WHAT ACHIEVEMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF THIS YEAR?

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Dear Attitude readers,

We are delighted to be partnering with Attitude

Shining light

Back in the 80s, it was common for pop stars to hide their sexuality, but Erasure legend Andy Bell blazed a trail by being unapologetically open about his gayness from the start

Master of ceremonies

Frenchman Erwann Le Hô does sterling work as the president of the LGBTQ+ Centre in Nice, and one night a year he transforms into the host of the French Riviera’s biggest queer celebration

Living her truth

DAME KELLY HOLMES

Allyship at work

The incredible efforts of the people who set up Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) — a story told by 2014 film Pride and now being made into a musical — are an unforgettable example of allyship, activism and people power

Power play

Carla Antonelli, Spain’s first out trans woman Senator, is a nightmare for the extreme right. But this fiery advocate — addressed as ‘Your Excellency’ — is going nowhere…

Hope in exile

When the Tunisian authorities began to investigate Mohamed Ali ‘Dali’ Aguerbi’s LGBTQ+ activism while he was away in Malta, he realised it was not safe to return home. While living in exile, he now advocates for queer migrants across Europe

Walk this way

Tracey Howe, 61, is embarking on a 12-month, 5,000-mile trek around Britain’s coast to grieve the loss of her wife, Angela, who died of blood cancer in 2023, and raising funds for five incredible causes along the way. Here’s her remarkable story

Angel of the north

Drag queen Tess Tickle’s Angel Trust has raised millions to support the wider community of County Durham and Darlington

Highflyer

Flight Lieutenant Caroline Paige MBE stared danger in the face while doing military service in Bosnia. But nothing was as frightening as her fear of coming out as trans

FOREVER YUNG

PRIDE ICON AWARD

DRAMA Queen

As his new sitcom Overcompensating was set to drop on Prime Video, comedian Benito Skinner — aka Miss Benny Drama — spoke to Attitude about spending his college years in the closet, finding love and accepting his sexuality, as well as the gossip on being good pals with Charli xcx

LIGHTS, CAMERA, TRANS ACTION!

In the face of the government stepping away from trans allyship and the news media platforming anti-trans views, is television the last safe space for trans visibility?

This year, Pride’s message hits differently

J ust when you thought it was safe

attitude LOVES

NATURAL SELECTION Ferragamo returns to its roots

Regime change

How do you feel about one year of Labour? Four voices have their say

JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND

New York queer cabaret royalty returns to our shores when Justin Vivian Bond joins long-time collaborator Kenny Mellman on a UK stage for the first time since 2007 with Kiki & Herb are Trying! at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow until 5 July. Those lucky enough to have experienced the sheer devilish delight that is an unhinged Kiki’s recollections of a somewhat dubious past will know this return is long overdue. A week later, from 11–12 July, Bond returns with a solo show, Sex with Strangers , an extraordinary tribute to the late artist, muse and survivor Marianne Faithfull. “When I was 16 years old, I heard Marianne Faithfull’s, ‘Broken English’ on my parents’ car radio, and my world changed,” they say. “She had impeccable taste in music and her brilliant songwriting reflected the hard-earned wisdom, magic, honesty and sensuousness that bore witness to a lifetime of journeying toward self-knowledge.”

THE PODIUM

Justin Vivian picks their top-three entertainers

“Conversation is always the solution”

The author and activist on why communication is key to combating the rising tide of hate

Why AI and OCD don’t mix

After discovering that ChatGPT feeds their Pure OCD compulsion to continuously revisit past events, Amrou realises there’s only one way to break free…

“There’s nothing we won’t do for LGBTQ+ people”

Trump’s reelection spurred Kimberly Wilson and Jessica Cotton — a lesbian married couple who own a comedy club in Huntsville, Alabama — to step up their efforts for the LGBTQ+ community

SHOW. ME. THE. RECEIPTS.

If two Trump terms and a 49-day Liz Truss premiership were previously unfathomable, let us not underestimate the very real threat of Reform leader Nigel Farage one day becoming prime minister. Previously leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2006 to 2009 and from 2010 to 2016, he founded the Brexit Party, now Reform, in 2018. He was also a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South East England from 1999 until the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) in 2020. Here, we revisit moments when his position on LGBTQ+ issues was revealed.

Roll up for the gonorrhoea jab

This August, the NHS will make history when

The rules of attraction

Comedian James Barr thought he knew the etiquette of pulling — but then his hot twink friend showed him how to play the game

Polestar 4

The stylish SUV coupé that may just convert me to electric

KEEP IT LEAN

A super-slim phone that’s packed with features, the Galaxy S25 Edge is a new star

MEGAN RETURNS

Attitude catches up with murderous robotic doll M3GAN, gay icon and star of cult film M3GAN , as she reboots for the newly released sequel, M3GAN 2.0

Renewal in the wild

“I’m alive!”

BODY REBUILDER

After Keegan Hirst retired from his career as a professional rugby league player, he reinvented himself by founding Gay Man’s Coaching and beginning his Happy Healthy Homo podcast. But when a bolt-from-theblue diagnosis turned his life upside down, he was forced to rebuild his life and his relationship with his body

REICH HERE, REICH NOW

Twenty-six-year-old comedian Leo Reich is about to make his acting debut in Lena Dunham’s upcoming Netflix sitcom Too Much — before starring in his own show about twentysomething London lives, It Gets Worse . But for this young star, it’s only getting better…

PLAYING BY THE BOOK

In Mark Gatiss’s new post-war drama Bookish , he and Bridgerton ’s Polly Walker play crime-solving lavender couple Gabriel and Trottie Book, which begs the question: are they the Will and Grace of the detective world? “More like Jack and Karen!” laughs Mark, as Attitude visits the show’s set in Belgium

REVEREND RICHARD COLES

King of the side hustle Reverend Richard Coles rose to fame as half of gay 80s synthpop outfit The Communards. Since then, he’s become an ordained priest, a published author, a reality TV mainstay and BBC Radio 2 veteran. But how will he fare in Attitude ’s fabulosity test?

TRAVEL

THE WORLD IN FOCUS

Just the TICKET

MEXICAN WAY The opening of new hotel Tryst

Luxury pet care in the car and at home

Make sure your furry family members are safe, comfortable and protected with Tavo’s premium products

Southern charms

Baroque beauty, queer resilience and a magnificent masseria — Puglia serves sun, style and surprises in Italy’s under-the-radar south

Escape to Malta

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

CULTURE

GOING OUT AND STAYING IN

THE LAST LAUGH

Attitude is treated to an evening of mirth at The Queer Comedy Club’s new south London home, Betty & Joan’s

BOOKS

ASK THE AUTHOR

RECOMMENDED...

Songs of No Provenance by Lydi Conklin

AUDIO BOOK PICK

Nova Scotia House by Charlie Porter

JUKEBOX

Joseph Ryan-Hicks gives 2000s indie king Kele Okereke a spin on the 15th anniversary of his debut solo album, The Boxer . Ding-ding!

B SIDES

Following Missy Elliott’s first-ever discography to discover the lesser-known tracks you need to tour last year, Attitude digs deep into her hear

BEATS & PIECES

JAMES LEE

FILM

Harvest Frank Dillane, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosy

BRIGHTON & HOVE PRIDE 2025: COME TOGETHER

Brighton & Hove Pride is the UK’s most popular Pride event, and this year, it’s bigger than ever. The festivities begin with pre-Pride parties on Friday 1 August, before the Parade takes to the streets on Saturday 2 August. Afterwards, make your way to Pride on the Park supported by Hayu, where vocal queen Mariah Carey will light up the main stage and more than 150 LGBTQ+ DJs and performers will entertain the crowds, with highlights including Andy Bell, Will Young (see page 142) and Jodie Harsh (see page 143). There’s also the Pride Street Party and first-class entertainment in abundance. There’s no more vital time to show your Pride, so don’t miss it. For full lineup and tickets, visit brighton-pride.org

WHERE THERE’S A WILL

MORE THAN 20 YEARS since his chart-topping debut,

GOOD TIMES WITH JODIE HARSH

DJ and queer club queen Jodie Harsh on joining the False Idols Dance Tent takeover at Brighton & Hove Pride, plus a sneak peek at her playlist…

CRUSH

SPIRIT OF SUMMER Holzweiler’s Pre-Fall ’25 collection,

POOL BOYS

Rain or shine, inside or out — our swimwear selection brings the boldest looks of the season

BEAUTY

LIP SERVICE In the words of Beyoncé:

DAMU, THE MANDRAKE HOTEL, LONDON

I didn’t expect to be rained on indoors.

BEAUTY BAR

Nail that summer mani with subtle or bold shades