing that message, another posted: "Every time someone is brave like this, the world becomes a better, safer, more beautiful and complete place for us all. Thank you!" 

Another posted simply: "Congratulations Ralf, you slaaaay". Among the congratulatory messages was a note from Schumacher's son, David, who posted, "I am very happy that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel that you feel very comfortable and secure."

The UK's citizens were "failed" by their governments' processes, planning and policy ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, a public inquiry has found. There were more than 235,000 deaths involving COVID-19 in the UK up to the end of 2023 and a report published today says some of the "financial and human cost may have been avoided" had the country been better prepared for the deadly outbreak in 2020.  It is the first of nine reports to be published by the UK COVID-19 Inquiry and examines the state of the UK's structures and procedures in place to prepare and respond to a pandemic. The 83,000-word document details "several significant flaws" including preparing for "the wrong pandemic".  Baroness Heather Hallett, the inquiry chair, is calling for "radical reform" as she makes 10 recommendations, including a major overhaul of how the UK government prepares for civil emergencies. "Never again can a disease be allowed to lead to so many deaths and so much suffering," Lady Hallett writes in an introduction. Speaking after the report's publication, she said: "I have no hesitation in concluding the processes, planning and policy of the civil contingency structures across the UK failed the citizens of all four nations. "There were serious errors on the part of the state and serious flaws in our emergency systems. This cannot be allowed to happen again." Key recommendations include a radical simplification of systems, holding a UK-wide pandemic response exercise at least every three years and the creation of a single, independent statutory body responsible for the preparedness and response of the whole system. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "Today's report confirms what many have always believed - that the UK was under-prepared for COVID-19, and that process, planning and policy across all four nations failed UK citizens.

South Korea’s top court has upheld the rights of same-sex couples in a landmark ruling that guarantees them the same insurance benefits as heterosexual partners.  The ruling means the country’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) can be claimed by people in same-sex partnerships, with the Supreme Court saying that treating same-sex couples differently from their heterosexual peers was an act of serious discrimination, according to Amnesty International. It follows more than three years of legal battles and could pave the way for the recognition of same-sex marriages in the East Asian nation. The decision upholds a Seoul High Court ruling from last year which ordered the NHIS to provide equal spousal coverage to gay couple So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min, who filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the agency after it cancelled their benefits. Chief justice Jo Hee-de said denying gay couples the benefits was: “An act of discrimination that violates human dignity and value, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy and the right to equality before the law, and the degree of violation is serious.”  Denial of spousal insurance coverage to a gay couple because of their gender constituted discrimination based on sexual orientation, he explained. Jubilant scenes followed after the ruling, with the couple chanting: “Love wins.” Kim Yong-min told Reuters outside the court: “I couldn’t believe when I heard the ruling. I was extremely happy and I started crying. It took four years to earn this dependent status and we need to fight harder to legalise same-sex marriage going forward.”  Amnesty International’s East Asia researcher Boram Jang called the ruling a “historic victory for equality and human rights in South Korea”, adding: “It is disheartening that in 2024, same-sex couples still face such significant barriers to equality.

Elon Musk has announced plans to move the headquarters of X and SpaceX out of California, after the state passed a new law that explicitly prohibits school districts outing trans students to their parents.  On Monday (15 July), Democrat governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill, known as the Safety Act, which prevents schools creating policies that could potentially out LGBTQ+ – most notably, transgender – students by telling their parents about a name change, pronoun change or their identity. Musk, who recently suggested he wants to remove the “groomer” slur from X/Twitter’s list of discriminatory terms, described the new legislation as the “final straw”.  He went on to say: “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.” Later, he added: “And X HQ [currently in San Francisco] will move to Austin [also in Texas]… many will follow.” Speaking last month, assembly member Chris Ward, who proposed the Safety Act, said it came about because of a “growing national attack on LGBTQ+ people and in particular transgender individuals”, highlighting that several Californian school districts and and other states had enacted policies that force teachers to out trans kids to their parents. “Forced outing policies harm everyone: parents, families and school staff, by unnecessarily compelling the staff to involve themselves in family matters and removing the opportunity for families to build trust and have conversations on their own terms,” Ward continued. This is not the first time Musk – whose trans daughter wants nothing to do with him – has taken aim at policies which protect members of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2020 the Tesla chief executive was criticised for making anti-trans statements, including tweeting “pronouns suck” and “pronouns are an aesthetic nightmare”.

Stonewall has released their annual Top 100 Employers list, highlighting the most inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ+ employees in the UK.  The list is compiled through the charity’s Workplace Equality Index, a free and voluntary benchmarking tool to which businesses submit their names. The submissions are marked against a standardised criteria and the employers are picked out for their dedication in making their workplace a welcoming environment for their queer staff. Stonewall’s list serves as a valuable resource for LGBTQ+ people to identify the most inclusive employers.  “Implementing inclusive practices and policies is vital for employers who wish to attract and retain top LGBTQ+ talent,” said Colin Macfarlane, the director of programmes and income at Stonewall. “By championing LGBTQ+ employees, you are fostering a happy and motivated workforce and contributing to a UK where LGBTQ+ people can thrive as their true selves.” This years list  features a range of companies from an array of industries and sectors, right at top in 2024 is London-based global law firm Linklaters. Angela Ogilvie, the chief human resources officer and executive committee LGBTQIA+ champion at Linklaters said: “We’re thrilled to be recognised as the top employer in this year’s Stonewall Top 100 Employers list. Our people are the key to our success, and this ranking really highlights the inclusive and supportive environment we’ve built. “Here, diversity is more than just supported, it’s celebrated, sparking innovation and helping us better serve our clients and our community.” Whitbread, the owners of Premiere Inn, cracked the top 10 for the first time after placing 110 in 2022. “Being recognised as an inclusive LGBTQIA+ business is special, we strive to be the most inclusive business where both our teams and guests can be their best selves,” said Janet Tidmarsh, head of inclusion and development.

A ban on conversion therapy has been included  in the Kings Speech today (17 July 2024) after being promised by Labour in their election campaign.  

Conversion practices attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. ​Campaigners have been calling for legislation to ban it for many years.  The Tory party kept saying that they would introduce a ban since 2019 but have kept pushing the legislation further back till there was no longer time for it to be discussed in the House of Commons. 

 Some MPs and campaigners are concerned a ban could criminalise therapists or teachers who question a young person’s gender identity.   ​But Labour suggest they’ll try to avoid this by making sure any ban won’t cover legitimate psychological support, treatment or counselling.

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Stonewall have commented on the announcement saying "  In July 2024, the UK Government announced its new commitment to publishing a draft Bill to ban conversion therapy. We'll be campaigning to ensure the ban is fully inclusive, protects all LGBTQ+ people, and has no loopholes that would allow abuse to continue. Find out more about the campaign below. 

The Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors and Dentists (GLADD) has criticised a recent British Medical Journal (BMJ) article for its portrayal of the Cass review on transgender healthcare. GLADD issued a rapid response letter to the BMJ (British Medical Journal) on 10 July 2024, expressing concern over what it calls “one-sided and harmful narratives about trans people in the UK”.  The Cass review, an examination of NHS gender identity services for young people in England, was published in April 2024. Led by Dr Hilary Cass, it made 32 recommendations for improving care for gender-questioning and gender-diverse youth. While GLADD acknowledges the significance of the review, it argues that the BMJ article fails to present a balanced view of its implications.  The association writes: “Its systematic reviews, narrative text, and recommendations will have significant implications for gender questioning and gender diverse youth for decades to come, regardless of one’s opinions of the review itself.” GLADD particularly took issue with the article’s comparison of gender-affirming care to so-called gay conversion therapy in the 1950s. The organisation described this as “incorrect and deeply offensive to the LGBTQ+ community” in its letter. This controversy comes amid rising concerns about the safety of transgender individuals in the UK. GLADD cites recent Home Office statistics showing a 186% increase in transphobia-motivated hate crimes in England and Wales over the past five years. “Gender questioning and gender diverse young people in the UK are increasingly vulnerable in society… and require support from the services that care for them,” the association emphasises. GLADD also speaks of the politicisation of the Cass review, noting: “The weaponisation of the Cass review against trans people has been startling, although not unexpected. 

The right-wing politician Marjorie Taylor Greene has targeted trans people in a speech at the Republican National Convention. The event has been taking place this week in Milwaukee and concludes tomorrow (Thursday 18 July). It follows an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, who is now the official Republican candidate for this year’s Presidential election. On Tuesday (16 July) Marjorie Taylor Greene took to the convention stage to deliver an address. The US congresswoman is known for her anti-LGBTQ+ views and conspiracy theories.  She opened her speech by referencing the attack on Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday (13 July). “Today is a day of celebration,” she went on to say about Trump officially becoming the Republican presidential candidate. She also paid tribute to Trump supporter Corey Comperatore who died at the rally shielding his family from bullets. “We will honour Corey’s memory by building the country he wanted. The country he wanted for his children and a government worthy of the American people,” Greene continued. “For too long the establishment in Washington has sold us out,” she said continuing in the belief that Republicans are not also a part of the political establishment. She then blamed Democrats for the country’s woes. “They promised unity and delivered division, they promised peace and brought war, they promised normalcy and gave us Transgender Visibility Day on Easter Sunday.” This last inaccurate point drew “boos” from the crowd. Ever since Transgender Day of Visibility this year, Republicans have been unable to accept that the occasion just so happened to fall on Easter Sunday. The annual occasion has been held on 31 March every year since 2009. It was in no way placed deliberately on Easter Sunday. “And let me state this clearly,” Greene continued. “There are only two genders,” which gained a round of applause from the audience. “And we are made in god’s image. Amen. 

A mural of Ru Paul's Drag Race star Divina De Campo has been defaced with homophobic abuse for a second time. The performer saw the graffiti on a mural in Manchester's Gay Village on Sunday while walking back from the Sparkle trans festival weekend. Created in 2019 to mark De Campo's appearance in the first series of Ru Paul's Drag Race, it was vandalised in 2021. "It does make you feel less safe. It brings it home that there are still people out there who want to hurt you," said De Campo.  In a post on Instagram page, De Campo said: "We still live in a world where people think this is ok. "I’ll get it sorted so we don’t have this sort of stuff written about us in the village. We’re not going anywhere!  "The Gay Village is one of the few safe spaces in the whole country really. "It's a place where LGBTQ+ people can really feel safe."De Campo said LGBTQ+ hate crime had risen year on year over the past decade and accused some politicians of "using trans and gay people as a political football". Councillor Garry Bridges, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said Manchester was "a tolerant city that celebrates the diversity of the people who live here". He said Manchester was proud of its Gay Village and its welcoming attitude to LGBT+ people.  "I know that all rightminded Mancunians will be saddened that anyone would use this horrific, offensive language and deface this mural in the Gay Village. It is totally unacceptable," he added. Mr Bridges said the council was urgently contacting the artist and building owners to discuss the best way of getting the graffiti removed as soon as possible.  "We will continue to make clear that our city is welcoming and inclusive," he added.  

The BBC has approached the Department of Health and Social Care and Greater Manchester Police.

The BBC is to put a member of the Strictly Come Dancing production staff in all future rehearsals following complaints about the behaviour of two former professional dancers during training. There will also be two new dedicated welfare producers, as part of a string of extra measures. The announcement comes after the news that Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima will not return for this year's series. Earlier on Tuesday, TV star Zara McDermott, who was partnered with Di Prima last year, said she was involved in incidents in the Strictly training room that she now finds "incredibly distressing" to watch back. A statement from the corporation said: "The BBC is today announcing additional steps to strengthen welfare and support on Strictly Come Dancing. "Concerns that have arisen in recent months have been fundamentally about training and rehearsals. The actions we announce today are designed to address that."

The BBC said it would

• have a production team member present during training room rehearsals at all times

• appoint a celebrity welfare producer and a professional dancer welfare producer

• deliver further training for the production team and crew

Kate Phillips, the BBC's director of unscripted, said: "Whilst we know our shows have been positive experiences for the vast majority of those who have taken part, if issues are raised with us, or we’re made aware of inappropriate behaviour, we will always take that seriously and act.

Labour’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting has defended the Conservatives’ emergency ban on puberty blockers for trans ands gender-diverse youth. The NHS stopped the routine prescription of puberty blockers to under-18s back in March, following the Cass Review into gender identity services.  The Tories then announced a ban on private prescriptions lasting from 3 June to 3 September 2024. The ban is being challenged in the High Court. Streeting, who is gay, clarified his position in a series of tweets on Sunday [14 July 2024]. He is expected to outline a permanent ban in a ministerial statement in Parliament on Thursday, reports The Guardian.  In his statement, Streeting – who took power alongside party leader Keir Starmer after Labour’s victory in the general election of 4 July 2024 – claimed “medicine given to children must always be proven safe and effective first.” He elsewhere said: “The decisions I am taking will always be based on evidence, rather than politics or political pressure.” Streeting’ statement has prompted widespread criticism, including from members of his own party. Backbencher Kim Johnson, called the ban “very concerning”, adding: “Labour’s manifesto promised to ‘remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition & acceptance’ – this entails ending the ban on puberty blockers.”  Responding, Jo Maugham of the Good Law Project said: “Wes Streeting’s position is that, subject to the outcome of the court proceedings and consultation, he will renew it and convert it into a permanent ban.” Maugham added: “My feelings about Wes Streeting are unprintable: these measures will kill trans children.”  In an op-ed for Attitude published yesterday, Trans+ History Week founder Marty Davies said: “[Streeting’s position] is leading parents of trans+ youth to pursue emigrating from the UK in order for their children to access their medication. Yes, shamefully it has reached that point. 

The Brighton Little Theatre have announced their 2024 - 2025 season. The small theatre in the heart of Brighton city centre celebrates 85 years in the coming year.  Brief Encounter will take place from 19th - 26th October 2024.  The Box of Delights will take place from 7th - 14th December 2024. Bobby & Amy & The Voyage of the Carcass will take place from 28th January - 1st February 2025. Perfect Arrangement will take place from 11th - 15th March 2025. Youth@theLittle will take place from 27th - 29th March 2025 with the exact production to be confirmed. 

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Further plays at the venue will be confirmed in due course.  Brighton Little Theatre a thriving, leading not-for-profit theatre company who stage at least 10 plays a year in our very own little theatre in the heart of Brighton. The theatre is made up of a membership of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who strive to produce a consistently high standard of theatre. The theatre offer open auditions (you’re required to join if cast) and always welcome new members

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The theatre concluded the announcement of the their 2024 - 2025 season saying if planned building work to improve the theatre which the theatre is currently fundraising for with their Brick by Brick campaign the above schedule will take place at external / outside venues and that the dates of the productions would be subject to change. As the official media partner of Brighton Little theatre g10 will keep you updated. 

The son of Ralf Schumacher has congratulated his dad after the former Formula One driver came out publicly on Instagram, posting a photo of himself and his partner Etienne. The post was captioned with: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”  The couple have been together for two years. According to The Daily Mail, Etienne was Schumacher’s business manager after meeting in Monaco. Schumacher’s 22-year-old son David, who is also a racing driver, congratulated his father for coming out. David commented on his father’s post: “I’m very happy that you’ve finally found someone with whom you can really tell that you feel comfortable and safe, no matter if it’s a man or a woman. I’m 100% behind you, Dad, and I wish you all the best! Congratulations!” David is Schumacher’s son from his previous relationship with the former model Cora-Caroline Brinkman. The pair married in 2001 and divorced in February 2015 after an acrimonious separation. Schumacher started 180 races while driving for teams like Jordan, Williams, and Toyota, and won six. His brother Michael, by contrast, was a seven-time world champion before a severe brain injury suffered during a skiing accident in 2013 ended his career. Michael has not been seen in public since, with his brother previously telling German magazine Bunte that he misses his brother “of the old days” and despite “advanced medical science… nothing is like it used to be”. David competed in Formula 4 and Formula 3 classes in the past. However, he did not follow in his father and uncle’s footsteps and instead moved into German touring car championship DTM. Schumacher and his son have maintained a close relationship since he split with Brinkman, frequently attending David’s races to support him. The German outlet BILD reported that David and his mother are not close and have not been since 2022.