QueerAF

QueerAF Funding a new generation of queer creatives to kick start their career (and change the media) 🏳?

22/09/2025

✊🏿 Paid opportunities for black LGBTQIA+ writers and journalists.

The 's Phil Samba () is joining ***rAF_ as our Black History Month guest editor.

Together we're running a dedicated series of think pieces as part of the Q***r Gaze - our landmark writing scheme that's giving training and journalistic skills sessions - but focused on articles by black, q***r emerging writers.

The opportunity is for four early talent, unpublished or marginalised Black LGBTQIA+ journalists and writers who will:

🟢 Write a short 500 word think pieces, using Q***rAF's Q***r Gaze format - with a stipend of £75 provided.

🟢 Get one of Q***rAF's unique 'retrospective' skills-based sub-editing sessions with each commission so you can understand the editing process, grow your journalistic craft and strategic communication skills.

🟢 Receive multiple portfolio-building opportunities with content published across Q***rAF channels.

For the full details, visit weareq***raf.com/pitch - the link is in ***rAF_ 's bio

📸 Phil Samba's headshot photo by

***rAF

21/09/2025

🏳️‍⚧️ Does the label matter? Gwen explores with I Saw The TV Glow - by .fr_writes

"Does trans representation in media have an obligation to explicitly label its trans characters as such? In the case of I Saw The TV Glow, a substantial portion of the film’s audience had interpretations of the film that marginalised its transness, or missed or ignored it entirely.

"Perhaps explicit labels would have been beneficial: after all, when films that represent the trans community are so exceedingly rare, can we really afford to lose one to miscommunication?!"

"To some extent, this discussion might come down to a question of what Trans+ representation is for, and whether all Trans+ representation is for the same thing."

This article is part of a ***rAF_ and partnership dedicated to uplifting Welsh LGBTQIA+ emerging and marginalised journalists.

👉 The Q***r Gaze is just one part of our weekly newsletter that helps you understand the LGBTQIA+ news and new q***r perspectives every week. Support q***r creatives by signing up and sharing this piece.

👀 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. To see all of the sources for these slides visit the full edition on our ad-free not-for-profit platform.


***rAF ***rGaze

20/09/2025

📢 Holding the government to account on new s*x educators guidamce

An FOI seen by ***raf_ shows that four explicitly anti-trans organisations were included in a consultation that led to RSE guidance that will introduce what has been widely described as a 'Section 28 2.0'.

Groups including S*x Matters, the Safe Schools Alliance, Transgender Trend and the Bayswater Support Group of parents who advocate for abusing trans children, were all invited to contribute to the consultation.

The only specifically Trans+ group that was consulted was activist group , but the consultation also received submissions from LGBTQIA+ groups including , , and the

We asked the Department of Education whether they were aware of these allegations before they invited them to be part of the consultation, and whether the Minister regretted their inclusion now that they've learned of this information. A government spokesperson did not respond to this question, but said the Department engaged with a wide range of organisations representing different views and the inclusion of an organisation in that process "does not constitute an endorsement of any of those organisations."

Read the full explainer by on the ***rAF_ platform now

👉 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. Understand this story in-depth with our weekly newsletter where this was from.

🏳️‍🌈 Q***rAF is a non-profit IMPRESS regulated publisher supporting q***r creatives to build and grow their media careers.

🌐 Read this story in full, with sources, on our platform now.

✉️ ***raf_’s newsletter helps you to understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday. Skip the doomscrolling and let us gather the q***r news for you. Hit the links in our bio.

***rAF

15/09/2025

🏏 Sports bodies might be opening themselves up to legal action

Trans+ athletes are being forced to out themselves because of organisation's possible overreached responses to the Supreme Court ruling on the defintion of a woman under the Equality Act.

Q***rAF speaks to experts and victims of Trans+ sports bans, about how this might be a breach of their right to privacy which could see legal challenges.

Read the full investigation by on the ***rAF_ platform now

👉 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. Understand this story in-depth with our weekly newsletter where this was from.

🏳️‍🌈 Q***rAF is a non-profit IMPRESS regulated publisher supporting q***r creatives to build and grow their media careers.

🌐 Read this story in full, with sources, on our platform now.

✉️ ***raf_’s newsletter helps you to understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday. Skip the doomscrolling and let us gather the q***r news for you. Hit the links in our bio.

***rAF

05/09/2025

🚨 Can MPs stop a code that could segregate Trans+ people from public single-s*x spaces?

The Equalities Watchdog the EHRC has provided its updated code of practice to the government - but what happens next?

👉 Could it be challenged in courts?
👉 Can MPs stop it?
👉 How does secondary legislation like this work?

Due to the nature of the statutory instruments involved in the matter, the next step is for the code to be submitted to the Secretary General for their review to determine if the EHRC's planned guidance complies with the law.

After this, the Equalities Minister will present it to parliament, starting a 40-day 'lay' period after which it will automatically become law.

The only way to prevent the code automatically becoming law is if a significant number of MPs support a motion to 'disapprove' it during this time.

As for analysis of:

🔴 Could a Labour reshuffle delay any of this?
🔴 Could that lead to a new Equalities Minister with different views?
🔴 Could it be challenged in the courts?

👉 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. So make sure you're signed up to the Q***rAF newsletter, to get 's take tomorrow morning as well as the full story - with sources

***rAF

03/09/2025

🥳 We're finalists in the 2025 awards!

We’ve been recognised as an organisation that:

🔴 Clearly articulates their organisation’s contribution to building inclusion within their field of work
🟠 Demonstrates impact made within their target community or for their target beneficiaries
🟡 Proven exceptional leadership by promoting diversity, inclusion, equity and justice in the UK
🟢 Inspires other organisations to improve their commitments to diversity and inclusion
🔵 Displaying a unique approach to challenging inequalities in the UK
🟣 Has a commitment to holistic impact beyond core social/environmental mission, including tackling climate change

And we're proud to be listed alongside some incredible social enterprises that use their revenue for the good of their communities including: , , , and - congrats to everyone shortlisted!

***rAF

31/08/2025

🪟 The Overton window on what is acceptable to say has shifted dramatically in recent years, especially when it pertains to Trans+ rights - by .fr_writes

"The debate over whether you can separate the artist from the art has never been more present following a number of recent focuses on the question, not least with JK Rowling and Harry Potter.

"However, if we widen the lens further, it reveals a more significant topic: how the Overton window on what is acceptable to say has shifted dramatically in recent years, especially when it pertains to Trans+ rights.

"There are, of course, many q***r issues that do need to be discussed and debated right now. But when it comes to the value of trans people’s rights, institutions with large platforms might more thoughtfully consider which perspectives they’re creating space for inside the Overton window."

This article is part of a ***rAF_ and partnership dedicated to uplifting Welsh LGBTQIA+ emerging and marginalised journalists.

👉 The Q***r Gaze is just one part of our weekly newsletter that helps you understand the LGBTQIA+ news and new q***r perspectives every week. Support q***r creatives by signing up and sharing this piece.

👀 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. To see all of the sources for these slides visit the full edition on our ad-free not-for-profit platform.

***rAF ***rGaze

30/08/2025

🚨 New police powers could curb rights and freedoms at next year's Pride marches

Labour’s new Crime and Policing Bill is set to drastically expand police powers relating to public protest, in reaction to two years of pro-Palestine marches.

LGBTQIA+ charities have welcomed the new bill because it expands hate-crime laws, but the new powers will also have a harmful impact on LGBTQIA+ people at protests and potentially even at Pride events.

We speak to the Met Police liaison manager and Tom Southerden, the Law and Human Rights Director at to find out more.

Explainer by

👉 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. Understand this story in-depth with our weekly newsletter where this was from.

🏳️‍🌈 Q***rAF is a non-profit IMPRESS regulated publisher supporting q***r creatives to build and grow their media careers.

🌐 Read this story in full, with sources, on our platform now.

✉️ ***raf_’s newsletter helps you to understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday. Skip the doomscrolling and let us gather the q***r news for you. Hit the links in our bio.

***rAF

25/08/2025

🎮 From video games to LGBTQIA+ content - how adult content rules could easily go beyond their puported scope

Between the increasing dominance of major platforms, the rise of so-called ‘AI’ services, and the spread of platform decay maximising profits over user experience, we’ve all seen the internet change a lot in recent years. But there’s one area where big changes are happening fast: in the world of adult content.

In recent weeks alone there has been a vast increase in restrictions on content in 🔞 games, alongside the implementation of age verification policies on 🌽sites.

Both developments could have increasingly significant implications for LGBTQIA+ content in future.

👉 The Q***r Gaze is just one part of our weekly newsletter that helps you understand the LGBTQIA+ news and new q***r perspectives every week. Support q***r creatives by signing up and sharing this piece.

👀 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. To see all of the sources for these slides visit the full edition on our ad-free not-for-profit platform.

***rAF ***rGaze

23/08/2025

👚 Setting the record straight on the M&S saga, we speak to the brand and cut through the noise

Exclusive: Marks & Spencer confirms to Q***rAF that bra fitting has not been limited to cisgender women only, despite claims in the Scottish Sun that the brand said it would only provide them to 'biological women'.

Elsewhere, misinformation about the story has spread far and wide, leaving a confusing picture about the incident that sparked the furore.

On Reddit, a post (that we have tried, but been unable to verify the idenity of) claiming to be by the transgender staff member at the centre of the furore has disputed much of the original reporting.

Explainer by

👉 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. Understand this story in-depth with our weekly newsletter where this was from.

🏳️‍🌈 Q***rAF is a non-profit IMPRESS regulated publisher supporting q***r creatives to build and grow their media careers.

🌐 Read this story in full, with sources, on our platform now.

✉️ ***raf_’s newsletter helps you to understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday. Skip the doomscrolling and let us gather the q***r news for you. Hit the links in our bio.

***rAF

21/08/2025

🎧 Out Now: The complicated history of Roberta Cowell the engineer and cleaner who escaped the N***s

This week on the Q***rAF podcast, speaks to and Victoria Scott about one of the first people to undergo gender affirming surgery in the UK

🎵 Season six of the Q***rAF podcast is produced by six budding Trans+ audio professionals, who we’ve supported, paid and are mentoring - and thanks to Publicis Groupe UK have been bought professional audio equipment they can keep forever.

They’ve each made a mini-documentary episode as part of our work mentoring creatives for , which will be released every Monday this Pride season.

🎙️ Search Q***rAF in your fave podcast app and subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

***rAF ***rAFPodcast

20/08/2025

🏳️‍⚧️ Imagine if MPs heard positive information about Trans+ lives... - by

"It has become clear to me how many MPs simply lack the resources, information or channels to receive supportive narratives towards the Trans+ community. It begs the question - what if they had those resources?"

"Every conversation that prompts someone to think and act differently helps create the ripples of change. I've witnessed the difference persistent letter writing makes, as MPs began to speak out in support of their trans constituents at debates and committee hearings."

"Anger and fear brought me here to defend my beloved daughter passionately, but having patience and tenacity will be what helps me to see it through. Right now, it might seem we will never reach a place where we feel our work is done."

"All the same, we must take satisfaction from every small win, build the mental capacity to keep showing up, and know that fighting for those we love is worth it."

👉 The Q***r Gaze is just one part of our weekly newsletter that helps you understand the LGBTQIA+ news and new q***r perspectives every week. Support q***r creatives by signing up and sharing this piece.

👀 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. To see all of the sources for these slides visit the full edition on our ad-free not-for-profit platform.

***rAF ***rGaze

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