This week, Shea Coffey is back with a new monthly series, plus Steffi chats to Author A A Sekhon about their new book Assumptions and that's not all, there's a new choir on the block, Sapphonic Bristol.

This week we chat to Simon Brandon about his upcoming theatre productions, Charlie and Striptease, comedic but very serious plays coming soon. Also we chat to carer and author Jon Stokes and his foster son Charley.

Stephen Fry introduces our main guest this week, Andrew Keates who runs Queer Theatre. Sex, drugs, alcohol and rock and roll took its toll; but Andrew made it through with Queer Theatre at his heart.

This week it's time to catch up with Bristol Pride on what's coming this summer. Also, we talk to Nour who's in Dubai about their family in Southern Lebanon and the Dubai queer scene.

Steffi chats to Shea Coffey about what's happened this week in the news, the upcoming Kent Trans Pride and her upcoming series right here on ShoutOut; "The Coffey Break". PLUS; Hafren and Lowie, the co-chairs of Trans Pride Bristol in the studio to talk about the upcoming Trans Pride in Bristol, which will include speeches, the march, Social events, workshops, stalls, a gig and a club night.

We chat to NOT IN OUR NAME about their campaign to support Trans Folk...

"We are a collective of women who reject the weaponisation of our identities to justify discrimination. We want the media, government and other bodies to focus on the real threats that prevent women from thriving.

We call for truth, solidarity, and action. Our safety depends on standing together."

Plus: in the studio; Jakob; "We are an accessible sober events project, open to ANYONE who just wants to go to the night and the night happens to be sober. We want to bring in diverse audiences who are sober/sober curious through health, religion, culture, recovery, choice." 

Author, Mark Akst tells us about his Mark Cohn Quadrology, an imaginative and fast-paced speculative 4 novel series that explores queer leadership, identity, and power through the lens of Jewish history and modern geopolitics.

One of the novel’s central figures is the first openly gay prime minister of Israel, whose leadership unfolds during a global crisis tied to ancient texts and emerging technology. Through this character and others, the book opens conversations about visibility, ethics, faith, masculinity, and how queer identity intersects with power and public life.

Plus we catch up with the South West Fetish group where they explain just what fetish is, how it's open to all (over 18's of course) and bring us up to date on their upcoming events.

This Week, Cape Town South Africa: Now entering its fourth year with over 25 productions to its name, LEGACY has established itself not merely as an event, but as the architectural backbone of Cape Town’s queer Ballroom community - a space where the hierarchy is respected, the competition is strictly adjudicated, and the culture is preserved. To understand LEGACY, one must understand the global history it references. Ballroom culture emerged in New York City in the late 1960s and 70s, created by Black and Latino trans and queer communities who were systematically excluded from established drag pageants. In response, they formed "Houses" - alternative kinship structures led by "Mothers" and "Fathers" - and created "Balls," where members could compete for status and affirmation.

PLUS It's also LGBT+ history month so we went back through our archives and found a lovely interview former ShoutOut team member Ben Bird recorded way back in 2012. He caught up with the lovely Peggy who ran the The Radnor Hotel - the best place to be in Bristol after the war, up until it's closure around 1976 (though it did open its doors again as many different things after that).

Peggy passed away in 2021 but we were lucky enough to get her take on the importance of the Radnor, and a glimpse into gay life many decades ago.

Lurid Editions are in the studio, a new Queer publisher of old LGBTQIA books with something to say. ALSO; Lucy went to cover Scritch Cabaret. She chats to Oliver Asset and Kurt Sovain of Brizzle Boys who organise it, Esme Doll - Bristol's youngest drag queen and singer songwriter, Em.

From Dance to HIV testing to Pride, we cover it all here on ShoutOut. Choreographer Mathieu Gefferé chats about his upcoming productions, Brigstowe chat about the importance of HIV testing and Bristol Pride's Daryn Carter tells us about what's coming up this summer and the struggles Prides have with funding.

“There is rice at home” is a well known saying in African households to signify that we already have an abundance of what we need. “Rice at Home” extends this conversation in a documentary directed by Louise Ndibwirende and produced by Martha Redfern which brings together elders from Rwanda, Bangladesh and India as they reflect on their experiences of heritage, culture and ancestry.

PLUS: Pride Padel, inclusive, non-profit padel tournaments and socials in Bristol, creating a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ players and allies to get active, meet people, and try a fast-growing sport that many haven’t had access to before. The events typically host around 40–48 players and regularly sell out, with people travelling from across the South West to take part.