Scott

I see we’re having the ‘openly gay’ debate again.

Using openly before gay is fine when you’re noting that a person’s predecessors could have been gay but given the time period it’s not known

Using openly in other contexts suggests that being gay is something to hide

Do the former, not the latter

This is where we are, a homophobic slur used by a politician on national television. His denials show a man either ignorant of what words mean or so comfortable using homophobia in day to day speech he didn’t care.

My report on the state of trans rights in Britain in 2025 in @heraldscotland.bsky.social tomorrow

NI LGBTQ+ charity ‘stand with’ drag performers amid row over library reading event A Northern Irish LGBTQ+ charity have said they “stand with” drag performers and hit back at claims the culture is not appropriate for children.

Yes we do. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Proud CEO at Belfast Pride

Belfast Pride 2025: Ambulance Service will not participate NIAS will not march in an official organisational capacity and its staff cannot wear NIAS uniforms.

With all due respect your ‘legal council’ is a moron.

Pride has and always will be political, BUT we all get to decide what we’re marching for and you’re sending the message that the ambulance service views non discrimination of lgbt people as a debate. Absurd.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

It was the night before Pride and all through the town…

‘The entire point of my job as Rainbow Project CEO is to no longer see a use for it; to have our rights remain equal to everyone else’ The streets of Belfast will soon be awash with the colours of the rainbow as the city’s annual Pride festivities begin.

I’m featured in the Belfast Telegraph for Belfast Pride week.

No surprises that I believe it’s my job to create a world where my job is no longer needed.

Let me know what you think.

m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

It’s Belfast Pride week and I’m looking forward to a packed week of events and engagements across the city celebrating our diversity.

It all kicked off last night with the annual Belfast Pride Awards, was so proud of the The Rainbow Project team who took home two awards.

Cancer Champions - The Rainbow Project Our Cancer Champions pilot project is supported Macmillan Cancer Support to improve health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people in Northern Ireland.

Happy to put you in contact with our Cancer Champions team who are working across these issues. www.rainbow-project.org/cancerchampi...

Kent council bans transgender books in children’s library section KCC says the move came after a

So the book banning has begun. Luckily the free speech brigade will be along…. any ….. minute…. now.

Oh it’s the free speech brigade doing the banning?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The anti-lgbt folk still haven’t got it yet

They tried state sanctioned murder for 300 years

Then it was hard labour and transportation to the colonies

Then it was imprisonment and castration

Then it was trying to pretend we didn’t exist

And guess what, we’re still here

Nothing will erase us

Friday marked two years for me as CEO of Northern Ireland’s largest LGBT+ organisation, the Rainbow Project.

It’s not been an easy ride, but it’s days like today that makes it all worth it.

lol I was walking past when this photo was taking place!

Whether it be in Budapest or in Ballymena the bigots are learning a hard lesson today.

Love wins 🏳️‍🌈

It is absolutely grotesque. Police have confirmed at least arrest with me and we have other stat agencies on the way to assist council. Hideous.

UPDATE: I’m hearing an arrest has been made.

Solidarity to those taking part in pride today across the island of Ireland and the world, and especially those marching in spite of Orban’s illegal ban in Budapest.

A clean up van cleaning Ballymena’s streets

In Ballymena today as it holds its 1st ever pride, but also where some disgusting bigots have dumped slurry on the parade route.

A huge thank you to the businesses who have rallied round to clean up the mess.

The lesson for these bigots, Pride goes on. We’ve dealt with your shit for far too long.

As we’re celebrating 25 years since its repeal in Scotland here’s an important public service message.

It’s a widely repeated myth that 'Section 28' was called 'clause 2A' in Scotland.

Section 28 was the same law.

A Clause is to a Section, what a Bill is to an Act. One proposed, the other passed.

Songs From the Back of the Bus OurStory Scotland · Episode

Song From The Back Of The Bus, marks the repeal of Section 28 twenty five years ago today - hear @valmcdermid.bsky.social @suejohn.bsky.social @louisewelsh00.bsky.social and more discuss the campaign and how this informs their worries today 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 open.spotify.com/episode/7lrP...

United response to racist attacks on people’s homes and a temporary accommodation refuge facility from myself and fellow leaders in housing and homelessness.

On a list with someone that has arguably caused irreparable damage to trans kids, and someone who called support for trans people ‘nonsensical’ and celebrating it.

Make it make sense.

I honestly hope LGBTQIA+ rights are more important to people being named in ‘Pride lists’. If your name is more important than calling out being on a list with probably the most visible anti-trans political figure in the UK then you’re no-one I look up to.

Call yourself an ally? Anyone who appears on a list with Streeting should not be celebrating it.

And what a great job they’re doing.

Two Omagh Pride volunteers

Two Omagh Pride volunteers

Two Omagh Pride volunteers

🌦️ In rain or shine, we'll be out and proud! 🌈

You might've spotted our volunteers around Omagh today raising money and encouraging everyone to come next Saturday!

We walk for the rights we have gained over the decades, the rights we have still to achieve and those who still do not feel confident to march. As someone whose first Belfast Pride march was 1993, that list is reducing but still not zero. Keep marching

We have always marched for rights, this year is no different. And neither are your pathetic attacks.

We will never be ashamed again. Have a great pride.

This week BBC NI and Ben’s wee newsletter has sought to convey Pride events as something… they have always been.

Yes trans rights are important, but at no point since Belfast Pride began have rights not been important.

That we are proud (the clue is in the name) of who we are is why we march.