Perugia Press on Gender Justice

Dear Community,

In his inaugural address on January 20, the incoming president declared that “there are only two genders.” He went on to issue an executive order entitled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” along with other executive orders persecuting transgender people. And this violent negation has not stopped there. As a feminist organization rooted in righting gender inequity in publishing and beyond, we are dismayed by this systematic erasure of multiple genders by the new administration. At Perugia Press, we celebrate the range of ways our poets, readers, interns, board members, volunteers, donors, and community partners express their gender.

Perugia Press was founded in 1997 as a direct response to the disparity in opportunities and recognition between women and men in the literary world. For nearly 30 years we have endeavored to bring the scales of gender inequity into greater balance through amplifying the work of women, one book of poetry at a time. We honor our history as a women’s organization and welcome women poets who represent all gender-expansive definitions of that term. In the spirit of intersectional feminism, we have always believed that it is critical to champion voices that have been marginalized. Our mission to fight for gender equity remains steadfast.

While the new administration rolls back protections put in place to prevent discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and the marginalization of other communities, Perugia Press remains committed to creating a space that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, and where gender justice remains at the heart of our work. We invite you to co-create that space with us. 

In solidarity,

Rebecca Olander, Editor/Director

& the Perugia Press Board of Directors