Gay MP Chris Bryant [pictured] has been making the case in the House of Commons for Pride. He said that it remains an important event in the UK calendar amid ongoing cases of discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. He added that legal advances like same-sex marriage shouldn’t dampen enthusiasm for Pride, adding that there is the need for continued visibility for LGBTQ+ rights globally.
There have been three homophobic assaults in the Belgian city of Liège in nine days that have been linked to Grindr. Victims were apparently lured by a character on the dating app and were attacked when they arrived for their assignation. A suspect has been arrested and investigations are ongoing.
Late Show host Stephen Colbert has criticised US store Target for its shift away from supporting the LGBTQ+ community since Donald Trumps election. He referred to the reduced presence of Pride-related items in Target stores as ‘cowardcore’ for their lack of boldness. He emphasised how corporations had retreated from Pride support since Trump and hard-core Christian Vance took over.
A face-off between the Hungarian government and the EU is bubbling in Budapest over the ‘banned’ Pride event this Saturday. EU ambassadors, including the European Commissioner for Equality, are planning to join the parade and have been attacked by Hungarian Justice Minister Bence Tuzson, who threatened them with ‘legal consquences’. The event was banned by police citing an anti-LGBTQ+ law but Budapest’s Mayor has backed it. Organisers expect over 35,000 people to turn up as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for the ban’s reversal.
Diana Ossana, co-writer of iconic gay movie Brokeback Mountain has said that its failure to be recognised at the Oscars followed a snub by right-wing actor and director (and cowboy) Clint Eastwood and can be put down to levels of homophobia in Hollywood. When the film was released in 2005, there were mixed audience reactions to the gay scenes, scenes which can be enjoyed again as the film gets a 20th anniversary release.
