Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Leslie Clarke

@lesliepumm.uk

230 followers 100 following 36 posts

💼 CEO of Pride Community Foundation / Founder of Sea Brand Former Cabinet Member and Labour Party Councillor @ Brighton & Hove City Council 🇬🇧 👨🏽 Me in 5 emojis: 🍂☕️📚🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸 My website and podcast links: https://linktr.ee/lesliepumm

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Aug 1

Our 'United in Pride' exhibition at Jubilee Library continues to draw a great deal of interest. This morning, BBC South East asked me a few questions about it.

The exhibition will be on display for a few weeks after Brighton Pride. Just pop down and take a look!

Reposted by Leslie Clarke

Pride Community Foundation @pridecommunityfoundation.org · May 6

It's great to see so much interest in our work. In the coming weeks and months, we'll be working closely with community partners to make sure the Pride Community Foundation is doing all it can to support our LGBTQ+ communities.
www.brightonandhovenews.org/2025/05/06/n...

New Pride charity fund set up to take over from under-investigation charity

Brighton Pride's charity money will all be distributed by its sister company following an investigation of the charity which previously

www.brightonandhovenews.org

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 28

Yesterday was one of those sunny Brighton days I've missed a lot over the past few months. Super grateful to live in this beautiful city. Just one more coffee and I'll be ready for the week ahead! ☕️

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 23

This is not about party politics. This is about basic human rights. It's about dignity and realising that we're dragging people into the spotlight to debate their very existence.

The 2010s were a decade of progress for LGBTQ+ people. Let's not lose what we have achieved. 5/5

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 23

As I said last week, Parliament should take a long, hard look at reforming the Equality Act in a progressive spirit, defining the role of gender and strengthening legal protections for trans people. 4/5

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 23

Trans women and trans men, with or without GRCs, live the lives of women and men. They deserve to be able to count on strong legal protection.

The status quo is unfortunately neither strong nor reliable. And it prolongs a debate about a community that just wants to be. 3/5

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 23

I would have liked to see clarity and progress on the role of gender in our everyday lives, rather than reaffirmation of what is already the practice in some areas, i.e. sex-based services rather than gender-based services. 2/5

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 23

I strongly disagree with the Prime Minister's recent statement that the Supreme Court ruling provides clarity. Frankly, it doesn't.

The Equality Act was groundbreaking, but 15 years after its introduction, it needs reform. 🧵 1/5

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 21

Future generations will study how damaging Trump's second term was to serious political communication and trust in institutions. Returning to a world where childish tweets and destructive announcements don't replace good governance will take time.

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 20

2025 keeps throwing these bizarre things at us. Liz Truss is apparently in talks with Reform UK...

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 18

EP 2 - Designing Democracy’s Future: How Gen Z Votes Are Won (or Lost)

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4iX4aN…

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/des��

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=479-wcJNlJA

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iX4aN…

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 18

Gen Z are gearing up to become an electoral force in democracies worldwide.

I sat down with @angusjba.bsky.social to discuss the US Democratic Party's strategy for capturing the Gen Z vote, and the right's efforts to win over young voters.

Episode links are in thread 🧵⬇️

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 17

Listen to or watch the 'Hello World' episode: tr.ee/wfUzJIcieA

lesliepumm - Listen on Spotify - Linktree

View lesliepumm’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 17

Can't wait to launch the first proper episode of Political by Design tomorrow with @angusjba.bsky.social as my guest!

You can watch the introductory episode today to get ready for tomorrow. Link's is in the thread 🧵 ⬇️

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 16

What a bitter day for trans rights in this country. In my view, this ruling is wrong and Parliament should take a long, hard look at modernising the Equality Act so that it actually benefits all protected characteristics.

UK supreme court ruling on legal definition of woman ‘brings clarity and confidence’, says government – as it happened

Judges say definition of women and sex in Equality Act 2010 act refers to biological women and biological sex

www.theguardian.com

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 11

New podcast alert! Political by Design—where UK & US politics meet branding.

Each episode is a 1:1 conversation, digging into the design behind the divide with insiders who've shaped it.

Launching later this month. Got a campaign or brand you’re curious about? Hit me up.

Podcast artwork showing the title of the podcast in large letters: Political by Design. It also shows Leslie in black and white against a beige background, with bars, circles and rectangles decorating the artwork.

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Apr 8

Proud to be working on a new platform with Brighton Pride and Trans Pride Brighton. More to come soon!

United in Pride @unitedinpride.org.uk · Apr 8

Hi Brighton & Hove! 👋

Just a heads-up that a brand new festival is coming to town, and it's all about celebrating Pride your way! It'll be running from 19 July to 4 August, connecting the weeks between Trans Pride and Brighton Pride.

Want to get involved? Click the link! 👇 www.unitedinpride.org.uk

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Mar 3

Thank you so much! I enjoyed the hustings and wish we had more opportunities to work together during my time in office.

Reposted by Leslie Clarke

Brighton Active Travel 🚶‍♀️🧑‍🦽🚲 @batbrighton.bsky.social · Mar 3

Sorry to learn that @lesliepumm.uk has resigned as a city councillor. He kindly attended the Transport & Travel Hustings before getting elected - a sign of his genuine community involvement. We wish him all the best

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Feb 13

The Brighton Festival attracts visitors from all over the country and beyond. It's one of the things that makes Brighton Brighton.

Today, Brighton Dome gave us a sneak peek at this year's line-up - and it's absolutely brilliant.

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Feb 1

Happy Lunar New Year 🐍

CK Bistro 棋哥茶餐廳 and 香港人移居英國 (Hongkonger in Brighton) invited us to an evening full of community spirit and great food.

The Lion Dance was a real highlight – I literally couldn't stop smiling! ☺️

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Jan 30

I spoke to @itvnews.bsky.social last week about the war in Ukraine, the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the power of compassion in these difficult times.

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Jan 27

Growing up in Berlin, a city close to the places where the most unspeakable things happened, I was reminded every year as a young boy of what happens when society as a whole fails to fight anti-Semitism, racism and homophobia.

Never again. #WeRemember

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2025/bu...

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Jan 9

!!

Brighton and Hove LDR @bhdemocracynews.bsky.social · Jan 9

Finally #Brighton and #Hove will be able to get a grip on pavement parking without going to the secretary of state says @lesliepumm.uk He cites devolved decision making in the USA and Germany. Devolution will empower a devolved authority to support local start ups.
#LDreporter

Leslie Clarke @lesliepumm.uk · Jan 8

The Palisades fire is just devastating. It’s heartbreaking to see all the homes and neighbourhoods destroyed and 300,000 people cut off from power.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Los Angeles and our partner city Santa Monica. 🙏🏽