THE MONTH IN A MINUTE.
The show came from a deeply painful place… I expected it to peel me off into the margins by telling my truth so brutally, but I have been so overwhelmed by how positively the show has been received and how connected I am to the world. It is a great honour.” – Hannah Gadsby, after winning an Australians In Film award for Nanette, in which she “pairs punchlines with revelations about sexuality and gender”.
AND WE’RE DONE Billionaire Amazon chief Jeff Bezos stuns LGBT+ people by donating more than $10,000 to Republican Senator Cory Gardner, who consistently votes against gay rights, is vehemently opposed to marriage equality and adoption by gay couples.
HATE SPIKE French LGBT+ activists report a worrying increase in anti-gay attacks across their country. Statistics show that homophobic hate crime violence is up by 15 per cent since the start of this year. Some blame the rise of the far-right and backlash as legislation favours LGBT+ rights.
VISIBILITY Grey’s Anatomy actor Jake Borelli (pictured) comes out as gay on Instagram, coinciding with the 27-yearold’s character, Levi Schmitt, coming out as bisexual. He says he hopes both he and his character can inspire young people struggling with their sexuality.
TRANS ATLANTIC A leaked memo from US President Trump’s administration threatens trans people across America. It reads: “The sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence.” The LGBT+ community and allies react by protesting that trans people will “not be erased”.
GRANDE3 American pop star Ariana Grande’s brother Frankie reveals he’s in a three-way relationship with two other men. Frankie has been open about his sexuality for years, but this is the first time he has spoken publicly about his three-month relationship with two boyfriends, who are married.
WITCH HUNT Tanzania asks citizens to engage in an anti-gay witch hunt, encouraging members of the public to “report” anyone they suspect is gay. It’s part of a “crackdown” on homosexuals, spearheaded by politician Paul Makonda. Thousands of names have reportedly been submitted to authorities, with those “discovered” facing 30 years in jail.
EJECTED A London gay sauna makes headlines for asking a trans man to leave for “not having a penis”. He says he was ejected after others saw his genitalia and complained to staff, who told him the sauna was “a male-only space”. The move raises questions about trans rights and sparks online debates.
HAPPY FINNISH Finnish police launch an LGBT+ group to build trust between the service and the LGBT+ community and ensure all officers feel comfortable about being open about their sexuality. Tom Of Finland fantasies reach boiling point.
SURVEY Australian researchers embark on the first ever study into the sex lives and wellbeing of trans and gender diverse citizens. The Kirby Institute hopes its findings will lead to better healthcare and support for the community.
REMEMBERING The cast of the 1993 film Philadelphia, in which Tom Hanks starred as a young man dying of AIDS, will release a short film to mark the classic movie’s 25th anniversary. Hanks will join co-stars including Denzel Washington to explore how attitudes to HIV/AIDS have changed. Called The Last Mile, it will be available from the end of November.