Call for Submissions: June 2026 Reboot

THEME: PRISM IN THE DARK

Status: OPEN Deadline: May 1st, 2026 (Midnight IST)

The landscape for the queer and trans community in India has shifted. With the weight of the Trans Act 2026 and the widening legal gaps in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), visibility is no longer just a choice but a form of resistance.

For our June 2026 Pride edition, we are looking for work that inhabits the "Prism in the Dark." A prism is sharp, cold, and invisible in the shadows, until light hits it. We want your light. Whether it is the light of rage, the light of joy, or the quiet light of survival, show us how you shatter the darkness.

What We Are Looking For

We welcome diverse interpretations of Pride. Your submission does not have to be "happy" to be Pride; it just has to be yours.

Refraction (The Struggle): Journalism, essays, and art tackling the Trans Act 2026, the BNS legal vacuum, and the reality of state-sanctioned erasure.
Internal Reflection (The Identity): Poetry and memoir on the personal cost of survival and the beauty found in the shadows.
Spectrum (The Joy): Photography, high-fashion, drag, and stories of queer excellence that refuse to be dimmed.

Submission Categories

Poetry: Up to 3 poems (Submit in one .docx or file).
Prose (Fiction/Non-Fiction): 250 – 2,500 words.
Visual Art & Photography: Up to 3 high-resolution images (.jpeg or .png).
Digital/Multimedia: We are open to short video pieces or glitched-aesthetic digital works.

The Essentials (Guidelines)

Identity: Queers Quotient is a space created by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. We ask that all contributors identify as a member of the community.
Content Warnings: Given the "sharp dark" theme, we anticipate heavy themes. You MUST include content warnings at the top of your submission to protect our editorial team.
Humanity First: We have a zero-tolerance policy for AI-generated work. We want human blood, sweat, and soul.
Bigotry: Any work promoting hate speech or bigotry will be immediately rejected.
Anonymity: If you need to publish under a pseudonym or remain anonymous for your safety (especially given the current legal climate), please state this clearly in your email.

How to Submit

Please email your work to queersquotient@gmail.com with the following subject line: [SUBMISSION: JUNE 2026] – [Name/Pseudonym] – [Genre]

In the body of your email, include:

A brief bio (max 100 words)
Your pronouns
A short "Artist Statement" (1-2 sentences) on how your work fits the Prism in the Dark theme.
Social media handles/portfolio links (optional)

We are a self-funded collective. While we cannot offer monetary compensation at this stage, we offer a sharp, defiant platform for your voice to be heard when it matters most.