TikTok bans misgendering, deadnaming and ‘conversion therapy’ promotion in “substantive” changes

Theresa May has called on Boris Johnson to ban transgender conversion, four years after she vowed to make the practice illegal.Conversion therapy refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or to suppress a person’s gender identity.It is based on an assumption that being lesbian, gay, bi or trans is a mental illness that can be ‘cured’.In 2018, Ms May announced plans to ban conversion therapy, adding ‘No one should ever have to hide who they are or who they love’.But plans never came to fruition and conversion therapy remains legal in the UK.In late March, Boris Johnson dropped plans to ban any conversion therapy, but U-turned within hours following backlash.The Government later outlined legislation – the Conversion Therapy Bill – in the Queen’s Speech which would ban conversion therapy intended to change someone’s sexual orientation in certain scenarios.But it said that, due to the ‘complexity of issues and need for further careful thought’, the legislation would not ban transgender conversion therapy.Huge protests were held outside Downing Street following the news.Writing in the i for the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride, Mrs May has now urged her successor to end conversion therapy once and for all.She wrote: ‘Few people, reading of accounts from trans people, would disagree that they still face indignities and prejudice, when they deserve understanding and respect.‘We need to strive for greater understanding on both sides of the debate.

Pride founder Lady Phyll, the LGBTQ+ community has always been jam-packed with pioneers and those ready to blaze a trail.As they wield their game changing vibe, these are the people who have been vital in creating progress over the last five decades – and beyond – whether it’s through entertainment, words or activism. And not only have they helped shine a light on LGBTQ+ rights, but through their much-needed visibility, they’ve made others realise they are not alone. Their courage has also paved the way for the future voices of the community, who continue to work hard to allow others to be seen.Here we meet just four of those rising LGBTQ+ stars, from the world of music, modelling, sports and literature.When I came out, I became a tomboy because that’s what I thought I had to doSlovenian-born pansexual singer-songwriter July Jones, 23, has had a meteoric rise to fame, having written tracks for Zolita, Girli, Nasty Cherry and BTS as well as carving out a space for herself with her razor sharp and unique electro-pop sounds. ‘Growing up in Slovenia was amazing, but the opportunities for doing music were quite limited.

Lesbian Visibility Week earlier this year.I could joke it’s because us lesbians only get seen for one week a year, but I’m also genuinely wondering: is the word ‘lesbian’ in danger of becoming invisible?It’s an issue that’s close to home for me, because I want my young kids to hear the word first in a positive context but, to many, it is a contentious word due to its toxic connotations through misuse as a pejorative slur.My wife and I are of the same generation and had pretty similar upbringings culturally, but she has little love for the word. Growing up it was carelessly used by some of her peers as an insult, something associated with freakiness, ugliness, total social shame.And she isn’t the only one who is hesitant.

London parade, organisers have said.The move comes after LGBTQ+ campaigners called for them to be barred due to Scotland Yard’s ‘homophobic’ handling of the investigation into the serial killer Stephen Port.Human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell has said the investigation, which the independent police watchdog is investigating, showed ‘institutional homophobia is alive and kicking in the Metropolitan police’.Speaking to The Guardian, he said the case, as well as other recent revelations of homophobia, racism and misogyny within the force, meant Pride in London needed to take a stand on police officers’ participation in the event.‘While there are many good officers, and they are welcome to march in civilian clothes, Pride needs to challenge the police as an institution, otherwise they will never reform,’ Peter said.In a statement to the newspaper, Pride in London said: ‘We work hard to strike a balance between the very real and legitimate concerns from members of our community, and being as welcoming as we can.‘We agree that the police uniform undermines that balance, and as such we are aligned that it should not feature in our parade.’The move does not prevent individual officers from marching out of uniform.The Gay Liberation Front, which organised the first Pride march in 1972, has also signed an open letter calling for an end to not only police taking part in the parade but also patrolling the event.The letter, organised by Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, states: ‘Due to our deep-rooted concerns with policing – and the history of Pride itself as resistance against police violence – it is time to end the practice of police participation in Pride each year.‘It is time to end the presence of police banners.‘The

imminent arrival of drag queen character Tara Misu as ‘iconic’ and ‘exciting’ – with some previously lost viewers proclaiming that they are ‘going to start watching again’. The soap confirmed the casting of its first ever regular drag queen character, who is the alter-ego of newcomer Felix Baker (Matthew Morrison).