Polari

London’s award-winning LGBT+ literary salon comes to York Literature Festival. Founded in 2007 by author Paul Burston, Polari showcases the best in emerging and established LGBT+ literary talent. Named Best Cultural Event in the Co-Op Respect Loved by You Awards 2013, the salon is based at London’s Southbank Centre and also tours regularly. In 2016, Burston was featured in the British Council’s Global List, celebrating ’33 visionary people who are promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world’. This event is programmed and hosted by Burston, with guest performers including award-winning author and comedian VG Lee and poet Andrew McMillan. In 2011, The Polari First Book Prize was created to celebrate and reward new LGBT+ literary talent. Previous winners include poet John McCullough and authors Mari Hannah, Diriye Osman, Paul McVeigh, Saleem Haddad and Fiona Mozley. In 2019, a second Polari Prize for non-debuts was added.