Dogs with disabilities, LGBTQ+ rights, the US Supreme Court, Train strikes & Brighton Pride

Issue No. 40 - August 2023

Italy Gay Summer Party 2023, Gallipoli, Italy, 1st - 3rd September 2023

Hey, it's high summer in the Northern end of the globe, although in contrast to other parts of Europe, July in most parts of the UK it has been mostly windy and rainy weather as opposed to the mini-heat wave we had in June and compared to what has been happening in parts of the Mediterranean, where they have had devastating scrub wildfires affecting many southern European countries.

Besides the tragic news about climate change and how our weather patterns and environments are heating up for many people, animals, other creatures and plants, we at PinkUk still hope everyone’s taking some summer time off from the daily grind.

For PinkUk content in August, we have some interesting articles. We couldn’t resist publishing the third article in our series of canine tales (not tails), this one’s about a kind-hearted woman, Ali, who lives in West Sussex on the English South Coast and who, over the years, has hosted and cared for many dogs from around the world with various types of disabilities from deafness to missing limbs. Read about Ali’s and her team’s work. Oh, also, Ali is very LGBTQ+ friendly - just like her dogs, it seems.

On another note, are you a gay uncle or aunt? For those who love their families, apparently, it’s Gay Uncle Day on the second Sunday in August (we assume it’s also gay Aunt day!), is now upon us so Sunday the 13^th August.

We also look at the behaviour or, rather in PinkUk’s opinion, the misbehaviour of the UK Tory (Conservative) government now in office for 13 years in the way they have handled the train strikes affecting most of Britain’s railways. It’s causing travel mayhem for millions of people who want to attend Pride and other festivals around the UK or just enjoy leisure travel. Don’t get us wrong, at PinkUk Towers, we see greed on both sides; train drivers earn around £61,000 basic but can earn up to £100K (from Glassdoor, some sources say this is less) with over time extras - more than the salaries of most commuters. For US readers, that basic pay is around $78,000 USD a year.  Some of this is about salary and some about staff working conditions, whether train drivers or platform or all the ticket offices in the country being closed.

But, ultimately, the buck lands with the Tory government, who have failed to bang heads together. At the time of writing, there will be no train service between London and Brighton on Saturday 5^th August, one of the most popular and largest LGBTQ+ festivals in the country. Brighton & Hove Pride provides around £40 million income to local businesses in the city. Total Tory incompetence.

Anyway, we hope you have a lovely August and rest of the summer in spite of some of these troubles affecting our communities and the world as a whole.
Love and Pink Respect Team at PinkUk xxx

Featured venue: No1 Hind Stile Boutique B&B, Ferrers, Northamptonshire, UK

This 18th century cottage is meters away from the Market Square in the middle of Higham Ferrers, a small market town in East Northamptonshire. The cottage is decorated in classic English style with antiques, artwork, sumptuous fabrics and lots of colour. You have a choice of two luxurious en-suite bedrooms, each individually styled with a superb king-sized bed. Penhaligon’s Halfeti perfumed toiletries. Hildon English bottled water and Lavazza coffee is with our compliments. Away from your bedroom, you are welcome to relax, read or work in the guests’ sitting room, or in the enclosed garden on warmer days. Naturist / Clothing Optional in house and garden (mention at time of booking).

More info about, No1 Hind Stile Boutique B&B

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Featured event/pride: Scunthorpe Pride, Lincolnshire, UK

Scunthorpe Pride takes place on Sunday the 27th August 2023.
This will be the first pride in Scunthorpe, so we are giving them our support. This is a family friendly pride. To be held at Church Square and Library Square, situated at the bottom end of the town centre. Main stage, arts, theatre, enclosed bar area and pride market. We want all different groups, families and the public to attend and celebrate this day of support and visibility for our LGBTQ+ community. While there is no parade, the festival starts noon to 21:00. At 21:00 there is an after party.

More info about Scunthorpe Pride 2023

Prides/LGBTQ+ events

So far, for this new year, we have 304 pride festivals listed in the UK and 1,046 LGBTQ+ prides events in 55 countries worldwide for 2023. For 2024 we have 14 prides in the UK and 94 in 21 other countries. Keep us posted if you have or know of a pride festival or event that needs promoting.

See all the prides/LGBTQ+ events we have in June, Add an LGBTQ+ event to PinkUk

We have 3,330 LGBTQ+ venues listed in 77 countries. Add a venue to PinkUk

Scene, recently relaunched with its fabulous new print copy. We are proud to support them.  See their latest edition. 
Scene is the top UK, free to read, online, LGBTQ+ magazine.