Clementine delivers the one and only Queen’s speech.

Clementine, the Queen of Polari, reflects on her three years as its regina.

Three eventful years have seen me probe gay marriage, and Darren Hayes.

How can you go back into the closet when you go home for Christmas?

Emily Blanchard writes about the Coming Out Workshop at Lancaster University, which helps students who have to deal with coming out on their first Christmas back with the family.

The very fact that we needed to hold the session in the first place was heartbreaking enough, listening to people predict what their parents, family and friends would do or say.

Coronation Street 2011 – Nowt so Queer as Folk

Coronation Street played it gay in 2011, but, asks Tim Bennett-Goodman, was that a good or a bad thing?

Needless to say, a cringe-making class conflict plays itself out over the dinner (or is that lunch?) table – Eileen: “dinner’s ready” Jools: “It’s a bit early for dinner isn’t it?” Todd: “She means lunch” – you get the picture.

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Gay Face: Another Contemporary Stereotype

Paul Baker takes a look at the term ‘gay face’, and how its use as an insult is just homophobic.

If you’re calling someone “gay face” then I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that, not only are you a little bit catty, but you’ve also bought in to all the nasty homophobic and genderphobic stereotypes that mainstream society has been using to make gay men second class citizens for decades.

Top 10 Women

Gay’s the Word, the London Lesbian and Gay Bookshop, offers its list of the Top 10 Best Books by and about women for 2011.

“Truly a fine example of how an independent bookshop should be.” – Time Out

Top 10 Men

Gay’s the Word, the London Lesbian and Gay Bookshop, offers its list of the Top 10 Best Books by and about men for 2011

“Gay’s the Word, to my mind, is the fountainhead of queer literature in Britain. I am deeply grateful that these pioneers fought so hard for our right to tell — and read — our own stories.” Armistead Maupin

What’s your favourite seasonal song?

‘Tis the season, and so the editor asked Polari’s writers for their favourite song.

Yes, I called it Christmas in the title. I was brought up as an atheist – which made two old women from the local church look at me with pity and sadness when they came to my door to talk about the Lord – but I like the word.

Live on stage: Julie Jones

Bar Wotever at the RVT. The last one of 2011, with Julie ‘Psycho’ Jones, and DJ Jo Bunny.

Clementine sings in the yuletide season.

She’s the only fairy who should top your Christmas tree this yuletide!

She may still have her magic power, but that is not enough. They like their bit of magic from a younger bit of stuff!

An interview with Steve Rosenthal

Polari talks to artist Steve Rosenthal about his work with Gaydar profile pictures, and his series We do not have homosexuals like in your country. In our country we do not have this. In Iran this phenomenon does not exist. Interview by Christopher Bryant and Bryon Fear.

We are more able to represent ourselves as we wish, but if you go to one of the 7 countries that have the death penalty for homosexuality, or one of the 82 countries where it’s still illegal, that’s impossible.