Isabelle Westcott: “I felt like I got to shine for the first time in years.” Isabelle Westcott had started to believe that there was no space in football for her. That was until a move for university, an iconic football song and an inclusive club right on her doorstep.

The latest interview on POTT is an apt one for the end of Football v Transphobia and Trans Day of Visibility. Isabelle’s story is a reminder of the challenges LGBTQ+ pupils can face in schools, and the power of inclusive spaces in getting them back into sports

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Poppy Watson: “It’s actually not that hard to be inclusive.” Poppy Watson grew up without much representation in the Scottish Highlands, but she has created a huge queer community of her own at university – including co-founding a football club that ha…

New on POTT: Poppy Watson! A co-founder of Slay FC and president of Edinburgh Uni’s pride society, it was an absolute pleasure to speak to Poppy about the impact those spaces have - and bringing a bit of a Highland vibe to Scotland’s capital.

prideoftheterraces.com/2026/03/22/p...

Edinburgh Jitsu: “I’m very proud of the fact that our club has been a consistent feature in the community for such a long time.” Against his own expectations, Ben Reynolds has found a home in martial arts – and now he helps others do the same by teaching them self-defence at Edinburgh Jitsu.

Brand new on POTT: Edinburgh Jitsu! Instructor Ben Reynolds explains how he went from reluctant participant to running the club, and what he’s doing to keep it an inclusive space.

Thanks to Ramsay Banks for putting this one together.

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An example of what they look like here - I usually have a bit of an opening gambit, with a handful of stories following it, going out roughly monthly. I’m really keen to get the subscriber count up in 2026, so why not give it a go?

Subscribe to our LGBTQ+ Newsletter - Inverness Courier Sign up to The Queerier, our brand new newsletter for LGBTQ+ news across the Highlands and Moray.

Some of you may know (and even subscribe already), but I run an LGBTQ+ newsletter through HNM! It’s free to subscribe, and has the latest queer news from across our patch and also features that anyone with an interest in the community can relate to! Sign up here

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/lgbtq/

Anson Mackay: “I’m not going to hide it from other people any longer, and especially not in a space I love.” Anson Mackay’s life changed a handful of years ago, with a terminal cancer diagnosis coming quickly off the back of realising they were non-binary while out running.

New on POTT: @ans.bsky.social! A pleasure to speak to them and a truly remarkable story with coming out later in life as non-binary, ultra-running and cancer all intertwined. You do not want to miss this one! Read the full thing at the link below 👇

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Hebridean Baker: “My whole life I knew football was where I wanted to be – albeit I had to find my place.” Coinneach MacLeod (aka The Hebridean Baker) has become known for his culinary creations all around the world – but much of his life work has come in the football sphere.

Just realised I never got around to sharing this on here - last month I went to Out In The Hills in Pitlochry where I heard about the Hebridean Baker’s background in football - naturally that meant I had to follow it up with a chat for POTT. Read it below!

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‘We talk about a God of love, and that has no boundaries’ Inverness Cathedral Provost, the Very Reverend Sarah Murray, has outlined why the Scottish Episcopal Church are strong allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

When the Scottish Episcopalian Church at Inverness Cathedral approached Highland Pride to put on a Carols With Pride event earlier this week, then, that seemed like a good way into the conversation. Here’s my chat with them about why they are inclusive

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/we-talk...

I am very much not religious, but for a while I’ve wanted to write about how Christianity and LGBTQ+ identities can co-exist. Lots of hate on social media seems to be rooted in religious beliefs, and I know some have tense relationships with organised religion, particularly at this time of the year.

I’m determined to keep POTT going even when life gets busy, but I’ve been thinking for a wee while I could use some help to post as frequently as I want to. With that in mind, I’m delighted to welcome Ramsay to the team to help me out with writing some articles, and here’s his debut for the site 👇

It’s time for allies in the media industry to speak up for LGBTQIA+ people We need more voices - not just in private, but in the newsrooms, speaking out in pitching meetings, and pushing back against harmful narratives.

It’s time for allies in the media industry to speak up for LGBTQIA+ people

www.wearequeeraf.com/its-time-for-allies-in-t...

Thank you for reading and sharing!

Considering the assault of anti-LGBTQ+ coverage we see on a regular basis nationally, these were two rare wins for the community in the north of Scotland. To anyone else, I’d have thought they are fairly innocuous stories, but apparently not…

New Highland focus for outdoor activities group ahead of 20th birthday OutdoorLads, aimed at gay, bisexual, trans and queer men, is expanding its presence in the Highlands after two decades south of the border.

And also this, on two members of outdoor activities group @outdoorlads.bsky.social moving to Inverness and wanting to grow the opportunities available for gay, bi, trans and queer men in the Highlands.

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/new-hig...

Highland gender clinic best in UK for first appointment waiting times One clinic has a waiting time of around 224 years, but in the Highlands the wait is only likely to be a matter of months.

For anyone interested, these were the two stories - first off @wearequeeraf.com and @whatthetrans.com’s data on gender clinic waiting times. Obviously not good overall, but relatively amazing for people in the Highlands

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/highlan...

Enough is enough when it comes to hateful comments Reporter Andrew Henderson gives his take on the trend of social media comments turning abusive under LGBTQ+ articles.

After going through 500+ comments on Facebook under two good news stories for the LGBTQ+ community, I’d had enough. It’s time that more news organisations call out these “debates” for what they are: hate. I was angry when I did so, but I wrote this

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/enough-...

Rainbow Warriors: “I feel like I’m not alone anymore.” Founder Ritchie Currie-Jenkins talks about the impact that having inclusive sports spaces outside of Scotland’s big two cities can have, and what he personally as a trans man has gained from …

Rainbow Warriors: “I feel like I’m not alone anymore.”

The impact that the Rainbow Warriors at @stenhousemuirfc.com have had in less than a year has been life changing for those involved. Here’s founder Ritchie speaking about how it all came together.

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I’ll have said this before, but every now and then I do an interview that reminds me why I do this - speaking to Olivia was definitely another one of those moments. Talking about some hugely important topics, and hearing how things came full circle at Endon, made me emotional just listening to her

We had to move the date for this. Now happening 26th July... bsky.app/profile/chao...

Subscribe to our LGBTQ+ Newsletter - Inverness Courier Sign up to The Queerier, our brand new newsletter for LGBTQ+ news across the Highlands and Moray.

Ok, I think that actually does bring an end to our Pride month coverage. I’m off to lie down for a while - but remember to subscribe to our free newsletter, The Queerier, to keep up to date with the latest LGBTQ+ news and features from across the north of Scotland

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/lgbtq/

PICTURES: Inverness Royal Academy host Pride event for LGBTQ+ youth Students and their allies from the Royal Academy and Millburn Academy congregated together in a show of support for each other.

Oh, you thought that was it for this thread? Nope, one last event on the final day of Pride month saw students from two Inverness secondary schools come together to remind LGBTQ+ youth that they are not alone.

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/picture...

Cairngorms Pride launches to combine LGBTQ+ and environmental messaging New Pride group will be active year-round with key aim of connecting local LGBTQ+ community

While yesterday marked the final Pride March in the Highlands this year, fear not - a new group has started up in the Cairngorms, believed to be one of, if not, the UK’s first eco-Prides.

www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/cairngo...

PICTURES: Caithness Pride 2025 arrives in Thurso See our selection of pictures from the historic day as LGBTQ+ people and their allies gathered together to celebrate.

And let’s face it, what Pride is complete without a photo gallery from the day! My colleague David Scott was on hand with his camera, putting together a fantastic selection of images from the first ever Caithness Pride.

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/picture...

Pride can spark a ‘new chapter’ for LGBTQ+ people in Caithness Although many said leading up to and on the day itself that they felt isolated, huge numbers turned out in Thurso to show their support.

Two of the more visible LGBTQ+ residents in Caithness also commented on what the day meant to them personally, and the area as a whole. As you can imagine, they were also very positive.

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/pride-c...

1000 people estimated to attend first ever Caithness Pride Organisers say the event ‘exceeded every expectation’ with the LGBTQ+ community and their allies flocking to Thurso.

Now for the reactions. It was a wonderful day in Thurso with a huge turnout - very easy to see why organisers said the first ever Caithness Pride exceeded every expectation.

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/1000-pe...

First ever Pride parade will be an emotional moment Organisers have worked for months to make Pride a reality in Thurso, and now the moment has finally arrived.

One last preview piece for Caithness Pride with the powerhouse behind it all, Charlotte Garscadden, discussing what she hopes people will take from the day. I’ll be there in Thurso, so look out for reaction after the day too…

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/first-e...

Pride ‘more important’ in areas like Caithness Dr Emma Miller has lived in rural communities around the world, and has seen the impact that visibility can have on the next generation.

Really loved this chat with Dr Emma Miller which covered so many different things - coming out later in life, being disgusted by the Supreme Court ruling as a lesbian, and why higher education institutions need to do more to fight LGBTQ-phobia.

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/pride-m...

Excitement over Pride event partially because ‘it didn’t feel like something that would happen here’ Cassie Greenford shares why the first ever Pride March in Caithness is important for her, the LGBTQ+ community and the general population.

For many people growing up in Caithness, Pride felt like something that only ever happened in the big cities. That changes this weekend, and Cassie Greenford has shared her perspective on just how impactful that could be.

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/excitem...

Changing attitudes have helped make first ever Caithness Pride possible An LGBTQ+ Pride parade will take place in Thurso for the first time next weekend.

In the meantime, it’s full steam ahead to the first ever Caithness Pride march in Thurso this Saturday! I’ve spoken to a few people in the local community to hear how important this kind of event is in a place like Caithness, starting with Charlie Bryde.

www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/changin...

Not something I’ve written about (yet) but since this is a Pride month thread, worth bearing this in mind for the end of June in Inverness 👇🏳️‍⚧️