Damian Kerlin is a culture journalist and broadcaster whose work explores the intersections of identity, politics, and pop culture through a distinctly queer lens. His writing has appeared in Attitude, The Telegraph, and The Independent. He is the founder of Material Queer on Substack, a critically engaged newsletter and platform that celebrates queer culture, storytelling, and community.

His debut book, Memories from the Dancefloor, will be published by Dialogue Books in 2026. The book expands on his acclaimed documentary podcast of the same name, a richly reported oral history of LGBTQ+ nightlife in the UK. The series has since grown into a cultural touchstone, amassing over 100,000 listeners and earning praise from The Sunday Times, The Guardian, and Sky News.

Alongside his writing, Damian is an established voice in broadcasting. He is the host of the Iris Prize Podcast, amplifying the voices behind Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival. He has also presented The Daily Briefing on Monocle Radio and appeared on Virgin Radio Pride, discussing queer representation in media, literature, and the arts.

Damian was part of the 2024/25 cohort of A Writing Chance, on the Substack strand.