THE9+. Queer News. 8 October. Hungary’s Defiance of Orbán, Czech Billionaire’s Win, FBI Fires Gay Agent — and Much More

A weekly digest of the essential queer news in your backyard!

This week, THE9+ is edited by me, Taylor Abbot, the News Editor, with the support of the editorial team.

If you want to hear the most essential news commented on in-depth, listen to our weekly podcast, Queer News & Journalism or go to our YouTube Channel @GAY45mag.

This is not a pop-up.

You can simply scroll past—but please don't overlook the importance of an independent queer press.

Time is now or never.
Queer voices disappear without independent journalism to amplify them.
We document what others won't touch.
We hold power to account when it threatens our communities.
This work exists only because you choose to fund it directly.

Donate over €25/month and receive our limited-edition tote bag — a badge of resistance, a statement that you stand for fearless journalism.

We are grateful!

Can't donate? Sharing our work helps more than you think

This is not a pop-up.

You can simply scroll past — but please don’t overlook the importance of an independent queer press.

You can simply scroll past—but please don't overlook the importance of an independent queer press.

Time is now or never.
Queer voices disappear without independent journalism to amplify them.
We document what others won't touch.
We hold power to account when it threatens our communities.
This work exists only because you choose to fund it directly.

Donate over €25/month and receive our limited-edition tote bag — a badge of resistance, a statement that you stand for fearless journalism.

We are grateful!

Can't donate? Sharing our work helps more than you think

€5 €10 €25 €50 Custom amount

Monthly donation Recurring monthly charge

Donate €25 / month

Secured by Stripe • Your payment information is encrypted

And then, this week…

Czechia. Politics. Babiš’s ANO wins parliamentary election and threatens LGBT+ politics

Andrej Babiš’s populist ANO party has scored a decisive victory in the Czech Republic’s 2025 parliamentary elections, securing about 34.7% of the vote, preliminary results indicate. The ruling centre-right SPOLU coalition trailed with some 23%, as over 99% of polling stations reported. Though ANO has emerged as the largest single party, it lacks an absolute majority in the 200-seat lower house. Babiš is expected to initiate coalition talks, likely with smaller right-wing or Eurosceptic parties, including SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy) and the Motorists. Observers warn his return could mark a shift in Czech foreign policy—potentially distancing Prague from strong support for Ukraine, and aligning it with other populist governments such as Viktor Orbán’s Hungary and Robert Fico’s Slovakia.

The USA. Politics. False report linking Charlie Kirk’s suspected shooter to trans ideology

A widely circulated claim that ammunition found at the scene of Charlie Kirk’s killing bore “transgender and anti-fascist ideology” has been disputed by Utah’s governor as unverified. Meanwhile, during an Oval Office exchange, former President Donald Trump said he “would have no problem” banning the Progress Pride or trans flags after a leaked clip suggested some view them as threatening symbols. On the University of Central Florida campus, queer students expressed alarm. “These comments are degrading and villainising,” said Isabella Croteau, a junior with a trans partner. A drag performer and nonbinary UCF alumnus criticised politicians for exploiting gun violence to justify flag bans. Another student warned that framing Pride flags as violent undermines safe spaces and magnifies prejudice.

The USA. Politics. FBI director fires trainee over Pride flag display, sources say

FBI Director Kash Patel has dismissed a new agent trainee for displaying a gay Pride flag on their desk during a prior assignment in the Los Angeles field office, according to multiple media reports. In a letter dated 1 October, Patel cited the individual’s “probational status” and described the act as an “inappropriate display of political signage,” invoking the president’s Article II powers.  The trainee had earlier served in a non-agent capacity, earning awards and working in diversity programmes. Veterans within the Bureau told CNN that such a display previously would not have violated workplace rules.  Democratic legislators responded sharply, condemning the firing as discriminatory. The move is widely viewed as part of a broader rollback of diversity and inclusion efforts under current agency leadership. 

Japan. Politics. First female PM-elect Takaichi cites Thatcher as inspiration 

Sanae Takaichi, a veteran conservative lawmaker who has long admired former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, is set to become Japan’s first female prime minister after winning the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership race on Saturday. Takaichi, 64, hails from Nara Prefecture and rose through the ranks with the backing of late premier Shinzo Abe. A staunch conservative, she has pledged to bolster Japan’s defence and revive “Abenomics,” while critics say her stance on gender equality remains ambivalent. Though she has promised to appoint more women to cabinet posts, Takaichi supports laws requiring married couples to share surnames — a policy opposed by women’s rights advocates. Calling Thatcher’s memoir “my treasure,” Takaichi has often described the “Iron Lady” as her political inspiration, seeking to project both strength and continuity as Japan navigates economic stagnation and political uncertainty. Her views on LGBTQ+ rights echoes the ones of Thatcher that was a radical opponent of queer community.

The USA. Politics. Congressman threatens Netflix hearing Over trans character in animated series

Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee has said he will explore bringing Netflix executives before Congress following outrage among conservatives over the inclusion of a transgender character in the animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park. Speaking on right-wing commentator Benny Johnson’s podcast, Burchett said he would consult colleagues “to see which committee” could summon Netflix leadership, suggesting he wanted to question the company’s “agenda”. The congressman, who represents Tennessee’s 2nd District, called the show’s depiction of a trans teenager “grooming”, alleging it was aimed at “recruiting” young audiences. The Netflix series, which aired between 2022 and 2023 and was cancelled after two seasons, featured a trans protagonist named Barney and was widely praised for its LGBTQ+ representation. Burchett’s remarks drew criticism from rights groups, who accused him of promoting anti-trans rhetoric.

The USA. Media. Paramount Skydance appoints right-wing lesbian Bari Weiss as CBS News Editor-in-Chief

Paramount Skydance has acquired The Free Press, the digital media company founded by journalist Bari Weiss, in a deal valued at about $150 million in cash and stock. The acquisition, confirmed on Monday, places Weiss at the helm of CBS News as its new editor-in-chief, marking a significant shift in the landscape of American broadcast journalism. Weiss, is a right-wing anti-trans queer woman. Weiss, 41, becomes one of the few openly LGBTQ+ leaders to oversee a major U.S. television newsroom. She gained national prominence after resigning from The New York Times in 2020, citing what she called “ideological conformity.” Weiss launched The Free Press in 2021 with her wife, journalist Nellie Bowles, and her sister Suzy Weiss. The outlet built a reputation as a platform for “heterodox” and contrarian viewpoints. Paramount Skydance also owns CBS, Showtime, and Paramount+.

Global. Literature. 2025 Lambda Literary Awards honour best in queer writing

The 37th annual Lambda Literary Awards have announced their winners, celebrating excellence in LGBTQ+ writing across 26 categories. Often called the “Lammys,” the awards recognise the year’s most distinguished queer literature, spanning fiction, poetry, memoir, comics, and children’s books. Selected from more than 1,300 submissions representing 300 publishers, this year’s honourees include The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden for Lesbian Fiction, Henry Henry by Allen Bratton for Gay Fiction, and How to Fall in Love in a Time of Unnameable Disaster by Muriel Leung for Bisexual Fiction. Nino Bulling’s Firebugs won Transgender Fiction, while August Clarke’s Metal From Heaven earned the award for LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction. Founded in 1989, the Lambda Literary Awards remain one of the most significant platforms recognising queer voices in global literature. For all 26 winners, visit the Lambda Literary website.

The USA. Incident. Sun Country flight diverted after passenger wearing 15 masks rants about LGBTQ+ people and Trump

A Sun Country Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Newark was diverted to Chicago on Friday after a passenger wearing more than 15 face masks began shouting homophobic remarks and making incoherent political statements, according to witnesses and the airline. Seth Evans, a passenger, told the newspaper that the passenger said members of the LGBTQ+ community “gang chased”, “cooked”, and “radiated” him. Flight 121 departed Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport at around 7:13 a.m. but landed early at O’Hare International Airport due to the man’s disruptive behaviour. Passengers told the Minnesota Star-Tribune that he claimed LGBTQ+ people had “given him cancer” and shouted that “Trump was here”, insisting the plane was “going down”. The man was handcuffed by authorities after landing. No one was injured, and the flight continued to Newark Liberty International Airport following a brief delay. Sun Country Airlines confirmed the incident, thanking passengers for their patience during the interruption.

Hungary. Pride. Thousands defy ban to march in Hungary’s Pécs Pride

Thousands of people marched through the southern Hungarian city of Pécs on Saturday in defiance of a government ban on LGBTQ+ demonstrations, protesting what participants described as the erosion of basic human rights under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Organisers said around 7,000 to 8,000 people joined the event, which was officially registered as a “gathering against the overpopulation of wild animals” to circumvent the ban. Protesters carried rainbow flags and placards reading “Hungary is a dictatorship.” “I’m here because this is no longer just about the LGBTQ community, but about our fundamental freedoms,” said 18-year-old student Bence Tóth, speaking to AFP. Hungary’s parliament in March extended its 2021 “gay propaganda” law, modelled on Russian legislation, to outlaw public Pride events. Despite similar restrictions, up to 200,000 people attended Budapest Pride earlier this year.

Must Read of GAY45

• Is the EU’s Plan to Scan Every Message Really Making Us Safer?

• A Landmark Exhibition on Queer Modernism

Quote of the Week

To oppression, plundering and abandonment, we respond with life.

— Gabriel García Márquez

Film

Netflix is set to debut Boots on 9 October 2025, a queer coming-of-age drama set in the 1990s U.S. Marine Corps. Based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, the eight-episode series follows a closeted gay teen, Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer), and his best friend Ray (Liam Oh) as they enlist together, attempting to leave behind the constraints of their troubled hometown. Set against the backdrop of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era — when open homosexuality in the U.S. military remained illegal — Boots promises political tension alongside its emotional stakes. 

Books

Hervé Le Tellier’s 2020 novel L’Anomalie — translated into English as The Anomaly — has become an international sensation, earning the Prix Goncourt and selling over a million copies in France. The novel begins with an eerie premise: an Air France flight from Paris to New York encounters turbulence and lands, only for an apparently identical flight — with the same passengers — to arrive again 106 days earlier. Employing styles from thriller to speculative fiction, Le Tellier probes identity, chance and reality.  A television adaptation is reported to be in development. 

Music

American singer-songwriter Perfume Genius, the moniker of queer artist Mike Hadreas, released Glory in March 2025, his most cinematic and emotionally charged album to date. Known for his blend of vulnerability and defiance, Hadreas expands his sonic palette with lush orchestration, shimmering synths, and gospel undertones that echo both intimacy and transcendence. Across ten tracks, Glory navigates queer love, spiritual resilience, and the search for grace amid chaos. The lead single “Silver Body” intertwines sensuality with divine imagery, while “Fold Me In” pulses with cathartic intensity. Produced alongside long-time collaborator Blake Mills, the album evokes both tenderness and grandeur, merging art-pop sophistication with raw confession.

Conversation starters, cooking, fashion and games from our favourite newspapers:

• Cook: Pizzette with courgette, mozzarella and mint
• Try: OpenAI’s New Video App Is Jaw-Dropping (for Better and Worse)
• Block: Here’s how to use screening features to stop robocalls.
• Play the Spelling Bee. And here are The New York Times’s Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all their puzzles here. 

Subscribe to our newsletter here.

* * *

When we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please let us know.

* * *

You can listen to our podcast  Queer News & Journalism on your favourite platform or go to our YouTube Channel @GAY45mag.

* * *

Let us know what you think at [email protected].

* * *

Submit a letter to the editor at [email protected].

* * *

We appreciate it. Thanks for reading.