THE9+. Queer News. May 7. First Film Awards for Trans and Queer in East Europe, Eurovision Bans Pride Flags and much more

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

This week, THE9+ is edited by GAY45 the News Editor Taylor Abbot, with the support of the editorial team. If you want to hear the most essential news commented on in-depth, you can listen to our weekly podcast, GenClash: Queer Perspectives on Current Affairs.

We’re delighted to share that GAY45 is undergoing exciting transformations as we continue to grow and evolve.

My temporary tenure has come to an end, and I am pleased to announce that, as of today, Jude Jones has been appointed Editor-in-Chief  by the Board of Directors. Probably, the youngest editor on the planet.

We improved the THE9 newsletter with recommendations from worldwide newspapers, as well as books, music, films of the week, games, and more.

Let us know what you think. If you have a comment or a suggestion, write to [email protected] .

And then…

Romania. Film. Gopo Film Awards Honour First Openly Gay Actor and Trans Director in Landmark Year

Romania’s national film awards, the Gopos, celebrated a historic evening for LGBTQ+ representation as openly gay actor Ciprian Chiujdea and trans director Anastaseu Ștefan were among the honourees. Chiujdea received the “Young Hope” award for his breakout role in Three Kilometres to the End of the World, a Cannes-lauded drama exploring rural homophobia. The film, directed by Emanuel Pârvu, also took home Best Feature and Best Director. In his acceptance speech, Chiujdea dedicated the award to queer youth across Romania. Ștefan, the first trans director recognised by the Gopos for the short film TikTok_Cowboy, spoke of the power of protest movements in Serbia and Hungary, and called for Palestinian liberation, condemning what he described as genocide by Israel. The Gopo Awards, considered Romania’s equivalent of the Oscars, underscored a growing shift towards inclusion and political consciousness in the country’s film industry. This year’s Gopo Awards, equivalent of Oscar for Romanian cinema, marked a significant step forward in embracing diversity within the Romanian film industry, recognising talents that bring underrepresented stories to the forefront. You can read our exclusive interview with Ciprian Chiujdea, and listen to the GAY45 podcast where he was our guest.

Germany. Politics. AfD Labelled Extremist Organisation

Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has formally classified the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as a “confirmed rightwing extremist” organisation, intensifying legal and surveillance measures against the country’s largest opposition party. The move, based on a 1,100-page report, marks a sharp escalation from the party’s prior designation as a suspected threat. The BfV cited the AfD’s ethnonationalist ideology and anti-Muslim rhetoric as incompatible with Germany’s constitutional democracy. The decision arrives just months after the AfD secured second place in February’s snap election and amid growing calls for the party to be banned. While the AfD, led by Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, vowed to challenge the ruling in court, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned of the risks in outlawing the party outright. Despite co-party leader Alice Weidel identifying as a lesbian woman, both her and the party have a long history of overt homophobia, reported on by GAY45 here.

The UK. Politics. Judge to Take UK to Human Rights Court Over Trans Ruling

Britain’s first transgender judge, Victoria McCloud, is taking the UK to the European Court of Human Rights following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that defines “woman” and “sex” under the Equality Act as referring only to biological categories. McCloud, now a litigation strategist, argues the court’s refusal to hear her evidence breached Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees a fair trial. The ruling and subsequent guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission effectively bar trans people from accessing gender-aligned public facilities, prompting widespread confusion and distress. McCloud described the legal and policy aftermath as “chaos”, citing conflicting government positions and growing concern from both disabled communities and healthcare professionals. The British Medical Association’s resident doctors condemned the ruling as scientifically unfounded, while Green Party MP Carla Denyer criticised the lack of consultation with trans and non-binary individuals and warned of the dangers of encouraging public policing of gendered spaces.

Europe. Music. Eurovision Bans Pride Flags From Stage

Participants in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest are prohibited from displaying Pride flags on stage or at official events under new rules issued by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event. The policy restricts flag displays to those representing each contestant’s country during performances, at the Eurovision Village, in the green room, and on the turquoise carpet. Previously, contestants were permitted to show both national and Pride flags. The change, first reported by Denmark’s national broadcaster and confirmed by the EBU to CNN, is intended to clarify which country each performer represents. Dutch broadcaster Avrotros defended the rule, describing it as a move to maintain focus on national representation. The decision comes amid wider tensions at Eurovision, which saw Switzerland’s Nemo become the first non-binary winner, while Israel’s presence drew boos and the Netherlands’ entry was disqualified. Critics argue the policy curtails LGBTQ+ visibility at a globally watched event known for its queer fanbase.

Australia & Canada. Politics. Trump-backed Leaders in Australia and Canada Fall Flat

This past week has seen Trump-adjacent political candidates lose two elections around the world. In Canada, Elon Musk-backed Pière Poilievre’s Conservative Party dropped a 27-point lead to lose to Mark Carney’s Liberal Party. Polievre also lost his parliamentary seat, which he has held for the previous twenty years. Commentators have generally remarked on the surprise defeat as a reaction against U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on US-Canada relations, repeatedly threatening the country’s sovereignty by nicknaming it the “51st state.” Later in the week, Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party defeated Peter Dutton’s Liberal-National coalition in a landslide win. Dutton, who pundits have called “Australia’s Trump” for his controversial views on immigration, also lost his parliamentary seat after 24 years. The back-to-back losses seemingly signal a repudiation of far-right politics in the English-speaking sphere following Trump’s U.S. election.

The USA. Health. Trump Administration Publishes Pro-Conversion Therapy Report

The Trump administration has sparked outrage with the release of a 409-page report from the US Department of Health and Human Services that promotes so-called “gender exploratory therapy” and discredits gender-affirming care. Commissioned under a January executive order by Donald Trump, the document has been widely condemned by medical experts and LGBTQ+ advocates as a rebranded form of conversion therapy and “junk science”. The report, introduced by NIH Director Dr Jay Bhattacharya – who lacks credentials in gender healthcare – dismisses established research and reinterprets evidence-based treatment as dangerous. Critics, including GLAAD and the Trevor Project, warn the report endangers trans youth and misleads the public by framing proven medical practices as unethical. Experts argue the findings were politically predetermined and designed to erode transgender rights under the guise of public health. Former Biden official Adrian Shanker called the document “a compilation of junk science”, while families and clinicians fear its potential to criminalise compassionate, lifesaving care.

Worldwide. Technology. Apple Launches Pride 2025 Collection

Apple has unveiled its Pride 2025 Collection ahead of Pride Month, featuring both free digital offerings and purchasable items, including a standout Pride Edition Sport Band for Apple Watch priced at €49. Available in multiple sizes and hand-assembled with a unique rainbow stripe design, the band symbolises individuality within LGBTQ+ communities. Apple emphasised its continued financial support for organisations serving queer people worldwide, calling the collection a tribute to their “strength and beauty”. iPhone and iPad users will receive new Pride-themed wallpapers with the upcoming iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 updates. A matching analogue watch face will arrive with watchOS 11.5. The collection is available to order online and will be in physical Apple Stores next week. However, macOS users are not included in this year’s Pride release.

The UK. Film. Unreleased Jarman Film Script Honouring Pasolini Set for Release

London-based publication house Pilot Press has announced the upcoming publication of The Assassination of Pier Paolo Pasolini in the Garden of Earthly Delights, an unrealised 1984 film penned by the late British filmmaker Derek Jarman. The script imagines the events leading to the 1975 murder of queer Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, shortly after the release of his controversial film Saló, or the 120 Days of Sodom. “For the first time,” reads Pilot Press’s website, “the final draft of the film’s treatment is presented alongside reproductions from the film’s workbook, which show Jarman’s calligraphic notes towards the film’s sequences, themes, cinematography, lighting, sound, costume, casting and props.” The book will be released in June 2025 to coincide with the fifty-year anniversary of Pasolini’s death.

The USA. Fashion. Willy Chavarria Launches SS25 Collection

Mexican-American fashion designer Willy Chavarria – whose work forefronts queer Chicano and working-class masculinities, and following on from a searing Paris Fashion Week debut earlier this year – has revealed his Spring/Summer 2025-6 collection, América. Announced on the brand’s Instagram with the motto, “In the eyes of God, we are all one people deserving dignity and grace,” a legible reference to the Trump administration’s on-going extrajudicial deportations of working-class Latino immigrants, the collection will also feature a third collaboration with German sportswear brand Adidas. Politics has always been central to the label’s image. In 2017, as a response to the first Trump administration’s border policies, his catwalk show opened with models lined in cages. His Paris show in January, with its defiant celebration of Chicano and queer identity, was lauded as one of the best of the season. You can read our profile of the designer here.

The USA. Art. Marvel Spotlights Queer Heroes in Pride 2025 Art

Marvel has unveiled a vibrant set of Pride Month covers, celebrating its LGBTQ+ characters with striking new artwork. Among the highlights is Kitty Pryde, featured on Exceptional X-Men #10 (out 11 June), cementing her role as a queer icon in the Marvel universe. Revealed in a new press release, Meghan Hetrick’s illustrations also feature Loki, Kid Juggernaut, Prodigy, Nico Minoru, and Valentine Vuong – a non-binary assassin introduced in 2022 who once dated Deadpool. While Marvel’s annual Pride artwork tradition continues to honour queer heroes, some fans remain disappointed by the absence of Peter Quill (Star-Lord), whose bisexuality was confirmed in 2020 but has since been largely overlooked. Marvel’s Pride Month issues hit the shelves on 4 June.

Pakistan. Human Rights. Queer Groups Urge International Action on LGBTQ+ Crisis

A coalition of global LGBTQ+ organisations, led by All-Out and human rights activist Abdul Basit, has issued a stark appeal to Pakistan’s Ministry of Human Rights and the international community, urging immediate action to protect the country’s vulnerable queer population. In a letter, the coalition highlighted escalating violence against the LGBTIQ+ community, including police brutality, witch hunts, and media censorship. With trans* and gay individuals increasingly targeted by religious groups, the government’s inaction has left them exposed to discrimination, exclusion from healthcare, education, and employment. The coalition’s demands include the introduction of anti-discrimination laws, improved access to essential services, and stronger protection measures such as shelters and hotlines. Public awareness campaigns and law enforcement training are also called for to foster inclusivity. “This is an urgent call for change,” the statement concluded. “LGBTIQ+ people in Pakistan deserve safety and dignity.”

The USA. Fashion. Former Burberry Director Accused of Sexual Assault

Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a man in New York, according to a legal complaint filed in the New York Supreme Court on Tuesday. The 11-page filing, first reported by The Independent, alleges that Tisci covertly laced Patrick Cooper’s drink after the pair met at a lounge in East Harlem in June 2024. Cooper claims he became disoriented and was taken to Tisci’s home, where he was allegedly prevented from leaving and assaulted while unconscious. He says he awoke next to Tisci naked and only then realised what had occurred. Tisci’s representative strongly denied the allegations, calling them “categorically untrue” and stating the designer “looks forward to clearing his name” through legal channels. Tisci, who has worked with global celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, was formerly the creative director of Givenchy and Burberry. The case is expected to proceed through the US court system.

The USA. Journalism. MSNBC Breaks Ground with Historic LGBTQ+ Anchor Duo

MSNBC is set to make broadcasting history with the debut of two openly gay Black co-anchors on a major network news programme. Jonathan Capehart and Eugene Daniels will co-host The Weekend alongside Jackie Alemany, forming a new three-person panel show. Capehart, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and associate editor at The Washington Post, has hosted on MSNBC weekends for several years. Daniels, a senior Washington correspondent and former Politico White House reporter, also serves as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. This milestone comes amid ongoing challenges for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. The Trump administration has enacted policies that have rolled back protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, including rescinding healthcare protections and removing LGBTQ+ content from federal websites. Despite these setbacks, MSNBC’s move represents a significant step forward in representation and inclusivity in American media.

Must Read of GAY45

• Our founding editor interviewed the first gay open actor in East Europe and winner of Queer Palm and Gopo awards. Ciprian Chiujdea, the New Wunderkind of European Cinema.

• A well written article on Suzy Solidor: the most painted lesbian woman in the world, by Lexi Covalsen. 

Quote of the Week

I failed as a Disney princess — now I’m a dragon.

— Anastaseu Ștefan, first transgender director to be awarded in Eastern Europe

Film of the Week

Ang Lee’s 1993 film The Wedding Banquet is a landmark in queer cinema, blending humour and poignancy to explore the complexities of identity, love, and cultural expectations. Set in New York City, the film follows Wai-Tung (Winston Chao), a gay Taiwanese immigrant who agrees to a sham marriage with his tenant Wei-Wei (May Chin) to placate his traditional parents and secure her a green card. The plan unravels when his parents arrive to oversee the wedding, leading to a series of comedic and heartfelt misadventures. 

Book of the Week

In Who’s Afraid of Gender?, Judith Butler, the renowned gender theorist, ventures into the mainstream. The American activist, who has been falsely accused of denying the importance of sex, makes a poignant appeal for gender diversity. As both a human rights advocate and a theorist, Butler conveys an urgent message that runs through all their work: why are so many people so willing to surrender their power to increasingly authoritarian forces? 

Music of the Week

Disintegration by The Cure (1989) is a God-tier album. From the pure aching grace of opener ‘Plainsong’ , via the inverted romance of ‘Lovesong’, simmering horrorshow of ‘Fascination Street’, and the opulent nightmare of ‘The Same Deep Water As As You’, ‘Disintegration’ flips pop on its head and mixes it with post-rock soundscapes to paint love and life in a fully three-dimensional form; a warm hug from the cold.

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

• Protect: Here’s how to secure your phone’s data before traveling abroad.

• Flair and function: A new exhibition explores how dandyism was remade by Black aesthetes into a tool of social mobility and self-definition.

• Look of the week: Doing business casual with a bomber jacket.

• Cook: Made with French lentils, this is a hearty anytime salad.

• Play the Spelling Bee. And here are The New York Tmes Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all their puzzles here.

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GAY45 is committed to publishing a diversity of articles, prose and poetry. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. And here’s our email if you wanna send a letter: [email protected].

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

– – –

GAY45 is committed to publishing a diversity of journalism, prose, and poetry. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. And here’s our email if you want to send a letter: [email protected].

– – –

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

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Listen to our podcast ‘Gen Clash: Queer Perspectives on Current Affairs’ on your favourite podcast platform. 

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We appreciate it. Thanks for reading.