The Love Tank's Phil Samba is joining QueerAF as our Black History Month guest editor.
Together we're running a dedicated series of think pieces as part of the Queer Gaze - our landmark writing scheme - but focused on articles by black, queer emerging, unpublished or marginalised writers.
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The opportunity
Is for four early talent, emerging, unpublished or marginalised Black LGBTQIA+ journalists who will:
- Write a short 500 word think pieces, using QueerAF's Queer Gaze format - paid at a rate of £75 each.
- Get one of QueerAF's unique 'retrospective' skills-based sub-editing sessions with each commission so you can understand the editing process, grow your journalistic craft and strategic communication skills.
- Recieve multiple portfolio-building opportunities with content published across QueerAF channels.
This scheme will best benefit those who want to join one of our unique training sessions to build their journalistic writing skills and early portfolio.
QueerAF's unique approach to journalism
What kind of pitches do we want?
This year's theme for Black History Month UK is Standing Firm in Power and Pride. It's "a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to progress that defines the Black community across the globe."
The opportunity is to write a short think-piece for us. These are some of the subjects guest editor Phil Samba is interested in hearing intersectional pitches on:
- Transphobia
- Misogynoir
- Access to healthcare and inequality
- Mental health
- HIV and sexual health
- Ballroom
- Black queer studies
- Publishing in the UK
- Politics
- Chemsex
- Blood donation
- Anti-fascism
We're not looking for hot takes and clickbait opinions. We're looking for analysis, evidence-based thinking, and accessible expert opinion.
A think piece aims to be thought-provoking and speculative. It consists chiefly of background material, analysis and some expert opinion.
The details
- We're running a two-stage process to pick the four writers. The first deadline is 11:59 pm September 28th, and the second is 11:59 pm October 5th 2025. Get your pitch in by the first deadline to have the best chance.
- This scheme is aimed at Black queer people from any background. We're especially keen to hear from Trans+, Women, Disabled, Low Income, Migrant and marginalised LGBTQIA+ identities.
- To pitch, you need a working headline, a few bullet points to explain what you'll write about, and some links that will back up your expert, evidenced-based opinion.
- All pitches will need to be delivered in accordance with QueerAF contributor guidelines and our IMPRESS regulation
Who is Phil Samba?
Phil Samba is a social activist, health promoter, writer and researcher. He is a project coordinator for research and community knowledge generation at The Love Tank. This not-for-profit community interest company promotes the health and well-being of underserved communities through education, community building, research, events, communication, and design.
He contributed an essay to the anthology book MANDEM, a collection of essays exploring what it means to be a Black man in contemporary Britain. He’s written for The BBC, The Guardian, Huck Magazine, Metro UK, QueerAF and Gay Times.
What is QueerAF?
We help you understand the LGBTQIA+ world and support queer creatives to change the media. We're an award-winning independent platform launching the careers of emerging and underrepresented LGBTQIA+ creatives driven by people, not advertisers.
Ultimately, QueerAF is a platform where creators, journalists and producers can get paid and commissioned directly by the QueerAF community. This while we mentor you to build a career, work in the industry - and then change it.