2017 hasn’t exactly been an easy year has it. AND WE’RE BARELY HALFWAY THROUGH.
But, through all the madness and cruelty and fields of wheat, there have been special moments. Moments we can be proud of as a community!
So here they are, listed below. Crack open a tin of vodka cranberry (we see you) and enjoy!
One Love Manchester
Queer pop idol Ariana Grande stuns the world with an unforgettable display of kindness and bravery in the face of unspeakable horror. Iconic.
HISKIND
Dean Eastmond flies in the face of life’s challenges, and launches an exciting, innovative and effortlessly cool new LGBT media platform called HISKIND! Love you Dean! (That’s Sinitta in the picture btw, not Dean).
Serbia & Ireland elect gay Prime Ministers
Two countries with chequered histories of supporting LGBT rights have both elected their first gay Prime Ministers. Last week, Ana Brnabić was appointed as both Serbia’s first gay PM and first woman PM in a country where same-sex marriage is not legal and the LGBTQ+ community face persecution from both the far right and the Orthodox church. In Ireland, Leo Varadkar was elected leader of the Fine Gael Party on 2nd June, after the retirement of Edna Kenny. Only Iceland, Belgium, and Luxembourg before them have elected gay heads of state.
Moonlight wins Best Picture at OscarsAfter the #oscarssowhite controversy at the 2016 ceremony in which there were protests at the lack of diversity in the nominations, it was heartening to see Moonlight finish the night with three awards, including the highly-coveted Best Picture (Eventually!). The film told the story of Chiron, a black boy growing up in the Miami projects, over three stages of his life as he grapples with his sexuality and identity.
Kim Woodburn’s Epic Big Brother Rant
Kim Woodburn officially achieved gay icon status, on this year’s Celebrity Big Brother. CHICKEN-LIVERED SHITS! GO AWAY, YOU ADULTERER!
Gay Times Magazine goes back to its old logo
YES! It looks great, and is a brilliantly nostaglic throwback that really WORKED. Loud and proud. GAY Times. GAY! GAY GAY GAY! It makes us want to mince down Old Compton Street with a red hanky in our back left pocket. What does red mean again? Dunno. *Eyes emoji*
Finland, Slovenia legalise same-sex marriage
Finland and Slovenia became the latest nations to legalise same-sex marriage, although adoption remains barred in Slovenia. This brings the number of countries that allow same-sex marriage up to 23. It also entered the law in Guernsey and Bermuda, while Taiwan’s Court and Germany’s government both ruled that same-sex couples have a right to marry.
Prince William becomes first ever royal to be on the cover of a gay magazine
Ok so let’s be honest this was incredible. Our pals over at Attitude popped over to Kensington Palace and not only met and interviewed Wills, but put him on the cover! Amazing! Fifty, or even twenty years ago, it would have been unthinkable. And of COURSE Attitude had to snatch the title of First Gay Mag To Put A Royal On The Cover. They are a bunch of attention-seekers. We’ve got an eye on Meghan Markle, we think she’s very QX. The cover is going to be her, sat on one of the Trafalgar Square lions with a bottle of vodka.
AND FINALLY…
Mighty Hoopla
Hours after the biggest terrorist attack to hit London since the 7/7 bombings, there was a huge queer music festival in Victoria Park! Everyone rose to the occasion fantastically, donning crop tops and hotpants and saying a big FUCK YOU to terrorism.
