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‘Autumn is Queer’ in Coventry is a campaign of joyful programmed events and activities celebrating the resilience and creativity of the LGBTQ+ community. Taking part in Coventry and across the wider West Midlands region, the events range from performances, music and stand-up comedy to walks, workshops, and craft fairs.

The well-trodden fairy tale of Cinderella meets Bollywood blockbusters in the modern, vibrant, and exciting re-telling of Surinderella, directed by Ameet Channa with music and songs from PBN.

Based on the hit film of the same name, The Bodyguard Musical is a romantic thriller featuring the irresistible music of the great Whitney Houston. Starring international leading lady Sidonie Smith as Rachel Marron and Olivier Award nominee Adam Garcia as Frank Farmer, the musicals tells the story of superstar singer Rachel Marron who needs protecting from an unknown stalker, and finds this and more in the arms of former Secret Service Agent turned bodyguard, Frank.

LGBT Sparkle – a Wolverhampton-based social group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals and allies locally – won a National Diversity Award for ‘Community Organisation’ in the LGBTQ+ sub-category. While Katie Neeves, a trans ambassador who works as a presenter and event host, and now resides in the East Midlands also received an award for 'Positive Role Model' in the LGBT sub-category.

George Waterfield and Darren Cunningham, co-owners of a Leicester salon – The Secret Garden – have said they refuse to be intimidated after their business was targeted twice in suspected hate crime incidents that saw damage of, and tearing down of pride flags flying outside.

Matthew Jonathan (39), who pleaded guilty to the murder of Jamie Gowler (54), was sentence to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 32 years at Worcester Crown Court on Friday 5th September, the Crown Prosecution said.

In an ongoing battle over flag flying in Warwickshire, the County’s Council’s LGBTQ+ staff group have called for the Pride Progress flag to be reinstated as part of the authority's policy, allowing it to be flown during Pride Month in June; as it has in the past.

Joe Lycett’s celebration of all things Brummie, the International Day of Birmingham, is returning for its second year in 2025.

The whip-cracking classic comedy musical, Calamity Jane, based on the much-loved movie of the same name has ridden over the rolling plains to Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre. Starring the multi-award-winning West End actor and singer, Carrie Hope Fletcher (Cinderella, Les Misérables) as the fabulously fearless, gun slingin’ lead, Calamity Jane, the musical is set during the American gold rush in the dusty settlement of Deadwood.

Following success at A&E departments in various other regions across the UK, including Birmingham, opt-out testing for HIV and Hepatitis (B and C) was also introduced to Kettering General Hospital (KGH) and Northampton General Hospital (NGH), and has been declared a success by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

A new exhibition, ‘Queer Without Fear: Pride in Who We Are’, which has opened at The Yard, Coventry, celebrates the city’s LGBTQ+ community and history.

A lost miniature portrait, which until now has never been seen by the public, is thought to depict William Shakespeare’s secret gay lover and the subject of his erotic sonnets.

Natalie Brookes, a Northampton-based trans folk musician and composer, is launching a new EP centred around promoting queer musicians on the folk music scene.

The trustees of Warwickshire Pride have responded to a draft flag policy proposed by the Reform-led council, raising concerns at the absence of any mention of the Pride flag.

Lauren Rowles OBE, who has been described by British Rowing as the greatest rower of all time, has announced her retirement from the sport, after over a decade of success on the water.

Drag Race UK winner and Celebrity Big Brother star, Danny Beard, has been announced as part of a sparkling cast for this year’s pantomime at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Danny will star as the most glamourous villain of Sleeping Beauty, Carabosse.

Labour MP for Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome, has written to Bridget Phillipson, the Women and Equalities Minister, ahead of forthcoming statutory guidance from the EHRC that could have a profound impact of trans lives in the UK.

Dragged to the Musicals, a live vocals tour starring Divina De Campo, Veronica Green, Le Fil, Mimi Chanel and Viola is heading out on tour from September. Ahead of its opening, Midlands Rainbow spoke to Divina De Campo about the all-singing extravaganza that will be playing at several venues across the region.

Ahead of its move to its new centre home in September, Birmingham LGBT have received a donation of £9,609 from the Morrisons Foundation. The cash boost from the supermarket’s charity foundation has covered the costs of creating and furnishing a training room at Birmingham LGBT’s new facility.

James Ijames’ Pulitzer prize-winning queer comic tragedy, playing at the RSC’s Swan Theatre is a tale of love, loss, liberation and joy that brings Shakespeare’s Hamlet into the modern-day.