DIVA

COCKLES AND MUSCLES / SUMMER SWEAT BOX / MARGATE ARTS CLUB

Here’s everything you need to know about how to tune in to this serving of our podcast BY DIVA STAFF, COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW MORALES Happy podDIVA day! In today’s episode our epic July cover star – the Kween of NYC herself, Young M.A speaks to DIVA staff writer Nic Crosara about loving women, shunning labels and the trajectory of her impressive career.

“It’s important to put as many different opinions that women hold about motherhood on the spectrum” BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY SKY UK LTD Sky’s upcoming comedy-horror limited series, The Baby, follows Natasha (Michelle de Swarte) as she goes from being frustrated that all her closest friends are having babies. The last thing she expects is to find herself having to look after a manipulative, sinister and eerily cute baby who twists Natasha’s life into a nightmare.

Here’s your round-up of last week’s LGBTQI news BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE VIA TWITTER (@KATEOSBORNEMP) Earlier this year, the government announced its global “Safe To Be Me” LGBT conference which was set to take place on 29 June.

This debut film by writer-director Charlene Bourgeois-Tacquet explores passion and a life-changing affair BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY PECCADILLO PICTURES Anaïs (Anaïs Demoustier, The New Girlfriend) is the energetic and impulsive protagonist of this sparkling rom-com. Fans of Gentleman Jack, will appreciate the captivating allure of a sapphic power walk. In the opening of this film, we get to see Anaïs sprinting down Parisian sidewalks with a crushed bouquet of flowers tightly held under her arm.

Yesterday’s celebrations were truly unforgettable! BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE SHOWING (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) EMELIE SANDÉ, DAWN BUTLER BRENT, DAME KELLY HOLMES AND LINDA RILEY Team DIVA were overjoyed to take part in the in the parade yesterday (2 July) as part of Pride In London. The festivities were truly unforgettable and the day with plenty to celebrate. Whilst we have come so far in the last 50 years since the first UK Pride, we were reminded of why Pride must continue to be a protest.

“The different personalities, performers and artists all coming together in one big melting pot genuinely helps to drive excellence” BY LINDA GOLD I started out life as an estate agent and rose to a high level in the industry. However, after coming out in the early 2000s – I was forced out. I moved to London and had to start again, becoming a cleaner in a gay bar. I worked hard and ended up managing drag nights at the venue, when their popularity was nothing like it is today.

The Cheeky Charmer questions: “Would this be a healthier way to date?” BY THE CHEEKY CHARMER, IMAGE BY TIM SAMUEL VIA PEXELS I’m re-thinking my dating strategy. And yes, “strategy” is the correct word according to my (straight married) friends. “Dating’s a strategy,*” they say. “It’s a numbers game… Make a spread sheet”. *How many times can you say “strategy” in one column? Four apparently 🤷‍♀️ Ok, they didn’t say “spread sheet”  but I did have a date with a woman who made one.

The 22-year-old queer singer-songwriter is ready to shake dancefloors with an energetic new track BY VAL ZELASCHI, IMAGE BY ADAMA JALLOH Pride does not end today – repeat it with me. And check out Cat Burns’ and Shermanology’s remix of Cat’s very own queer anthem, Free. A song close to her heart, Free is about finding the courage to come out, the pain of having to live a lie and the relief of embracing one’s true self.

This year’s theme is #AllOurPride, an invitation to come together and celebrate our “collective past, present and future” BY BY VAL ZELASCHI, IMAGE BY RODNAE PRODUCTIONS VIA PEXELS The UK’s biggest Pride event, Pride In London, is back this weekend after being cancelled fortwo years in a row. It will mark the 50th anniversary of the first UK pride rally.