Understand the LGBTQIA+ news: Potential for criminal liability for organisations that follow EHRC's interim update

I can only imagine what it must be like to work at the once respected Equality and Human Rights Commission.

In the last 48 hours, a number of stories have broken that call into question its very integrity - at the highest levels.

As we cover in our top story, courts were told yesterday that its advice in an 'interim update' could make organisations who follow it liable to criminal prosecutions. We've read, unpacked and made accessible the full submission from the Good Law Project's judicial review.

Elsewhere, the Labour government announced its preferred choice to replace the EHRC's outgoing chair, Liz Truss appointee Baroness Falkner. Within minutes, Trans+ activists were laying bare the receipts of the likely new appointee's anti-trans red flags, including potentially financially supporting anti-trans court cases.

Finally, one of the watchdog's commissioners - whose job is to protect human rights in the UK - went as far as saying that Trans+ people should just accept less rights than were afforded to them before.

Last week, I said this Pride season was going to be unparalleled. As if I needed any more evidence to stand by that prediction.

We also announced our Pride month membership drive, which is off to an incredible start, with a bunch of you committing to support the message that without nuanced, detailed analysis as the base for LGBTQIA+ activism - we can't fight back.

Luckily, that's what QueerAF does best.

So well in fact, this newsletter has been named one of the five best newsletters in all of European Media.

Alongside internationally respected titles like the Financial Times and infamous legacy titles like The Telegraph, QueerAF was recognised as a newsletter that delivers tailored content, an original editorial angle and an accessible format - and, crucially, "measurable audience growth and engagement results."

That means our newsletter was measured against the biggest media across all of Europe - and came out as one of the best.

It was among this news that, to boost our Pride month membership drive, one of our very generous lifetime members agreed to match fund our campaign up to £2,000.

They made that commitment because they deeply believe in the importance of the work we do, not just in this newsletter, but as a small yet mighty publisher that invests in new queer creative talent.

• 10% off 'Supporter': Monthly / Annual
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This week's newsletter is packed full of complex information that we've broken down for you.

It's full of stories that may seem disconnected - but when brought together they paint a much bigger picture.

It's got a focus on how working-class people are being denied early creative support, making the media even more of a rich boys’ game, from the creative we mentored this week.

This is what queer media should look like. This is what we need you to support in our membership drive. This is how we fight back, with information at our fingertips, to hold power to account and march forward.

Understand the LGBTQIA+ headlines and keep track of the latest queer content and perspectives. The QueerAF newsletter is written by Jamie Wareham and a different queer creative each week.

💬 This week:

• EHRC: We bring you analysis of the judicial review the Equalities and Human Rights commission is facing, fresh from it being filed yesterday, as well as two other critical developments about the watchdog.
• Working Class: The Queer Gaze is back with a look from Alice Bethell at arts funding cuts that will impact working class and LGBTQIA+ creatives the hardest.
• Sparkle Weekend: The festival creating a safe space for the Trans+ community is celebrating its 20th anniversary. QueerAF is a proud media sponsor, and we look at what’s set to take place.

Skip the doomscrolling and support queer creatives instead. We are QueerAF – and so are you.

Following EHRC advice could constitute criminal offence, court told

TL;DR: The Good Law Project have filed a judicial review that sets out how the EHRC Interim Update has caused fear, humiliation and distress. They argue that not only could it land organisations who follow it in discrimination cases, but that following it could in some cases constitute a criminal offence.