DIVA

After what seems like an eternity, June 2021 finally sees the lifting of the restrictions which, however necessary, have blighted all our lives. Some of us haven’t made it, some have caught the virus and recovered fully, while others are still feelin

Music editor Laura Howard Screen editor Kat Halstead Books editor Erica Gillingham Travel editor Joanna Whitehead Designer Fernando Safont Big thanks to: Adrian Read, Joanna Turvill, Harriet Argent, Nadia Davies, Martine Hess sales@divamag.co.uk Even

Editor-in-chief Carrie Lyell “I’ll be celebrating by getting the Covid vaccine. Thank you, NHS!” Managing editor Roxy Bourdillon “With a rainbow face mask and glittery hand sanitiser” Sub-editor Kat Halstead “By finally treating myself to those rainb

Lesbian Visibility Week was an incredible success, sparking conversation, collaboration and creativity. Since Linda dreamt up the initiative in 2020, it’s grown more than we ever could have imagined, becoming a staple in the LGBTQI calendar globally.

I feel absolutely honoured and privileged to have won the @DIVAmagazine Sports Star of the Year Award 2021! Thank you so so much to everyone who voted. It really does mean so much to me! I’m over the moon!? Thank you also to the incredible people I h

Signatures on a change.org petition calling for a 112,000+ ban on conversion therapy 5 Years in jail for two trans women in Cameroon found guilty of “attempting homosexuality” and “outraging public decency” 71 The percentage of the LGBTQI community t

How did Bookhounds come to be? When I was preparing for my first marathon, I was a bit injured, very much in the training zone. I picked up this book called Runner by Lizzy Hawker, an incredible endurance runner from the UK. It reminded me why I love

The Breakup Monologues by Rosie Wilby Beg, borrow or steal a copy! The Scottish island will host its fifirst ever Pride event in 2022! We love this publication of lesbian art and poetry wmnzine.com Once the queen of daytime telly, her show is coming

I’m an overseas subscriber, hence only commenting on the February issue now. Reminds me of early DIVA: very serious and full of activists struggling to make the world better for our community. Ok, but can we read some fun stuff too please? What about

We Can Do Better Than This Amelia Abraham (editor) Essays, Vintage, £14.99 The Ex-Girlfriend Of My Ex-Girlfriend Is My Girlfriend Maddy Court Advice, Chronicle Books, £14.99 Queer Between The Covers Leila Kassir, Richard Espley (editors) Essays, Univ

ERICA GILLINGHAM is a queer poet, writer and bookseller with a PhD in lesbian love stories and kissing. @ericareadsqueer Isabel Waidner Isabel Waidner’s writing is electric. Kinetic, peripatetic, suspect, the reader knows as little about where they a

LAURA HOWARD is a friendly northern muso and aspiring radio DJ. @howardoyoudo We’re All Gonna Die, But Here’s My Contribution Introducing Boyish, Brooklyn-based queer indie duo India Shore and Claire Altendahl. A nostalgic take on their shared experi

VALENTINO VECCHIETTI is a writer, academic, intersex human rights campaigner and a lesbian. They founded Intersex Equality Rights UK. @ValentinoInter I am very happy for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities who celebrated inclusion in the

Meetup app A platform full of friendly groups for every imaginable interest, connecting people locally, nationally and internationally. Check out London International Lesbians for starters: they welcome womxn and non-binary folk of all abilities and

Created by queer women for queer women, this nifty little gadget is a scissoring secret weapon for couples where at least one partner has a vulva. wetforher.com, £58.95 An ideal aid to help you and your partner find (and maintain!) that perfect posit

Since the dawn of time, queer women have argued ferociously about whether or not scissoring is a thing. In all likelihood, gay cavewomen were debating scissoring long before scissors were even invented. I like to think that back then they called it D

Tribadism: Grinding against any part of a partner’s body. Scissoring: A type of tribadism, where two (or more) people rub their genitals together. ✔ All the sexy sex nerds advise stretching before scissoring. If you’re worried that might kill the moo

“Yes, scissoring is a real thing and there’s so many different variations of it. Now, me personally, yes, I scissor! Imagine their legs open and I’m in between and I raise up to where both of our clits are hitting each other. For me, that’s like fore

“I find penetrative sex painful and I get so much more pleasure from being stimulated on the outside. That’s why I love scissoring!” “When people say it’s not real I’m like, ‘So I’m not real? My sex doesn’t count because it doesn’t fit your idea of w

I’ve been with my wife for over 20 years. In that time, we’ve had many different sexual relationships. We’ve been energetic, but uninformed. We’ve been at it like rabbits, three times a night. We’ve been totally exhausted and entirely non-sexual new

Remember: start small, go slow and don’t be stingy with the water-based lube… This silicone vibrator is ideal for newbies. Pass the remote control to your partner to up the ass-play ante. £95 from pleasuregardenshop.co.uk Multiple options mean you ca

What is daily life like for LGBTQI people in Japan? Day-to-day life for LGBTQI people in Japan can be hard. There is a lack of acceptance and understanding at home and school which can lead to students being bullied, both by their teachers and other