Challenging the erasure of LGBTI artistic expressions and identity

Freemuse research illustrates that artists are alarmingly discriminated against because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identify, with those tackling LGBTI issues facing disproportionate repercussions because of their work.

LGBTI-themed art is commonly perceived through the prism of the sexual orientation or gender identity of its authors and categorized as ‘queer content’, distinguishing it from mainstream art. In dialogue with artists from the LGBTI community, Freemuse, in dialogue with artists, will aim to unpack the complex landscape for those who wish to express their LGBTI identities, or produce LGBTI-themed art.

The session is moderated and introduced by Jasmina Lazović, human rights activist and Freemuse Programme Coordinator – Global Monitoring. She has extensive experience in advocating for the improvement of laws on human and minority rights throughout the Western Balkans region. Prior to joining Freemuse, Jasmina was often involved in organising festivals using arts and culture to raise awareness about human rights violations.

You will also listen to Wesam Almadani , a Palestinian author, born in 1983 in Sudan. Who lived in Egypt until the Oslo Accords were signed, and then moved to Gaza. Wesam’s literary works have been translated into English, Norwegian, Swedish, Hebrew and Italian: Almadani wrote stories and poems and had them published in many contexts, one of them is the novel "Under the Arabs’ table, Physical schizophrenia", 2020 which is about a lesbian in the Middle East