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Polari Press
@polari.press
5.5K followers 930 following 100 posts
Queer publishing and design studio. Not affiliated with any other Polari-named things.
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polari.press
A reminder that children do indeed have an inalienable right to be gay. 🩷
Artwork showing an upside down photo of Margaret Thatcher grinning menacingly at the Tory Party conference. Erasure poem text reads “Children have an inalienable right to be gay” in uppercase letters. The words that make the original statement homophobic have been removed with bright pink strips.
November 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM
polari.press
'Erased was a joyous collaboration between James and me. Now more than ever we need to challenge the erasure of our identities. It's exciting to create a new edition that continues to push back and uses the bigot's words against them.’
— Peter Collins
A photo of Peter Collins, arms folded and smiling to camera. He’s standing in front of a wall displaying his artwork. 'Erased was a joyous collaboration between James and me. Now more than ever we need to challenge the erasure of our identities. It's exciting to create a new edition that continues to push back and uses the bigot's words against them.’ Peter Collins
November 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM
polari.press
‘I'm giddy with glee to be working again with Polari Press to reissue the publication and to create a new range of art, helping the poems and the timely message of Erased reach even more readers.’
— James McDermott
A photo of James McDermott standing in front of a brick wall. They’re a white man with short fair hair and stubbly beard. Photo: Louis Catliff ‘I'm giddy with glee to be working again with Polari Press to reissue the publication and to create a new range of art, helping the poems and the timely message of Erased reach even more readers.’ James McDermott
November 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM
polari.press
💞 News! 💞 To mark the fifth anniversary of ’Erased’ by James McDermott—our first poetry pamphlet—we’ll be releasing a new edition next year, featuring new artwork by @peter.polari.com
Black text on a bright pink background reads: Erased by James McDermott. Reissue. Coming 2026.
November 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM
polari.press
Made the donation of £574.85 to the Sameer Project from sales of our Throw Sand art print. Thanks to everyone who bought a copy.

Keep sharing so we can raise more money: polari.press/throw-sand-i...
A photo of a computer screen with a partially cropped email reading: Dear Polari Press, Thank you for your contribution of £574.85 on November 6th 2025. Your support makes a difference! See our activities and transparent budget on https://opencollective.com/the-sameer-project and share the link to help us spread the word! Help us raise more money! Share this URL: https://opencollective.com/the-sameer-project If you need help, contact support. Warmly, The Sameer Project
November 7, 2025 at 2:20 PM
polari.press
And ending on seeing @longbarrowpress.bsky.social who have recently published a gorgeous poetry collection by my old Religious Studies teacher Steve Ely. Small world!
A hardback book with a black and white distorted and torn image of the author Steve Ely and title ‘Eely’. Beneath, a printed sheet of paper has info on the book (but sorry I can’t really read it to write it out!)
October 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
polari.press
Great to meet John Bently who runs Bonesandtheaft bonding over Railton Road (him as a resident and me as publisher of ‘On Railton Road’, a play about the gay squats in the 1970s.
A cover of a black book with a paper square with red text in what looks like a linocut print with the wording: RAILTON ROAD•HE RNE•HILL END•2015
October 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
polari.press
Among the many exhibitors were Pilot Press featuring ‘All by teachers died of AIDS’ by Sam Moore. I published Sam’s follow-up pamphlet ‘Long live the new flesh’ as a limited edition Singer-sewn pamphlet in 2022.
A table top display of books including Sam’s pamphlet with a white cover and black text.
October 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
polari.press
Lovely to visit @smallpublishers.bsky.social this afternoon at Conway Hall. So much inspiration!
A photo of the main hall with lots of booksellers at their stalls which are in several rows. The walls are wood panelled up to a gallery level which surrounds three sides of the room. On the other wall, a stage area has further stalls.
October 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
polari.press
The answer:
A photo of white painted graffiti on the wall of a brick and concrete building in London that was painted after Thatcher’s death. It reads: “The witch is dead but spell remains” Photo by Neil Delete.
October 12, 2025 at 8:46 AM
polari.press
Just packaging up the latest orders for the Gaza fundraiser. Angel is always on hand to help. 🐈‍⬛😻

A ceasefire may have been agreed—we hope that it lasts—but this doesn’t stop the campaign to liberate the Palestinian people from occupation and apartheid.

The Sameer Project still needs your help.
A teak dining table with a bit of a clutter of boxes and packaging has a stack of the Throw Sand posters kept in an open black archival box. Lying next to the box is my cat Angel. She is quite small, short black fur, and has one eye. She’s looking up towards the camera. She’s “helping”. Another photo of Angel, this time on the box of prints, with her leg reaching out to claw the tube box packaging.
October 9, 2025 at 11:41 AM
polari.press
After launching them at Queeriosities last weekend, the A3 Risograph posters are now up on our website with all profits going to the Sameer Project in Gaza: polari.press/throw-sand-i...
A poster that says “Throw Sand in the Gears of Genocide” against a monochrome image of a bunch of poppies in red. A poster that says “Throw Sand in the Gears of Genocide” against a monochrome image of a bunch of poppies in green.
October 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
polari.press
Still a couple of hours left (and all day tomorrow) to come say hi at Queeriosities art market in Copeland Gallery, Peckham. Until 6pm tonight. 5pm tomorrow.

I’m sharing new work including this Risograph of Alan Turing being his cute gay self.
A risograph print of Alan Turing in aqua and pink. The aqua photo is of a serious pose, with a smiling photo in pink.
September 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
polari.press
We are supporting the Global Strike for Gaza by pausing online sales every Thursday. These posters are available to download and print out and use free: linktr.ee/polaripress (Commercial distribution not allowed.) #GlobalStrikeForGaza
A portrait A3 poster in red and green, shows a scientific illustration of an olive branch with leaves and olives in shades of green. Over the top, in a centre-aligned Art Deco style font, red text reads: GLOBAL STRIKE FOR GAZA EVERY THURSDAY EVERY WEEK POLARI PRESS Same poster as the previous image but with the colours reversed.
September 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
polari.press
Polari Press statement on the unaffiliated Polari Prize.

As director of Polari Press, a queer-focused independent publishing house and design practice, I've been watching the developments of this year’s Polari Prize.

1 / 6
Polari Press statement on the unaffiliated Polari Prize. As director of Polari Press, a queer-focused independent publishing house and design practice, I've been watching the developments of this year's Polari Prize. I hadn't wanted to comment because I feared this would add, rather than reduce, any possible confusion. As time has gone on, however, I feel it necessary to clarify things, as well as reassert my values. Polari Press was founded in 2020 by me, Peter Collins, and has no association or affiliation with the Polari Prize or Polari Literary Salon. 1/2 Defending the rights of trans people is vital to me. As a gay man who grew up under the cloud of Section 28, I see today's transphobia for what it is: an all-too-loud echo of the homophobia that weighed heavily on my younger self, regurgitated and repackaged for a new era of bigotry. For the record, l'd never knowingly publish a book by an author with transphobic views. Polari-the queer language made necessary due to discrimination and criminalisation against us-holds an important place in our shared history, and it means a great deal to me personally. I plan to continue using it as the name for my practice. Peter Collins Founder & director Polari Press 2/2
August 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
polari.press
We are not exaggerating when we say this is the return of Section 28, but for trans kids.

Labour have banned teachers from “encouraging” children questioning their gender. Another word for “encourage” is “promote”.

This will silence teachers from supporting trans or questioning children.
Screenshot of a dictionary overview for the word “encourage”. “Promote” is the first synonym. Encourage Verb Synonyms: promote, advance, boost, further, animate, back up, cause, enliven, exalt, get, have, induce, inspire, invigorate, make, stimulate, support Screenshot of an entry on Wikipedia. The word “promote” is highlighted (by me) in purple: Section 28 refers to a part of the Local Government Act 1988, which stated that local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". [' It is sometimes referred to as Clause 28,121 or as Section 2A in reference to the relevant Scottish legislation.
July 19, 2025 at 11:06 AM
polari.press
Inspirational words that are immediately informing the work on our own manifesto:

The right to live
The right to breathe
The right to stand by
All the things
That I believe
A panel of the AIDS Quilt which is black fabric with green lettering. The top, in uppercase text reads: Our Chris The Lad March 1961 – January 1988 Beautifully embroidered text underneath, also in green, reads: The right to live The right to breathe The right to stand by All the things That I believe
June 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
polari.press
If you do one thing in London this weekend please go see the UK’s AIDS Quilt in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall.
Panels of the UK AIDS Quilt laid out in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall. I’d write more but it’s a bit overwhelming.
June 12, 2025 at 9:46 PM
polari.press
Any trans people struggling with the UK Supreme Court ruling please reach out. There are groups who can support you including @switchboardlgbt.bsky.social

Know that we stand with you today and every day.

DM us if you'd like a
Polari Press care package and we'll see what we can do.
Any trans people struggling with the Supreme Court ruling please reach out. There are groups who can support you: @genderedintelligence @switchboardlgbt (these are their Instagram usernames) Know that we stand with you today and every day. DM us if you'd like a Polari Press care package and we'll see what we can do.
April 16, 2025 at 12:45 PM
polari.press
Join us for our events for the launch of ‘The Gospel According To…’ by Sergey Khazov-Cassia and translated by @reubenwoolley.bsky.social

In London, Glasgow and Manchester. Tickets (from free): linktr.ee/polaripress
A red suit one image of a naked man’s head, arms and torso. His hands are around his neck. On the left hand side white text reads: the gospel according to Book launches with author Sergey Khazov-Cassia A white circle says “Winner English PEN Award” Down the right hand side are the event dates and venues: 1 Apr — London, The Divine, 7.30pm 3 Apr — Glasgow, Category Is Books, 7pm 8 Apr — Manchester, Queer Lit, 6.30pm 9 Apr — London, Coningsby Gallery, 7pm
March 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
polari.press
Another day, another #BrexitBenefit of needing to apply for another code from HMRC (who hadn't told me any of this info themselves) to be certain of being able to send books to customers in Northern Ireland… 🥴

I can't even begin to compute the amount of wasted hours navigating this nonsense.
A screenshot of an online message (from Royal Mail): Published Date: 05/03/2025 13:52 From: Click & Drop Support Subject: Optional Data in Preparation for the Windsor Framework As a result of the Windsor Framework customers must provide additional data to continue to send goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland from 31 March 2025. Our specifications have been updated to give you the option of providing the additional data before the launch date of 31 March 2025. From 31 March 2025 the additional data will become mandatory and must be provided in order to continue to send goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Please see our webpage for more details https://www.royalmail.com/windsor-framework Government guidance on the Windsor Framework can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/moving-parcels-from-great-britain-to-northern-ireland- under-the-windsor-framework
March 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM
polari.press
Gorgeous catching up with Leilah King and having her sign some copies of their poetry collection before performing at the She Grrrowls event tonight for #InternationalWomensDay at the @southbankcentre.bsky.social Tickets here: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/spe...
Leilah is sitting at a table in a coffee shop, pen in hand and signing copies of her book. She’s wearing specs and a baseball cap and a two tone cotton jumper in pastel yellow and green.
March 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
polari.press
What a great tool to use to motivate us all to consistently use alt text on photos. (Not only sharing ours because it’s currently 100%) 💁‍♀️
Bluesky Alt Text Rating How consistently do you use alt text? polari.press Analyze 27 posts analyzed 6 contain images 0 are replies 6 posts have alt text Score: 100.00% • Last 90 Days Exclude Replies Change your Bluesky alt text settings Discover more tools: @cred.blue Alongside the data is a semi circle going from red through orange, yellow and then green with the dial being all the way over into the green because we’re a teacher’s pet. (I accept it’s only from six posts) 😅
February 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
polari.press
Celebrating, sharing and being part of #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTHM is more important than ever.

We’ll be having a range of events launching ‘Patient L1’ featuring conversations, poetry readings and Q&As including with author @simonmaddrell.bsky.social and Jonathan Blake (the patient in question)…
A green image with a photo of Jonathan as the background. He’s a white man smiling to camera and wearing thick round black glasses. The event details are listed down the right hand side, but if I could instead share the link for more info, that’s probably more helpful: http://linktr.ee/polaripress
February 1, 2025 at 8:08 AM
polari.press
Book announcement!

‘Patient L1’ by @simonmaddrell.bsky.social will be released next month for #LGBTHM. A verse memoir speaks in the voice of Jonathan Blake, who was diagnosed so early in the UK AIDS epidemic that he was named Patient L1 at London Middlesex Hospital.

polari.press/patient-l1/
A green book cover with title and author name in a typewriter font in white. In the top-right quarter of the book, is a monotone photo of Jonathan. He’s a white man wearing thick black-rimmed glasses and a generous smile. He has a cheeky twinkle in his eyes.
January 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM