Welcome to a very special edition that celebrates the return of the GALAS Awards.

No less than 13 awards were presented to individuals and organisations across a broad range of disciplines.

Get a closer look at the glitz and glam with photographs courtesy of Babs Daly and Steven Peice, who is also responsible for the gorgeous cover photo of Beryl Ohas, the GALAS Person of the Year. Get to know more about Beryl’s story in this issue, alongside those of all the other shortlisted nominees.

The NXF launched its new strategy for 2023-2026, its chair, Anna Nolan, tells us more. Other leaders of community organisations are also featured, as Moninne Griffith of Belong To talks about the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ school campaigns, and Rainbow Project Director Scott Cuthbertson shares how countries can learn from each other to improve the lives of queer people internationally.

As it’s October, we mark spooky season by spotlighting LGBTQ+.

We remembers Edmund Lynch who passed away on October 4, leaving behind an invaluable legacy of LGBTQ+ activism.

This issue is dedicated to our wonderful GCN family member Joe Drennan, who passed tragically and suddenly at age 21. Our Joe was one in a million and will never be forgotten. Rest in Power, friend.

Thanks, as always, for reading.