Dr Clifford Williams joined the “extremely homophobic” police force in 1987. He recalls his training, which saw the Sexual Offences Act regarding homosexual activity taught via the mnemonic ‘POOF’s Charter’. For such activity to be lawful it had to be in private (P), practiced by those over 21 (O), and involving only two people (O) […]
Policing, Safe Spaces and this Challenging World

Matt Cain: Pop, Persecution and Politics

In a week that also saw him meet Michelle Visage after watching her as Miss Hedge in the wonderful musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the LGBT History Month patron, journalist, novelist and former editor-in-chief of Attitude takes time to chat with Sam Bennett Firstly, very importantly, you just met Michelle Visage. [Laughs] Brilliant, I […]
Our Hidden Histories

2015 marked the tenth anniversary of LGBT History Month in the UK. Playwright in residence for LGBT HM, Stephen M Hornby, explains how in the years following its 2005 introduction, the initiative “bubbled along nicely as a sort of grassroots happening.” The charity spearheading things, Schools OUT, would “set a theme, tie it in with […]
Time for change: why IVF is discriminatory to same-sex couples

Professor Geeta Nargund, Medical Director, CREATE Fertility Fertility treatments are costly at the best of times, and unfortunately the current NHS provisions in place for lesbian couples who are hoping to start a family are shockingly sparse. Same-sex couples will be required to undergo up to 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination, before they can […]
Improving the Much-loved Marlborough

For the past ten years, the Marlborough Pub & Theatre in Brighton has put on “work which is at the forefront of LGBTQ+ culture”, says Ema Boswood, programme coordinator. “We’re really fortunate to operate in Brighton where there’s such a vibrant queer community and so many people excited by the work we’re programming.” The sort […]
Adoption: “Life Does Change but Nothing is Missed”

Coram Adoption tell us about Paul and Mark, who adopted their son Stephen in 2013, as we mark National Adoption Week 15-21 October is National Adoption Week, a campaign that highlights the need to find families for the vulnerable children who so desperately need them. Coram, which runs one of the largest and most successful […]
Men’s Health and Movember: “An Everlasting Difference”

The Movember Foundation tackles men’s health on a global scale, year round. Millions have joined the movement, raising over £440m to help fund over 1,200 men’s health projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention. This Movember, the month formerly known as November, there are three ways to get […]
HIV Diagnoses Fell by 17% Across the UK Last Year

As Fyne Times readers may know I was diagnosed with HIV in January 2010, when I was 24 years old. It is now approaching eight years since my diagnosis. Next year I will turn 34, which is also the median age at which gay and bisexual men are diagnosed with HIV in the UK. A […]