Taylor Swift has spoken out about her cancelled Eras Tour Vienna shows. (Getty) Taylor Swift has explained her reason for not previously speaking out over her cancelled Eras Tour shows in Vienna after a foiled terrorist plot, telling fans: “Let me be very clear.” The “Cruel Summer” hitmaker took to Instagram on 22 August (Thursday)
Europe
LGBTQ+ people and allies protested Bulgaria’s new anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda law in schools (Hristo Vladev/NurPhoto via Getty Images) LGBTQ+ people and their allies have rallied outside Bulgaria’s national assembly building to denounce an amendment to a law which will ban so-called LGBTQ+ propaganda in schools. The update to the country’s 2020 Pre-school and School Education Act,
Anne Hidalgo did not hold back criticising the right-wing backlash to the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. (Getty) The mayor of Paris did not hold back in condemning anti-LGBTQ+ pundits for their demonisation of the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. Anne Hidalgo made her feelings about the backlash to the opening-day extravaganza clear, saying: “F**k the reactionaries,
Turkey’s President took aim at Eurovision. (Getty) To many, the Eurovision Song Contest is a celebration of the queer community and music. But Turkey’s president believes that the harmless competition show is a threat to families. On 20 May, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hit out at the annual music event, accusing the organisers of encouraging
Bambie Thug from Ireland enters the stage during the opening ceremony of The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Grand Final at Malmö Arena on May 11, 2024 (Getty) Irish Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug, who came sixth in last night’s Grand Final, has furiously hit out at the European Broadcasting Union in a heated statement following the
Joost Klein during the Eurovision Song Contest’s press conference on February 29, 2024 (Getty) While most Eurovision fans are still too busy celebrating Swiss artist Nemo becoming the first non-binary entrant to ever win the iconic song contest, others have something else on their minds, namely: Why was the Netherlands disqualified from Eurovision 2024? The
Taylor Swift has adjusted her Eras Tour setlist. (Getty) Taylor Swift has kicked off the European leg of The Eras Tour in France, and her setlist has had a very The Tortured Poets Department-style makeover. In the wake of her record-breaking new album, the singer has added seven new songs to her critically-acclaimed Eras Tour
The hilarious moment was caught on live TV. (Eurovision/BBC) If the Eurovision Song Contest wasn’t already for the gays, this audience member just took it to the next level thanks to their Grindr notifications being caught on live TV. During 8 May’s rehearsals for the 68th song contest – which were live-broadcasted, by the way
The non-binary singer made a statement for trans rights. (Getty) Ireland’s Eurovision Song Contest entrant Bambie Thug exuded trans Pride in their on-stage outfit, as they managed to secure a spot in the final. The non-binary Cork native flew the flag for both Ireland and the trans community with their song “Doomsday Blue” as they
The star won’t be performing at any festivals this summer. (Getty) Kim Petras has cancelled her summer festival shows due to developing “health issues”, she has revealed. The “Unholy” hitmaker took to her social media platforms on 24 April to make the announcement, writing: “My buns, I’m devastated to be writing this but I’m going
Jeremy Corbyn reiterated his support for trans people during the Council of Europe speech. (Getty) Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has shared a message of support for transgender people everywhere. The Islington North MP told the Council of Europe that there had to be an end to the “horrors of transgender discrimination”, in his speech
The singer performed in Paris, and paid tribute to the venue’s history. (Getty) Sophie Ellis-Bextor has paid tribute to the victims who lost their lives in the 2015 Paris attack whilst on her European tour. The singer performed at the Bataclan in the city on 5 March and honoured the 90 people who lost their
Doritos Spain faces backlash over partnership with trans influencer Samantha Hudson (Pablo Cuadra/WireImage via Getty Images) Doritos Spain has ended its relationship with trans influencer and artist Samantha Hudson after controversial past tweet resurfaced. Over the weekend, the company – a wholly-owned subsidiary of PepsiCo – announced a one-off campaign with Hudson, including her in
An Irish cabinet minister has become the latest politician in the country to come out as gay in a beautifully-worded social media post. Fianna Fáil TD and minister for roads Jack Chambers made the announcement in a post on Instagram on Sunday (14 January). “As I look forward to 2024 I am sharing with you
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the pledge this week. (Getty) Greece is reportedly expected to publish a bill legalising same-sex marriage according to the country’s prime minister. In a statement on Wednesday (10 January), Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that the government intended to implement further LGBTQ+ rights following a series of reforms
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has promised to legalise same-sex marriage in Greece. (Nicolas Koutsokostas/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The Greek government is pushing ahead with its same-sex marriage legislation, despite opposition from the church. In July, the prime minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, promised to legalise same-sex marriage, saying that “Greek society is much more ready
A nativity scene featuring two mothers has caused controversy (Reuters via YouTube) A nativity scene at a church in Italy has been heavily criticised for displaying Jesus as having two mothers, opposed to the traditional Mary and Joseph set up. Father Vitaliano Della Sala – of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Capocastello
Why people are talking about Miss France and her ‘woke’ pixie cut (Arnaud Finistre/AFP via Getty Images) Newly-crowned Miss France has been defended by viewers, politicians and activists after claims that her short hairstyle is “woke”. Eve Gilles, reportedly the first contestant with short hair to claim the crown in Miss France’s over 100-year history,
Elon Musk claimed people in industrialised countries like Italy should have more children or risk losing their “culture”. (Getty) Elon Musk claimed people should have more babies to ensure their “culture” doesn’t “disappear” before raging about a “woke” virus at a right-wing event in Italy. The billionaire attended the Atreju festival, which was hosted by
Irish dancers share “unequivocal support” for trans competitors. (Getty Images) A group of Irish dancers have shared their “unequivocal support” for trans competitors after the bigoted backlash to a trans teen who won a competition early in December. A teenage Irish dancer was reportedly subjected to a wave of transphobic bullying after winning a world-qualifying
Russian riot police detain LGBTQ+ rights activists during a St Petersburg march in May 2019. (Getty) Russian police have begun cracking down on LGBTQ-friendly clubs and venues in Moscow, just days after a Supreme Court ruling branded LGBTQ+ activism “extremist”. Overnight raids across the Russian capital saw clubs, saunas, bars and more overrun with police
Victoria Derbyshire apologised for the explicit remark on air. (Getty) Broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire was forced to apologise to BBC Newsnight viewers on behalf of comments made by a Russian feminist musician and activist. The 55-year-old journalist apologised to viewers who may have been offended by comments from Russian Pussy Riot artist Nadya Tolokonnikova during a
Vuokkoset has launched a tampon aimed at trans men (Vuokkoset) A Finnish sanitary product manufacturer is getting hate online for launching a tampon aimed at trans men and non-binary folks. Vuokkoset launched the product during Transgender Awareness Week as a means of addressing the gender dysphoria trans men and non-binary people feel around menstruation, with
Tributes were left for the victims. (Getty Images) Thousands joined a rally in Prague on Wednesday (26 October) to honour the two victims of a tragic shooting outside an LGBTQ+ venue in Slovakia. The rally in the Czech capital took place on the same day as the funerals of Matúš Horváth, 23, and Juraj Vankulič,
Pope Francis leaves Assisi at the end of Economy of Francis, an international movement of young economists. (Getty) Pope Francis reportedly encouraged an LGBTQ+ Catholic group to build a church “that excludes no one.” According to L’Avvenire, the pope met with Italian LGBTQ+ Catholic group The Tent of Jonathon in a Wednesday (21 September) conference
Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić allowed the march to go ahead, but on a smaller route. (Getty) Serbia’s government has been forced into a screeching u-turn after its decision to ban EuroPride’s parade was met with fierce opposition. EuroPride is an international celebration of the LGBTQ+ community hosted by a different European country each year. Serbia
A woman take a photo using her mobile phone of the EuroPride flags fluttering during the opening ceremony of the EuroPride 2022 in Belgrade. (Oliver Bunic/Getty) EuroPride organisers have vowed to fight Serbia’s “disgraceful” ban on its planned march in Belgrade. The European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) are preparing to mount a legal challenge after
Police secure serbian LGBT Info centre during the ‘Litiya for salvation of Serbia’ in Belgrade. (Getty) Politicians from across Europe have condemned the Serbian government over the effective ban of this year’s EuroPride. Serbian police announced a ban on the route of the march on Tuesday (13 September) after weeks of hostile back-and-forth between EuroPride
EuroPride flags flutter during the opening ceremony of the EuroPride 2022 in Belgrade, on September 12, 2022. (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC / AFP) (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images) The EuroPride march route has been officially banned by Serbian police following mass anti-LGBTQ+ protests. The event, which takes place in a different European city
The Pride March in the city of Katowice, Poland. (Twitter/ milosc_) Two Pride marches in Poland have gone ahead peacefully after years of violence, with participants crediting their activism for “changing reality”. The Pride event in the city of Katowice, Poland, took place for the sixth year on Saturday (3 September), and drew around 4,000