Who decides.
Editorial decisions at Queer Ink — what to publish, what to acquire for the Archives, what to feature in the Library, what to write about on QBlog — are made by Shobhna S Kumar, the founder and editorial director. Specialist collaborators (editors, archivists, designers, translators) are brought in for specific work; their input shapes decisions but does not override the editorial direction.
What we publish.
Queer Ink Publishing publishes books drawn from the Queer India Archives — anthologies, edited collections, oral histories shaped into book form, recovered manuscripts, and works of cultural significance from contributors whose material we hold.
Our editorial criteria:
— The work must add something to the record of queer Indian life that is not already there
— The work must be carefully made — well-edited, well-designed, well-produced
— The work must be developed in genuine collaboration with the contributors whose lives or material it draws from, with their consent and participation
— The work must be sustainable to publish at the scale and pace we operate
Queer Ink Swabhimaan, our forthcoming sister imprint (2026), publishes new work by queer Indian writers under different criteria, listed on the Swabhimaan page.
What we archive.
The Queer India Archives accept material that documents queer Indian lives, movements, and culture — material that has historic, cultural, or community value, on terms set by the contributors. We do not accept material acquired without consent, material that compromises the privacy of identifiable third parties without their agreement, or material whose provenance cannot be confirmed.
What we feature in the Library.
The Queer Ink Digital Library makes queer Indian literature, history, and multimedia findable. We feature material that:
— Is by, about, or relevant to queer Indian lives
— Has been made available with appropriate rights (open access, public domain, or with the rightsholder's permission)
— Meets reasonable standards of editorial quality, factual accuracy, and ethical handling of subjects
We do not feature work that promotes hatred, violence, or harm against queer people or any other community.
Independence.
Queer Ink is editorially independent. Our editorial decisions are not influenced by:
— Patrons, donors, or funders (their support is gratefully acknowledged but does not buy editorial influence)
— Commercial sponsors, advertisers, or affiliate relationships (we do not run advertising and do not have affiliate relationships that condition editorial decisions)
— Political parties, governments, or political organisations
— Religious organisations
— Any external party seeking favourable coverage, suppressed coverage, or specific content placement
Where a potential conflict of interest exists — for example, if Shobhna has a personal relationship with a writer being considered for publication, or with an institution being written about — the conflict is disclosed openly within the work itself.
Accuracy and corrections.
We aim for factual accuracy in everything we publish. Where errors are identified, we correct them promptly:
— On the website and in the Library: corrected directly, with a note explaining what was changed and when (for substantive corrections)
— In published books: corrections noted in the next reprint, and where the error is significant, an erratum notice issued separately
— In archival material: original material is preserved as-is (the historical record is not altered), but contextual notes are added when necessary to clarify, situate, or correct misunderstandings
To report an error, write to shobhna@queer-ink.com with subject line CORRECTION — [where the error appears].
Voice and perspective.
Queer Ink writes from a clear perspective: we are an independent queer Indian publishing imprint and archive, working in support of queer Indian lives. Our voice is editorial, considered, and oriented toward the long horizon. We do not pretend to be neutral on questions of queer dignity, queer rights, or queer existence; we are partisan for queer Indian lives. We do try to be accurate, fair, and careful about how we represent communities, individuals, and contested questions.
Sources, attribution, and citation.
We attribute sources clearly. We cite the Archives' own collections, secondary sources, and any material we draw on. We do not present the work of others as our own. We respect contributor anonymity where it has been requested, naming sources only where consent has been given.
Right of reply.
If you are mentioned in a piece of writing or material on the Queer Ink website and you believe the representation is inaccurate or unfair, you may request a right of reply. Write to us with the specific concern. Where the concern is substantive, we will work in good faith to correct, clarify, or update.
Removal requests.
If you are a contributor, subject, or party to material held in the Archives or featured in the Library and you wish to request its removal or restriction, write to us. Removal is at our editorial discretion, balanced against the historical and cultural value of the material; we will engage genuinely with every request.