PinkUk July: happy summer! Same-sex freedoms in US, beware of Stripe, Copenhagen Pride and more

Issue No. 27 - July 2022

Copenhagen Pride, Denmark, 13-21 August

Welcome to July’s news. Summer’s here.

Hi, welcome to high summer and peak time for LGBTQ+ festivals in much of the UK, the rest of Europe and in North America after June’s Pride Month.

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As we enjoy Pride festivals and other LGBTQ+ events, we should remind ourselves that these freedoms are quite recent in history. We note the decision in the US, with the conservative Supreme Court over-ruling a key abortion rights case from 1973. What's it got to do with LGBTQ+ issues, you might ask? Well, one of the judges has said that US same sex marriage, same-sex intimacy and contraception is next in their sights. So don’t take our freedoms for granted anywhere. More about this at PinkUk features.

We also pass our sympathies to the organisers of Oslo Pride, who had a terrorist shooting that killed two people in an LGBTQ+ bar.

On brighter things: this month we feature a fantastic bed and breakfast in Somerset, southwest England, the Maplestone. It’s a beautiful English Civil War era house built in 1650; this month we also cover a young and growing pride event in England, Malvern Pride and highlight Copenhagen Pride. 
 
We also draw attention to LGBTQ+ businesses who may use the online payment system Stripe. 
 

Best wishes from Dave and team at PinkUk xxx
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LGBTQ+ businesses be wary of Stripe.
 
For LGBTQ+ businesses who need online payment systems, we have some advice: Stripe, a major supplier, will cancel your payment system with them if you feature what they consider to be ‘adult’ content which they consider to be controversial. Stripe told PinkUk that it could not support our site and cancelled our agreement with no notice. 
 
We recommend that LGBTQ+ businesses look to other payment systems such as PayPal.

Prefer to read this newsletter as a PDF? July 2022

Featured venue: Maplestone, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

LGBTQ+ friendly Maplestone B&B is situated in a beautiful historic building dating from the English Civil War from 1650 and is set within a private walled garden.

The house is all that remains of a row of 17 workers’ cottages. Maplestone is located  in a peaceful location and only a few minutes’ walk from the ‘artisan’ area of Shepton Mallet with its antique, vintage and interior shops, cafes and bars. It’s also a great base to explore the quaint towns, villages and National Trust conserved stately homes in the Southwest. The footpath leads straight from the property up to a wooded area, picking up The East Somerset Way for a pleasant walk. If you like English history any time of year or just want a break, this looks a great deal for what you get! All rooms have free Wi-Fi, TV, fridge, tea/ coffee facilities, hair dryers.

More info about Maplestone, Shepton Mallet

Featured event/pride: Malvern Pride Worcestershire

Malvern Pride is led by volunteers and supported by local authorities and the public through donations. They say they provide a platform for all parts of our LGBTQ+ communities to celebrate their identities.
More info about Malvern Pride 2022

Prides/LGBTQ+ events

700 Pride events in 2022

Right now for 2022 we have 223 prides in the UK and 700 prides in 48 countries. For 2023 we have 10 pride events in the UK and 48 prides and events in 17 countries. Add your Pride 2022/23   

See all the prides/LGBTQ+ events we have in June

We have 3,281 LGBTQ+ venues listed in 75 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.