2021: What might we expect from the year ahead?

After a challenging 2020, what might we hope for in 2021? Will we see permanent changes in the way we work and social behaviour? Improved equality for the LGBTQIA+ community, women’s rights and people of colour? Maybe, the removal of fake news from our daily news feeds and positive political changes worldwide? Let us take some time to explore what 2021 might look like

Ancient Gays: LGBTQIA+ individuals throughout history

Some believe that more people identify as LGBTQIA+ than ever before. Often calling it a fad, trend, or just a sign of the times; however, history shows that the community has existed for thousands of years. Many LGBTQIA+ members often played important roles within their communities, societies, and history. The past hundred years have seen many reforms in the laws and rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. However, what was life like for members of the community hundreds or even thousands of years ago?

LGBTQIA+ Relationships: Love across borders

Practical tips when falling in love with someone from a different country. With high-speed internet available worldwide and international air travel much more affordable, falling in love with someone thousands of miles away has become easy and occurs more frequently than ever before. For people who fall in love, what practical steps can they take to make the process of living together in the future easier?

LGBTQIA+ Representation: Are TV and films doing enough?

Over the past 50 years, there has been a slow and steady increase in the number of vocal and proud LGBTQIA+ actors and actresses. With more TV shows and films creating leading characters and increasing the number of supporting roles, the community is becoming better represented. However, how close is the entertainment industry’s representation of the community when it comes to real life?

Pride 2020: Joining in with the community by going online

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, especially those large groups and teams that organise the many annual pride events and marches worldwide. With mandated lockdowns restricting everyone’s ability to attend events, resilient organisers have found new ways to help people come together and celebrate Pride. Online Pride has had a mixed response from the community. However, is there an opportunity to create online content and participation in future events long after the pandemic?

Politicising the vulnerable: targeting minority groups

Throughout time, warlords, kings, religious leaders, and politicians have rallied the masses, mobilised support for their plans, or distracted the majority using divisive methods. One such approach uses fear, hatred and mistrust of groups where the majority usually do not socially interact with the target group and where differences exist. The support is achieved by managing the narrative, weaponising religions, misrepresenting ethnicities, beliefs, and sexualities, and ultimately targeting small groups of vulnerable people and minorities. Sadly, even in these modern times, these tactics and approaches are still being used; however, does this approach really benefit modern-day politicians?

I Believe in Me: becoming your own champion

Who believes in you? Knows all your strengths and weaknesses, believes that you can achieve anything you put your mind to and, through your actions, can change the world around you? I know the answer, do you?

The LGBTQIA+ Ideology Narrative: understanding the truth

They look like you, sound like you and come from similar backgrounds. They can be found everywhere, be one of your friends, family, and even one of those you love the most. Coming from everywhere and not belonging to a single race, religion, or gender makes them challenging to identify. In an ever-changing world and shifting attitudes, how different are the views and beliefs of the LGBT community when they are compared to their heterosexual peers?

LGBTQIA+ Pride: Are the youth losing hope?

It is easy to forget the impact on people in an age full of negativity, reports of world shortages, climate change, rising unemployment, yo-yo economies, pandemics and wars. All directly impact people’s quality of life and the negative effect on the mental health of people from all social, economic, and ethnic groups globally. Many older people come from generations where they remember happier types, often during periods of growth and relative prosperity. Though life was not perfect, it did not have the intensity that many younger people face today. With so much going on, are the youth of today losing hope?

Promiscuous Equation: changing misperceptions

With many LGBTQIA+ community members openly using tailored smartphone chat and dating apps and services, there is a perception that monogamous relationships are not the norm. That LGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely to accept open or commitment-free relationships, and the ideal of monogamy is somehow seen as conforming. How accurate are these perceptions and beliefs in the modern global LGBTQIA+ community?