Spice Girl cancels concert in Poland after fans educate
In a move praised by LGBT advocates, Spice Girl Melanie C canceled a New Year's Eve concert in Poland, presumably after learning of the Polish government's anti-LGBTQ policies.

"In light of some issues that have been brought to my attention, that do not align with the communities I support, I'm afraid I will no longer be able to perform in Poland as planned on New Year's Eve," she wrote on Twitter.

"I hope to be back there very soon," she added. "Hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2023."

Polish state broadcaster TVP had a slightly different story, claiming that Melanie canceled "under the pressure of online comments." Reporters Without Borders has described TVP as government propaganda, which aligns with its airing of Invasion, a film about the supposed "inside story, aims, methods, and money behind the LGBT invasion" of Poland.

Melanie C still managed to appear on the prerecorded BBC One New Year's Eve concert.

English Trans activist says award a mixed blessing
Prominent Trans rights activist Helen Belcher of Wiltshire, England, told the BBC on New Year's Eve that she is worried that the press will react with "just another big blazing row" to her being recognized in the King's New Year's Honors list.

"I would hope it would mean things that we say are taken with a little bit more seriousness," said Belcher, 59. Belcher is director of Transactual and Trans Media Watch, both Trans rights advocacy and research groups.

"To be honest," Belcher went on, "I feel a slight fear of what the press reaction is going to be, because it's almost as if Trans people can't do anything right at the moment in the current environment."

Of the new year, she said, "I think it's just going to be another year of just trying to plod on and keep pushing where we can, and try and build arguments and funds to shift the narrative a bit. And whether this award will help do that, I don't know. I doubt it, but we can try."