Latest news with #VictoriaMcCloud
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
At a glance: The Independent Pride List 2025
The Independent Pride List celebrates LGBT+ pioneers, highlighting achievements in sports, music, politics, and fashion, amidst growing global challenges to LGBT+ rights. Dr Victoria McCloud, Britain's first trans judge, is challenging the UK government at the European Court of Human Rights over the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of 'woman'. The list of 50 includes figures like Juno Dawson, Bella Ramsey, and Cynthia Erivo, recognised for their activism, acting roles, and advocacy for LGBT+ visibility and rights. Wes Streeting, the UK's Health Secretary, is recognised as the most prominent gay man in Westminster politics. The list also honours individuals like David Hockney, The Vivienne (posthumously), and Yasmin Benoit, celebrating contributions to art, drag performance, and asexuality awareness, respectively.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cynthia Erivo and The Vivienne among ‘LGBT+ changemakers' in 2025 Pride List
Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo and drag queen The Vivienne are among the stars who feature on a list 'celebrating the most influential LGBT+ changemakers of the past year'. The Independent's Pride List for 2025 also includes retired Olympic diver Tom Daley, actor Bella Ramsey, artist David Hockney, comedian Joe Lycett and author Juno Dawson. Erivo, 38, who won a Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (Glaad) Award earlier in the year, was placed at number four on the top 10 list while The Vivienne, the drag alter-ego of the late James Lee Williams, is seventh. The Vivienne, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and spoke publicly about prejudices faced by LGBT+ people and by the drag community, died in January at the age of 32 and is a posthumous inclusion on the list. Topping the 2025 Pride List is Victoria McCloud, a lawyer, former judge and transgender woman who announced she would take the Government to the European Court of Human Rights over the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman. READ MORE: Dr McCloud said: 'I'm delighted and honoured that The Independent has included me in its Pride List this year. 'In 2025, more than ever before, amidst increasing oppression and segregation at home, with court and state against us, people from the trans community yearn to be bathed in rainbow light. 'These are uniquely dark times but we will challenge those who wish to marginalise us, be they Government or activists with money and the odd mega-yacht to spare. 'We have been here for centuries; we will be here for centuries to come. The quiet majority walk with us.' In April the UK's highest court unanimously ruled that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Chloe Hubbard, UK editor of The Independent, said: 'We are proud to champion our most influential LGBT+ changemakers once again on our annual Pride List in a year where the community has been further marginalised on both sides of the Atlantic. 'Visibility and pride within the queer community feels more vital than ever and we are dedicated to continuing to occupy our unique place in the media on LGBT+ issues.' In 2023, The Independent relaunched its Rainbow List as the Pride List, to recognise 50 extraordinary 'LGBT+ changemakers'. The 2024 list included Doctor Who and Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa, commentator and former England footballer Alex Scott, Wicked and Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey and screenwriter Russell T Davies. To mark the publication of its Pride List, The Independent will host an event at Queer Britain on June 11. This year's top 10: 1. Victoria McCloud, former judge of the King's Bench 2. Juno Dawson, author 3. Bella Ramsey, actor 4. Cynthia Erivo, actor and singer 5. Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 6. David Hockney, artist 7. The Vivienne, drag artist, singer and television personality 8. Joe Lycett, comedian, television presenter and artist 9. Tom Daley, Olympic gold medallist and television personality 10. Yasmin Benoit, model and activist
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Newscast The Former Judge Challenging The Supreme Court Gender Ruling
Today we hear from the woman who was the UK's only transgender judge. Laura speaks to Victoria McCloud, who stepped down from the job last year, about her challenge to overturn the Supreme Court unanimous ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. In an extended interview, Victoria talks about why she thinks she could succeed, and about the ruling's consequences. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast'. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Chris Flynn and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Cynthia Erivo and The Vivienne among ‘LGBT+ changemakers' in 2025 Pride List
Erivo, 38, who won a Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (Glaad) Award earlier in the year, was placed at number four on the top 10 list while The Vivienne, the drag alter-ego of the late James Lee Williams, is seventh. The Vivienne attending the National Television Awards 2020 (Isabel Infantes/PA) The Vivienne, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and spoke publicly about prejudices faced by LGBT+ people and by the drag community, died in January at the age of 32 and is a posthumous inclusion on the list. Topping the 2025 Pride List is Victoria McCloud, a lawyer, former judge and transgender woman who announced she would take the Government to the European Court of Human Rights over the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman. Dr McCloud said: 'I'm delighted and honoured that The Independent has included me in its Pride List this year. 'In 2025, more than ever before, amidst increasing oppression and segregation at home, with court and state against us, people from the trans community yearn to be bathed in rainbow light. 'These are uniquely dark times but we will challenge those who wish to marginalise us, be they Government or activists with money and the odd mega-yacht to spare. 'We have been here for centuries; we will be here for centuries to come. The quiet majority walk with us.' In April the UK's highest court unanimously ruled that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Bella Ramsey is third on the list (Ian West/PA) Chloe Hubbard, UK editor of The Independent, said: 'We are proud to champion our most influential LGBT+ changemakers once again on our annual Pride List in a year where the community has been further marginalised on both sides of the Atlantic. 'Visibility and pride within the queer community feels more vital than ever and we are dedicated to continuing to occupy our unique place in the media on LGBT+ issues.' In 2023, The Independent relaunched its Rainbow List as the Pride List, to recognise 50 extraordinary 'LGBT+ changemakers'. The 2024 list included Doctor Who and Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa, commentator and former England footballer Alex Scott, Wicked and Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey and screenwriter Russell T Davies. To mark the publication of its Pride List, The Independent will host an event at Queer Britain on June 11. This year's top 10: 1. Victoria McCloud, former judge of the King's Bench 2. Juno Dawson, author 3. Bella Ramsey, actor 4. Cynthia Erivo, actor and singer 5. Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 6. David Hockney, artist 7. The Vivienne, drag artist, singer and television personality 8. Joe Lycett, comedian, television presenter and artist 9. Tom Daley, Olympic gold medallist and television personality 10. Yasmin Benoit, model and activist
Euronews
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Eurovision winner Nemo takes action after UK court ruling over transgender women
ADVERTISEMENT Last year's Eurovision winner Nemo is taking a stand for transgender rights in the wake of the UK Supreme Court's unanimous ruling that trans women are not legally women under the Equalities Act. The Swiss artist - the first nonbinary winner of Eurovision - posted details on social media for how people in the UK can contact members of parliament to protest the Supreme Court's ruling that will exclude transgender women from women's toilets, hospital wards and sports teams. Indeed, the ruling earlier this month means that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces. 'A big thing for me is talking about my queer experience through my music but also contextualizing it in that way, but then also just standing up for what I believe in,' they said in an interview with AP, explaining their need to contribute. 'And not being afraid to speak up and encouraging others to speak up as well.' Nemo AP Photo Nemo called the ruling of Britain's highest court an 'attack on trans+ rights' which will 'impact the whole community.' 'It's a very tough time like emotionally, as a trans person,' Nemo said. 'It's hard when there's so much pushback on something and you're just like, the only thing you wanna do is being able to live and be yourself, not having to worry, not having to hide. And if that's not given, it's like, how do we even … what can you do?' Nemo added they don't feel like trans rights are going backwards and acknowledged that sometimes things get worse before they get better. 'I have so much hope that things are generally moving forward,' they said. 'I think people are generally ready for empathy and for understanding each other. Nemo AP Photo Britain's highest court defines a woman for anti-discrimination purposes as someone born biologically female, noting that transgender people remain protected from discrimination. However, trans groups said the decision would undermine their rights. Prominent figures in the LGBT+ community have been calling on charities to speak out on the ruling, and doctors at the British Medical Association have condemned the ruling, dubbing it 'biologically nonsensical' and 'scientifically illiterate'. They argue that a straightforward binary divide between sex and gender 'has no basis in science or medicine while being actively harmful to transgender and gender-diverse people'. Thousands gather in London in support of trans rights in the wake of the court ruling AP Photo Additionally, the UK's only ever judge to publicly say they are transgender is planning to take the UK government to the European Court of Human Rights over the ruling. Dr Victoria McCloud, who stepped down from court last year, said the judgement violated her human rights and she felt "contained and segregated". She said the court had failed to consider human rights arguments that would have been put by trans people and the judgement. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking to The Guardian, Dr McCloud said the basis of her action was that 'the Supreme Court refused to hear me, or my evidence, to provide them with information about the impact on those trans people affected by the judgment and failed to give any reasons'. She added: 'Those are two basic premises of normal justice. There were protest groups speaking on behalf of women in this court case, but ordinary women were not actually represented as a whole.' 'The disabled were not represented, and now we're seeing the Conservatives saying that trans people have got to use the disabled loos, which impacts the lives of disabled people. The impacts of all of this have not been dealt with.' She added that rather than bringing clarity, the judgement had 'brought chaos'. ADVERTISEMENT
