Consortium

This image has a black background with white patterns. The image features a colourful, patterned border on the top and bottom, accompanied by an illustration of four hearts. There is an image of a person looking at the camera. The black and white text reads: Black history month 2025 spotlight, Marquise Vilsón. Marquise Vilsón Balenciaga (b. 1981) is an actor, activist and member of the House of Balenciaga. Raised in the Bronx during the HIV/AIDS crisis and crack epidemic, he entered the ballroom scene at 15 and quickly found community. Vilsón began walking in GMHC Latex Balls in 1995 and joined the House of Balenciaga, gaining attention for his powerful performances. Aligned with his goal to live fully and be seen, he agreed to document his experience as a young Black man of trans experience from 1997 to 2001. The footage became part of The Aggressives (2005), a film about masculine queer people of colour. A respected leader, he’s received awards for his work in sexual health and trans advocacy. He began acting professionally in 2017 with roles in Charm, Ben is Back, and Law and Order: SVU, and starred in the CW series Tom Swift as Isaac Vega.

An actor, activist and performer, Marquise Vilsón is known for his roles on shows like Law & Order: SVU and for his powerful advocacy for trans rights, especially for trans men of colour.

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This image has a black background with white patterns. The image features a colourful, patterned border on the top and bottom, accompanied by an illustration of four hearts. There is an image of a person looking at the camera. The black and white text reads: Black history month 2025 spotlight, MNEK. Uzoechi Osisioma “Uzo” Emenike, professionally known by his stage name MNEK, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to fame in 2013 after his collaboration with Duke Dumont and A*M*E on”Need U (100%)”. As a Black gay man in mainstream music, he has consistently used his platform to speak out on race, sexuality and equality, pushing the industry towards greater inclusivity. With credits alongside global icons like Beyoncé and Madonna, MNEK has not only shaped the sound of contemporary pop and R&B but also mentored emerging LGBTQ+ talent, helping to carve out space for the next generation of queer artists.

A singer, songwriter and producer behind hits for Beyoncé and Madonna, MNEK is also a solo artist with a bold voice and unapologetic style. He advocates for LGBT+ inclusion in the music industry and beyond.

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This image has a black background with white patterns. The image features a colourful, patterned border on the top and bottom, accompanied by an illustration of four hearts. There is an image of a person looking at the camera. The black and white text reads: Black history month 2025 spotlight, Janet Mock. Janet Mock is a writer, director and producer, most known for her path-clearing and historic work on the Peabody and Emmy award-winning series, “Pose.” In 2018, Mock became the first transgender woman of colour to write and direct an episode of television. She is the New York Times bestselling author of two memoirs, Redefining Realness (2014) and Surpassing Certainty (2017) about her journey as a Black and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) trans woman. Janet broke ground in 2014 with the release of her pioneering and profound memoir Redefining Realness which was the first biography written from the perspective of a young trans person.

A writer, director and trans rights advocate, Janet Mock is the bestselling author of Redefining Realness and a ground-breaking producer on Pose. Her work challenges stereotypes and tells powerful trans stories.

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This image has a black background with white patterns. The image features a colourful, patterned border on the top and bottom, accompanied by an illustration of four hearts. There is an image of a person looking at the camera. The black and white text reads: Black history month 2025 spotlight, cat burns. Cat Burns’ career trajectory has gone from strength to strength in the past 18 months. From becoming the biggest-selling British female artist of 2022, she’s received several further accolades including three BRIT Award nominations (‘Song of The Year’, ‘Best Pop/R&B’ and Rising Star), BBC Sound Poll 2023 shortlist induction, becoming Spotify’s Global RADAR artist and recently received a nomination for the ‘Rising Star Award’ at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards. Her viral smash ‘go’, now 2x platinum, peaked at #2 on the Official Singles Chart and remained in the Top 10 for 17 weeks. Burns chronicled her experience with coming out to her family in her song "Free”.

A singer-songwriter blending pop and R&B with deeply personal lyrics, Cat Burns rose to fame with her viral hit Go. As an openly queer Black woman, she uses her platform to speak openly about mental health and identity.

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This image has a black background with white patterns. The image features a colourful, patterned border on the top and bottom, accompanied by an illustration of four hearts. There is an image of a person looking at the camera. The black and white text reads: Black history month 2025 spotlight, Ncuti Gatwa. Ncuti Gatwa is a Rwandan-born Scottish actor. His family fled the country in 1994 during the Rwandan genocide, and arrived in Scotland. They first settled in Edinburgh and then moved to Dunfermline when Gatwa was 15. He studied acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, graduating in 2013. His mainstream breakthrough role came in 2019, when he was cast as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s Sex Education. Playing the British-Ghanaian-Nigerian gay best friend of the protagonist, Otis (Asa Butterfield), the character was praised for the way he transcended stereotypes. In 2022, Gatwa was cast as the 15th Doctor in the BBC’s beloved sci-fi series Doctor Who.

Meet five remarkable individuals who continue to inspire through their talent, activism and authenticity:

Known for his breakout role in Sex Education, Rwandan-Scottish actor Ncuti Gatwa is the first Black man to play the Doctor in Doctor Who.

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This Black History Month, we're celebrating the power, pride and visibility of Black LGBT+ trailblazers who are shaping culture and breaking boundaries!

In the UK, Black History Month takes place every October.

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Sessions will take place monthly, alternating between Tuesdays 3pm-4pm and Wednesdays 6pm-7pm.

Our next session is on Tuesday 21st October, 3pm-4pm.

Visit the link below for more information and to register:
consortium.lgbt/consortium-members-networking-sessions/

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This image has a dark and light blue background. The white text reads: Online Networking Sessions for Consortium Members. Monthly sessions on Tuesday/Wednesday. Connect with other LGBT+ organisations. More info on our website.

Do you want to connect with more LGBT+ organisations? Join our online networking sessions!

These sessions are for you to share updates with other Consortium members, hear news from the Consortium team and build relationships with organisations across our membership.

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Stay tuned throughout October as we share posts highlighting Black LGBT+ people, history, resources and the work of our member organisations!

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We recognise the Black LGBTQ+ individuals and communities who have been at the forefront of our movements, creating space, demanding rights and shaping a more inclusive future.

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This image has a colourful patterned background. The red, yellow and green text reads: Black History Month. There is an illustration of an LGBTQIA+ Pride Flag.

This image has a colourful patterned background. The white text reads: Standing Firm in Power and Pride. The theme for Black History Month UK 2025 is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to progress that defines the Black community across the globe. This year, the theme highlights the profound contributions made by Black people be they leaders, activists, or pioneers who have shaped history, while also looking towards a future of continued empowerment, unity, and growth.

It's #BlackHistoryMonth!

This year’s theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” celebrates the strength, resilience and leadership of Black communities who have pushed for justice and lasting change.

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Book your place here:
consortium.lgbt/event/building-better-financial-sustainability-for-lgbtiqa-groups/

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Participants will be guided through a range of strategies that can strengthen financial sustainability, reduce reliance on single funding streams and build confidence in planning for the future.

This session is open to LGBT+ Consortium members only.

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This image has a yellow background with photos of a person smiling at the camera and a group of people sitting around a table. There is an illustration of the LGBTQIA+ inclusive pride flag. The dark blue and white text reads: Building Better Financial Sustainability for LGBTIQA+ Groups. This 90-minute interactive workshop will support small to medium-sized LGBTIQA+ groups to explore practical and creative ways to diversify their income. Participants will be guided through a range of strategies that can strengthen financial sustainability, reduce reliance on single funding streams and build confidence in planning for the future. Tuesday 4th November 18:30-20:00 Online

Building Better Financial Sustainability for LGBTIQA+ Groups

Delivered by Laïla El-Métoui
Tuesday 4 November
18:30 to 20:00
Online

Are you part of a small to medium-sized LGBTIQA+ group looking to build financial resilience?

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This month is a moment to uplift these stories, challenge stereotypes, and honour identity in all its intersections.

#EastandSouthEastAsianHeritageMonth

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This image has a light blue background with illustrations of leaves, cherry blossoms and bamboo. The dark purple text reads: East and South East Asian Heritage Month.

This image has a light blue background with illustrations of leaves, cherry blossoms and bamboo. The dark purple text reads: ESEA Heritage Month is a month‑long programme of events held in September dedicated to celebrating, acknowledging, and learning about East and South East Asian heritage, culture, history, and the contributions of ESEA communities in the UK. It aims to uplift, champion, and provide positive and inclusive content about ESEA people, countering stereotypes and promoting broader representation.

This #ESEAHeritageMonth, we recognise the rich and diverse experiences of East and South East Asian LGBT+ people across the UK and beyond!

From activism to art, music to film, ESEA LGBT+ voices have always been part of the cultural fabric.

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This image has a white background with various pencil illustrations of buildings, nature and an axe. The black text reads: Please read, download, & share! www.consortium.lgbt/opresource

This pilot project responds to the serious gaps in support for older LGBTQ+ Londoners.

The guide is a printed resource listing groups, events and services by and for LGBTQ+ people over 50.

You can find the resource here:
consortium.lgbt/opresource/

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This image has a white background with various pencil illustrations of buildings, nature and an axe. The black text reads: 50+ Londoner's Guide. To socials, services and events 2025.

This image has a white background with various pencil illustrations of buildings, nature and an axe. The black text reads: Working with the older LGBTQ+ Londoners' Roundtable and a small working group, we've made a list of groups, services, and events by and for LGBTQ+ people over 50. We've also collected more information, general services, and useful phone numbers at the end.

We are pleased to launch the Older LGBTQ+ Londoner's Guide 2025 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

A printed resource created through a pilot project with older LGBTQ+ people and organisations across London.

Find it in LGBTQ+ spaces and feel free to copy and share it!

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This graphic has a rainbow coloured background with a white square. The black text reads: Alongside this message of solidarity we encourage organisations to share their own calls to action. Consortium's own critical actions right now are: To further embed our anti-racism programme of work, ensuring our staff team who experience racism have the support and action from the whole organisation that is needed. To engage proactively with wider VCSE conversations and action on creating a new movement to tackle the rise of the far right. To look at what additional support we can provide to the awardees through our Collective Nurture Fund, and our wider pool of grantees. When writing to Ministers and other officials, capturing a narrative that issues of racism, islamophobia, anti-immigration rhetoric, transphobia, sexism, etc. are inter-related and cannot be seen in isolation. This is a concerted movement that we need our representatives to stand up against.

This graphic has a rainbow coloured background with a white square. The black text reads: You can add your organisation's name to the Statement via the website below: consortium.lgbt/lgbt-sector-stands-up-against-racism

Visit the link below to read the statement and to add your organisation's name:
consortium.lgbt/lgbt-sector-stands-up-against-racism

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This graphic has a rainbow coloured background with a white square. The black text reads: Joint statement: LGBT+ sector stands up against racism.

This graphic has a rainbow coloured background with a white square. The black text reads: We are proud to represent charities, community groups and social enterprises supporting LGBTQ+ people across the UK and around the world. Amid rising far-right protests and racism, we want to say clearly that we stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone in our diverse LGBTQ+ communities, particularly people of colour, Muslims, migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.

This graphic has a rainbow coloured background with a white square. The black text reads: You are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. We, like most people in our society, are anxious about the rising division, hostility, and hate that we are seeing on our streets and in the news.

This graphic has a rainbow coloured background with a white square. The black text reads: We remain firmly committed to equality, human rights and the rule of law. Our support will never waver. Together, we’re working towards a future where everyone can live freely, safely, and with dignity—side by side, without fear or prejudice.

Joint Statement: LGBT+ sector stands up against racism

Amid rising far-right protests and racism, we stand shoulder to shoulder with LGBTQ+ communities—especially people of colour, Muslims, migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.

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Just a reminder that the LGBT+ Disabled Roundtable is tomorrow, 24th September, from 6pm–7:30pm on Zoom!

If your organisation is led by and for LGBT+ disabled people, join us to connect, collaborate, and help shape future action.

This image has a pink, purple and dark blue background. The white text reads: Bisexual Visibility Day, 23rd September.

This image has a pink, purple and dark blue background. There are illustrations of a pink border and purple quotation marks. The white text reads: "You are valid and loved exactly as you are".

Today is Bisexual Visibility Day, a time to honour and celebrate all those with Bi+ identities!

Whether you’re out, questioning, quiet, loud, confident or still figuring it out, you are seen, valued, and loved.
💜💗💙

#BisexualVisibilityDay

This image has a white background with a light purple border. The black text reads: Why is it needed? The LGBT+ parent/carer community remains highly underrepresented across all sectors, leading to a lack of visibility and understanding of our unique challenges and triumphs.

It aims to bridge the gap by shedding light on the narratives, struggles, joys, and achievements of the community. The day is more than a celebration; it's a call to action for increased awareness, representation, visibility, and acknowledgement.

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This image has a white background with a light purple border. There is an image of a magazine cover. The black text reads: Why 19th Sep? Part 1. On this date in 1976, a ground-breaking feminist magazine called Spare Rib covered the legal challenges faced by lesbian mothers at the time. Faced with biased and anti-LGBT+ court decisions, many mothers lost child custody disputes due to societal beliefs that lesbians were unfit parents.

This image has a white background with a light purple border. There is an image of a magazine cover. The black text reads: Why 19th Sep? Part 2. This issue of Spare Rib sparked objective research by Dr Susan Golombok into the development of children with lesbian mothers, which proved that it's the quality of relationships that profoundly impacts family wellbeing (and not family structure). This issue also confronted stereotypes that lesbians were unfit parents and paved the way for a more inclusive understanding of parenting for all LGBT parents and carers over the decades to come.

On 19/09/76, Spare Rib exposed the injustices faced by lesbian parents in the UK, many of whom lost custody of their children due to discriminatory court rulings. This date remains a reminder of past struggles and a call to keep breaking down stereotypes while celebrating diverse families.

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This image has a white background with a light purple border. The black text reads: LGBT+ Parents & Carers Day, 19th September. Creating a future where our community is seen, heard and fully acknowledged.

This image has a white background with a light purple border. The black text reads: What are its aims? LGBT+ Parents & Carers Day aims to bridge this representation gap by shedding light on the narratives, struggles, joys, and achievements of our community. This day is more than a celebration; it's a call to action for increased awareness, representation and acknowledgement.

LGBT+ Parents & Carers Day is a day dedicated to raising awareness, promoting representation, and acknowledging the vibrant community of LGBT+ parents and carers, as well as their children.

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This image has a pink, purple and dark blue coloured background. There is a picture of a person. The white text reads: Bisexual Awareness Week: Bi+ Figures 2025, Gotmikk. Gottmik, whose real name is Gottlieb, is a prominent drag performer and makeup artist. Determined and multi-faceted in their talents, they gained international stardom as a contestant of Season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race (2021), breaking barriers as the first openly transgender man to participate, challenging the definition of modern drag. They returned to the RuPaul franchise as a contestant on the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All stars. Beyond drag, Gottmik co-hosts the podcast No Gorge with Violet Chachki and released their debut book The T Guide in 2023, celebrating trans experiences and gender expression. Gottmik identifies as pansexual and has talked about their sexuality on multiple occasions.

Gottmik is a drag performer and makeup artist who identifies as pansexual and challenges gender norms.

#BiWeek #BisexualAwarenessWeek

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This image has a pink, purple and dark blue coloured background. There is a picture of a person. The white text reads: Bisexual Awareness Week: Bi+ Figures 2025, Freddie Mercury (1946-1991). Born Farrokh Bulsara, Freddie Mercury was the legendary frontman of Queen, celebrated for his theatrical flair and iconic four-octave voice. Born in Zanzibar and raised in India, he fled with his family to the UK at 17, where he later co-founded Queen and wrote timeless hits like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions and Somebody to Love. Mercury's relationships included women like Mary Austin, whom he called the love of his life, and men like Jim Hutton, his partner until his death. Though he and Queen avoided public labels, Freddie Mercury lived and loved openly across gender lines, a clear reflection of bisexuality even if the world has been slow to acknowledge it. Freddie's life reminds us that bi+ people have always been here, shaping culture, breaking boundaries and redefining what it means to be seen.

Freddie Mercury was the legendary Queen frontman who loved across gender lines and shaped music history.

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This image has a pink, purple and dark blue coloured background. There is a picture of a person. The white text reads: Bisexual Awareness Week: Bi+ Figures 2025, Tessa Thompson. Tessa Mae Thompson is an American actor and singer-songwriter. Her breakout role was in Tina Mabry's 2009 indie film Mississippi Damned. She gained further recognition for her powerful performances in For Coloured Girls (2010), Annihilation (2018), Sorry to Bother You (2018), Westworld (2016 to 2022), and the Creed trilogy (2015 to 2023). Thompson plays Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – a bi character who made history as the MCU's first openly queer superhero. While Valkyrie's queerness was downplayed in Thor: Ragnarok, Thompson confirmed in 2019, “As new king, she needs to find her queen.” Marvel followed through in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), which gave Valkyrie a clear bi storyline. In June 2018, Thompson publicly came out as bi in an interview with Porter magazine.

Tessa Thompson is an actor and singer who plays Valkyrie, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first openly queer superhero.

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This image has a pink, purple and dark blue coloured background. There is a picture of a person. The white text reads: Bisexual Awareness Week: Bi+ Figures 2025, Janelle Monáe. Janelle Monáe is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and activist who has built a career on creativity, boldness, and speaking up for those who feel unseen. They rose to prominence in 2005 after collaborating with OutKast and was later signed by Sean “Diddy” Combs. Her debut album The ArchAndroid (2010) received critical acclaim, followed by The Electric Lady (2013), which featured Prince, and Dirty Computer (2018), which earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Monáe came out publicly as bisexual and pansexual in 2018, and later identified as non-binary in 2022. Known for her futuristic style and genre-defying sound, they have consistently used their art to explore themes of identity, freedom, and resistance.

Janelle Monáe is a Grammy-nominated singer and actor who explores identity and freedom through their art.

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This image has a pink, purple and dark blue coloured background. There is a picture of a person. The white text reads: Bisexual Awareness Week: Bi+ Figures 2025, Alan Cumming. Alan Cumming is an award-winning Scottish American actor known for his dynamic work across theatre, film, television and cabaret. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he rose to fame with roles in Cabaret (Tony Award), The Good Wife (Emmy and Golden Globe nominations) and The Traitors (Emmy winner). His career spans Hollywood blockbusters (X2, Spy Kids), independent films (Any Day Now, The Anniversary Party) and acclaimed stage roles (Macbeth, Bent, The Bacchae). Cumming is also a bestselling author (Not My Father's Son, Baggage), cabaret performer (Sings Sappy Songs) and passionate activist, with over 40 humanitarian honours. He lives between New York City and the Scottish Highlands with his husband, artist Grant Shaffer, and their dog Lala.

From stage and screen to music and activism, their stories show the importance of being seen.

Alan Cumming is a Tony-winning actor and activist known for his work in theatre, film, and TV.

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