A senior marketing executive and author at a leading UK independent publisher has established what is believed to be the first-ever networking space for trans people working in publishing.
The Trans Publishing Network has been set up by Harry Nicholas, who works in marketing at Jessica Kingsley Publishers and is the author of A Trans Man Walks into a Gay Bar. Nicholas says the aim is to bring together the experiences and voices of trans people in UK book publishing.
He says: Despite trans people being one of the most marginalised groups in our society, there continues to be a lack of trans inclusion in HR policies and reporting, a lack of representation on author panels speaking on diversity and inclusion, and not enough being done to rectify the low numbers of trans people working in the book business. I want to provide a positive space for trans and non-binary people working in our industry, encourage trans people to work in all areas of the business, champion trans and non-binary writers, and enact change.
He hopes that the TPN will enact change by hosting regular events and meet-ups for trans and non-binary publishing staff, championing trans and non-binary authors by hosting panels and book evenings, signposting events and information, as well as working with publishing houses as a collective voice to discuss how they can better represent and include trans and non-binary people.
The TPN can contacted @transpublishingnetwork on Instagram, and there is a mailing list (thetranspublishingnetwork@gmail.com) where interested parties can hear about upcoming events.