LGBTQIA+ UK News Round-Up: July 2024

With the possibility of a total Tory wipeout and the much-anticipated start of the 2024 Paris Olympics , it’s safe to say July was never going to be a slow news month. So, whether you’re still recovering on the sofa from a non-stop weekend of Pride partying, or spending hours watching TikToks of people who have recently changed their Tinder location to the Olympic Village, here’s a chance to catch up on July’s LGBTQIA+ news highlights. 

Watching the Conservatives lose seat after seat up and down the country was just as sweet as we’d hoped as Labour formed a new government on the 4th of July. We were also happy to see SNP MP Joanna Cherry - AKA the woman who had such an issue with our TERF repellent pins she ended up giving us a massive free marketing boost - forced out of her seat in Edinburgh South West. Following Labour’s win, 64 Out LGBTQIA+ MPS across the elected parties will now sit in the House of Commons.

While it was great to see the Tories collapse inward, the UK’s queer community will be looking closely at Labour’s next steps in making the country a better place to live for LGBTQ+ people. Particularly following the harmful transphobic rhetoric many Labour politicians spouted during the election campaign, as well as the dangerous planned ban on puberty blockers . 

It was hard to watch politician after politician use trans rights as a weapon during the general election, something that was especially true of anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker who tried to win the Bristol Central seat with her recently-created Party of Women. Parker’s gender-critical party stands for just one single issue, which (you guessed it) is opposing the so-called ‘transgender ideology.’ In true TERF karma, Parker received just 196 votes, a statistic that meant she had to pay back her deposit for running in the election.

Bristol Central was instead won by out bisexual co-leader Carla Denyer, while in Aberdeen South, trans candidate Sophie Molly secured 225 votes standing as an independent. After getting more total votes than Parker, Molly hoped the results would send “a strong message of hope to all the trans children out there.”

A new study by Channel 4 looking into the representation and portrayal of transgender people within the media industry found that only one in every 10 transgender people feels brands are supportive of the community, while brands are now more reluctant than ever to work with trans individuals due to potential backlash. The study also found adverts often portrayed the transgender community in a sensationalised way, overly focusing on physical attributes and lacking diversity or realistic representation. 

In a move that no doubt reinforces the above, Waterstones came under fire in July after firing one of its booksellers for a comment she made on one of her social media accounts. TikTok influencer, Tilly Loves Books, said she was going to “tear up and bin” a book after finding out its author was a massive TERF. Waterstones then continued to show its true LGBTQ+ colours when they retweeted Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh questioning what a woman is. The book company has since come out and said that Tilly’s firing was in no way related to transgender rights, which obviously, it was.

Despite a record number of out male Olympians being at this year’s games, all eyes were on Tom Daley in the men’s synchronised 10-metre platform - especially since Noah Williams was diving in place of Tom’s usual partner. However, both Team GB athletes absolutely smashed the competition, winning silver in front of family and friends gathered for the event; Tom’s husband, Dustin Lance Black, mum Debbie and the couple’s two children cheered him on from the stands.

If there’s a reason you haven’t heard of Pride in this city , it’s because it hasn’t taken place until this year! In a first-ever major Pride celebration that organisers say is “long overdue,” Bath is set to welcome queer joy with a parade, picnic and music stalls on the 18th of August. There will also be an after-party in the city’s Komedia with a WIG! drag cabaret. If you’re heading to Bath Pride this month, let us know what you think!

While it was nice for Suella Braverman to leave the country and stop spewing her anti-trans hatred in the UK, she instead took her transphobia further afield. Braverman spoke at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington and during her speech ranted about the trans-inclusive Progress Pride flag and called gender-affirming care a “mutilation” for trans youth. Her speech was so full of hatred that former Conservative parliamentary hopeful Iain Dale commented: “What a disgusting speech. And she seriously thinks she has a chance of leading the Conservative Party. Not while I have a breath left in my body” and former Conservative prime minister Theresa May warned Tories about being seen as the nasty party.

In the face of transphobia, the community and its allies know just how to fight back. At this year’s Trans+ Pride in London, up to 60,000 people marched in solidarity with trans and non-binary people across the world. Among the marchers was Yasmin Finney, the trans icon known for her role in Heartstopper and as Donna’s trans daughter in the new series of Doctor Who. These 60,000 individuals marched peacefully in both a celebration of trans+ joy - and also a call for the government to do more for trans lives in the UK.

Think there’s a big news story we haven’t covered? Reach out and let us know. You can contact the Rainbow & Co team by filling out our contact form online or emailing info@rainbowandco.uk . Even if you just fancy a plain old natter, we’d love to hear from you!