Welcome to what is, for many, your first QueerAF. We're so grateful many of you have found a new home for understanding the LGBTQIA+ news amid this week’s focus on queer media sources.
Hopefully, we can help you to skip the doomscrolling, better protect your mental health from the news, but still keep track of the joy and positive queer news out there.
This week, instead of an explainer on the week's biggest news story in the top slot, we've handed the space over to long-time QueerAF member Jaron Soh.
In his member op-ed, he articulately explains the links between racism, Islamophobia and transphobia - and why we need action both from government and from platforms like X and Meta, where misinformation spreads like wildfire.
Later in the newsletter, Alex Parnham-Cope writes on what they learned from making their degree piece documentary, which we've published on our YouTube channel - giving Alex a media credit for it, while they retain the IP. It's our first showcase video. If you'd like to be next, get in touch. You can just hit reply to any of our newsletters to do that!
The unique thing about QueerAF is that you are our most important editor. QueerAF members get to have a say on what kinds of stories they want to see.
Like Sen Raj, who signed up this week and asked us to focus their membership funds on stories with Queer People of Colour. Or Robin Brady, who said our stories should reflect that "our community's strength lies in its diversity, which should include age, identity, race, ability, orientation. We should hear from everyone".
Both claimed a shout-out like this as one of their sign-up perks, but these are all optional. If you want to have your say, help us to keep this newsletter free from ads and accountable to you, not clicks. Please consider upgrading today.
But for now, let's get into this week's newsletter.
Understand the LGBTQIA+ headlines and keep track of the latest queer content and perspectives. QueerAF is written by Jamie Wareham and another queer creative each week.
💬 This week:
- PinkNews: The UK-based gay media title has faced several damaging allegations from anonymous whistleblowing accounts who say former and current staffers run them. We unpack them.
- Book Ban: An Index of Censorship report found that half of UK librarians surveyed were asked to remove books. We take a look at the report.
- Caroline Litman: Trans healthcare saves lives - so why is so much of the medical community ignoring us? That's what Trans+ journalist Alex Parnaham-Cope is asking in this week's Queer Gaze, after they spoke to Alice Litman's mum, Caroline.
Skip the doomscrolling and support queer creatives instead. We are QueerAF – and so are you.
How racism and Islamophobia are linked to transphobia in the UK
QueerAF member Jaron Soh, co-founder and CEO of LGBTQIA+ mental health app Voda, breaks down how the narratives of hate share a common thread across marginalised communities
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