By Newsdesk 
Thursday 12 November 2026 | TheGayUK.com
A Harry Potter star has spoken about his support for transgender people, while a familiar First Dates participant returns to television after coming out as gay. Elsewhere, a new training initiative aims to improve healthcare for transgender patients across Britain, and an Olympic sporting couple share details of their engagement.
1. Harry Potter star Paapa Essiedu speaks out in support of transgender people
British actor Paapa Essiedu, who will play Severus Snape in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter television adaptation, has reaffirmed his support for transgender people while declining to discuss author J.K. Rowling directly.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Essiedu said LGBTQ+ people deserve dignity, respect and safety in their everyday lives. Asked about Rowling, whose views on transgender rights have attracted considerable controversy, the actor chose not to comment on her personally.
Essiedu previously signed a public letter supporting transgender people following the UK’s 2025 Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of sex.
Reported 11 November 2026; based on a Vanity Fair interview published 10 November.Read more — Them Them
2. First Dates participant returns to find a husband after coming out as gay
A former participant on Channel 4’s First Dates has returned to the programme with a very different outlook on relationships.
William Laven first appeared in 2024, aged 24, when he was looking for a girlfriend. Since then, he has come out as gay and returned to the restaurant hoping to meet a potential husband.
Speaking exclusively to PinkNews, Laven discussed how accepting his sexuality had changed his confidence and approach to dating. He also spoke about being neurodivergent and having a stammer, explaining how he had found greater understanding and connection within the LGBTQ+ community.
His return was featured in the programme’s 11 November broadcast.
Published 11 November 2026; original interview.Read more — PinkNewsthepinknews.com
3. Free transgender healthcare training offered to UK medical students
Medical students across the UK are being offered free training designed to improve their understanding of transgender and non-binary patients’ healthcare needs.
Online education provider Affirm is making its five-hour, CPD-accredited course available without charge to eligible medical students between 13 and 20 November, coinciding with Transgender Awareness Week.
The initiative follows a 2026 NHS England-commissioned review which identified inconsistencies in LGBTQ+ healthcare teaching. According to the research reported by PinkNews, only one in eight medical students surveyed felt their knowledge of LGBTQ+ healthcare was sufficient.
The course covers gender diversity, clinical pathways, communication, professional power dynamics and the experiences of transgender patients.
The offer is an independent educational initiative rather than a new NHS training requirement.
Published 10 November 2026; training offer begins 13 November.Read more — PinkNews thepinknews.com
4. Olympic couple Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe reveal romantic engagement details
American ice hockey champion Hilary Knight has shared new details about her relationship and engagement to Olympic speed skater Brittany Bowe.
The couple became engaged at the Milan Winter Olympics in February 2026, four years after growing close during the Beijing Games.
In a newly published interview with Them, Knight revealed that the couple collaborated on designing their engagement rings, incorporating the coordinates of their proposal location inside the bands.
Although the pair have not settled on wedding plans, Knight said they were enjoying their engagement while balancing their demanding sporting careers.
Knight is also preparing for a new chapter with Detroit Clutch in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, whose inaugural home opener is scheduled for December.
Original interview published 11 November 2026; engagement took place in February.Read more — Them