PRIDE AND |
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Two years ago I attended the Equality March in Warsaw. It made a very strong impression on me. I remember how Robert Biedro, one of the organisers, told me that they had asked a transvestite friend of his not to dress in drag, in order to make the event less controversial. Understandable – but at the same time a shame. There were no scuffles. But still I had the feeling on hearing the shouting of the skinheads as if there were only 200 of us taking part, as we were guarded by 2,000 police officers and as if there were 20,000 protesters. In reality there were a lot more of us and there were far fewer opponents – but at that exact moment I couldn’t help but feel quite small. I have been to pride marches in Brussels, in Oslo and for the last six years I’ve walked in the parade in Stockholm. What a street party we have! I bet many stockholmers, both gay and straight, would |
agree to it being not only the biggest but also the best party of the year. The reactions, the joy and the respect one meets when walking in the parade is fantastic. The contrast to what I experienced in Warsaw could not be greater. It was this contrast that gave me the idea of doing an exhibition by collecting pictures from each and every country within the European Union. The pictures show that in most countries Pride is a festival, but they also show the kind of aggression it encounters in other member states. Last but not least, those member states where it is impossible to organise the events stand out in shame through empty frames, showing for all to see that intolerance is not a normality. With this exhibition I want to raise the question: Who is queerer? The people who want to gather for a fantastic party, or those that choose to resort to violence to prevent it from happening? Who is it that really stands out from the crowd?
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