This is where we are, a homophobic slur used by a politician on national television. His denials show a man either ignorant of what words mean or so comfortable using homophobia in day to day speech he didn’t care.

My report on the state of trans rights in Britain in 2025 in @heraldscotland.bsky.social tomorrow

Yes we do. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Proud CEO at Belfast Pride

With all due respect your ‘legal council’ is a moron. Pride has and always will be political, BUT we all get to decide what we’re marching for and you’re sending the message that the ambulance service views non discrimination of lgbt people as a debate. Absurd. www.bbc.com/news/article...

It was the night before Pride and all through the town…

I’m featured in the Belfast Telegraph for Belfast Pride week. No surprises that I believe it’s my job to create a world where my job is no longer needed. Let me know what you think. m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

It’s Belfast Pride week and I’m looking forward to a packed week of events and engagements across the city celebrating our diversity. It all kicked off last night with the annual Belfast Pride Awards, was so proud of the The Rainbow Project team who took home two awards.

So the book banning has begun. Luckily the free speech brigade will be along…. any ….. minute…. now. Oh it’s the free speech brigade doing the banning? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The anti-lgbt folk still haven’t got it yet They tried state sanctioned murder for 300 years Then it was hard labour and transportation to the colonies Then it was imprisonment and castration Then it was trying to pretend we didn’t exist And guess what, we’re still here Nothing will erase us

Friday marked two years for me as CEO of Northern Ireland’s largest LGBT+ organisation, the Rainbow Project. It’s not been an easy ride, but it’s days like today that makes it all worth it.

Whether it be in Budapest or in Ballymena the bigots are learning a hard lesson today. Love wins 🏳️‍🌈

It is absolutely grotesque. Police have confirmed at least arrest with me and we have other stat agencies on the way to assist council. Hideous.

UPDATE: I’m hearing an arrest has been made.

In Ballymena today as it holds its 1st ever pride, but also where some disgusting bigots have dumped slurry on the parade route. A huge thank you to the businesses who have rallied round to clean up the mess. The lesson for these bigots, Pride goes on. We’ve dealt with your shit for far too long.

As we’re celebrating 25 years since its repeal in Scotland here’s an important public service message. It’s a widely repeated myth that 'Section 28' was called 'clause 2A' in Scotland. Section 28 was the same law. A Clause is to a Section, what a Bill is to an Act. One proposed, the other passed.

Song From The Back Of The Bus, marks the repeal of Section 28 twenty five years ago today - hear @valmcdermid.bsky.social @suejohn.bsky.social @louisewelsh00.bsky.social and more discuss the campaign and how this informs their worries today 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 open.spotify.com/episode/7lrP...

United response to racist attacks on people’s homes and a temporary accommodation refuge facility from myself and fellow leaders in housing and homelessness.

On a list with someone that has arguably caused irreparable damage to trans kids, and someone who called support for trans people ‘nonsensical’ and celebrating it. Make it make sense.

I honestly hope LGBTQIA+ rights are more important to people being named in ‘Pride lists’. If your name is more important than calling out being on a list with probably the most visible anti-trans political figure in the UK then you’re no-one I look up to.

🌦️ In rain or shine, we'll be out and proud! 🌈 You might've spotted our volunteers around Omagh today raising money and encouraging everyone to come next Saturday!

We walk for the rights we have gained over the decades, the rights we have still to achieve and those who still do not feel confident to march. As someone whose first Belfast Pride march was 1993, that list is reducing but still not zero. Keep marching

This week BBC NI and Ben’s wee newsletter has sought to convey Pride events as something… they have always been. Yes trans rights are important, but at no point since Belfast Pride began have rights not been important. That we are proud (the clue is in the name) of who we are is why we march.

Best of luck to the Azlans at the Union Cup!

I’d suggest that those MSPs who are members of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body would be a lot less transphobic in their approach if it was their money at risk and not public funds.

Kady Grass, a lesbian teenager in Illinois, was severely beaten after trying to use the bathroom in a McDonald's. www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...

Here in Donegal it’s simultaneously sunset and absolutely pouring it down. I’m going nowhere.

In a world where rapist police officers exist. Proposed rules that allow male officers to strip search trans women (and those they ‘suspect’ to be) is a charter for sexual assault of women - cis & trans. Slow hand clap once again to the gender critical movement.

There was once a Scottish millionaire who threw their money around to oppose the rights of LGBT people. Brian Souter spent millions opposing the repeal of section 28 in one of the most homophobic campaigns in British history, he lost. I’ve little doubt her throwing her money about will lose too.

Went to the other place to see how they were reacting to the new LGBTQIA+ window at Belfast City Hall. It’s hilarious. ‘Save sodomy from Ulster’ was one of the pivotal campaigns of the 70s & 80s in NI led by Tarlach Mac Naillais, a fearless gay man who fought back against Ian Paisley’s homophobia.

Was nice to be a city hall earlier for the unveiling of the new LGBTQIA+ at Belfast City Hall this afternoon. You can scream and shout all you want, this is our city too and we’re going nowhere.

Spent my evening reading the EHRC guidance. Good luck trying to implement that incoherent unpractical fantastical rubbish.

Oh Romania, please tell me it’s true!

Attended the largest ever march for trans rights in Northern Ireland. A huge turnout to tell Westminster and Stormont that they have failed trans people. 🏳️‍⚧️

Scotland’s LGBT community feels fearful, isolated and demonised. That shames our country My column in @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

Busy day of meetings as we continue to work to understand the impact of the Supreme Court judgement on trans people in Northern Ireland. What is clear is a lot of politicians have got it badly wrong.

My response to the decision of Glasgow Pride to suspend participation by political parties. In short, the culture war against our community has gone on far too long, and needs to end.

I’ll tell you what I see when I look at the #RainbowMap 2025, which was published this morning, an absolute failure of government. The UK once stood proudly at the top of Europe on LGBTI legal equality. Now we’ve slipped into the yellow. Well done to all the countries continuing to make progress.

Great to be in Dublin at the #MarRef10 conference to discuss defending freedoms and advancing human rights. We didn’t get marriage equality for another 5 years in Northern Ireland, but north and south links were instrumental in both campaigns.

A shrug and a yawn from Stormont, when Northern Ireland’s victims commissioner says victims of actual serious crimes are in unimaginable suffering because of perverse incentives and excessive delays in its legal system. Stormont, when a Supreme Court ruling which doesn’t even apply here is made:

Heading to bed after a long but brilliant day hosting trans and intersex voices at Stormont. Once again a proud CEO. Never before have I faced calls by those opposed to LGBTQIA+ equality for an event to be cancelled. OUR democracy is not your playtoy, the Stormont Assembly is for all.

We are told we cannot question the fallibility of Cass, and yet it has been shown to be fatally flawed.

This is absolutely appalling and also pathetic. The Scottish Parliament used to lead public opinion on LGBTQ+ rights and passed the Gender Recognition Bill with a huge majority three years ago. But now they've give in to a vocal minority of haters: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2514895...

Today Gordon Downey was sentenced for subjecting me to over two years of homophobic abuse. The court has imposed a three year restraining order & a substantial fine for his hateful conduct. It’s so important we stand up to hate and I want the LGBTQ community to know that #LoveWins, always.

Some in Northern Ireland have never needed much of an excuse to try roll back LGBT human rights. www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/norther...

Thanks to everyone who joined our action for trans rights in Enniskillen. We welcome the Chief Exec's recognition of the hurt caused but are disappointed that the policy on single-sex spaces will still be reviewed. We will stand against any attempt to undermine trans rights.

Great to join @omaghpride.com as they demonstrated in support of trans equality outside Fermanagh & Omagh Council.

Huge thanks to Andrew, Ellen, Eva, Manuela, Marcella, Matthew, Mick, Sacha, Susie and Tara who ran the Belfast Marathon Relay today for the Rainbow Project and raised over £1500 so far! www.gofundme.com/f/were-runni...

I was just in the toilet with a trans person. I had a pee. They had a pee. We chatted about Chappell Roan and went on our way. It’s happened 1000 times before and it will happen 1000 times again.

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