Hey everyone, 

It's been a while since I've been in touch. The IPO finally approved our application to appear in the trade mark journals last year and it's been a long wait but finally, we were awarded the trademark for Queers & Co. last month.

This has enabled us to move ahead with growing Queers & Co., including launching our podcast for queer folks and allies on self-empowerment, body liberation and activism. The feedback so far has been incredibly positive and I'd love for you to have a listen. You'll find it in all the usual places via this link.

You might be thinking all's well that ends well, but this isn't the end! People applying for trademarks shouldn't have to get a petition with almost 16,000 supporters to be able to use a word that represents their identity. There seems to be growing recognition in the business and intellectual property world that marginalised groups should be able to identify as they wish, and this includes the use of reclaimed words. That's why I'll be continuing to campaign for the IPO to update its policy on how marginalised groups are able to identify.

Watch this space for further news! And thank you again to every single one of you for signing the petition.

Gem