READ MORE: Ex Love Island star believes 'dry' Gemma Owen is using show to further careerLast year, Love Island bosses claimed to have gay contestants presented a "logistical difficulty" – something which Alex claims has been broken.The 27-year-old who previously dated Samira Mighty has spoken exclusively to the Daily Star on his thoughts.He said: "I can't really speak for all the other shows because obviously the big one that has made its brand, doing what it's doing and has been successful doing that."I can't really comment and say that it needs to change because that's just the brand that it is."I think Amazon Prime Video's Lovestruck High has really shown that it can be done and if companies really wanted to, they could do that."It's not me to say that they should and you know, call certain ones out for not doing it but it's been proven it can be done."The accountant continued: "We're not the only ones that have done it as well, there's another show earlier this year that had people with more representation from the LGBTQ+ community involved."Hopefully, it's the start of something that's more progressive for that environment moving forward."Discussing ex-Islander Zara McDermott's BBC Three show, Love In The Flesh, Alex added: "I've got a friend that was on Zara's one, so I know they had representation in that."ITV's commissioner Amanda Stavri previously told RadioTimes: "In terms of gay Islanders, I think the main challenge is regarding the format of Love Island. Lord Etherton made history himself when he became the first openly gay judge of the Senior Courts.Tremaine added: ‘I hope this review can repair the hurt and compensate the loss and that its recommendations are honoured in full.’Sharon Hudson, a Women’s Royal Army Corps veteran, also experienced first hand as a result of the crackdown on LGBTQ+ people within the Armed Forces.She had revealed her sexuality after severe bullying from male soldiers and military investigators.She had gained the title of Lance Corporal by the time she was ordered to leave.‘Being dismissed for my sexuality severely affected my mental health,’ Sharon said.‘I lied to my family for 40 years because of the shame I felt.
Olly Alexander shared a powerful speech to mark Pride month in 2019 and the importance of being his authentic self in his performances and daily life. Standing in front of large text on the stage reading ‘Queer is beautiful’, he began: ‘I talk about being gay – you might have already noticed some of the subtle messaging on stage – but I’m gay and I talk about being gay kind of a lot.‘I’m sure some people wish I would shut up about it sometimes, but I have my reasons and some of them are personal, because I spent such a long time wishing I wasn’t gay, being ashamed of that, so now it’s like I’m making up for lost time, you know?”His performance at the music festival came days after the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a series of protests held by members of the gay community in 1969 after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York. Olly, who will also perform at this year’s festival, continued: ‘The only reason I’m even able to be up here talking about my gay self is because of all the people that have came before me that fought for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.‘Sometimes we are referred to as the acronym LBGT, sometimes LGBTQ+, I personally like to use the word queer, but lots of people don’t like that word, and that’s because the word has a complicated and painful history.ĭark Souls has always been queerMeet the rural drag queen ‘breaking down barriers’ facing LGBTQ+ people in the countrysideOne in 10 UK parents 'would never speak to their child about what LGBT means'The review was launched in January and, following the appointment of its chair, it will now begin its year-long investigation.