When you read a resume like PAUL BURSTON‘s you feel (a) totally exhausted and (b) that you really should achieve more with your own life! He’s a journalist, author, activist, one-time editor, and founder and host of POLARI the LGBTQ+ literary salon. Before we started talking to him we knew a little about his life as he had been one of the participants of Alexis Gregory‘s stunning verbatim piece Riot Act. We are still a little unsure why we had not tied him down for an interview, particularly as he is very much a significant figure in the UK”s queer community …….. and in fact in 2016, he featured in the British Council’s Global List of ‘33 visionary people promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world.. So when his memoir We Can Be Heroes was recently published it seemed the perfect time to catch up with this fascinating charming man of letters
Polari is an Award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon, in London established in 2007 by author Paul Burston, with guest writers and performers. It won ‘LGBT Cultural Event of the Year’ in the Co-op Respect ‘Loved By You’ Awards 2013 and a Golden Kitty Award from Lesbian Lounge. Described by The Huffington Post as “the most … Continue reading
There are some parts of the English language that the Brits have always kept for themselves. Like ‘Polari’ for example. In the 19th century it was used as the version of everyday language used in London fish markets, the theatre, fairgrounds, and circuses, hence the many borrowings from ‘travelers’ and Romanies. Then in the … Continue reading