LGBT+ History Month: Exploring Polari – The Secret Language of LGBTQ+ History
Wed 04 Feb
|MS Teams
Dr Martin Edwardes (KCL) and their partner, Philip Rescorla OBE, will join us to delve into the history of Polari, the secret language once spoken within LGBTQ+ communities
Time & Location
04 Feb 2026, 17:30 – 20:00
MS Teams
About the event
As part of Proudly King’s LGBT+ History Month, we are thrilled to welcome back Dr Martin Edwardes and Philip Rescorla OBE following their fantastic session on the history of the Gay Liberation Front.
Join us for an engaging evening delving into Polari, the secret language once spoken within LGBTQ+ communities. We’ll explore what makes a cant and why they exist, trace Polari’s mixed origins and dialects, and learn some of its unique idioms and grammar. You’ll have the chance to try creating Polari sentences in teams, watch a short film showcasing Polari in use, and take part in a lively discussion and Q&A.
About Martin:
Martin started his PhD in 2003, and a few years later began lecturing at King's College London. Martin studies language and language origins, when he's not attending London Pride Parade, giving talks about gay rights or recording podcasts for future leaders of LGBTQ+ resistance.
You…