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Ian H Watkins slams JK Rowling as he says LGBTQIA+ community is 'under attack'

Ian H Watkins slams JK Rowling as he says LGBTQIA+ community is 'under attack'

Daily Mirror4 hours ago

Steps star Ian H Watkins has written a new children's book which is called Pride and the Rainbow Warriors, which teaches readers of all ages the about the LGBTQ+ community
Steps' Ian H Watkins has slammed JK Rowling as he says LGBTQI+ community is "under attack". In a move away from music, Ian has brought out a children's book which teaches people about the LGBTQI+ community.
Ian has reflected on his own experiences growing up in the Rhondda Valley in Wales in the '80s and '90s and has said that despite the world now being more progressive, the community is still "under attack".

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has very vocal on the subject of trans people over the years. Following the Supreme Court's judgement in April, she has referred to transgender women as "men".

Speaking to MailOnline, Ian said: "There are a few, they are the minority, a few very powerful people making decisions that the majority do not agree with.... So this book is also a big middle finger up to the b***ts."
Stephen Fry has also also criticised LGBT charity Stonewall as he called it "nonsensical" and "stuck in a terrible, terrible, quagmire" when it comes to trans issues. In December he said: "I am not sure I support them."
Talking about the situation, Ian said: "There's actual human beings involved. I think they are playing a political game. But at the end of the day, the bottom line is just be kind.
"We're all facing struggles on a daily basis, you never know what somebody is going through, so just be kind, life is hard enough, let it go. Who I choose to love, why does that form your opinion? Why should that make you lose sleep at night? No. Worry about yourself."

Ian's new book, which is called Pride and the Rainbow Warriors, follows the Rainbow Warriors as they teach readers about the LGBTQ+ community. Talking about the book, Ian said it is a "love letter" to himself.
He said he wishes he had the book when he was growing up as he was made to fell "very different". He explained that he spent a lot of time out of school due to the bullying and hopes his children don't have to go through the same.
Ian is dad to twin sons Macsen and Cybi with his former partner Craig Ryder. The pair welcomed the boys via surrogate in 2016 before they went their separate ways a year later.
As well as turning his hand to writing and releasing his new book, Ian also uses his time to talk about diversity in schools and encourages children to embrace their individuality. Ian came out publicly in 2007 when he did an interview with The Sun.

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90s pop icon admits they lost out on Glastonbury performance for sad reason
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Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins has revealed that the group was asked to perform with the Bee Gees at Glastonbury on the Pyramid stage but was unable to arrange the logistics in time Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins is one of the most memorable stars of the legendary 90's pop group who took the world by storm with a plethora of hits across the world. But now, it has come to light that there was one part of his pop career that he still holds a level of regret over - and that was missing out on performing at Glastonbury Festival. The group's song Tragedy attracted the attention of the organisers of Glastonbury which led to an invitation to perform at the sought after Pyramid stage. ‌ At the time, the hit song sold more than 1.2million copies in the UK. ‌ Speaking to Metro, the pop star explained: "The Bee Gees asked us to join them on stage. But it was a really late request, and we literally couldn't get it all together in time." He added: "Of course, some of them have passed away now, so that will never happen again. But that's another little jewel in the Steps crown." But with the group's musical Here and Now, which is set to tour around the UK ending up at London's West End, it seems the prospect of appearing on the bill of the iconic festival is clearly still on the group's mind. Ian continued: "We're the only ones, really, from that era that have all the original members and are still going, so it feels like we've earned our stripes by now." At the time of the height of his career, Ian explained that his sex life was the subject of interest among the media and felt unable to come out as gay. ‌ Recalling the moment he followed in the media footsteps of Stephen Gately and Will Young, who were revealed as gay, Ian said he received a phone call he had been desperate to avoid while on holiday. He told the publication: "They knew where I was, who I was with, and why I was there – I had a boyfriend." He added: "Immediately, I flew back from holiday, told my loved ones, told my family, told my parents, and then the next day, they didn't run the story, because I didn't give them quotes. But they threatened me for many years, and I felt like my coming out story was taken from me; my power was taken away, so it was a really emotional, dark time for me." ‌ But Ian was not alone. Boyzone star Stephen Gately and N'SYNC's Lance Bass was also struggling with press attention over their sexuality. Ian added: "If the press knew you were gay, it was a really tricky thing to be seen together or to even admit that you were friends with another closeted gay person." He then decided to forge firm friendships with his bandmates and other stars including Britany Spears. Ian continued: "All of her dancers were gay anyway. People thought I was dating Brittany a long time ago, but that obviously wasn't the case – that was strange."

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Ian H Watkins slams JK Rowling as he says LGBTQIA+ community is 'under attack'
Ian H Watkins slams JK Rowling as he says LGBTQIA+ community is 'under attack'

Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Ian H Watkins slams JK Rowling as he says LGBTQIA+ community is 'under attack'

Steps star Ian H Watkins has written a new children's book which is called Pride and the Rainbow Warriors, which teaches readers of all ages the about the LGBTQ+ community Steps' Ian H Watkins has slammed JK Rowling as he says LGBTQI+ community is "under attack". In a move away from music, Ian has brought out a children's book which teaches people about the LGBTQI+ community. Ian has reflected on his own experiences growing up in the Rhondda Valley in Wales in the '80s and '90s and has said that despite the world now being more progressive, the community is still "under attack". ‌ Harry Potter author JK Rowling has very vocal on the subject of trans people over the years. Following the Supreme Court's judgement in April, she has referred to transgender women as "men". ‌ Speaking to MailOnline, Ian said: "There are a few, they are the minority, a few very powerful people making decisions that the majority do not agree with.... So this book is also a big middle finger up to the b***ts." Stephen Fry has also also criticised LGBT charity Stonewall as he called it "nonsensical" and "stuck in a terrible, terrible, quagmire" when it comes to trans issues. In December he said: "I am not sure I support them." Talking about the situation, Ian said: "There's actual human beings involved. I think they are playing a political game. But at the end of the day, the bottom line is just be kind. "We're all facing struggles on a daily basis, you never know what somebody is going through, so just be kind, life is hard enough, let it go. Who I choose to love, why does that form your opinion? Why should that make you lose sleep at night? No. Worry about yourself." ‌ Ian's new book, which is called Pride and the Rainbow Warriors, follows the Rainbow Warriors as they teach readers about the LGBTQ+ community. Talking about the book, Ian said it is a "love letter" to himself. He said he wishes he had the book when he was growing up as he was made to fell "very different". He explained that he spent a lot of time out of school due to the bullying and hopes his children don't have to go through the same. Ian is dad to twin sons Macsen and Cybi with his former partner Craig Ryder. The pair welcomed the boys via surrogate in 2016 before they went their separate ways a year later. As well as turning his hand to writing and releasing his new book, Ian also uses his time to talk about diversity in schools and encourages children to embrace their individuality. Ian came out publicly in 2007 when he did an interview with The Sun.

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