Join us for a special evening celebrating the paperback release of The Queer Bible with its editor, Jack Guinness. Originally published in hardback in 2021, this joyous collection of essays by queer icons honours the trailblazers who inspire them. Featuring contributions from Elton John on Divine, Tan France on Queer Eye, Graham Norton on Armistead Maupin, and more, The Queer Bible is a heartfelt love letter to the queer community.
Jack will be joined by writers and activists Paula Akpan, and Mendez, for a conversation about queer history, representation, and storytelling. Beautifully illustrated by queer and ally artists, The Queer Bible brings together a vibrant chorus of voices celebrating the past, present, and future of queer culture.
@Jack Guinness
Jack Guinness began his career as a model, starring in global campaigns for brands such as L’Oréal, Dunhill and Hugo Boss. As a writer, style and fashion commentator, he has contributed to the Sunday Times Style magazine, the Guardian, British GQ, Gentleman’s Journal and Tatler. Jack has been named as one of the Most Influential Londoners by the Evening Standard and was appointed to the Mayor Of London’s Commission For Diversity In The Public Realm, created to make all Londoners feel involved and reflected in our city’s public art. Jack hosted GQ’s Men of the Year Awards, and has presented numerous live interviews with guests including Dan Levy, Miriam Margolyes, Alan Cumming, and Graham Norton. Additionally, Jack has developed and starred in digital content for Google, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Vice, Armani and GQ to name a few.
@Paula Akpan
Paula Akpan (she/her) is a Black British historian and writer who gained a distinction in her fully funded MA in Black British History and who has credits in Vogue, Teen Vogue, The Independent, Stylist, VICE, i-D, Bustle, Time Out London and more. When We Ruled is her much-anticipated debut book.
@Mendez
Mendez (they/them) was born in the Black Country, a historically industrial region, in 1982. Raised in the Jehovah's Witness faith, they left the organisation while still a teenager, and later began sex work while studying acting at a North London method school. Journaling their experiences eventually led to a novel, Rainbow Milk, which was published in 2020 and shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize, the Jhalak Prize and the Polari Prize. Their essays and reviews have appeared in the London Review of Books, Poetry Foundation, Attitude and the Guardian.