This is an insult to the growing ranks of talented artists of Glasgow.
20.01.2026 16:44
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This is an insult to the growing ranks of talented artists of Glasgow.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of queer poet Renee Nicole Good - murdered this week by a fascist military force, leaving behind her wife and children.
We can only hope that with time resistance to the regime will bring justice to her killers.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Thank you to JJ Fadaka for hosting, and congratulations to all the poets on powerful and moving performances of their stunning words. We can't wait to see you all again soon!
Our lineup of readers from the TDOR event taken by @meganboothwriting
Our Trans Day of Remembrance Readings Evening event last weekend was a beautiful time. We're hugely grateful to @argonautbooks.bsky.social for providing a safe and welcoming space for us.
This is madness.
All books by Normal People and Conversations with Friends author Sally Rooney set to be withdrawn from sale.
The 34-year-old Irish author says: โThe disappearance of my work from bookshops would mark a truly extreme incursion by the state into the realm of artistic expression.โ
Sarah Heitler - #TDOR Readings Evening
Sarah Heitler is a Glasgow based performance poet and award winning flashfiction writer. Her work is slowly gaining recognition in the Scottish queer poetry scene and her poem "Lazarus" was recently accepted for publication in the upcoming Trans Poetica anthology. Sarah's poetry is unashamedly vulnerable, queer and open, and she deeply loves performing her work.
Our final reader introduction! Sarah Heitler joins us tomorrow for #tdor.
Join us to commemorate - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quill-pres...
AW Earl - #TDOR Readings Evening
A W Earl is a non-binary writer and storyteller whose work is concerned with gender, deviant bodies, and folklore. They studied English Literature and Creative writing at the University of East Anglia, and have performed their own work and traditional folktales across the UK. Their poetry has been published in various venues, and was recently shortlisted in Renard Pressโ Interwoven competition, while their non-fiction has appeared in Lighthouse Journal and a collection by Watkins Press. Their debut novel was published in 2018.
AW Earl joins us for their QUILL debut this Sunday.
Join us tomorrow - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quill-pres...
Jude Firesong #tdor readings evening
Jude FireSong โ aka Fabulous Phoenix Boy โ is a Scottish-by-inclination, non-binary trans, polyamorous queer man and a neurodivergent, mad, disabled survivor. His work explores intersections of identity; love, loss; social alienation, community, found family; storytelling as identity, vocation, and catharsis. Judeโs work has appeared in issue 3 of new words and the Level Centreโs Public Open Exhibition 2024; more is forthcoming in rainy weather days, Hush LGBTQ+ Magazine, and Untold Stories (Bedlam Theatre, April โ25). His hybrid collection Made of Magic โ poetry of rage & (be)longing was long-listed in nw{p}โs Chapbook Competition โ24; Jude later brought it to the Edinburgh Fringe as a solo poetry show/art exhibition.
Billed performance history includes: Shrub Coopโs Queer Cabaret (Fringe โ23), LGBT Health & Wellbeingโs Pride Breakfast and Winter Celebration โ24, Push the Boat Out โ24, Loud Poets x Stanza Festival Slam Poetry Heat โ25.
Welcoming back the fantastic to our line up of readers on Sunday!
Join us @argonautbooks.bsky.social on Sunday evening for our commemoration of #tdor
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quill-pres...
Me and Lindz looking thoughtfully to the left, me black woman, Lindz with blonde hair and white skin, L'Etranger poster with white man Meaursalt looking up, lettering in red
We saw a brilliant film adaptation of Albert Camus' L'ETRANGER (THE STRANGER) ... it was a haunting viewing experience!
Watch/listen to our short review!
SHOUT OUT to the French Film Festival, HAPPENING NOW! CHECK IT OUT!
Titlayo Farukyoye #TDOR Readings Evening
Titilayo Farukuoye (they/them) is a writer, educator and organiser based in Glasgow. Their work addresses social justice and community care and is informed by rights and cultural leaders like Assata Shakur, Oyรจrรณnkแบนฬ Oyฤwรนmรญ and Paulo Freire.
Titilayo invites us to dream and use our radical imagination to seek more just realities. Titilayo co-directs the Scottish BPOC Writers Network and is a winner of the 2022 Edwin Morgan Poetry Award. Their poetry pamphlet In Wolfโs Skin is available with Stewed Rhubarb Press and Titilayoโs non-fiction book But We Did: Dismantling colonialist myths towards collective liberation is forthcoming.
Welcome to the incredible Titilayo Farukuoye!
We are so excited to hear them and their wonderful words this Sunday ๐
Get your tickets before they go!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quill-pres...
Amy Jo Philip #tdor Readings Evening
Amy Jo Philip is the first out transgender priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Prior to transitioning, she published two pamphlets with HappenStance press and two full collections with Salt Publishing under her deadname. She is working on a third collection, to be published by Blue Diode Press in 2026. Her work was featured in โSide A/Side Bโ, February 2025โs issue of @badlilies, a digital journal of poetry. You can read โKnackered Babesโ at www.badlilies.uk.
Amy Joโs work has appeared in a number of magazines including Irish Pages, Gutter, Magma, Eemis Stane, and the final edition of Dreich. It has also been included in a number of anthologies, most recently โScottish Religious Poetry: From the Sixth Century to the Presentโ (St Andrewโs Press, 2024) and โ10 Poets Defend their Cities Against Giant, Strange Beastsโ (Sidekick Books, 2024).
Welcoming back @ambulancebox.bsky.social for our #tdor readings evening @argonautbooks.bsky.social this Sunday!
Sol Vardi - TDOR readings evening
Sol is a writer and spoken word poet who explored queer and immigrant experiences. Their poetry weaves political issues, humour, and queer joy alongside everyday experiences of life in their acquired home of Edinburgh.
Returning for a second QUILL event this year it's Sol Vardi!
Join us @argonautbooks.bsky.social next week - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quill-pres...
JJ Fadaka profile photo
Jj Fadaka is a writer, facilitator, and radical based in Edinburgh. Their work explores the possibility of abolition, feminism, and love to create change.
Our host for our Trans Day of Remembrance event next Sunday @argonautbooks.bsky.social is JJ Fadaka!
Trans day of remembrance readings evening, join us for a cosy evening of powerful readings to mark trans day of remembrance, Sunday 23rd November 2025, 7-9pm at Argonaut Books, 15-17 Leith Walk, Edinburgh
Readers - Titilayo Farukuoye, Amy Jo Philip, Sarah Heitler, Robyn O'Donnell, Sol Vardi, AW Earl, Lucille Wright, Jude Firesong
Join us @argonautbooks.bsky.social next weekend to commemorate trans day of remembrance with a lineup of fantastic trans and non-binary readers from across Scotland.
#trans #transrights #scottish #scotland #tdor
Join us on November 23rd at @argonautbooks.bsky.social to commemorate Trans Day of Remembrance - Our third QUILL readings event of the year!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quill-pres...
Our next event is live!
Grab tickets to our Trans Day of Remembrance event Sunday 23rd November at @argonautbooks.bsky.social !
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quill-pres...
This continued escalation should show the anti-trans movement for what it is - never interested in free speech, always focused on the intimidation and silencing of trans people and anyone who dares stand up for them.
All opposition must be legally threatened until they wheesht.
"While oceans of ink paint trans women as a monstrous threat or pitiable curiosity, trans women themselves have often remained locked out of the publishing world as both writers and presumptive readers โ spoken of but not to."
www.theverge.com/cs/features/...
Graphic with an orange background. At the top is a rainbow banner which says "Joy for All" "LGBTQIA+ Autumn Makers Market & Community Space! 11/10/25 - Norton Park Conference Centre". On the left is a picture of colourful handmade earrings on a stand, next to some crocheted hats and scarves. On the right it says "Artist Highlight: Rowantree makes" "Rowan makes cosy knits and cheerful jewellery from upcycled materials, including button pins, Pride flag knits, and all the pendants and earrings you can eat (please do not eat)"
Graphic with an orange background. At the top is a rainbow banner which says "Joy for All". Below it says "LGBTQIA+ Autumn Makers Market! Join us for stalls from local artists and community organisations, crafting activities and making change! Sat 11th October 11am-4pm Norton Park Conference Centre Edinburgh EH7 5QY". On the left is a drawing of three pumpkins, one is short and pink, one is tall, curved and white and the other is tall and blue with a carved smiling face.
Our Community Market, Joy for All, is this Saturday! ๐ณ๏ธโ๐๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ
Our Artist Highlight for today is Rowantree Makes! They make makes cosy knits and cheerful jewellery from upcycled materials, including button pins, Pride flag knits, and all the pendants and earrings you can eat (please do not eat) ๐ช
The BBC should join the growing number of broadcasters to boycott Eurovision if Israel is involved. The UK should not take part in Eurovision Song Contest as genocide continues in Gaza. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Polari Prize saga shows us how the Overton window on Trans+ rights has shifted ๐
https://www.wearequeeraf.com/polari-prize-saga-shows-us-how-the-overton-window-on-trans-rights-has-shifted/
This is a link to the contact form if anyone wants to make a complaint
auth.nls.uk/contact/feed...
You cannot be welcoming and inclusive whilst *promoting* the works of those intent on our eradication
The National Library become the latest of our literary institutions to surrender wholesale to anti-trans campaigners.
"We will always be inclusive, and we will always welcome everyone to the library."
This, unfortunately, simply is not true as they promote bigotry.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Today, along with over 80 partner organisations, we are writing to MPs across the UK, calling for robust Parliamentary scrutiny of the Equality and Human Rights Commissionโs (EHRC) forthcoming Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations. "Any change to law or policy that risks the human rights of any group should be subject to full Parliamentary oversight. ... Anything less would represent a serious failure of parliamentary duty."
What can you do? Write to your MP! Together, we have created a template letter that you can use to express your personal concerns and asking them to push for proper scrutiny of the Code. It is incredibly important that MPs hear from their constituents that are directly affected, so they can advocate on your behalf. Please personalise your letter as much as you can - it helps to ensure that your concerns are heard and felt. Link to the template on our website!
Today, along with over 80 partner organisations, we are writing to MPs across the UK calling for robust Parliamentary scrutiny of the Equality and Human Rights Commissionโs (EHRC) forthcoming Code of Practice. Read the full statement on our website:
www.scottishtrans.org/scottish-tra...
Introducing Jommo Calley who will be reading their work for those lucky enough to be coming to our QUEER Riot literary cabaret event in just 4 days! ๐คฏ See you on Sun 24 @lighthousebks.bsky.social
Jommo is a Malawian/Scottish poet exploring the intersectionality of identity, inequality & injustice.
Grab a pal and come along to our Queer RIOT event @lighthousebks.bsky.social this Sun 24 Aug, 1pm, to hear Nyla Noor read their work!๐
Nyla is a queer South Asian artist weaving storytelling, poetry, and visual arts into deep explorations of queerness, intergenerational trauma, and radical healing.
Sol Vardi is reading at our Queer RIOT event happening this Sun 24 Aug, 1pm @lighthousebks.bsky.social!
Sol is a writer & spoken word poet who explores queer & immigrant experiences. Their poetry weaves political issues, humour & queer joy, alongside everyday experiences of life in Edinburgh.
Polari is part of the LGBTQ+ writing and reading community and for fifteen years, trans, gender non-conforming and non-binary people have been part of that community - at our events, on our judging panels, on our long and short lists and among our prize winners. This commitment to inclusion remains unchanged. Polari is not and has never been a trans exclusionary organisation. These are not our values and we condemn all forms of transphobia. What was supposed to be a celebration of exceptional LGBTQ+ literature has been overshadowed by hurt and anger, which has been painful and distressing for all concerned and we apologize to everyone who has been affected. Many discussions have been undertaken over the last two weeks -with authors, judges, stakeholders, and funders - about the impacts and ramifications of the longlisting of John Boyne's novel and how we can learn from this experience and move forwards. We have decided as a result to pause the prize this year while we increase representation of trans and gender non-conforming judges on the panels for all the awards and undertake a governance and management review to include our aims and values and work to better support everyone within our LGBTQ+ Polari community. We have already secured strong representation for next year, which we will build on. We will also explore discussions about the tensions between the claims of freedom of expression and the need to create inclusive and supportive spaces in a world hostile to our trans community members and our community at large. We extend our heartfelt apologies to everyone affected this year, for the disappointment and despair this has caused. We acknowledge the ongoing support of the Polari community, everyone we have consulted, and our hugely supportive partners. We are a tiny operation that has run on goodwill and small pots of funding and sponsorship for 15 years and will endeavour to find a way forwards in good faith.
Alt in first picture
Alt in first picture
With this debacle finally over let us hope that this is a lesson to all who seek to represent our community - we will not accept those who would divide us and assault our rights to be rewarded on our behalf.
Solidarity means something. Solidarity delivered. Thank you to all who took a stand.
I wrote about the decision myself and other authors took to withdraw from the longlist of the Polari Book Prizes for LGBTQ+ writers www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...