Usawa Literary Review is headquartered in Mumbai, India.
PIN Code: 400050
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Queer Unfiltered — Open Call
Open Call · Trans & Queer Issue
Queer Unfiltered
Emotions, Moments & Journeys

For a moment, let us imagine a world beyond heteronormativity. A world where children are not assigned futures before they are born. A world that does not prescribe how people should dress, speak, move through the world, or whom they should love. A world where human experience is not measured against a single norm, but embraced in all its complexity and possibility. Perhaps this world is not entirely imaginary. It already exists—in moments of queer joy, in chosen families, in radical care, in resistance, in becoming. Queer Unfiltered, Usawa’s trans and queer issue, hopes to gather these fragments and possibilities: part archive, part sanctuary, part blueprint for more liberated futures.
We invite LGBTQIA+ writers to send us poems, short stories, graphic fiction, creative nonfiction, and photo essays that reflect on the world they inhabit and the world they dream of. Send us stories of small and big acts of resistance that inhabit this world. Or, conjure up entirely new worlds for a transtastic tomorrow. Send us poems about moments of self-discovery, found families, or queer joy. Send us your lyrical odes to a diverse, equitable world. And send us essays that let readers into your world, work, and daily lives.
While we look forward to submissions of high literary merit, our focus is on featuring unique voices and perspectives. We accept short stories, poetry, graphic fiction, creative nonfiction, photo essays and humour pieces. If you have anything else that doesn’t fit into these categories but makes your heart sing, send it to us; we are open to hybrid and experimental forms.
Poetry Short Stories Graphic Fiction Creative Nonfiction Photo Essays Humour Pieces Hybrid & Experimental
Eligibility, Word Count & Timeline
We are primarily looking for entries from queer and transgender writers. But we welcome a few entries from allies that specifically and thoughtfully engage with queer and trans lives. Some of the entries will be by invitation, and the others through an open call for submissions.
Submissions open
9th July 2026
Deadline
25th August 2026
Prose
Up to 3,000 words (fiction & nonfiction)
Poetry
Up to 50 lines (max two poems)
Photo essays
Up to 16 photos & 3,000 words
Graphic narratives
6 to 12 panels
Multiple submissions: Maximum of two submissions across all categories.
Simultaneous submissions: Welcome, but please let us know immediately if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
All submissions go through one form.
Submit via Google Form
Closes 25th August 2026
For any queries write to editor@usawa.in

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