In the latest ITV Pridecast Liam chats to Ali Hannon about their story of being non-binary. Ali also talks about trying to create more inclusive spaces for people to be their true authentic selves and looking beyond the binds of gender norms and expectations. In recent times the wider public has become more aware of people who identify as non-binary. With the likes of high profile figures like Sam Smith and Jonathan Van Ness coming out, it has put the spotlight on what it means to be non-binary. The LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall defines non-binary as ‘an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with that of man or woman’. For some non-binary people, this leads them to reject those descriptions completely and ultimately they choose to use the pronouns they/them instead of he/him or she/her.On the face of it, questioning or rejecting a specific gender identity can seem confusing and going against the ‘norm’ in society. Gender is something society prescribes to us at birth and many of us live our lives unconsciously accepting the expectations and connotations that come with gender. The behaviour expected of gender has of course become entrenched over time, which in turn has created expectations of how a ‘man’ and ‘woman’ is expected to behave. In that case, gender can be rather inflexible when it comes to ways of behaving and creates parameters which might not be fully akin to a person’s true authentic self. But for people who identify as non-binary, they do not feel that the expectations of gender fit with them and therefore they choose not to identify in this way or uphold the stereotypes or connotations of gender.One aspect around being non-binary that can be confusing for people who don’t identify in this way, is separating the issue of gender from sex. This is where more work is needed if society is to have a greater understanding of this topic. According to the Council of Europe’s website, sex refers to ‘the different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc. Gender refers to "the socially constructed characteristics of women and men – such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of women and men.’On this ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey is joined by Ali Hannon to chat more about being non-binary. For Ali, they felt they didn’t fit into either expectations that come with being a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’ and decided that being non-binary was a better fit for their identity. Through their business, Leading Culture, Ali works to challenge the perceptions and stereotypes that come with gender in order to help companies create inclusive environments where staff can flourish as their authentic selves.In the episode, Ali talks about how they came to realise they’re non-binary and how important the support is they’ve had from those closest to them. They also discuss why the conversation around expectations of gender must be opened up and challenged. That is especially the case if gender norms start to cause someone harm in their life, which Ali very poignantly shares their own experience of.

On this episode of the ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey visits the Coronation Street Visitor Experience in Media City to chat with Naomi Sloyan, one of the soap’s location managers, about living with HIV. Alongside Naomi is Darren Knight from the George House Trust, the charity which offers advice and support on anything to do with HIV. Both discuss the importance of testing and how effective HIV treatment is helping peoplelive long and healthy lives.In 2022, 39 million people across the globe were living with HIV. The treatment for and awareness of the condition has significantly changed over the years, but even with effective medication, stigma and misconceptions still exist about the virus.For a long time, HIV has often been stereotyped as a condition affecting mainly gay or bisexual men. But now in some parts of the UK the number of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexual people is higher than it is for gay and bisexual men.Naomi Sloyan knows just how crucial it is to get tested for HIV. In 2014 she unknowingly contracted the virus after being in a brief relationship with a man. However it wasn’t until several years later that she started showing symptoms and was diagnosed with HIV in March 2018. In that period between her contracting HIV and then being diagnosed with it, Naomi had not been sexually active, but says if she had it would’ve been picked up sooner because she would’ve had sexual health tests done. But despite being very ill for around a year before her diagnosis, medical professionals did not think to test her for HIV. That was until one consultant who was trying to work out what was making her unwell, recommended a test. After taking one Naomi’s results came back positive and she was finally able to know what had been causing her to be so ill. Soon after she started receiving effective treatment from the sexual health clinic and within two months she was back at work as a location manager at Coronation Street, something she’s been doing for 25 years. Naomi shares her story with Liam McConkey on this ITV Pridecast which was recorded in the run-up to World AIDS Day on 1st December. She discusses why all people should go and get regularly tested for HIV and no one should assume that they cannot contract it. Naomi also talks about the support out there for people when they get diagnosed and why it’s vital to understand what it means to be undetectable and untransmittable (U=U).Joining them on the Pridecast is Darren Knight, the CEO of the George House Trust. The charity has been helping support people with HIV since 1985 and is based in the north east of England. The organisation says its purpose is to inspire people living with HIV to live healthy and confident lives. Darren shares how people can do just that and the support his charity and many others provide to anyone affected by HIV. He also chats about the importance of understanding the terminology in this subject area, especially regarding the difference between HIV and AIDs and what it means to be U=U. As well as that, Darren talks about the stigma for people with HIV and how we must continue to challenge it. If you want any more information on anything to do with HIV, visit the websites below which offer a range of information and support: George House Trust: https://ght.org.uk/World AIDS Day: https://worldaidsday.org/Terrence Higgins Trust: https://www.tht.org.uk/NHS information on HIV: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/

A warning this episode refers to homophobic slurs that some listeners may find upsetting. Zander Murray lives and breathes football. The 31-year-old from Glasgow currently plays for the Scottish League Two club, Bonnyrigg Rose, as a striker. Last year he gained considerable attention, having scored his 100th career goal. However that wasn’t the only reason he found himself in the media spotlight. In September 2022, Zander decided to go public about being gay, becoming the first out professional footballer in Scotland since Justin Fashanu. On National Coming Out Day for 2023, Zander shares his story on the ITV Pridecast. Zander opened up about his sexuality only months after 18 year-old Blackpool striker Jake Daniels did the same. Both men are part of just a handful of footballers in the world who are openly gay, and of that very small number, none find themselves in the higher leagues of football’s elite. The sport has sadly held onto a legacy of homophobia and discrimination, both on-and-off the pitch, with many in the game still fearful of coming out and the reaction they will get from both the media as well as fans. For Zander though, he could no longer keep his sexuality a secret. Since coming out, and alongside his career as a footballer, he has now taken on an ambassador role, where he’s trying to create an environment where LGBTQ+ players can comfortably be themselves and live authentically.He is hoping we will reach a day where a male footballer coming out won’t make the news headlines. Zander believes it’s about time that the men’s game takes inspiration from women’s football, where there is far greater inclusivity for LGBTQ+ players. It’s only then he believes that football will have caught up with wider society and can become a safe space for any player. Joining Liam McConkey to co-host this episode is Jamie Summers who is a journalist for ITV News in London.

As Coronation Street’s Gemma Winter-Brown, it would be an understatement to say the last nine years have been a whirlwind for Dolly-Rose Campbell. She is the latest guest on the ITV Pridecast and discusses her role in Corrie and also being bisexual and the importance of bi-visibility. Arriving in the soap in 2014 for an initial six episodes, Dolly-Rose introduced us to the boisterous bundle of energy that is of course Gemma. As a friend of Kylie Platt, Gemma started life on the nation’s favourite street by bringing turmoil to the door of the Platt family, alongside cunning drug-dealer Callum Logan. Despite an abrupt arrival into Weatherfield, over time the rowdy and rather unruly Gemma became a regular fixture, making friends with the most unlikely characters, including Corrie legends Rita Tanner and Norris Cole. Under their wing, Gemma finds herself distancing herself from the troublesome Eccleston estate, becoming a firm favourite on the cobbles of Coronation Street. As time goes on, Gemma starts to work alongside Chesney Brown at the kebab shop, Prima Doner. After jumping from one bad relationship to another, both then eventually end up together and to their shock - and that of the nation - Gemma falls pregnant with quadruplets. Not only does that create soap history, writers decide that one of the babies will be deaf, allowing both Gemma, and in turn Dolly-Rose, to learn sign language and demonstrate the importance of having this kind of representation on the show. Earlier this year, Dolly-Rose once again made Corrie history by tying the knot with Chesney, wearing a two-metre wide orange dress that even had a seven-metre long train. And not only that, Gemma lit up the aisle with fairy lights attached to her dress. Dolly-Rose herself played an integral part in the dress’ design, wanting something befitting of Gemma’s flamboyant character. And she knew just how that could be achieved. She convinced the writers to allow Manchester Drag Queen, Liquorice Black, to design and make the outrageous but very beautiful gown, something which is now on display at the Coronation Street Exhibition museum, for all to see. For Dolly-Rose, it was important to have a Drag Queen create such an iconic garment in order to showcase the artistry and talent of many in the LGBTQ+ community. Creating that space for visibility is incredibly important to Dolly-Rose and it’s something she’s been keen to do when raising awareness about bisexuality. She says she knew early on in life that she was bisexual and it was actually to her surprise that everyone else wasn’t. For her, celebrations and recognition around bi-visibility is crucial if perceptions around bisexuality are to be changed and accepted in society. Joining Liam to co-host this episode is Aimée Metcalf, who works as a Junior Creative on Brand Licensing at ITV.

On a daily basis, Richard Arnold is welcomed into people’s homes across the UK when he brings the entertainment and showbiz news to ITV’s Good Morning Britain. He’s been providing the lighter side to British breakfast television for more than twenty years with his great warmth, and of course his humour. On this ITV Pridecast, he chats to Liam McConkey about his career during the last two decades and shares some of the incredible stories about the people he’s met along the way. Richard first became a household name on our screens in 1997 on GMTV, when at around 07:50 each morning he would present ‘Pick of the Day’- a rundown of some of the best things on TV that evening. That regular feature saw him referred to as the ‘ten-to-eight boy’, and for many people he became part of the fixtures and fittings of their daily routines. Richard continues to play that role now on Good Morning Britain as the show’s Entertainment Editor and has done so for almost a decade. During his time reporting on entertainment news he’s not only critiqued an array of television programmes, he’s also interviewed some of the most famous people on the planet. From stars of the “small screen” to those in Hollywood, Richard has chatted with, as well as learnt from, some of the best in showbusiness. During this episode he shares stories of having his lip-wiped by the one and only Barbra Striesand, to receiving great praise from the late Sir Michael Parkinson on his interview technique and style. In the years Richard has been reviewing TV and films, he says he’s also seen how the nature of dramas have changed and this is certainly so when there’s an LGBTQ+ storyline involved. As a gay man himself, he says there’s been a significant shift in the response from audiences towards LGBTQ+ characters. He recalls the tabloid outrage when Colin famously kissed Barry with a peck on the forehead in the 1987 episode of Eastenders, which made history as the first ever gay kiss in a UK soap opera. Fast-forward to today, and Richard says TV and film is leading the way in producing LGBTQ+ content for so many audiences to watch and love, which is making a big difference in people’s lives. You can watch Richard on weekday mornings on Good Morning Britain on ITV1.

Being LGBTQ+ and a person of faith might appear somewhat at odds with one another. The prejudice and discrimination that’s often projected onto members of the LGBTQ+ community by religions all over the world can lead many to turn away from faith. In the UK especially, and with regards to Christianity in particular, more and more people appear to be choosing a different path. In the 2021 census, less than half of the population in England and Wales described themselves as Christian and those with ‘no religion’ was the second most common response. However for someone like Jayne Ozanne, faith is something at the centre of her life. She describes herself as a gay Evangelical and works to try and ensure all LGBTQ+ people feel a sense of belonging and inclusion when it comes to their faith. For Jayne, the church must do so much more to make everyone feel included, or it risks creating its own demise. She chats to Liam McConkey and Dougie Robertson in this ITV Pridecast episode about embracing her identity as a gay Christian and wanting to inspire others that a person’s sexuality and religion can coexist without having to shun one for the other.One way in which people have often tried to suppress their sexuality in favour of their faith is through the practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” This is an area that Jayne has taken a keen interest in and she is currently the founder and chair of the UK’s Ban on Conversion Therapy. The LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, defines conversion therapy as ‘any intervention that seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.’ It adds, ‘conversion therapies work towards one goal and that goal is to ‘cure’ someone from being lesbian, gay, bi, trans, ace, intersex and/or queer.’The whole issue of conversion therapy gained significant media attention in 2018 when ITV News reporter, Paul Brand, showed that the practice was still taking place in parts of the UK. That led to calls for it to end, with even the Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May, vowing to ban it saying conversion therapy “had no place in modern Britain.”Five years on and three different Prime Ministers, conversion therapy is still not illegal in the UK. There have been delays and u-turns on the policy but in June 2023, the UK Government said a bill was ready to be presented to Parliament. That however, appears to have a significant loophole that would allow conversion therapy to continue if a person volunteered for it. In response, the UK Government says it’s “committed to protecting people at risk from conversion practices” and scrutiny of the bill will allow for analysis and the addressing of any “risk of unintended impacts.”For Jayne, the u-turns and delays on a potential ban led her to resign from the government’s LGBT Advisory Panel in 2021 due to its slow progress. Having gone through conversion therapy herself, Jayne says this long overdue ban is needed if people are to be finally protected from the harm that the practice can cause.It’s a topic that Dougie also has first-hand experience of. He grew up in a fundamentalist religious background which has strict ideals, and being gay certainly wasn’t one of them. In an article for The Independent in 2018, Dougie spoke very openly and movingly of spending years trying to ‘pray the gay away’ and if he’d been offered conversion therapy he would have...

Every year ITV now has its very own Pride Day and it’s a chance to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ people across the company and in the wider community. This year, ITV Pride Day was held at the start of Pride month in June and as part of the celebrations, a live ITV Pridecast was recorded with some of those from across the company to discuss why they’re proud to be who they are.Joining Liam McConkey for this special edition of the podcast is Paul Brand, the UK Editor of ITV News and presenter of the Tonight programme. Jess Clayton, a Digital Trainee Journalist at ITV Cymru Wales. Harry Tan, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital Products at ITV Studios. And Stephen Bailey, a stand-up comedian and regular contributor on the Laura Whitmore Breakfast Show.During Pride month and all through the summer, Pride events will be taking place across the globe. They are a chance for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to come together and celebrate but also to show solidarity and a reminder that rights cannot be taken for granted. Discrimination and even hatred towards LGBTQ+ people still exists in many countries across the world and even in Britain, people’s rights are being tested. The Rainbow Map and Index ranks all 49 countries in Europe in order of their LGBTQ+ “legal and policy” rights and has done so since 2009. Up until 2015, the UK regularly found itself in top spot as the most LGBTQ+ friendly place in Europe. However, now in 2023 it has fallen to 17th position.If anything, what this shows is the importance of Pride and the power it has in championing LGBTQ+ people. Pride first began as a protest and those roots are something that cannot be forgotten, especially when the community is facing such testing times today.

For most of us when we hear the word talent show, our minds jump to Britain’s Got Talent, the X-Factor or even Pop Idol, but now a new show has hit our TV screens…Project Icon on BBC Three is the brainchild of chart-topping singer Jason Derulo. Looking to find the UK’s next music star, Derulo is also a judge on the show alongside singer-songwriter Becky Hill and music manager Frank Harris.The winner of the show’s first series is 29-year-old Dylan And The Moon and he joins Liam McConkey and Jo Lewis on the latest ITV Pridecast. Dylan has been singing for over 20 years and after winning Project Icon he’s hoping his dreams of sharing his music with thousands of people will now become a reality. Dylan’s music style is a mix of jukebox rock ‘n’ roll with modern indie-guitar pop and during the show, we get to see why his creative talent wowed the judges. We also find out that Dylan’s songwriting has been pivotal in helping him embrace his identity as a trans man. Dylan began his transition in 2020 and says it’s his music that’s helped him vocalise his true self. He says Project Icon did a brilliant job in allowing him to share his story and he’s received incredible support from viewers. By being a proud and visible trans man, Dyan hopes this will create a ripple effect and inspire others to embrace who they really are.This ITV Pridecast episode with Dylan coincides with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17th May. The day is now celebrated each year and aims to raise awareness of the violence inflicted towards LGBTQ+ people across the globe.First established in 2004, the day is supported by more than 130 countries and is even recognised in 37 countries where same-sex acts are still illegal. At present, 64 countries in the world have laws criminalising homosexuality and out of the 53 nations in the Commonwealth, 29 have laws which deem homosexuality as illegal.In some countries the death penalty is even the punishment for those caught performing same-sex acts. These countries include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Mauritania and Brunei, among others. As well as being supported by many states across the globe, IDAHOBIT is also recognised by international organisations, including the European Parliament and the United Nations. The 17th May was chosen to celebrate IDAHOBIT, as this was the day the World Health Organisation declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1990. More information about IDAHOBIT can be found on its websiteWatch Dylan Holloway’s performance on Project Icon on BBC iPlayerListen to more of Dylan’s music on SpotifyAnd you can follow Dylan And The Moon on Instagram

For many LGBTQ+ people, finding a space where you can meet fellow members of the community can be incredibly liberating and powerful. Going to a place where you can socialise with those with shared life-experiences can be so fulfilling, especially when many LGBTQ+ people have to balance their authentic identity within a straight-leaning society. For Polly Shute and Peach Bond, this is the foundation of their work in providing safe spaces to lesbians, queer women and non-binary folk across the UK. As part of ITV’s coverage of Lesbian Visibility Week 2023 (24th-30th April), Polly and Peach join ITV Pride Co-Chair, Jo Lewis, to discuss the need for more varied spaces for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people and the importance of Lesbian Visibility Week itself. The annual event run by Diva and Stonewall recognises, celebrates and supports LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people, including those from other under-represented groups, such as black and ethnic minorities, those from a religious background, or those who have a disability or are neurodiverse. The term lesbian refers to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term. LVW celebrates all those that may identify in this way; such as lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, intersex and asexual individuals.On this episode of the ITV Pridecast Polly and Peach tell Jo about their personal journeys into the LGBTQ+ community and why they spend an incredible amount of their free time helping to create spaces for all marginalised groups within the LGBTQ+ community. They also chat about the importance of feeling visible both in and out of the workplace and what lesbian and queer women want to see more of when it comes to representation and safe, inclusive spaces.Polly’s Out &amp; About Community has an outreach of around 15,000 people across various digital channels, creating and curating day, evening and extended weekend events and experiences across the UK. Out &amp; About covers a range of events, such as the monthly 200-person Southbank Surfing social, which takes place in London and Manchester. Another event being the Out &amp; Wild Festival which is held in Wales and is the UK’s only Wellness and Experience festival. Similarly, Peach’s social group, Lesbian &amp; Queer Women (LQW) spans the UK, covering London, Kent, The Midlands, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sunderland. LQW has attendees of all ages, some of which join online from overseas. With various digital platforms, Meet Up groups and a mailing list, LQW reaches over 13,000 lesbian, queer and non-binary individuals. LQW runs a whole host of meet ups and social events varying in size, including group weekend breaks to different cities, gallery trips, meals out, nights out, walks and summertime picnics.Links to the groups that Polly and Peach mention in this Pridecast episode:-Out and wild: https://outandwild.co.uk/-Southbank Surfing: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southbanksurfing/?locale=en_GB -Out and about community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.beoutandabout.co.uk/ -LQW: www.wearelqw.com-London Lesbians and Queer Womxn MeetUp group:https://www.meetup.com/wearelqw-london/ -Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds Lesbians &amp; Queer Womxn<a...

On the ITV Pridecast for March, Issah Nalzaro joins Liam McConkey for this episode. Issah has been at ITV for the past two years and during that time he has worked within the Internal Communications department for the business. His main role is to make sure all employees at ITV are kept up-to-date with the content the company is producing as well as opportunities and initiatives colleagues can get involved with. Alongside his day job, Issah is also a member of the ITV Pride network and recently became assistant-chair of the group. Being a gay man, who was born in Saudi Arabia, with Filipino parents, Issah is very conscious of the intersections that exist within his own life and he is determined to make sure there is a broad and open conversation around intersectionality in the workplace. He also wants to make sure that people with a range of backgrounds and identities feel the ITV Pride network provides them with a safe space to be their authentic selves.Outside of work, Issah tells Liam about his love of musical theatre and how the genre has played a big part in allowing him to embrace his true self. For many people, musical theatre can act as a form of solace and escapism. Issah feels this is especially so for many LGBTQ+ people and he says musical theatre is really starting to give a platform to many from the community. He discusses how his favourite musical, Six, which is a musical comedy about Henry VIII’s six wives, has someone who is non-binary playing the part of Anne Boleyn and how it’s incredibly progressive. Issah also discusses how he hopes TV can push even further to tell the stories of people with diverse backgrounds and how there is still much work to do to achieve that. For him, this is where ITV’s diversity and inclusion networks play a huge role in making sure the voices of a range of people are heard.