EDITORS WORDS
Don’t forget to click or tap on the photos and logos in the e-magazine to find out more information about the people taking part.
My name is Rory Hartman. I am non-binary, and proud to say it. That truth, however, is still new. Just two years ago, at 32, I made the decision to come out, fully aware of what it might cost me. I lost my family in the process. But in that loss, I found something else: a community that embraced me, a chosen family that held me, and a clarity of purpose that changed the direction of my life.
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Sitting With Pride: Reimagine Inclusive Care
Sitting With Pride was born from a career in childcare, with a specialisation in mental health, and a deep commitment to showing up for the LGBTQ+ community. Not just in words, but in action.
Sitting With Pride was born from that moment. Sitting With Pride is a matchmaking service designed to connect families with caregivers who provide affirming, culturally competent care. It centres LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, along with allies, creating connections that go beyond basic qualifications and prioritise trust, safety, and alignment.
Because for many families, care is never just about experience. It is about feeling understood. It is about knowing that your identity will not be questioned, erased, or misunderstood in your own home.
This is only the beginning. The vision is to continue expanding, reaching more families, and redefining what inclusive, affirming care can look like.
If you are seeking care that truly sees you, or if you are a caregiver who leads with empathy and pride, there is a place for you here.
Socials: www.sittingwithpride.com Facebook: facebook.com/sittingwithpride Instagram: @sittingwithpride TikTok: @sittingwithpride Email: info@sittingwithpride.com families@sittingwithpride.com caregivers@sittingwithpride.com
We are more than a service. We are a community rooted in compassion, driven by love, and grounded in pride. Our website officially launches on May 8th, 2026.
At its core, Sitting With Pride is about access to care that sees you, respects you, and honours your identity without compromise. Because everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and affirmed, regardless of gender identity, sexuality, race, or ethnicity. More than a service, Sitting With Pride is part of a growing community rooted in belonging. It is about creating spaces where both families and caregivers feel valued, understood, and supported.
The needs of families are not one-size-fits-all, and neither is the care. Sitting With Pride supports a range of services, including live-in caregivers, full-time and part-time care, occasional support for moments like date nights, travel caregivers, and newborn or infant specialists. Each match is intentional, grounded in shared values, communication, and trust.
What makes this service different is who it centres. Many of the caregivers within the network are part of the very communities they serve. They bring lived experience alongside professional skill; an understanding of identity, intersectionality, and the importance of creating environments where people can fully be themselves. That kind of care cannot be taught alone. It is felt, practiced, and lived.
Sitting With Pride exists to remove that uncertainty.
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This is peak time for jobs in the garden. Everything is growing like crazy including the weeds unfortunately. Don’t let them flower else they will set seed and you will be inundated with germinating weeds.
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May 2026
Be careful with watering and not to splash too much around and Botrytis can be an issue early in the season as can damping off in fresh seedlings.
If you like the idea of complimentary planting to keep pests off some of your plants, French Marigold are good ones to use in the greenhouse to keep Aphids off
Gay Gardeners UK, Plants, Seeds and surplus Exchange Group
It’s a good time to apply feed and weed to your lawn. This will take out broad leaved weeds and green up the grass and also make it grow quicker so be ready with the mower. Remember to cut high to start with and gradually reduce the height of cut else you will have a rather yellow looking lawn after cutting.
Containers and hanging baskets can be filled this month and there will be plenty of choice from your local garden centre. A good multipurpose compost should be used to give your plants a good start and it will contain enough feed for six to eight weeks.
If you have a cold greenhouse it will really come into its own this month. Be careful of the weather forecast as the night times can still generate a frost although usually not as severe so a bit of protection is usually enough for things like Fuchsias and Dahlias.
One of the ways to prevent that is to sow your seeds thinly as then air can get in between the seedlings. You can take Dahlia cuttings this month if you want to bulk up your stocks.
They just need canes or something to use as support. Garlic planted alongside your Roses will keep Aphids off and you get the benefit for the kitchen too.
You can get dwarf lilies these days if you only have a small pond. Watch out for the dreaded blanket weed and remove as soon as you spot it. The improved light makes it grow really quickly and it will stifle everything else if left alone.
Top Right – The shoot has been removed cleanly with no damage to the stem or leaf. Failure to remove these side shoots will give you excessively bushy plants that are out of control and with very few flowers and so fewer fruit.
Ponds are coming back to life and if you’re lucky you might have some frog spawn in which case don’t disturb it. You can buy new pond plants now such as oxygenators or more decorative marginal plants usually at reasonable prices from the right garden centres.
Top left – A tomato plant with a side shoot on the axis of the leaf and stem that needs removing.
You can use some of your containers for growing runner beans which are great to eat but also have rather attractive flowers and don’t take up much space.
At the same time be aware of slug and caterpillar damage and pick any off if you spot them else they will demolish your soft stemmed plants like Hostas.
Watch out for the bright red lily beetle and pick them off when you see them else they will fill your lilies with holes and make them look more like Swiss cheese.
You can get pet friendly slug pellets these days so use those or beer traps if you want to be totally natural.
your Tomatoes and Cucumbers. Just plant them in between the plants you’re protecting.
If your tomato plants are big enough you should start feeding after the first flowers are showing. The compost will supply enough fertiliser up until then.
You will have the bonus of Alliums flowering this month and be able to watch your Stargazer Lilies living up to their name growing very tall.
As you plant up your borders, check on your perennials and prune and tidy up any dead wood and it will make them grow all the stronger.
Your borders can now be planted with the summer bedding such as Geraniums, Petunias, Marigolds both French and African.
With the soil warming up you can direct sow some salad seeds in drills such as Radish and Lettuce along with other vegetables like Carrots and then you get the pleasant task of thinning them out later and having baby carrots to nibble on.
Remove side shoots as the appear and are large enough to easily remove as you can see in the two photos above.
- Plant of the Month - Alliums
They are impressive for the border and provide a good talking point as they are the decorative onion and have foliage that will look familiar if you’ve grown onions before.
When out and about watch out for pests as well as frost on your best assets you don’t want them getting nibbled!
They will come back each year which means you get great value.
Giant Alliums on thick stems that don’t need supporting with huge spherical flower heads that bees and other pollinating insect love.
Make sure those assets are used to their very best and given plenty of air!
May’s plant of the month should be Wisteria but that got used last month as we seem to be getting earlier flowering times from our plants.
So instead, I will go for Alliums which are decorative onions with pink, purple and blue flowers in a ball on the end of a long stalk.
While Liza (does she need a last name mentioned?) is luckily still with us (aged 80) she’s too feeble to travel. Liberace, unfortunately, passed in 1987 - at the age of 67, so we’ve got Saffert and Snow - who both look and sound like Liberace and Liza, who actually never performed together, but now they do! Together and separately they belt hits such as Cabaret, New York, New York, Over the Rainbow, tell lots of funny jokes, and cleverly interact with the audience. The show we attended Liberaces’ mother was there ! :)
LOVELY WORDS FROM OUR AUDIENCES
David Saffert & Jillian Snow are now performing across the UK as Liberace and Liza in a show that’s very entertaining and camp - and it’s called - appropriately ‘Liberace & Liza - A Tribute.’
There are as many laughs as there are sequins when their Liberace & Liza take hilarious (and sometimes mischievous) turns vying for the spotlight.
“It was a night of pure entertainment by two extremely talented artists with a talented back-up band to boot. One of the best and most entertaining shows I have seen in a good long time.”
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humming and quoting a night they’ll not soon forget.
“I walked out feeling uplifted and hopeful, if not a little sore from laughing.”
Saffert’s dizzying piano skills and Snow’s powerhouse belt team up in Cabaret, New York, New York, Over the Rainbowto surprise covers by Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.
No matter what, they both come out winning and audiences are left in awe,
Reviewed By Tim B for Forever with Pride
Liberace & Liza Minnelli never performed together, but that didn’t stop David Saffert & Jillian Snow from creating this wildly successful mashup of two over-the-top icons.
We all love love both of them - legends in their own time.
“Wonderful!!! The chemistry between the two terrific! Absolutely perfect show!”
Tales of the Second City – Misadventures on Birmingham's Gay Scene
Don’t Look Now
There are men you talk to, others with whom you flirt, and those you just admire.
The untouchables.
He walked into Missing Bar with two girls.
Casually stylish, and effortlessly sexy.
He was noticed.
Indiscreet whispers were exchanged.
‘Don’t look now, but…’
The room had changed.
The atmosphere was charged.
He came to a halt directly in front of our group, engrossed in his phone.
Without thought or hesitation, we collectively stopped what we were doing.
He was universally arresting.
Conversation paused and we admired this new arrival in mutual awe.
He glanced up from his screen and we jolted back into life, all looking in different
Two mates stared into each other’s faces in panic.
A quizzical frown danced across his brow.
One friend boldly broke ranks and approached the guy, telling him how hot he was to his face.
I stepped forward, laughing about how daft he’d sent us, our heads snapping in opposite directions the instant he’d looked up.
‘I’m surprised we didn’t get collective whiplash,’ I told him. ‘We have very different tastes in men,’ I continued, indicated my embarrassed friends, ‘but you stopped us all in our tracks.’
directions at once, like a mob of meerkats. Heads swivelled and eyes rolled from window, to floor, to door.
I shot a random look toward the corner ceiling, whilst another friend focused on the floor and whistled self-consciously.
We were all desperate to look any and everywhere, as long as we weren’t caught gawping.
He beamed with sincere appreciation, then told us what we instinctively knew. Str8.
Hear it first hand from the second city @ www.talesofthesecondcity.com
We shuffled our feet and smirked awkwardly. Busted.
Johannes Radebe, in his musical theatre debut - who plays main character Lola.
Johannes Radebe & the cast of
Now playing at The Coliseum in Central London until July 11, 2026, this new version of 'Kinky Boots' is just absolutely fantastic and far exceeds the previous staged versions, and the reason is because of its star -
Wow Wow Wow sums up Johannes Radebe's performance in the new stage version of 'Kinky Boots.'
Kinky Boots
He absolutely kills it. From the moment Radebe appears on stage up until the final number, Radebe, mostly known for television’s “Strictly Come Dancing," shines in his sequins and high heels - a West End star is born!
Lola is then hired as a designer for the new line of ’shoes' and we all know how it ends.
Most of you already know the story - Charlie Price (a good Matt Cardle - 2010 X Factor winner who kills every song he sings and has vast theatre experience) inherits a shoe factory after the death of his father but it’s not going so well financially and is on the brink of bankruptcy when he meets Lola and a new business idea is born: high heeled boots made specially for men (and specifically drag queens).
Kinky Boots ably fills the large stage of the Coliseum. Luckily its large enough for Radebe and his larger than life presence. |t’s as if this role was tailor made for him!Cardle is very good as Charlie, but besides Radebe it's all about the music (Cyndi Lauper), the story (Harvey Fierstein) and the staging and the costumes that all come together beautifully to make this show fun, fantastic, flashy and a real treat!
https://kinkybootslondon.com
Standing Together: Building a Brighter, Kinder Wirral
By Jamie Carter Founder and Director, Wirral Pride
As we look forward to the community spirit that defines Wirral Pride, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on why we do what we do.
This year marks a significant milestone for our grassroots movement. Wirral Pride is turning five. To mark our 5th birthday, we will be gathering on Victoria Road in New Brighton on Saturday, 8th August.
Our mission has always been about more than just a single day; it’s about making sure every person in our community feels safe, seen, and valued for exactly who they are, every single day of the year.
As a grassroots organization, our strength has always come from the people who stand with us on the pavement and in the
Turning Grief into Action
Recently, the news of Leyton Taylor, a 13-year-old from Norfolk, has hit many of us hard. Leyton was a young man with a bright future who faced immense challenges due to bullying regarding his sexuality.
His story is a heartbreaking reminder that while we have come so far, the words we use and the way we treat one another still carry incredible weight. It serves as a call to action for all of us to ensure that no young person feels they have to face the world’s unkindness alone.
Bullying is often dismissed as a "part of growing up," but we know that for many LGBTQ+ young people, it can feel like an impossible weight to carry.
parks. But as we reach this five-year mark, we are also deeply mindful of the work that remains to ensure the next generation can grow up in a world that is safer and more inclusive than the one we inherited.
Whether it's a comment in a hallway or a post online, these moments add up. However, the antidote to this is simpler
than we think: it’s the power of community and the refusal to stay silent.
Standing up against bullying isn’t about being a hero; it’s about being a friend. It’s about creating a culture where "different" isn't a target, but something to be celebrated.
When we challenge unkindness—even in small ways—we send a powerful message to everyone watching: You are welcome here, and you are safe with us.
Our New Anti-Bullying Initiative
At Wirral Pride, we believe in taking direct, positive action. We want to ensure that every young person on the Wirral knows they have a community standing firmly behind them.
That is why I am so pleased to share that in the coming months, Wirral Pride will be launching our first-ever Anti-Bullying Campaign.
As part of this initiative, we are currently planning on creating an online toolkit for local schools, youth clubs, and anywhere else that can make use of it.
This digital hub will be designed to provide clear, accessible guidance on supporting LGBTQ+ youth and tackling discrimination head-on.
To go alongside this, we will be producing physical resources to be displayed in these spaces, serving as a visible reminder to every young person that they are in a supportive and inclusive environment.
This project is still a work in progress, and because we are a grassroots campaign, we want it to be built by the community.
We would deeply appreciate any input, ideas, or feedback you might have. Whether you are a student, a parent, or an educator, your voice is vital in making sure these resources hit the mark.
A Community of Support
To any young person out there who might be struggling: please know that you are not alone. There is a whole family here at Wirral Pride—and across the country—who thinks you are wonderful exactly as you are.
Our new campaign is for you. It’s a promise that we are working every day to make the Wirral a place where kindness is the default.
We are committed to turning the sadness we feel for Leyton into a legacy of protection and positivity for our local youth.
So, while we commemorate our 5th birthday this August, we also recommit ourselves to the safety and solidarity of our community.
Let’s keep looking out for one another.
A little bit of support can go a long way in changing—and even saving—a life.
See you on Victoria Road. With hope and pride, Jamie Carter Founder & Director, Wirral Pride
www.wirralpride.co.uk
Text
Scariest thing, if you ask me, the collective inability to remember how things were before…They were just a minute fraction of the pie closer to equality
Or vengeance for each and every infraction, come tomorrow and on
We do not want Venezuelan oil
Melting down ice into nonexistence covering the country’s soil in fluids other than spilled blood from darker complexions
Vigilante Justice
We can start by using oppression, hatred, and bigotry as gasoline to fuel this movement
The presidency has three entire years to go, still
We want education, affordable healthcare, workers’ rights, equality for allAND now
Poem by Axton N. O. Mitchell
We do not want to overthrow Greenland, Mexico,Canada
Poeaxtry-link.my.canva.site/
A vigilante is what we need, and a vigilante I may soon be
Let’s start a fire inside the United States, figuratively, of course
For the first time in a whole fucking year
This is where I came up with the idea of “A Clockwork Heart: a queer steampunk musical about a clockwork girl who wanted to be free and explore the world.” That simple sentence set me on a journey to create a show about self-discovery, transformation and ultimately freedom.
You see this show wasn’t just about expressing an idea, for me it was much more. It tells the story of transformation and freedom, it talks about coming to terms with not only who we want to be, but who we truly are.
Left to right: Annie Horton (Rose), Polly Wray (Minuet), Candy Cassidy (Florence)
Our New Queer Musical
Two years ago, I sat in the office in my back garden; it was a miserable late winter’s day and there was a thick haze of fog that just would not go anywhere. Living on the Isle of Wight is wonderful, but when the temperature is just right and the there is a stillness in the air the sea belches forth a shroud that feels like it will block out all light.
Those wonderfully melodic synth-led songs, with melancholic and ironic lyrics were pure magic to me.
Being a child of the eighties, the soundtrack of my life was populated by Pet Shop Boys, New Order and Depeche Mode.
I remember contacting one of my frequent collaborators, Candy, told her about the show and I played her some sample tracks. Her immediate response was “I want to be in it! I must be in it!”. It was almost like I was seeking permission to really get started on this project, her enthusiasm lit a fire under me!
I had never written both the music and the book for a show before, I had never felt confident enough in my musical ability, but I was determined to do it. One evening I was in my garden office writing and composing and my kids coming in the say goodnight. The next thing I knew my partner came out and asked me if I knew what time it was – it was nearly 2am; I’d been working on the show for 18 hours straight!
The main character, Rose starts her life in a workshop after being created by Florence. Florence longs to recapture a love she has lost through creating a clockwork girl. But Rose wants to see the outside, to explore and be free,
That were my starting point, and I spent days just listening to classic songs like Blue Monday, Enjoy the Silence and the iconic Left to My Own Devices. The mixture of sounds and thumping electro-beats conjured up images of steam engines with pistons firing in rhythmic succession.
I wanted to write something that that didn’t wear is queerness on its sleeve but was quietly simmering in the background. I want ambiguity, I wanted adventure and I wanted drama, but from the sexuality of the characters I just wanted normalcy.
Annie Horton (Rose)
By Paul Wilson
whilst Florence would prefer to stay hidden and safe in the little world she’s created for them both.
The show will be performed on the Isle of Wight: 18th and 19th September 2026
It wasn’t until I had finished writing the show that I realised, no matter how normal I made queerness, our struggles, whether they’re physical, psychological or both underpin every part of our lives. We cannot, nor should we do this alone, it is those around us that help us grow, come to terms with and ultimately embrace who we truly are.
So, as I sit my garden office, on a clear, spring afternoon, I’ve realised that our queerness doesn’t need to simmer in the background. It is front and centre and will never be a secondary element. We all struggle, some of still very much are. However, I hope, like Rose and Florence, we come out the other end embracing who we truly are.
Right to left: Annie Horton (Rose), Marilyn Bersey (Madame Adore)
A Clockwork Heart is a wholly LGBTQ+ production and I am surrounded by an incredibly talented cast and crew who have brought this thing to life.
Both Rose and Florence find themselves on journeys filled with heartbreak and sorrow but ultimately come out stronger and proud of who they truly are.
I didn’t do it alone, we have created this thing together, as a family -- every person involved has helped me tell this deeply personal and beautiful story.
www.instagram.com/clockworkheartmusical/
Forever with Pride, a free-to-read LGBTQ+ e-magazine, is eager to tell your story and promote your brand. If you run, own, or work in an LGBTQ+ business or service, it's time to share it with our audience! Reach out to us today; we are excited to connect with you. Contact us through our website's contact page or message us directly via any of our social media platforms. Join the Friend of Forever With Pride E-Magazine program to have your brand logo and weblink featured on our website’s friends page and receive a monthly post in the e-magazine. We'll also showcase you across our social media channels. Don’t wait; contact us today to kickstart your brand promotion. We can't wait to hear from you soon. Thank you, Forever with Pride E-Magazine. Forever with Pride, a free-to-read LGBTQ+ e-magazine, is eager to tell your story and promote your brand. If you run, own, or work in an LGBTQ+ business or service, it's time to share it with our audience! Reach out to us today; we are excited to connect with you. Contact us through our website's contact page or message us directly via any of our social media platforms. Join the Friend of Forever With Pride E-Magazine program to have your brand logo and weblink featured on our website’s friends page and receive a monthly post in the e-magazine. We'll also showcase you across our social media channels. Don’t wait; contact us today to kickstart your brand promotion. We can't wait to hear from you soon. Thank you, Forever with Pride E-Magazine