"A real slap in the face" from the Church of England
The General Synod of the Church of England is gathering again this weekend to deliberate on two LGBTQ-related issues: how priests could carry out blessings for same-sex couples, and how to protect vicars who might choose not to pray over the union of such couples.

The church agreed to discuss such issues in February, deepening the cracks between its flock at home and those abroad.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, urged the clergy last year to "abound in love for all," but still supported a 1998 resolution that declared "homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture."

Bishop Sarah Mullally said in June, "This has not been an easy period for people right across a range of traditions, and we know that has maybe been harder since February than it may have been before."

Sasha Misra, associate director of communications at Stonewall, told Reuters that "faith is important to many LGBTQ+ people, which is why the Synod's suggestion that blessings be provided in place of marriage [is] a real slap in the face to our communities."

Trans woman applies for Miss Venezuela pageant
Model and influencer Sofia Salomón might not be the first Trans woman to apply to the Miss Venezuela pageant, but if she is accepted, she will be the first to participate.

"I think it is a great platform to bring visibility to my community, echo the positive things, and show people the reality of Transgender women," Salomón said.

Last year she finished in the top six of Miss International Queen, the world's largest beauty pageant for Trans women, and during the event, she mentioned a case in which another Trans citizen, Tamar Adrián — who also became the country's first Trans lawmaker in 2015 — has been fighting to change her gender markers on her birth certificate.

"I would like that law changed so Trans women could be accepted with the name they feel more safe," Salomón said.

Miss Venezuela winners go on to compete in the international contest, Miss Universe, which opened to Trans competitors in 2012.