THE9+. Queer News. June 4. Edmund White is Dead, Pride in Europe, Poland Elections Effect, and much more

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The USA. Obituary. Edmund White, Trailblazing Chronicler of Gay Life, Dies at 85

Edmund White, the pioneering American novelist and essayist renowned for his candid portrayals of gay life, died on 3 June at his Manhattan home, aged 85. His agent, Bill Clegg, confirmed the death. White’s seminal works, including A Boy’s Own Story (1982), The Beautiful Room Is Empty (1988), and The Farewell Symphony (1997), offered unflinching insights into queer identity and experience. He also co-authored the groundbreaking manual The Joy of Gay Sex (1977). A co-founder of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in 1982, White was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1985 and became a vital voice during the AIDS crisis. He taught at Princeton University and received numerous honours, including the National Book Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Fellow writers Colm Tóibín and Alan Hollinghurst hailed him as “the patron saint of queer literature”. White is survived by his husband, writer Michael Carroll. A wonderful remembrance here in The Guardian.

Malaysia. Politics. LGBTQ+ Forum Postponed Amid Online Backlash and Government Criticism

A planned forum on LGBTQ+ issues in Malaysia has been indefinitely postponed following a wave of online abuse and condemnation from a senior government official. The event, titled ‘Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness,’ was organised by Pemuda Sosialis, the youth wing of a small opposition party. After the announcement went viral, social media users issued death threats and tagged police, prompting organisers to cancel the event for ‘the safety and well-being of participants.’ Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar called the gathering a promotion of ‘deviant culture.’ Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, under pressure from the influential Islamist party PAS, has recently adopted tougher stances on LGBTQ+ issues. Although homosexuality remains illegal in Malaysia, the organisers defended the forum as a public health initiative. Previous LGBTQ+-related events and performers have also faced bans or cancellations in the country.

Worldwide. Business. Major Brands Release Pride 2025 Collections Despite DEI Backlash

Despite mounting pressure on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives under President Trump’s administration, several major brands have launched Pride 2025 collections. Levi’s, Converse, Apple, Puma, Skullcandy, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, JanSport, and even Target—despite rolling back internal DEI goals—have unveiled products celebrating LGBTQ+ communities. Levi’s ‘Meet You In The Park’ line pays tribute to queer liberation history, while Converse’s ‘Proud to Be’ campaign enters its eleventh year. Puma’s collection combines LGBTQ+ symbolism with football aesthetics, and Skullcandy’s rodeo-themed headphones support LGBTQ+ mental health charity TWLOHA. Most brands continue their charitable partnerships, including Levi’s with Outright International and Abercrombie with The Trevor Project. Meanwhile, NYC Pride has seen a decline in corporate sponsorship, with Mastercard, PepsiCo, and others withdrawing support. Advocates say the political climate is chilling corporate engagement. Still, these collections signal continued solidarity from parts of the corporate world.

Canada. Pride. Post Unveils Stamp Honouring Calgary’s First Gay Bar

Canada Post has released a new stamp commemorating Calgary’s first gay bar, Club Carousel, as part of its Places of Pride series, highlighting pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history across the country. The series includes Montreal’s Truxx bar, Toronto’s 1971 Gay Day Picnic, and the 1990 Manitoba gathering where the term ‘Two-Spirit’ was first adopted. Club Carousel, opened in 1970 by queer pioneers Lois Szabo and Jack Loenen, offered a safe haven for Calgary’s queer community at a time when homosexuality had only just been decriminalised. Szabo, now 89, said the club ‘saved lives’ by giving closeted individuals a space to be themselves. This marks Canada Post’s first in-depth stamp series on queer history. The stamps, illustrated by Tim Singleton, are now available nationwide. Director of Stamp Services Bronwyn Graves said the project aims to honour underrepresented voices and untold stories in Canadian history.

Poland. Politics. Hard-Right Candidate Wins Presidential Run-Off

Karol Nawrocki, a hard-right candidate and Trump admirer backed by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, has won Poland’s presidential run-off, securing 50.89% of the vote, the national electoral commission said on Monday. His opponent, representing the centrist Civic Coalition (KO), garnered 49.11% in a closely contested race that has underscored deep political divisions across the country. Nawrocki’s victory is expected to consolidate PiS’s influence over key state institutions, raising concerns among critics about democratic backsliding and the future of judicial independence. The narrow result highlights ongoing tensions between conservative and liberal forces in Poland, as well as broader debates over the country’s direction within the European Union. Conservative voters strongly backed Nawrocki, worried about Trzaskowski’s liberal record as mayor of Warsaw, where he supported LGBTQ+ rights and was out of step with the powerful Roman Catholic Church hierarchy.

Romania. Pride. Bucharest Pride Marks 20 Years

Romania’s LGBTQ+ community will mark two decades of activism and visibility this month with the 20th anniversary edition of Bucharest Pride, organised by the Accept Association. The milestone celebration includes a packed programme of cultural events and culminates in a Pride March on 7 June, expected to draw over 30,000 participants. What began in 2005 with just a few hundred marchers has grown into the country’s largest civic demonstration for equality. The route—stretching from the Government building to Izvor Park in front of Parliament—symbolises a journey from protest to progress. Organisers say the anniversary is both a celebration and a call to action, as the community continues to face political resistance and social stigma. Pride 2025 aims to reaffirm the power of visibility and solidarity across Romania and Eastern Europe.

Thailand. Pride. Bangkok Pride Draws Record 300,000 as it Celebrates Marriage Equality

Over 300,000 people marched through central Bangkok on Sunday for the city’s largest-ever Pride parade, celebrating recent gains in LGBTQ+ rights. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra joined the event, held under the motto ‘Born This Way,’ which featured seven themed floats addressing issues from healthcare to environmental protection. The three-kilometre march—from the National Stadium to Central World—also showcased a 200-metre-long rainbow flag, the longest ever seen in Thailand. In a speech, Shinawatra called for equality, freedom, and recognition for all identities, declaring June the month of ‘equality and freedom of choice.’ She hailed the country’s landmark introduction of marriage equality in January as a ‘first door’ to broader reforms. Activists used the occasion to call for a self-determination law for trans, intersex, and non-binary people, as well as guaranteed access to hormone therapy under national healthcare. Further legislation is expected from the government.

Ghana. Politics. Minister’s Role Sparks Fears for Press Freedom and LGBTQ+ Rights

The appointment of Samuel Nartey George as Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation has raised alarm among media and human rights groups. Critics say George’s sweeping powers over the country’s media and digital landscape pose a serious threat to press freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. George, a key sponsor of the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act, 2024, now oversees the National Communications Authority, which regulates all forms of communication. The Act criminalises LGBTQ+ advocacy and content, potentially subjecting individuals and media outlets to lengthy prison terms. Rights organisations warn that vague definitions within the law could allow the government to silence dissent and stifle free expression. With digital surveillance already under scrutiny in Ghana, campaigners fear a slide towards authoritarian control. ‘If democracy is to survive in Ghana, it cannot afford a muzzled press,’ said one local journalist.

Tanzania. Human Rights. Kenyan, Ugandan Activists Allege Sexual Torture by Tanzanian Security Forces

Kenyan photojournalist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire have accused Tanzanian security forces of sexual torture while in custody. The activists were in Tanzania to attend opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s court hearing on 19 May when they were abducted from their hotel. At a press conference in Nairobi, Mwangi said he was stripped, beaten, and sexually assaulted, with officers allegedly threatening to release filmed footage if he spoke out. ‘What they did to us breaks me,’ he said, fighting back tears. Atuhaire, similarly assaulted, said her ‘only desire is justice.’ She described Tanzania’s actions as worse than Uganda’s authoritarianism and condemned President Samia Suluhu Hassan for allegedly condoning such abuse. Both have filed formal complaints against the Tanzanian authorities. Human rights groups are calling for urgent international scrutiny and accountability. Tanzania has yet to respond to the allegations.

The USA. Politics. FBI Bans Official Pride Celebrations Under Trump Administration

FBI staff have been barred from officially celebrating Pride Month, according to a leaked internal email obtained by Fox News. Ben Williamson, the bureau’s assistant director for public affairs, instructed employees not to engage in any Pride-related events or messaging in an official capacity, emphasising such participation must occur only ‘on your own time’. The move follows President Donald Trump’s January executive order dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government. The FBI had previously supported Pride events under President Joe Biden, including participation in WeHo and San Francisco Pride. Williamson insisted the directive does not reflect a change in the agency’s commitment to ‘serve and protect every American’, but rather a refocus on its ‘core mission’. Critics view the decision as part of a broader rollback of LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion within federal institutions.

Worldwide. Report. Gen Z More Sexually Open-Minded Than Millennials, Hinge Study Finds

A new study by dating app Hinge has revealed that Gen Z are significantly more open-minded about sexuality compared to Millennials. The 2025 LGBTQIA+ D.A.T.E Report shows Gen Z daters (aged 18–26) are 21% more likely to explore connections with people of varied gender expressions than Millennials (aged 29–44). They are also 22% more open to sexual experiences outside their usual gender preference, and 39% more likely to have reconsidered their sexuality after unexpected attraction. Moe Ari Brown, Hinge’s Love & Connection Expert, said: ‘True compatibility isn’t about matching labels — it’s about how you show up for each other.’ The findings align with broader trends, as census data shows Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+ at higher rates than previous generations. Hinge’s report concludes: ‘The future of dating is fluid, expansive, and entirely ours to define and redefine.’

Must Read of GAY45

• Read about Dani Sophia, Till Lindemann’s guitarist, on Pride Month: ‘I don’t want to wave a rainbow flag’. 

• An exceptional investigative report: The Makeup Artist Donald Trump Deported Under the Alien Enemies Act by Jonathan Blitzer 

Quote of the Week

You don’t look gay… we did great with the gay population.

— Donald Trump

Film of the Week

No Skin Off My Ass is a 1991 comedy-drama film by Bruce LaBruce. LaBruce’s debut feature film provides a template for many of the themes in LaBruce’s later movies. Explicit sex scenes between LaBruce’s character and von Brucker’s are interwoven with a radical political message. No Skin Off My Ass played at film festivals around the world and quickly became a cult film. Famously, Kurt Cobain declared it his favourite film. The film’s soundtrack includes songs by several punk bands such as Frightwig and Beefeater.

Book of the Week

It Used to Be Witches: Under the Spell of Queer Cinema by Ryan Gilbey is playfully blending personal memoir, criticism and candid new interviews with filmmakers from across the LGBT+ spectrum, Ryan Gilbey’s engaging and dynamic It Used to be Witches is a non-chronological treasure-hunt through queer cinema past and present. Andrew Haigh (All of Us Strangers), Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman), Isabel Sandoval (Lingua Franca) and Bruce LaBruce (No Skin Off My Ass) are among the directors who reveal how queer artists use film to express their most personal truths-and to challenge, defy and outrage a world that would rather they didn’t exist.

Music of the Week

Fontaines D.C. fourth album, Romance, was released in 2024. Romance won The Album Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards 2024. Romance maintains the darkness integral to Fontaines D.C.’s music while showcasing a frisky unpredictability. Romance opens with a feeling of limitless possibility framed against a backdrop of impending doom.

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

• Read in The New Yorker: A Mother’s Hunger Strike Challenges Two Nations
• Wear: Esquire handpicks the clothes we all want right now.
• Cook: Treat yourself to a spectacular sandwich. 
• Travel: Land snorkelling? Townsizing? Explore the lingo of travel trends.
• Watch: ‘Dept. Q,‘ a new detective show on Netflix, is a study in internationalism.

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