PREVIEW: The 2026 Queer Poetry Contest Calling for LGBTQ+ Artist Submissions
“Do I hope that a young person in our community that is struggling sees the work on our building and then feels safer, intentionally centered, and that they matter? Absolutely! Yes, please!”
This summer season, Nancy Klepsch and Shawn McCann, in collaboration with TAP Inc., are inviting all queer artists and writers to join this year's Queer Poetry Contest. Developed in 2023 after one of Klepsch’s own poems was installed on TAP Inc.'s building, this contest encourages all participants to share pieces of writing for this year's theme of “Where We Make Space.”
This contest, with a first-place prize of $200 and the winning poem being pasted to the TAP building located at 222 2nd Street in Troy, is an amazing opportunity for queer artists to share their stories in a supportive and impactful environment.
TAP Inc., a nonprofit community-centered organization founded in 1969 to provide designs and services to low-income property owners and other nonprofit groups to help improve buildings and neighborhoods, created this contest as a response to the rising discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. Developed by TAP Inc. Vice President Klepsch and Leader of Operations McCann, with support from the NYS Writers Institute to fund the winning prizes, this contest has been driven by the strong ambition of people dedicated to providing a space for queer voices every year. With Nancy being a poet and member of the queer community herself, and Shawn a local artist and musician, the duo were able to create this contest with a deep understanding of the importance of such creative spaces.
“I am grateful to have the support of Paul Grondahl of the NYS Writers Institute,” explains Nancy. “I was struggling to obtain funding for cash prizes, and when Paul and I connected at the McKinney Poetry Prize at RPI, he immediately said 'yes.' When I get that email confirming the NYS Writers Institute's support, it's very, very emotional for me during times like these. Then, I email Shawn and get the best kind of ‘yay’ from him, and our work begins!”
The 2026 Queer Poetry Contest is more than just an avenue to share art; it’s a community effort to validate and share the stories of the queer community. Encouraging joy and celebration within the community creates a beautiful atmosphere to create powerful pieces of art. TAP Inc.’s dedication to sharing impactful narratives through poetry is a unique avenue to advocating for queer voices.
“We want to spread queer joy through queer poetry. We want the world to read as many queer poets as possible. Their voices matter, and sharing them with others makes my heart sing. One of last year's winners, Emanuel Xavier, just released a new book called Still, We are Sacred. He has been reading at many Pride events and at Stonewall this year. I get very emotional about our writers' successes.
“For years, we members of the LGBTQIA+ community were told to hide, to stay in the closet; here, we share our voices with pride. I actually met and took a class with the great Audre Lorde when I was in college; her famous quote is "Your silence will not protect you." Even in heavy times, we must not be silent. Sharing queer, transgender, and non-binary writers' work in the community allows us to read and to hear more of our stories. Do I hope that a young person in our community that is struggling sees the work on our building and then feels safer, intentionally centered, and that they matter? Absolutely! Yes, please!”
Nancy and Shawn encourage every writer to submit up to three poems with a maximum of 12 lines with 10 words per line to the email address klepschnancy@gmail.com. Second- and third-place winners will also receive a cash prize of $100 and $75. The deadline to submit pieces is July 10, and winners of the contest will be announced through social media and press releases. Among the cash prizes and the first-place piece installation, a public reading of the winning poems will also take place.
For more information on the 2026 Queer Poetry Contest visit: https://www.tapinc.org/news
