Latest news with #OllyAlexander
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
LGBTQIA+ map 'promotes belonging' at rail stations
An illustrated travel map and exhibition is being launched to highlight local LGBTQIA+ stories and develop a sense of "visibility, belonging, and safety" across a rail network. The project - called Exploring LGBTQIA+ Gloucestershire - was developed by Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) and features 13 original portraits by Brockworth-based illustrator Sherina Steele. The portraits include both historical and contemporary figures like King Edward II and Olly Alexander, who have shaped Gloucestershire's queer history. About 2,000 maps will be distributed throughout June as part of Pride Month, with the exhibition open to the public at Cheltenham Spa Station from 31 May. GCRP executive director, Hannah McDonnell, said: "Through this map and exhibition, we're working to remove barriers, amplify underrepresented voices, and build a more inclusive transport network rooted in the communities it serves." The initiative, funded by Great Western Railway, aims to promote visibility at railway stations across the county and forms part of the national Railway 200 celebrations, by spotlighting underrepresented histories and communities within the rail network. Ms McDonnell said that by sharing the stories of LGBTQIA+ people and places across Gloucestershire they hope to "inspire connection, pride and belonging, both within the community and among those who travel through it". The 13 portraits featured in the exhibition and on the map include singer and actor Olly Alexander, former chief constable of Gloucestershire Police Suzette Davenport, King Edward II and Conservative MP for Cheltenham between 1874 and 1928 Sir James Agg-Gardner. Others included are computer scientist Alan Turing, Bee Bailey - the first openly transgender police woman on Gloucestershire Police, and Stroud-born barman Jody Dobrowski who was killed because of his sexuality in London in 2005. Project manager Piper Holmes said the LGBTQIA+ population in the UK is "steadily increasing by 3.3%" but she said recent spikes in hate crimes had "tripled in recent years". She said that through the project, the team wanted to "encourage queer people to explore their area and know that Gloucestershire can be a place for them". "Making the places listed accessible by public transport is critical as many young people are not driving these days," she added. She also hopes the project will help build "confidence within the community to access rail industry careers". Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Allie X to headline Bristol Pride 2025 UK Pride groups suspend involvement of political parties Crowds gather to celebrate Cheltenham Pride Pride Gloucestershire GWR - Pride
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
LGBTQIA+ map 'promotes belonging' at rail stations
An illustrated travel map and exhibition is being launched to highlight local LGBTQIA+ stories and develop a sense of "visibility, belonging, and safety" across a rail network. The project - called Exploring LGBTQIA+ Gloucestershire - was developed by Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) and features 13 original portraits by Brockworth-based illustrator Sherina Steele. The portraits include both historical and contemporary figures like King Edward II and Olly Alexander, who have shaped Gloucestershire's queer history. About 2,000 maps will be distributed throughout June as part of Pride Month, with the exhibition open to the public at Cheltenham Spa Station from 31 May. GCRP executive director, Hannah McDonnell, said: "Through this map and exhibition, we're working to remove barriers, amplify underrepresented voices, and build a more inclusive transport network rooted in the communities it serves." The initiative, funded by Great Western Railway, aims to promote visibility at railway stations across the county and forms part of the national Railway 200 celebrations, by spotlighting underrepresented histories and communities within the rail network. Ms McDonnell said that by sharing the stories of LGBTQIA+ people and places across Gloucestershire they hope to "inspire connection, pride and belonging, both within the community and among those who travel through it". The 13 portraits featured in the exhibition and on the map include singer and actor Olly Alexander, former chief constable of Gloucestershire Police Suzette Davenport, King Edward II and Conservative MP for Cheltenham between 1874 and 1928 Sir James Agg-Gardner. Others included are computer scientist Alan Turing, Bee Bailey - the first openly transgender police woman on Gloucestershire Police, and Stroud-born barman Jody Dobrowski who was killed because of his sexuality in London in 2005. Project manager Piper Holmes said the LGBTQIA+ population in the UK is "steadily increasing by 3.3%" but she said recent spikes in hate crimes had "tripled in recent years". She said that through the project, the team wanted to "encourage queer people to explore their area and know that Gloucestershire can be a place for them". "Making the places listed accessible by public transport is critical as many young people are not driving these days," she added. She also hopes the project will help build "confidence within the community to access rail industry careers". Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Allie X to headline Bristol Pride 2025 UK Pride groups suspend involvement of political parties Crowds gather to celebrate Cheltenham Pride Pride Gloucestershire GWR - Pride
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
LGBTQIA+ travel map launched at Gloucestershire railway stations
An illustrated travel map and exhibition is being launched to highlight local LGBTQIA+ stories and develop a sense of "visibility, belonging, and safety" across a rail project - called Exploring LGBTQIA+ Gloucestershire - was developed by Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) and features 13 original portraits by Brockworth-based illustrator Sherina portraits include both historical and contemporary figures like King Edward II and Olly Alexander, who have shaped Gloucestershire's queer 2,000 maps will be distributed throughout June as part of Pride Month, with the exhibition open to the public at Cheltenham Spa Station from 31 May. GCRP executive director, Hannah McDonnell, said: "Through this map and exhibition, we're working to remove barriers, amplify underrepresented voices, and build a more inclusive transport network rooted in the communities it serves." The initiative, funded by Great Western Railway, aims to promote visibility at railway stations across the county and forms part of the national Railway 200 celebrations, by spotlighting underrepresented histories and communities within the rail McDonnell said that by sharing the stories of LGBTQIA+ people and places across Gloucestershire they hope to "inspire connection, pride and belonging, both within the community and among those who travel through it". The 13 portraits featured in the exhibition and on the map include singer and actor Olly Alexander, former chief constable of Gloucestershire Police Suzette Davenport, King Edward II and Conservative MP for Cheltenham between 1874 and 1928 Sir James included are computer scientist Alan Turing, Bee Bailey - the first openly transgender police woman on Gloucestershire Police, and Stroud-born barman Jody Dobrowski who was killed because of his sexuality in London in 2005. Project manager Piper Holmes said the LGBTQIA+ population in the UK is "steadily increasing by 3.3%" but she said recent spikes in hate crimes had "tripled in recent years".She said that through the project, the team wanted to "encourage queer people to explore their area and know that Gloucestershire can be a place for them"."Making the places listed accessible by public transport is critical as many young people are not driving these days," she also hopes the project will help build "confidence within the community to access rail industry careers".
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Eurovision: Remember Monday singer says she's lost wedding ring after contest
A member of the UK's Eurovision entry Remember Monday says she lost her wedding ring in video posted the morning after their Basel performance."I've lost my wedding ring and my engagement ring," Holly-Anne Hull said in a video posted on Instagram on Sunday. In the video, the singer and her two bandmates are sat on a plane, seemingly leaving Switzerland. Hull did not give further details, such as where she might have lost the ring or when it country-pop trio came 19th of the 26 countries in this year's Eurovision Song Contest with their track What The Hell Just Happened. Hull got married in Surrey in June 2023. In the video posted on Instagram the group parodied the lyrical style of their entry - which tells the tale of the morning after a big night out - saying they are still wearing "last night's hair gel" and their knees hurt. before Hull jokes: "I'm gonna have a breakdown 'cause I've lost my wedding ring."Lauren Byrne adds the trio are "so grateful" for their supporters and Charlotte Steele says their fans are "amazing".Remember Monday got 88 points on Saturday night, all of which were from the jury - like last year's entrant Olly Alexander, the band received no points from the public singer JJ won the competition with his electro-ballad Wasted Love, with a total of 436 votes, after beating Israel at the last came third, followed by Sweden, which had been the frontrunner going into Saturday night. The country's entrant, comedy troupe KAJ, performed Bara Bada Bastu, a song about saunas, which has has topped Swedish music charts for three months. Though Remember Monday's song performed poorly with the public vote, the group came joint 10th in the jury vote, along with Finland, and Italy even gave the UK its 12 points. The trio, who all have musical theatre backgrounds, danced around a giant chandelier in Bridgerton-inspired colourful dresses as they sang about the aftermath of a big night out, where they lost their keys, broke their heels and went to bed in their make-up. The BBC's music correspondent Mark Savage wrote that the band "got a lot of things right" and "hit every harmony in their song... with pinpoint precision". But the public was less convinced. Only one other country, host nation Switzerland, got zero from the public Monday, who met at sixth-form college in Farnborough studying performing arts, have been friends for 12 years, and quit their jobs in late 2023 to be in the band full-time. They were announced as the UK's Eurovision entry in this month the group announced a UK and Ireland tour, and are performing at events including the Capital Summertime Ball, Latitude festival and the Isle of Wight Festival this called Saturday night "one of the most surreal and emotional moments of our lives".
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Remember Monday speak out following Eurovision Grand Final
However, when it came to the public vote, Remember Monday and the UK received 0 points. Their tally of 88 points saw them finish in 19th position ahead of only Armenia (72), Portugal (50), Luxembourg (47), Denmark (47), Spain (37), Iceland (33) and San Marino (27). Eurovision leaderboard Austria - 436 points Israel - 357 Estonia - 356 Sweden - 321 Italy - 256 Greece - 231 France - 230 Albania - 218 Ukraine - 218 Switzerland - 214 Finland - 196 Netherlands - 175 Latvia - 158 Poland - 156 Germany - 151 Lithuania - 96 Malta - 91 Norway - 89 UK - 88 Armenia - 72 Portugal - 50 Luxembourg - 47 Denmark - 47 Spain - 37 Iceland - 33 San Marino - 27 This was one place worse than Olly Alexander, who came 18th in Malmo in 2024. Following the announcement of the results, Eurovision fans questioned "what the hell just happened", agreeing that the UK and Remember Monday "deserved better". I don't understand this year tho. The song was nice and they deserved better imo — Magdalena~Meg (@megAlodon5368) May 17, 2025 Remember Monday speak out for the first time since Eurovision Grand Final Following Saturday's Grand Final in Basel, Switzerland, Remember Monday has spoken out about their Eurovision journey and how they have created "memories that will last a lifetime". The trio said: "Wow – what a ride. "Three best mates walked onto the world's biggest music stage and came out with a top 10 Jury score, massive streaming numbers, and memories that will last a lifetime. "Performing at Eurovision was one of the most surreal and emotional moments of our lives. "The love we've felt from fans, our incredible team, and everyone who streamed, voted, and believed in us has been overwhelming. Remember Monday's Charlotte Steele, Lauren Byrne and Holly-Anne Hull said they have made "memories that will last a lifetime" on their Eurovision journey. (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Rob Parfitt) "This is just the beginning for Remember Monday. "We've got new music coming your way, a UK and Ireland headline tour this year, a summer packed with festivals, and we'll be hitting the stage at Wembley Stadium for the Summertime Ball, no big deal. "We're so grateful for the platform, the media support, and every single new fan who's joined us on this wild journey. Eurovision? Completed it. Let's go." A look back at the UK's 5 Eurovision wins Who won last night's Eurovision Song Contest? Austria's JJ won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with his song Wasted Love, while Israeli singer Yuval Raphael finished runner-up. RECOMMENDED READING: The singer, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, became the third Austrian act to win Eurovision, following on from Conchita Wurst (2014) and Udo Jürgens (1966). The 24-year-old, who is a counter-tenor at the Vienna State Opera, scored 436 points, receiving 258 from the jury and 176 from the public vote. JJ scored nearly 100 points more than any other contestant, with Israel's Yuval Raphael finishing second with 357 points and Tommy Cash from Estonia coming in third, receiving 356 points for his song Espresso Macchiato.
