Shirley-Anne McMillan

I need a Wikipedia for books where people upload summaries of each chapter, like the way they do for TV show episodes, so that if I leave a book down for 24hrs I don't have to start re-reading from the beginning because I've forgotten absolutely everything about it. (Yes I should do this myself...)

Agree. Maybe pubs should ban drunk, annoying men who don't know when to stop getting in people's faces, since they are the demographic who regularly annoy me in bars.

We're now at a total of a quarter of the longlisted authors choosing to withdraw from the Polari Prize this year.

No, I have missed your meaning in the first instance. My bad.

I have no idea. I don't think any of this is on any of them though.

To be fair, this is exactly consistent with what terfs have wanted from the start: the erasure of trans people from all public places. I have a friend who was kicked out of both the men's and women's toilets in a university students' union on the same night. Years ago. EHRC merely catching up.

If any other authors care.

Cheers. x

People are bothered by the queerness of drag because it challenges their perceptions of gender in ways they are not prepared to encounter. The problem comes from within them. Kids don't have those issues, and I guess that terrifies them too.

The 'sexualised' accusation can only come from the fact that younger drag acts are more attractive to those who are disturbed by them. Drag storytime is not sexualised. Panto on the other hand? Noted for innuendo. But unproblematic...

It's a profound misunderstanding of drag combined with an upbringing devoid of theatre.

And no, drag is not anti-trans or anti-woman. I am sure there are some people with ill intent who might perform some kind of twisted parody of drag to make a point. I am absolutely certain that Mr Tumble is not that.

That's correct, nobody had a problem with this kind of drag, which is actually no different AT ALL to the kind of drag which happens at drag story time. there is no difference. None.

Mr Tumble as Aunt Polly in the library

Mr Tumble and Aunt Sooky in the library

Mr Tumble as Aunt Sooky in the library reading a book called About Cakes

Mr Tumble in drag, reading to children. Enniskillen library, 2008. No big outcry. No protest. Why? Because it was pre-Trans Panic. Transphobia and the intimidation of drag art is inextricably linked. Please stop turning a blind eye to your favourite writer's transphobia.

Mr Tumble as Aunt Polly in the library

Mr Tumble and Aunt Sooky in the library

Mr Tumble as Aunt Sooky in the library reading a book called About Cakes

Mr Tumble in drag, reading to children. Enniskillen library, 2008. No big outcry. No protest. Why? Because it was pre-Trans Panic. Transphobia and the intimidation of drag art is inextricably linked. Please stop turning a blind eye to your favourite writer's transphobia.

Hearing this so much today from local queens and trans people.

Anarchy is what we do. Support grass roots community movements and find your politics in everyday people who are changing their communities for the better. The capital P politicos don't control everything.

I don't think his objection constitutes a ban, does it? They also wanted to ban books about gender diversity from the library, but I also don't think they managed to do this.

There was nothing like the disappointment of waiting for a weekly sitcom episode and it turning out to be a crappy compilation or dream sequence or future fantasy etc. The youth will never understand our suffering.

Hard not to agree. I mean I understand how social capital works but I can't say I don't notice that certain organisations just turn right away from things like this. He is not trying to hide it. I am more depressed than angry about it.

Extract from John Boyne's Irish Independent article, praising JK Rowling and berating people who stand up for trans rights.

John Boyne's arrogance is seemingly perpetual. Here he is describing women like me as assistants to rapists, traitors to our kind. I cannot understand why the literary establishment in this country continues to turn a blind eye. It makes me feel physically ill.

Please include me if this goes ahead.

This has gone quite wide, here & on insta. I’m talking about John Boyne and the Polari Prize. Boyne said in his paean to Rowling last week in the Irish independent that women who support trans rights are “complicit in their own erasure” and “ready to pin down a handmaiden as her husband rapes her.”

Today we are launching the Irish KidLit for Palestine Fundraiser in support of Medical Aid for Palestinians (@medicalaidpal.bsky.social‬)

Running from 4th August to 17th August 2025.

You can check out the fundraiser at www.ruthennis.com/irish-kidlit-for-palestine

@sineadohart.bsky.social

Exactly! AI might save us all!

Ha! Yes. I have been using AI to help me with home decor (which I am crap at) and choosing gifts for people. It's better at the gifts thing. I also use it to reword emails so they sound more professional. It's great at that.

That's what I worry about too and it's already here. So many working class writers just priced out of the field because they literally can't afford to make art. Thank goodness for the Arts Council, but it is woefully underfunded in NI.

Everything does indeed suck.

[Photo Thread] Belfast Pride

Fantastic pics! Thank you.