Image credit: Verve Books
Queerphoria: A Queer Voices Extravaganza, felt like exactly the tonic an LGBTQ+ person or ally could need in the face of the current political and ideological climate surrounding queer rights. The anthology, of which £1 of every purchase goes towards Switchboard, was hosted at Lighthouse books. It featured three of the book’s twenty-one contributors who discussed their efforts in finding and experiencing queer joy, in both life and their writing.
An important facet of the conversation was the balance between the decrease in representation for queer and trans authors in the media compared with the outlets, organisations and businesses which have continued to support and uplift queer voices. Featured speaker, Carrie Marshall’s memoir Carrie Kills a Man was named a Scotsman book of the year in 2022 (The Scotsman, 2022), but as the author put it the Scotsman, ‘ain’t reviewing books by trans people now.’ (Lighthouse Bookshop, YouTube)
Jenna Gordon the Editorial Director of Verve Books who chaired the event, agreed, pointing out ‘When there is backlash the first people they target are creatives because they know that people’s salvation is through ideas shared.’ (LHB, YT) This statement captures a major feature of both the anthology and event as a whole: when a range of queer voices come together as a collective, in a space which is safe and supportive, connection and positivity can be found.
Seth Insua, another of the featured speakers, expressed his gratitude for the support of ‘presses like Verve that platform queer voices and let us tell our stories.’ (LHB, YT) It has been noted within the publishing industry that it is independent presses which are the major supporters of queer and trans authors. (The Bookseller) Queer writers are perceived to carry a higher degree of risk due to the unfair perceptions surrounding queer and trans identities in the wider media.
‘[it’s] presses like Verve that platform queer voices and let us tell our stories.’
Many independent publishers, like Verve, aim to produce ‘a wide range of compelling literature,’ (Verve Books) and act as the outlets which allow for under-represented voices to get their work published. During its production Queerphoria had a call-out for public submissions and subsequently features work from ten ‘brand new unrepresented authors.’ (LHB, YT)
The increased lack of representation for queer authors goes hand in hand with the increased censorship, queer and especially trans people, have had to face throughout the wider media in recent years. When it comes to issues of outside censorship, and even self-censorship, queer writers must strike a difficult balance. Seth Insua commented on the issue that queer authors find it difficult to ‘tap into stuff that is completely un-sanitised’ (LHB, YT) as queer individuals often feel in both their personal and creative lives that internalised shame can generate self-censorship as a form of self-preservation.
Carrie Marshall’s view was of her own efforts to censor rage due to how it is ‘weaponised and used against’ (LHB, YT) the queer community. Ultimately, Queerphoria’s extravaganza of queer voices was summed up by Marshall with the comment that in the face of struggles Queer communities and creatives are facing that we must continue to ‘amplify the joy’ and ‘shine so bright it burns their f*****g eyes’. (LHB, YT)
References
‘The EHRC’s Statutory Guidance and the Uk Supreme Court ruling’, Stonewall, Web. 11/10/26 <https://www.stonewall.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/the-ehrcs-statutory-guidance-and-the-uk-supreme-court-ruling>
Boyd, Lillian, ‘Trans Formative Literature: LGBTQ Voices in Publishing’, Publisher’s Weekly, 28/04/2023 <https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/92151-trans-formative-literature-lgbtq-voices-in-publishing.html>
Fiennes, Guy & Paula-Charlotte Matlach, ‘Investigation | Five-year overview of the online and offline anti-LGBTQ+ landscape’, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 20/10/2025, Web. 12/10/26 <https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/investigation-five-year-overview-of-the-online-and-offline-anti-lgbtq-landscape/>
Jarret, Chloe, ‘The Transphobic malaise in modern publishing’, The Michigan Daily, 13/10/26, Web. 11/10/26 <https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/books/the-transphobic-malaise-in-modern-publishing/>
Lankester-Owen, Amy. ‘Lessons from 10 Years of Trans Publishing.’ The Bookseller, 30/06/2026, Web. 11/10/26 <www.thebookseller.com/comment/lessons-from-10-years-of-trans-publishing>
Thompson, Jack, ‘Small presses take big swing on trans titles’, The Bookseller, 22/05/2026, Web. 12/10/2026 <https://www.thebookseller.com/comment/small-presses-take-big-swing-on-trans-titles>
Waddell, Laura, ‘My books of the year: The Naked Don’t Fear the Water by Mathieu Atkins; Carrie Kills a Man by Carrie Marshall; and many more’, The Scotsman, 21/12/2022, Web. 12/10/2026 <https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/my-books-of-the-year-the-naked-dont-fear-the-water-by-mathieu-atkins-carrie-kills-a-man-by-carrie-marshall-and-many-more-laura-waddell-3962011>
