Understand the LGBTQIA+ news: New study exposes how fertility care providers are failing LGBTQIA+ patients

We've just reached the end of Black History Month in the UK. And what a month.

We worked with Human Rights Defender Jason Jones as QueerAF's UK Black History Month guest editor to curate articles from four Black, queer creatives as part of the Queer Gaze - our landmark writing scheme. The last one is here for you this week.

Meanwhile, we've published an investigation which exposed that hundreds of transgender patients are being refused gender-affirming care by GPs, even though many have been through the arduous medicalised pathway to get prescribed.

We reported on the Mermaids investigation, which began amid horrific lies about the charity spread in the media. It ultimately concluded that the charity hadn't stepped over the line but had struggled to operate in a hostile environment.

We know all too well how terrible so many of the mainstream media titles have been to our community. And while they lean into anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric to chase clicks and rage bait, some of the gay news sector has been left with little choice but to go against its natural instincts due to market forces.

But worryingly, we're hearing more and more in our meetings with activists, community groups, and journalists about the shift you’re noticing away from original news and investigations.

Despite dedicated LGBTQIA+ journalists working hard across the sector to prioritise our news, editors and titles are telling them it's celebs, gossip and clickbait first, news, investigations and investing in the community last.

That's not what we're up to here. We're investing in series like our Black History Month articles. We're committed to publishing investigations like those we've done that expose widespread transphobia in the NHS. Actually, we've got exclusive quotes for you from another investigation this week.

But I'll level with you. This work takes incredible resources. Against the background of an Autumn budget that was not kind to small businesses like us, we need your help.

So rather than a 'Black Friday' sale this month we're running a special membership drive: All funds we bring in will be dedicated to running a bigger and better UK Black History Month series next year.

Change the media, change the country.

Do you find our journalism and investment in Black queer talent valuable? Imagine what more QueerAF could do for LGBTQIA+ people with a little extra capacity.

The more perks you choose, the better the discount you can grab:

• 10% off 'Supporter': Monthly / Annual
• 15% off '100% QueerAF': Monthly / Annual
• 20% off 'Editor': Monthly / Annual

At QueerAF, we're obsessed with journalism and storytelling that puts lived experience in the driving seat.

And in working with the Black, Queer creatives’ lived experience and expertise, we've been able to bring you something very special this month. That’s exactly what we’ll do again if you join the membership drive - plus we’ll keep investing in more investigative journalism and lobbying the media to serve us all. 

So please, if you value QueerAF in your inbox each week, help us dedicate even more time to working with these creatives so we can create even more enriched journalism - and show the media that the change we all want to see is possible.

Understand the LGBTQIA+ headlines and keep track of the latest queer content and perspectives. The QueerAF newsletter is written by Jamie Wareham and a different queer creative each week.

💬 This week:

• Fertility Care Exclusive: We've spoken to the researchers of a landmark study into fertility care in the UK which has exposed widespread clinical gaps in knowledge about the needs of queer patients.
• Wes Streeting: The health secretary met a group of gender-critical women who are suing the NHS for not providing trans-excluding changing rooms.
• Finding ease: The importance of appropriation goes beyond respecting cultures and communities - it's also about safety, as Darkwah Kyei-Darkwah sets out in the last of our UK Black History Month Queer Gaze articles.

Skip the doomscrolling and support queer creatives instead. We are QueerAF – and so are you.

Huge gap found in fertility providers' care for LGBTQ+ people

TL;DR: A new trans-led study into the UK's fertility clinics has found vast gaps in clinical knowledge about the needs of queer people, affecting our access to help, mental health needs and the support we deserve.