Quill Scotland

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! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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) 💪

Netherlands ready to join Eurovision boycott over Israel The Netherlands follows Ireland in saying it can "no longer justify Israel's inclusion" in the event.

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 The Overton window on what is acceptable to say has shifted dramatically in recent years, especially when it pertains to Trans+ rights

Polari Prize saga shows us how the Overton window on Trans+ rights has shifted 👇

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

National library of Scotland in U-turn over gender-critical book 'The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht' is a collection of essays on women's rights campaigning in Scotland

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 Commission’s (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 Commission’s (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! 🤯 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!🌈

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.

Why I withdrew my book from an LGBTQ+ literary prize | Jason Okundaye The Polari first book prize claims to promote trans rights and trans voices. But when I saw the longlist, I had to act, says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye

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...

Why I withdrew my book from an LGBTQ+ literary prize | Jason Okundaye The Polari first book prize claims to promote trans rights and trans voices. But when I saw the longlist, I had to act, says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye

"It was not a difficult or painful decision – I felt misled about the principles underpinning the organisation and I no longer cared to be awarded by it."

"The swell of public support is behind those who are supportive of the entire LGBTQ+ community."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Looking forward to the riot!

Join us in Edinburgh next Sun 24th August as readers from the queer community bring you their rage, revolution, and renewal, breaking free with a riotous round of readings with a Q&A to follow! 🌟

⏰ Sunday 24th August, 1-1.45pm
📍 @lighthousebks.bsky.social, 43-45 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh

Queer Authors Withdraw From Writing Prize En Masse Over Inclusion of Self-Proclaimed TERF — Assigned A UK LGBTQ+ writing prize seems to be crumbling as the queer community protests the inclusion of an anti-trans writer on the long list. Trans prisoners in Georgia accuse the state of cruel and unusual...

Assigned Media tracked down every single queer author who withdrew from the Polari Prize after they longlisted a self-proclaimed TERF, and linked to all their books.

These authors showed solidarity and our story is blowing up with traffic from people who want to support them in return.

Finally, far from least, the transgender people in this country who have been made to feel monstrous and inhuman by a constant barrage of misinformation and slander. How do they feel?

It is awful that anyone feels broken by this situation, but is there space for their feelings?

I fear not. /13

Irrespective of how John feels, his words are simply not compatible with an inclusive prize that celebrates all LGBTQ+ people. Just like a racist statement would not be allowed in a prize for writers of colour, or a sexist statement tolerated for a prize for feminist writers. /11

Time and time again our media deliberately excludes the voices of our community when it speaks out in solidarity of trans people - whilst handing a loud speaker to the few who seek to divide us.

Losing everyone to keep a transphobe.

Was it worth it, Polari Prize?

The community believes in solidarity among us, even if you don't.

UK readers, if you can't afford to buy any of these books, order them from your local library. The authors will see your support through loan figures and PLR. You don't even have to finish reading them if you don't want!

The Polari first book Longlist with books by Curtis Garner, Jason Okundaye, Sacha Coward, Sanah Ahsan, Amy Twigg, Mae Diansangu, Eleanor Medhurst, Hanako Footman, Ciara Maguire, June Thomas crossed out to show they've withdrawn

The Polari prize Longlist with books by Olumide Popoola, Robert Hamberger, Andrew McMillan, Rhian Elizabeth, Jane Traies crossed out to show they've withdrawn

15 of 24 authors, and two judges, have now withdrawn.

First Book:
Curtis Garner, Jason Okundaye, Sacha Coward, Sanah Ahsan, Amy Twigg, Mae Diansangu, Eleanor Medhurst, Hanako Footman, Ciara Maguire, June Thomas

Main:
Olumide Popoola, Robert Hamberger, Andrew McMillan, Rhian Elizabeth, Jane Traies

‘I’ve been spat on’: gender non-conforming women tell of toilet abuse in aftermath of supreme court ruling Support groups report that women and non-binary people are increasingly being challenged in toilets and changing facilities – but others call it scaremongering

EXACTLY as trans people predicted...

Cis women & non-binary people are being harassed & assaulted in toilets since the supreme court misjudgement. @libbybrooks.bsky.social in the Guardian.

I'm now working on a way to monitor, document and record incidents like these.

Attn @cliveefford.bsky.social

3 books out of 12 left on the Polari First Book longlist, 7 out of 12 remaining on the main longlist. a colossal show of solidarity esp from debut authors

DMs are also now open

Looks like we need a truly-inclusive LGBTQ+ literary prize, lads.

Loop us in

Polari prize nominees and judges withdraw after inclusion of John Boyne over gender identity views 800 writers and publishing workers have signed a statement objecting to the LGBTQ+ book prize’s nomination of Boyne, who described himself as a ‘terf’

"We will be... taking on board the learnings from this year.”

If the Polari Prize goes forward having lost over half their longlist in order to celebrate an anti-trans author at their expense then the community will be taking very different learnings forward.

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

“The hurt and anger caused has been a matter of deep concern to everyone associated with the prize... despite these events, we are committed to going forward with the prize this year... undertaking a full review... ahead of next year’s awards.”

The Polari Prize doesn't understand the situation.