It’s been over a year now since My Transsexual Summer was broadcast on Channel 4 in Britain. It’s insane how time flies! Since then I’ve been part of a club tour around the UK with the rest of the cast, along with attending some quite prestigious events. Back when we were filming in the summer of 2011, I honestly never imagined how much this show was about to impact my life.

I first fell in love with Paul A Young’s sea salted caramel chocolates while I was living in Islington, dangerously close to the London chef’s first chocolate shop.

Walking past the sleek and inviting store each day, it was almost impossible to resist the small dark igloos of chocolate filled with salty sweet caramel that oozes across your tongue as you bite through the crisp casing.

Several years later, and with the offer of an interview, I was excited to be meeting the man behind the chocolate.

The anti-gay group OneMillionMoms.com has revived its fight against Ellen DeGeneres and JC Penney now that the popular television talk show host is appearing in holiday commercials for the retail chain.

Gay icon Cher has joined a campaign calling on US department store Macy's to stop doing business with Obama hater Donald Trump.

Over 470,000 people have signed an online petition urging the retail giant to 'Dump the Trump' over the real estate mogul's vicious attack against the re-election of President Barack Obama.

Now the pop superstar has added her autograph to the list of campaigners who want The Apprentice star to be told 'You're fired' by bosses at Macy's.

With President Barack Obama in a close race against Mitt Romney and marriage equality measures on the ballot in four US states, LGBT celebrities from Ellen DeGeneres to Chaz Bono took to social media Tuesday (6 November) to try and get out the vote.

DeGeneres, spokeswoman for the JC Penney retail chain, mixed politics with commerce in her message: 'If you want to see change… vote. If you want equal rights… vote. If you want good deals on holiday sweaters, go to jcp. Then vote.'

From retail to real estate, today's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender consumers are in the unique position where flexing their spending power means they can help encourage companies to become gay-friendly and even have the power to help some firms stay in business. Or not.

While some genuinely support the LGBT community, more businesses are understanding that investment translates to serious influence.

Cue the courting of the LGBT consumer.

The heavily pregnant partner of British lesbian retail guru Mary Portas has fallen and broken her ankle days before her due date.

Melanie Rickey broke her ankle her three places after ‘blacking out’ and is now in a wheelchair.

The fashion editor for Grazia magazine tweeted that she would need an operation.

‘Yes :( screws/plates n everyfing,’ she posted on Twitter.

The 39-year-old is expecting her first child. Portas, who shot to fame with her Queen of Shops TV show, has two children from a previous marriage to Graham Portas.

Target, one of America's largest retail stores, is promoting its wedding registry to gay couples.

With an ad that reads 'Be yourself, together' and 'Build a Target Wedding Gift Registry as unique as the two of you', Target has made another step in pro-gay rights despite its anti-gay past.

A US store which was once accused of opposing gay marriage has begun selling greetings cards for same-sex newlyweds.

Cards with messages such as 'Mr and Mr' and 'Two very special women' will be available to buy in Target stores nationwide and follows the retail giant's decision to sell Gay Pride month T-shirts.

However, the Minnesota company's latest move in support of gay rights comes just one week after it refused to sell openly gay R&B star Frank Ocean's song Channel Orange which calls on more hip-hop stars to speak out against homophobia.

London 2012 organizers are making a last ditch effort to sell gay Olympic pin badges as many shops refuse to stock them.

The badges which feature the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic logos combined with an LGBT rainbow flag were unveiled two years ago at a special reception at the headquarters of the LOCOG, the London body running the games.

LOCOG has heralded them as one of the most groundbreaking things it has done to bring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the Olympic celebrations.

Zibrant is a provider of venue-finding, event production, and incentive management services. The company places over 25,000 events annually in more than 50 countries and employ 230 staff across Europe.

Managing director Chris Parnham’s eyes sparkle with wit and humour, but he makes no attempt to hide the drive and ambition that have seen him become one of the power gays shaping the business world of today.

One Million Moms, the group that unsuccessfully tried to get Ellen DeGeneres fired as JC Penney spokeswoman because she is a leabian, is now threatening a boycott of the Toys R Us retail chain.

The group is upset with the chain because some of its locations are selling the current issue of the comic book Life With Archie which features two of its male characters getting married.