Polari Group is a company focused on improving anorectal health and sexual well-being within the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. It was founded to address the overlooked issue of anal douching and its associated medical and social concerns, aiming to provide solutions for spontaneous and clean anal sex without the need for traditional douching methods.

Polari Group

At Polari Group, we believe that the next sexual revolution will be in anorectal health. Currently it takes up to 1 hour to prepare for anorectal intercourse, using the method called anal douching. This prevents spontaneity, affects romantic relationships, and increases the chances of getting an STI. Our team develops category-defining consumer products to make the preparation for anorectal intercourse hassle-free. Anorectal health has been overlooked for too long and the Polari Group is here to change that.

It was such a pleasure to return to UCL, where I did my master's in the Division of Infection and Immunity, to present my recent paper (sorry if I was a bit rusty) and Polari Group’s work to revolutionise anorectal health at Virtual Virology (counterintuitively an in-person event).

It was a pleasure to present alongside Jan Rehwinkel and Elizabeth Horton, see all of my old lab mates, and talk through Polari’s mission with leading virologists. ⚗️🧪🧫🧬🔬🦠

I particularly enjoyed catching up with old mentors - Richard Milne, Greg Towers, and Lucy Thorne, who all taught me at UCL. This series of lectures brings in top-class labs and encourages students to present their own work in a highly supportive environment.

The determination of Richard Milne, who leads the Immunology and Virology course at UCL, to support early-stage academics is truly admirable. He does this by:

Encouraging students to ask questions at seminars and sit in the front row (you have just as much right to airtime as the PIs). I find students ask some of the best and most well-thought-out questions. 🙋‍♀️

Encouraging scientists to think creatively. In STEM, this skill set is often not exercised in favour of rote learning. 🎨

Encouraging ambition. Apply for the top PhD/Job/Vocation you are after. 🚀

I remember attending these seminars as a student and being truly inspired. So, this is a real full-circle moment. ⭕

I would like to say a massive thank you to my mentors at UCL and Jan Rehwinkel for their continued support.

PS. If you are looking for a postdoc, Jan Rehwinkel and Lucy Thorne are advertising! I could not recommend their groups more highly.

PPS. We are hiring for a quality management system specialist and offer student placements. Feel free to DM me.

🌈✨ You're Invited to the Polari Pub Quiz! 🎉🍻

👋 Hello Polari Community! Get ready for an evening of wit, wisdom, and a little bit of whimsy at The Common Press this Pride Month! We're thrilled to invite you to our exclusive Pub Quiz, where knowledge meets flair on June 24th, starting at 6:30 PM.

📍 Event Highlights:

📚 Location: The Common Press - an iconic beacon of culture and community in Brick Lane.

👗 Dress Code: Come as your most expressive self or just as your fabulous self.

🍹 Pre-Quiz Drinks Mixer: Join us an hour early to mingle, form teams, and enjoy a drink. It’s the perfect start to an unforgettable night.

🎭 The Main Event: Our cheeky pub quiz, hosted by the most sensational drag queen you've never heard of. We’ll dive into fun and educational rounds such as "Backdoor Basics", covering everything from anorectal health to anal sex in pop culture.

🏆 Prizes: Win prizes!!! All while having a blast and learning something new.

🌟 Why You Should Come: This isn't just a quiz; it’s a celebration of who we are, an exploration of important topics, and a fantastic way to connect with the community during Pride Month.

📅 RSVP: Space is limited, so grab your spot fast! RSVP here: https://lu.ma/rfi14shl

We can't wait to see you there. Let’s make this Pride Month one to remember!

🥂 Cheers to pride, knowledge, and unity!

🌈 The Polari Group

When I came out as gay my dad gave me a book on AIDS.
 
The personal impact was this introduce me to LGBTQIA+ history. At the time HIV was a topic I had no knowledge of. Being interested in biology I became hooked on the molecular game of cat and mouse that exists between a virus (like HIV) and their host (humans). Due to this book, I went on to study Natural Sciences, specialising in immunology, and virology then eventually to do a PhD where I studied both Herpes and HIV. I was even lectured by Dr Robin Weiss the who discovered CD4 the entry receptor of HIV who features in the text.
 
I was lucky that in this moment any negative connotations that came with the passing of the book went straight over my head. Instead, I learnt about the emotive struggle facing the community that preceded me and could see the progress that has been made. Overall, this instilled a drive to rally against inbuilt societal pressures that suppress queer people.
 
Being gay is the best thing that ever happened to me. The moment I admitted to myself I was attracted to men was the moment I came out of self-imposed repression. I had suppressed any part of me that felt same sex attraction and my effeminate tendencies that led others to question my sexuality. I internally denied these feelings and tried (and failed) to convince myself I was attracted women. A phycological hell driven by the general attitudes surrounding homosexual people and how awful it would be to be gay. “And The Band Played On” set me on the path to become a virologist and militant homosexual running an 🍑 🛏️ 💥company. This I am sure was not what my farther intended.
 
The sharing of coming out stories is a unifier between LGBTQIA+ people. I wanted to publish my coming out story now not only to coincide with pride month but also at a point in time where the conservative government is rolling back sexual education. To highlight the clear and undeniable need not only for compulsory sexual education but also LGBTQIA+ sexual education in schools. Particularly as LGBTQIA+ people appear randomly across society’s groupings and, so every family regardless of background needs to be ready to raise a queer child.
 
I would like to thank Anna Vybornova and the Polari Group team for inspiring me to talk publicly about my experiences and Diahala Doucouré for the session on short story writing. Unfortunately, when I started, I could not stop.
 
To read about:
My gender dysphoria.
Why people think it is acceptable to tell 10-year-olds they are homosexual.
Why my father insisted on being present at my prostate exam. 🍑

see the full article here -

Christian Tooley, thank you for featuring Polari Group in Maddyness. 

"What other product can revolutionise healthcare and redefine cultural norms in S*xTech, especially within the Queer community (and anyone else [...] )?"

Thank you for the shoutout to Polari Group and for believing in our founding team & product. Read the full article here: 
https://lnkd.in/eZnHKVwA

UK:CO:POLARIGROUP

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