Fletcher speaks with Gay Times for the first time since her 2024 cover, opening up about her evolving artistry and the mixed reactions to ‘Boy’.

WORDS BY PHEBE BARNUM-BOBB

Fletcher has never been one to shy away from vulnerability — or queer chaos.

Since her 2015 debut with ‘War Paint’, the singer-songwriter has soundtracked queer love, heartbreak, and drama with unapologetic honesty, often drawing from the rawest corners of her own life. With her stunning and emotionally unfiltered new album, Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?, she enters a new chapter — one that’s less about reinvention and more about “expansion”.

“I feel like I’ve lived lifetimes, and I also feel like nothing has really changed,” Fletcher tells Gay Times, reflecting on her life since the release of 2024’s In Search of the Antidote — and her cover with us. “I think when you experience a lot of pushback from the world about who you are or how you’re expressing something, you really have to find your center. You have to ask, ‘Okay, whoa, where am I? Where is Cari?’ My artist name is Fletcher — I’ll always be Fletcher — but I’m also a person, a human being. That’s what this whole record is about.”

In a deeply candid conversation with Gay Times, Fletcher reflects on the evolution of her public identity, the polarised response to her single ‘Boy’, and the emotional complexity of being a queer artist under a microscope.

Congratulations on your new album. It feels very raw, almost like an emotional shift from your previous work. How would you describe this new era?

All of the eras of my music, my artistry, and my life have been so significant. To me, this just feels like a continuation of who I am and my artistry. It’s a layering and a deepening — not a departure in any way. It’s more of an expansion of the artist that I am, and more exploration of self.

A level up.

Exactly.

You’ve always been open about your queerness, and fans have become accustomed to you discussing it in the context of WLW relationships. How did the response to your new song, ‘Boy’, shape your understanding of your relationship with the queer community?

My queerness has been centred around women because that’s been my queer experience over the last decade. I’ve written all of my music about my relationships with women and loving women, and there have been songs that have had pronouns like “boy” in them. I’ve had sexual experiences with all kinds of people and all kinds of bodies over the years, but my loves and my muses have been women. So I really understand it feeling like a departure for people — something different, and not what they expected me to write or say. I had so many questions, too. And so yeah, as I was sharing it with people, it was also something I was learning to understand for myself — where it fits into my journey and into my life.

As it happened around the same time as JoJo Siwa and Billie Eilish getting into relationships with men, some felt it highlighted the prevalence of bi-erasure. What are your thoughts on that?

I mean, it really opened my eyes to the conversation around the complexity and nuance of queerness — how that conversation was clearly bubbling under the surface for people even before I released this song. I think it’s something that’s been present in the community for a long time, but has just become more pronounced and highlighted given certain things happening in pop culture — things that have really brought the controversy and discourse around queerness into sharper focus.

People will say, ‘Well, it’s not about that, it was about the timing,’ or, ‘It was about this…’ If it’s not one thing, it’s another. And all of that is valid — I understand it deeply and can see everyone’s perspective. This is a topic that’s been ongoing, and it continues to evolve within our community. I think it’s an important and interesting conversation.

Were you nervous when dropping ‘Boy’?

I was really nervous before releasing this song. Like I said, I expected people to have a reaction and to feel the way that they felt — just not to the extent that it happened. You know, my career really began 10 years ago with a song called ‘Wasted Youth’, and in the music video, I was falling in love with my then-girlfriend. That was my first time talking about my sexuality. So to be releasing a song 10 years later about another discovery within my sexuality felt full circle — and scary all over again.

It’s not a f**king scary thing to have a song about a heteronormative love, but for me, it’s about my relationship to queerness. ‘Boy’ is about the nuance of that queerness — about being Fletcher, being an artist and a human being who holds both the love and the weight of a predominantly sapphic, queer, and lesbian audience around the world.

So yeah, I felt scared. Scared about how this experience would fit into the world I’ve created, into the way people have experienced me, and into the life I’ve lived so openly. That was the fear — sharing it with my community. Not the world at large. Not a random person on the street. My community.

That feels like one of the hardest parts — when it’s your own community attacking you. People who, just days earlier, were your biggest fans. There’s so much to unpack there, and it’s incredibly difficult.

Yeah, it is wild. It’s so interesting — I’m fascinated by where we are right now in terms of fan culture and parasocial relationships. People feel such deep entitlement to an artist’s human experience: how they should live it, share it, create it, what they should say, and what their responsibilities are. To go from being so deeply adored one moment to, at the drop of a hat, reading the most insanely hateful, wildly untrue things about yourself — it’s surreal. I’ve seen some really crazy things written about me online, and honestly, I’ve had to laugh at some of them because it’s just so absurd.

That kind of flip-flop is jarring. And it’s not just happening to me — I’ve watched it happen to so many artists I love, that we love, that we lift up. We put people on pedestals, make them our gods and goddesses, and then just f**king rip the rug right out from under them. It’s wild.

How did writing and releasing the song shift your perception of your identity?

I think the whole purpose of life is to allow yourself to have new experiences and to listen to your heart. That’s always where I’ve moved from, listening to my heart. I’ve always viewed my queerness as this open door of possibility. It’s the lens I bring into every relationship I’m in, no matter who I’m dating.

I see life through this queer lens, and it’s such a gift. It truly is the greatest gift, to be able to look at things with curiosity, nuance, openness, and an open heart and mind. That doesn’t need to be how everyone experiences their queerness. For some people, it’s, ‘This is what it looks like for me, and it always has and always will.’ For others, it’s fluid — it ebbs and flows.

@gaytimes Upon the release of her latest album, @FLETCHER discusses this new chapter in her artistic expansion 🎵 #fletcher #newmusic #boy #interview #sapphic #lgbtqia #queertiktok ♬ Acoustic Guitar Stroll – Dow Brain

For me, this song is just a small part of a much larger story told through my album, an evolution of my relationship with being a person on a platform, a person on a stage, my artistry, my career, and the music industry. ‘Boy’ is one thread in a bigger tapestry. There’s way, way more to the story.

Because you’re queer, every relationship you’re in will always carry that lens, no matter the partner.

Because I’m a queer person in the relationship, I’m bringing that perspective — how I feel, how I move through the world, how I question norms and gender roles. I think about the balance of masculine and feminine energy — not in a gendered way, but in terms of energy and polarity. That push and pull, and how it shifts between partners, is such a beautiful weaving.

For me, it’s always been about the soul, the energy, the person. That’s what I’ve always said. And this has just been another beautifully eye-opening experience, like the rest of my journey. I’m constantly learning more about myself, and I think that’s the whole point, right?

The last time we spoke, you were in the midst of some very public sapphic drama…

That sounds about right.

Fans loved that your ex Shannon Beveridge photographed the Gay Times cover. How has your life evolved since then? How have you changed?

I feel like I’ve lived lifetimes, and I also feel like nothing has really changed. It’s just been more of a process of learning about myself and who I am in this moment of my life. It’s always an evolution. I’ve changed so much over the last 10 years, as I hope we all have. When I started writing music, I was 19 or 20. I’m 31 now. I’ll continue to grow and evolve, and I don’t know what a year from now holds for me, or two years, or three, or where my life and heart will lead me next.

I think when you experience a lot of pushback from the world about who you are or how you’re expressing something, you really have to find your center. You have to ask, ‘Okay, whoa, where am I? Where is Cari?’ My artist name is Fletcher — I’ll always be Fletcher — but I’m also a person, a human being. That’s what this whole record is about. It’s saying, ‘Take me off the pedestal.’ This is what it feels like to be someone who’s been put on one, and the challenges that come with that. So yeah, a lot has changed and a lot is still the same, because I’m still me. And I’ll keep being me, and encouraging other people to be themselves, too.

There is a lot of heaviness in the world for queer people right now, particularly trans people. Has the political climate had an impact on how you approached this album and your songwriting?

With the release of ‘Boy,’ especially given the political climate we’re in — and the horrendous, corrupt human being who is, at least for now, the president of the United States — there was definitely a part of me that thought, ‘Do I wait? Do I hold off for years until this person is no longer in power?’ It didn’t feel like the best time to share this part of myself. But then I thought, ‘Do I just come back if I’m dating a woman again? Is that when people want to hear from me? Is that when people only want Fletcher’s art, when it fits into a certain narrative?’

But I don’t think there’s ever a convenient time to be yourself. I don’t think there’s a perfect moment to share what you’re going through or what your life looks like. So yeah, that definitely played a role in how I was feeling. But ultimately, the deeper truth was: I have to keep living authentically, right now, in this moment.

Do you have a message for your queer and trans fans who listen to your music as a form of escapism?

Any queer person who has listened to my music and felt seen by it, that means everything to me. It touches me so deeply, and it’s not something I ever take lightly. I just want to say: I love you. I see you. I feel you. I feel us. I feel everything we’re going through as a community right now, and I will do anything and everything, for the rest of my life — whether I’m on a stage or off one — to protect and ride for this community with everything I have. We are made up of the most precious, magical, sensitive beings, and I especially want to protect our trans family, who are being attacked left and right.

It really hurts my heart to see so many people feeling scared or unsafe just for being themselves. I feel that so deeply. I always have. Everywhere you look, it’s so overstimulating — the amount of immense suffering and pain happening on a collective scale. It can be paralysing. I think it’s hard to know what to do. How do you actually make an impact? How do you truly make a difference? And how do you show up for humanity in a meaningful way?

Finally, what do you want fans who have been with you from the beginning to take from this newer, evolved version of yourself?

I made this album for myself, and it really represents a lot of questions, questions I have for myself, for the industry, for fans. It lives in this liminal, blurry space of not quite being here, not quite there. This album met me where I was at, and I hope it meets people where they are in their own journeys, wherever that may be. And if it doesn’t resonate with you, that’s totally okay — there are plenty of other artists and music that will meet you where you are and narrate your story. That’s the magic of music: it helps us feel seen and validated in our experiences and lives. It’s also how we alchemise pain into art and beauty; it helps us heal. So, ultimately, I just hope this record meets people where they’re at, and that’s all.

Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me? is out now. 

The post Fletcher: “I’ve always viewed my queerness as this open door of possibility” appeared first on GAY TIMES.

LICK organisers speak with Gay Times about their annual weekender centred on queer women, and the importance of Black representation in the queer scene.

WORDS BY PHEBE BARNUM-BOBB
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LICK

LICK is currently the biggest club event in London for WLW, hosting nights “for women, by women”. With regular events in the capital, they have decided to take their sapphic army global for the second consecutive year.

The LICK Weekender brought partygoers to the Greek island of Crete for a weekend of new friendships, blossoming relationships and unforgettable memories. With 500 attendees from around the world – from the UK to Japan, Kenya to Australia – guests brought some (much-needed) POC queer joy to the island.

As hosts of the event tell Gay Times, “LICK is for all queer women, but running a truly diverse event requires intention.” With a focus on de-centring whiteness in queer culture, LICK is committed to putting diversity at the forefront.

Below, founder Teddy Edwardes reflects on the landmark event and shares her thoughts on the importance of intentional diversity in the queer nightlife space.

Firstly, how was the event? Tell us about any standout moments or highlights from the weekend?

The entire weekend was a 10/10 from start to finish. Everyone was glowing with joy! So many new friendships, relationships and lifelong memories were made. It felt really special.

Do you know how many people were in attendance?

500 people attended! And there were women from all over the world. The top ten list of countries included the United Kingdom, United States, Tunisia, Kenya and Australia, but there were also women from The Caribbean, Egypt, Canada and Japan!

Why do you think this event is particularly important for the POC lesbian community?

Representation matters. It’s essential for Black queer women to have spaces where they can connect with others who not only share their identity but also understand their experiences.

LICK is for all queer women, but running a truly diverse event requires intention. You have to actively consider the experience of those who are most often marginalised, which is something that’s often missing from the wider queer scene, where whiteness is usually centred and diversity treated as an afterthought.

What message would you share with POC lesbians who feel like they haven’t found their place in the community yet?

There are so many events for queer women now but my advice would be to think about what event you would like to see, and if it doesn’t exist yet, create it yourself!

Is another LICK Weekender on the horizon? What can we expect?

Absolutely! The LICK Weekender will be happening once (maybe twice) a year in different countries across Europe. We’re also expanding into new cities, so keep an eye out!

This interview has been edited for clarity.

The post Queer women transform Crete into a sun-soaked, sapphic celebration appeared first on GAY TIMES.

From its breathtaking coral reefs to the lively outdoor markets, Mauritius is your next must-see destination.

WORDS BY PHEBE BARNUM-BOBB
SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRISTOPHER GANNON, FINN PARTNERS AND SUNLIFE

Mauritius, a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean, is known for its white sand beaches, luxury resorts and vibrant culture. While many visit for its natural beauty, it’s increasingly becoming a haven for queer travellers seeking relaxation.

In October 2023, the Supreme Court of Mauritius ruled that the country’s ban on same-sex intimacy was unconstitutional, marking a significant step forward for LGBTQIA+ rights. This landmark decision highlighted Mauritius as a democratic state, affirming that personal privacy should be respected. Although same-sex marriage is yet to be recognised, queer people are loosely protected from discrimination in areas such as employment and the provision of goods and services.

Mauritius is also one of 96 countries to have signed the “Joint Statement on Ending Acts of Violence Related to Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” at the United Nations, which condemns violence and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people.

Though safety is undoubtedly a concern for queer travellers, Mauritius proves to be a welcoming destination. From the moment we arrived, soaking in the warmth of the Indian Ocean sun, we felt the island’s inviting and transformative energy – enter Belinda from The White Lotus.

Before our flight, we enjoyed a relaxing stop at Gatwick’s Plaza Premium Lounge, offering unlimited food and drinks, with free entry for children – a perfect pre-flight treat and ideal for the boujee queers!

Upon arrival, we were whisked away to Long Beach Resort, a Sunlife property. While there are plenty of resorts across the island, few match the luxury of this 5-star retreat. Located on the island’s east coast, it offers a mix of modern elegance and peaceful surroundings, making it ideal for queer travellers looking for both comfort and inclusivity.

The stunning contemporary suites are filled with light, vibrant decor, and plenty of space. Each room has its own private outdoor area overlooking either the gardens, pool or the renowned Belle Mare Beach.

There’s an abundance of amenities, too. For dinner, guests can enjoy dining options from one of the resort’s five restaurants, offering everything from world-class Asian cuisine to pure Italian indulgence.

And it doesn’t end there. Sunlife has four splendid resorts on the island, all “full of life and wonderfully one-of-a-kind”. For the luxury lovers and honeymooners, Sugar Beach is the place to be; La Pirogue is perfect for culture vultures; and Ambre caters to the escape chasers. Each has its own unique personality, atmosphere, and picturesque scenery.

If, like many of us, holiday is a time to lean into your type-B self – letting the adventure fall at your feet and not travelling too far – there’s a range of activities you can take part in right on your doorstep. Sunlife’s latest “Come Alive Collection” offers experiences ranging from thrills to relaxation, allowing you to experience the country without even leaving the resort.

Sapphics, forget the playlist for your lover – come home with a sustainable (yes!) handmade souvenir from the Glass Studio. Transform recycled glass bottles from the hotel into a personalised handmade gift – c’mon DIY dykes! Whether it’s a keyring, bracelet, necklace, or ring, connect with your artistic side and take home a one-of-a-kind piece.

Calling all the London Lime bikers – it’s time to take your skills to the other side of the pond! Swap East London for the East Coast of Mauritius on an electric bike adventure. Pick your own path: the Flacq market, gliding through a must-see village with “local charm” on an 18km route, or delve into the island’s heart on a 22km route where you’ll travel through Bras d’Eau National Park until you arrive at the Sagar Shiv Hindu Temple.

Would it be a 5-star resort holiday without a massage? GLOW is Sunlife’s new spa and wellness offering that provides an authentic Mauritian experience. Based on three pillars of wellbeing – elemental energy, nurturing energy and creative energy – GLOW offers guests the opportunity to “rediscover your inner radiance”. Need we say more? If you’re tired of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, get an authentic Mauritian massage for a purely indulgent experience.

Many escape to Mauritius for complete relaxation, but of course, exploration is a must!

Mauritius is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world. From the powdery white sands of Belle Mare Beach to the crystal-clear waters of Le Morne, the island offers an idyllic backdrop for any holiday. Few compare to the enchanting views of Île aux Cerfs. Just off the mainland, this untouched island, only reachable by boat or helicopter, boasts glistening white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. For golfing gays (you do exist, right?), there’s an 18-hole championship golf course. And if you simply want to soak in your surroundings, there are three authentic Mauritian restaurants.

If you’re searching for more hustle and bustle, head to the Central Flacq Market for a taste of the culture. It’s the largest outdoor market on the island, located in the northeast. You’ll find fresh produce, an array of spices, freshly cooked street food and a number of stalls offering souvenirs. Don’t forget to grab that extra-special fridge magnet for your mum or the 103rd extra-baggy pyjama top that will inevitably be stolen by that one-night stand.

Now, it’s completely understandable that sending yourself off to a country that doesn’t recognise same-sex marriage might be, well, far from ideal if you’re not straight or cis-passing. Our key takeaway is that Mauritius is a welcoming, inviting and kind country, filled with culture and diversity. If you want to live your The White Lotus fantasy (minus the death, incest, and drama), this could just be the place for you.

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WorldPride 2025 is set to be one of the biggest celebrations of the LGBTQIA+ community in 2025.

From performers to events and how to get tickets, here’s everything you need to know.

WORDS BY PHEBE BARNUM-BOBB

What is WorldPride?

WorldPride is an annual event that promotes LGBTQIA+ inclusion, awareness and issues on a global scale via parades, festivals, conferences and more.

After debuting in Rome in 2000, the event has since been held in Jerusalem, Israel (2006), London, United Kingdom (2012), Toronto, Canada (2014), Madrid, Spain (2017), New York City, United States (2019), Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmö, Sweden (2021) and Sydney, Australia (2023).

The host cities are determined by the members of InterPride, the International Association of Pride Coordinators.

When and where is it?

This year, the celebrations will take place in Washington D.C. to mark the 50th anniversary of Capital Pride. The three-week celebration is filled with parades, concerts, activism and cultural events to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Set to be “one of the biggest Pride celebrations ever”, the event will take place from 17 May to 8 June 2025.

What is the theme?

The theme for 2025 is ‘The Fabric of Freedom’, which invites the community to reflect on unity while serving as a “global call to action to LGBTQ+ people and their allies” to celebrate the vibrancy of the community.

As the statement on their official website reads, “Throughout history, people have used fabrics as expressive symbols, to communicate identities, and as forms of resistance. In the face of rising challenges, both in the United States and globally, those seeking division cannot diminish the strength of our shared connection. It’s the fabric of our community — through our rich cultures, diverse identities, and backgrounds — that will guide us forward towards a better future.”

The LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride flag itself serves as a powerful representation of this diversity. Yet, as the statement continues, “It is our shared humanity and unshakable unity that defines our greatest strength. We are people bound by love and acceptance, struggle and resilience, our past and our future, forging an ever-evolving community that together embodies The Fabric of Freedom.”

Who is performing?

Get ready for an epic lineup at WorldPride 2025, featuring some of the biggest names in music! Cynthia Erivo, Tinashe and Kim Petras are confirmed to take the stage, with Troye Sivan and Jennifer Lopez as headliners.

Also joining the stage are Rita Ora, Trisha Paytas, Galantis, Aluna, Zedd, Paris Hilton, Marina, RAYE, and even a DJ set from RuPaul Charles (!!!).

And that’s not all – expect performances from Sasha Colby, Slayyyter, Betty Who, Purple Disco Machine, Leland + Friends, Sofi Tukker, Aluna, and plenty more. WorldPride 2025 is going to be a celebration like no other!

What events will be held?

The WorldPride 2025 celebrations will kick off on 31 May with an opening ceremony featuring performances, speeches from notable figures in the LGBTQ+ community, and a special performance by global sensation Shakira.

Throughout the event, attendees can explore cultural exhibits, including a special display of works by Keith Haring and David Hockney at the National Gallery of Art. The Pride Arts Programme will also feature live performances of all-queer productions at the Kennedy Center, alongside a Pride Film Festival screening both classic and contemporary queer cinema at various theatres, including the AFI Silver Theatre.

On 4 June, the Human Rights Conference will take place at the JW Marriot Pennsylvania Avenue, focusing on topics such as inclusion, accessibility, mental health and the fight for global equality. This conference will include keynote speeches, panels and workshops from renowned speakers.

The WorldPride Parade, held on 7 June, promises to be one of the event’s biggest highlights, with thousands of marchers, rainbow-clad revellers and dozens of floats celebrating LGBTQ+ pride and diversity against the iconic backdrop of the U.S. Capitol.

Finally, on 8 June, the International March on Washington will unite thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to advocate for equality, justice, and global LGBTQ+ rights, culminating in a rally at the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

How do I get tickets?

For more information, head to https://worldpridedc.org/

The post Here’s everything you need to know about WorldPride 2025 appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Girls Aloud are reportedly set for a comeback and fans are gooped and gagged!

After 11 years away, the British girl group reportedly has a secret single and a potential comeback tour in the works.

Reports say the reunion of the four bandmates, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and Kimberely Walsh, took place on 7 November, with a source telling The Sun that the group came together to shoot a music video in a North London studio, wearing superhero style costumes.

“This has to be one of the best-kept secrets in pop, but it’s actually happening now,” the Sun’s source said. 

The new track is reported to be in honour of the late bandmate Sarah Harding, who died of breast cancer aged 39 in September 2021.

So with rumours rife, fans have taken to social media to share their excitement.

timeline is full of gays and girls screaming over the girls aloud reunion rumours. bliss.

— lori megan ☽ (@lorimeganxo) November 8, 2023

apologies for the person I’m going to become when this Girls Aloud reunion happens, those women raised me

— ethan 🍂 (@evespanesar) November 7, 2023

Girls Aloud reunion!?? 🚨 pic.twitter.com/7afr5Aluo3

— Dan 🪩 (@bydanram) November 8, 2023

Me after selling my house and taking all my life savings to get front row at the girls aloud reunion tour pic.twitter.com/DQmzlRjgOM

— venus ☁️ (@WE_D0_CAR3) November 7, 2023

I’m not emotionally prepared for the montage of Sarah that’ll be playing when Girls Aloud perform Stand By You on their reunion tour. pic.twitter.com/wwiAJmYK07

— cameron (@camruined) November 8, 2023

The girls aloud reunion will kill me off, I hope you all know how insufferable this era of me will be!!

— char manning 🌟 (@xylottie) November 7, 2023

GIRLS ALOUD REUNION MY DEPRESSION IS CURED!!!!! 😭😭😭😭

— kellyyyy (@ifuseekkelly) November 7, 2023

Girls Aloud reunion?! pic.twitter.com/zJAtr08pgr

— Alex Tyler (@alextylertweets) November 8, 2023

Girls Aloud was first formed in 2002 on the ITV talent show Pop Stars: The Rivals, where they competed for a place in the band.

Across their eleven year span, Girls Aloud achieved a staggering 21 top 10 UK singles, which included four number one songs.

After announcing their split in March 2013, The band members continued to prosper in solo careers. All members remained releasing music, with Cheryl going on to have five number one singles and two number one albums.

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