Rewriting the LGBTQ+ Narrative
Thanks to the funding from Books Council Wales' New Audience Development Fund, Material Queer has expanded its reach and influence as a platform dedicated to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices through long-form journalism, essays, and video content. This investment has been crucial in enabling us to commission high-quality work from queer writers, experiment with new storytelling formats, and build a more sustainable future for the platform.
Key Achievements
1. Elevating Queer Narratives
With financial backing, Material Queer successfully commissioned and published seven impactful long-form pieces, covering underrepresented aspects of LGBTQ+ life. These included:
“The Lonely 'I' in LGBTQIA+” – An exploration of intersex representation within queer spaces.
“Protest Under Pressure: The Future of LGBTQ+ Activism” – A deep dive into activism in today’s climate.
“Going Back to (Queer) High School” – A reflection on LGBTQ+ experiences in education.
“Our Revolution Has Always Been Queer and Homeless” – A historical examination of homelessness and queer activism.
“A Messy History of LGBTQ+ Dating Shows” – A critical look at the evolution of queer representation on reality TV.
“Shelf Love – How LGBTQ+ Bookshops are Changing the UK’s Literary Scene” – A celebration of the resurgence of queer bookstores.
“Why are so many Goths Queer?” – An exploration of the cultural crossover between Goth and LGBTQ+ communities.
These articles have resonated deeply with our audience, driving engagement and fostering meaningful conversations around queer identity and representation. You can find examples below or all of them on our Substack.
2. Expanding Digital Presence and Audience Engagement
Total site visits: 12,103
Social media impressions: 42,267
New Substack subscribers: +206
Number of Welsh/Wales-based creatives in paid employment: 8
The funding enabled us to enhance our digital reach through a targeted social media strategy, ensuring our content was accessible to new audiences across platforms.
3. Fair Pay and Industry Impact
A major challenge within LGBTQ+ media is the underpayment, or outright lack of payment, for queer writers. The support from Books Council Wales allowed us to challenge this by fairly compensating every commissioned writer. This funding ensured that Material Queer not only supported individual creatives but also contributed to broader industry change by proving that independent platforms can prioritize fair wages and high-quality content.
Shelf Love - How LGBTQ+ Bookshops Are Changing the UK’s Literary Scene
The UK is experiencing a queer bookshop renaissance, with LGBTQ+ bookstores thriving as hubs of community, culture, and resistance.
From London’s historic Gay’s the Word to Belfast’s vibrant Paperxclips, these spaces offer far more than books - they're havens for activism, connection, and belonging. With queer literature sales skyrocketing and an increasing demand for inclusive stories, this new wave of bookshops is proving that LGBTQ+ representation is not just a trend, but a vital and enduring movement.
Discover how these bookshops are transforming the literary landscape while fostering solidarity and pride.
Why are so many Goths queer?
It was the iconic Katya Zamolodchikova, one half of the amazing duo on hit The Trixie & Katya Show, who once said “Oh, Mama, almost every Goth is Gay”. Truer words have rarely been spoken. If you’ve ever been at a Goth night then you’ll know the thing connecting so many of our bleakly but fashionably dressed friends is not only their love of black nail polish but also their Queerness. It’s not just me and Katya who have noticed either, there is a huge Queer Goth scene which grows every day in the big cities across the UK.
Our revolution has always been queer and homeless
George F visits a trans-anarchist refuge in North London and explores the crowbar-toting, mascara-clad history of trans and queer housing autonomy.
A messy history of LGBTQ+ dating shows
In the first of our series, Queerly Beloved: Tales of Identity and Belonging, David Opie, explores the history of LGBTQ+ dating shows From There's Something About Miriam to I Kissed A Boy (or Girl).