S P ECI ITIO N #11 The Queer Issue - European Lab
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#11 The Queer Issue
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MEMBERSHIP EXTRAS
A Note from the Editors’ Desk
Become a member to get all our
stories in your inbox—or on
In this special edition of Are We Europe magazine for the #SpheraDays
your doorstep—first!
initiative, we focus our attention on the rights of LGBTQ+ communities
Each month, we like to surprise you across Europe. This is especially urgent right now, as queer-phobia and
with a story that reimagines European
storytelling and journalism. discrimination are on the rise everywhere we turn.
So, what's next?
Sphera is a brand-new collective of independent European media. Our
areweeurope.com/member community is made up of Millennials and Gen Zers who are increasingly
engaged with the social and political battles of our time. So take to the
streets, or type up your tweets, and make yourself heard by following
@spheranow on all your channels.
MULTIMEDIA
ABOUT THE STORIES IN THIS ISSUE
An upcoming multimedia story
about nature, cyborgs and self-
With the increasing popularity of pride parades, an upcoming gay Marvel
determination
superhero, and the astonishing success of RuPaul’s Drag Race, LGBTQ+
In My Nature culture has never been closer to the surface. But there are dangerous
currents beneath the glittery waves.
In 2020, Poland made headlines with the creation of its “LGBT-free zones.”
Smaller incidents from other European countries don’t paint a much brighter
picture. In Bulgaria, a child has been denied citizenship and is now at risk
of becoming stateless, because under national law a baby cannot have
two mothers. And in the UK, transphobia is on the rise in mainstream
politics, from the far-left to the far-right, as well as in companies, with 1 in 3
employers claiming they wouldn’t hire a transgender person.
In this issue, we’ve gathered stories from around Europe that take us on a
journey through the contemporary European LGBTQ+ landscape. We dive
into the often-ignored aspects of gender and sexuality.
SURPRISE
With love,
2 3
Do you have to be a man, The Sphera team
heterosexual and cis-gendered
to be “European”?
A three-episode series from Want to respond to any of the articles in this issue or get involved in our
Europe & Sentiment
collective storytelling project? Our slow-newsroom is always open.
Podcast Drop us a line at editor@areweeurope.eu
Follow us: @areweeurope on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
My Queer Black Italian Experience Jordan Anderson & Silvia Rosi
3................................ A Note from the Editors' Desk
12............................... The Wind Short story by Eddie Stok
14............................... The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Double Meanings
Public Toilets, Private Affairs Marc Martin
52
18 Waiting for the Cutscene EDWIN VAN DE SCHEUR
18 En attendant la cinématique EDWIN VAN DE SCHEUR
28 A Journey Into the Night Damien Frost
60 38............................... A Secret Love Language Adam Zamecnik
39.............................. Une langue secrète de l’amour tirée de l’oubli
40.............................. Science Is a Drag Fintan Burke
41............................... Le coté queer de la science
42............................... Between Ourselves and God Ilham Oukhiar
43............................... Entre nous et Dieu
44 The Hidden Community In Dusty Porn Magazines Lucas Dewulf
Sphera engages with Sphera s'engage
the cross-border sur les sujets
topics that affect us all: transfrontaliers
qui nous
concernent tous :
What is Sphera? Qu’est-ce q u e Sp h e r a ?
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CLIMATE LE CLIMAT
Notre salle de rédaction internationale
Our international newsroom spans couvre différentes langues, différents
different languages, countries and cultures, pays et différentes cultures, rassemblés
brought together by the most important par l'ingrédient le plus important de
ingredient of our project: collaboration. ECONOMY notre projet : la collaboration. L’ÉCONOMIE
Click the icons below to follow us: Retrouvez-nous sur les médias sociaux :
INEQUALITY & L’INÉGALITÉ ET LES
DISCRIMINATION DISCRIMINATIONS
LA TECHNOLOGIE
DIGITAL TECH
NUMÉRIQUE
“the culture of tomorrow”. exchange, in living surroundings
that are open and accessible to all.
PROMOTING A RETHINK OF Cafes, clubs, third places, cinemas
HOW WE DEBATE IDEAS and food courts have all become
spaces for reflection on the Europe-
For 18 years, Arty Farty’s efforts to
an cultural and media landscape of
put heritage sites back on the map
tomorrow.
have constituted a central pillar of
its cultural approach. As an urban,
Workshops, radio platforms, per-
innovative and pioneering festival,
formances, screenings, hackathons,
Nuits Sonores has contributed to
Do Labs, living libraries and podcast
the transformation of dozens of
bars: by rethinking the formats used
venues, including a number of
for idea debates, European Lab
jewels of historical, contemporary
The European Lab project and industrial heritage. European
Lab follows this urge for relocation
is standing for a more horizontal
circulation of knowledge and the
greater involvement of professionals
by distancing itself from traditional
and the public.
AN ENGAGED PLATFORM dreamed up, to become a birthplace for places of knowledge dissemination
ideas capable of fighting back against and creating new spaces for idea
European Lab is a nerve centre for re- inward-looking contemporary discours-
flection, action and creation, observation, es. This centre for European debate is
listening and engagement, experimenta- also intended as a meeting point for
tion and transformation, local concerns emerging European media in all their
and international cooperation.
A space for sharing experiences and tools,
diversity; outlets offering transnational
perspectives that open up possibilities,
European Lab
encourage bridges between territories
for forward thinking and citizen connec-
tions, European Lab explores themes such
and shape new, more attractive
thoughtscapes.
forums
as climate activism, international solidarity,
cultural entrepreneurship, the emerging
art scene, urban fabrics and rural dy- More than ever, European Lab wishes to
namics, critiques of technology, the future perform this role as a laboratory for the
of culture and media, and citizenship in production of new narratives, reserving
Europe. a privileged place for new media, artists PARIS
and activists who—if successfully con- → January
It is also a platform that brings together, on nected with one another—are capable of
a continental scale and in various coun- inspiring new generations and imagining
LYON
tries, European communities and networks.
→ May
A LABORATORY FOR EMERGING
NARRATIVES AND MEDIA BRUXELLES
By giving the floor to a new generation
of artists and changemakers in Europe,
26 1,500 → October
WORLDWIDE
European Lab is aiming to offer a EVENTS SPEAKERS
ORGANISED INVITED → abroad
space where new narratives can be
6
7
European Lab forums
EUROPEAN LAB WINTER FORUM
January — Paris, France
For the past 6 years, the Winter Forum has been a
part of La Nuit des Idées, an initiative coordinated
by the French Institute. Resolutely forward-thinking,
the European Lab Winter Forum invites the public
to reflect on an overarching theme – serving as
the common thread throughout the edition – in the
company of participants who are all questioning,
imagining and making the culture of tomorrow.
European Lab
EUROPEAN LAB FORUM
May — Lyon, France
8 June 2021 — Lyon, France
Held every year in parallel to the Nuits Sonores
festival in Lyon, the European Lab Forum invites over
100 speakers. Via its cross-disciplinary and for-
ward-thinking approach, the forum addresses issues
including the city of tomorrow, political renewal,
Elevate Festival
digital transformation, the status of the media, the 7 August 2021 — Graz, Austria
role of young people, and the future of pop culture.
EUROPEAN LAB BRUSSELS
October — Brussels, Belgium
Reworks Festival & Reworks Agora
Since 2017, Arty Farty has held a European Lab forum September 2021 — Thessaloniki, Greece
and a parallel edition of the Nuits Sonores festival
in the city of Brussels, co-produced by BOZAR. The
ambition of the project is to create, at the heart of
the captivating Belgian capital, a cutting-edge event
that is open to all and that brings people together Unsound
by offering an overview of independent culture and October 2021 — Kraków, Poland
European thought.
11
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The Wind Short story by
EDDIE STOK
It’s early in the morning, and a man walking his mother returns from a trip into town with two They rush out of the living room and into the ***
dog spots the spring’s first daffodil in bloom. rolls of white fabric gripped tightly under her street, where all of their neighbours are settling
He reaches for his phone. Within minutes, the arms. She thunders up the stairs and bursts into into position. A moment of complete stillness The sun inches closer to the rooftops with
air is electric with calls. Mara’s room. Announcing that she can have her descends upon the crowded street; everyone every minute. Mara’s father looks back and
pick, she sets the fabric down on Mara’s desk. holds their breath in anticipation. As the only winks at her. She can almost hear him say: “it’s
That evening, an announcement on the She kisses her daughter’s forehead and goes to one wrapped head-to-toe in ripstop nylon, now or never.” She checks her anchor and,
9 o'clock news confirms what had sent the bathroom to prepare the dyes. Mara can’t hear the silence—she can only breathing in deeply before the plunge, spreads
households abuzz all over the country. Sitting feel people’s eyes drilling holes into her white her arms out wide. As the Wind catches the
on the balcony outside her bedroom, Mara Choosing between linen and ripstop nylon is suit. Last year’s curious glances have become white flaps of her wingsuit, they snap taut and
can hear the excited murmurs of her parents easy enough, Mara thinks, but in the pit of judgemental stares, and send her into a spiral of lift her off the ground and into the air. She
watching the TV downstairs. her stomach, she’s already dreading the other doubt. Then she remembers last year’s Wind. rushes past her neighbours’ kites and looks
choice she’ll have to make. As she contemplates at their faces down on the ground, which
“The Wind is coming. It’s time to get ready.” the fabric, the scent of dye comes floating They are waiting in the street when she sees the blue have turned from judgement to shock at her
over from the bathroom on the first floor, and and yellow wave shoot up from the east / When the surprising aerobatics. Searching frantically
*** she’s caught in a crossfire of remembered weather front hits them, her dad is the first to let up around her for any signs of red, Mara climbs
conversation. his blue rayon box kite / Her mum follows, loosening higher and higher until she’s flying high above
This will be Mara’s third Wind. Most kids start her yellow nylon parafoil / All around her, kites are an unbroken sea of yellow and blue kites,
around their 13th birthday, but Mara was a few You’ll have to choose eventually / Her mother’s shooting up into the air, the people below bracing undulating like waves on the Wind.
years late. She leans on the railing to let the words are bouncing off the cold tiles / There are two against the unyielding Wind / When Mara finally
soft spring breeze stir her hair. It brings up vats of dye in the bathtub / Her mother is lecturing joins them with her simple white cotton diamond As the sun starts dipping into the horizon, her
fragments of memories of her first Wind, two her about how improper it would be to go out in kite, she feels her eyes are refusing to focus, drawn eyes dart in all directions, desperately hoping
years ago. white again / Besides, how difficult could the choice instead to something else floating in the distance / In to spot the dragon she saw last year. Would
be? It’s just two colours! the sea of blue and yellow fabric, a single red dragon it be a dragon this year? Is she even sure she
Her mother’s eyes widen with excitement at Mara’s is dancing up and down the air currents / Transfixed, saw it back then? Feeling increasingly helpless
announcement: she will finally be taking part / The She’ll be disappointed again this year, Mara Mara tries to tell which street it is being flown from, at the thought of these questions, Mara takes
white fabric they picked out at the store has a coarse thinks, as she watches her mother stirring the but it disappears before she can get her bearings. her windswept eyes off the colourful waves
but soft weave / The material is taut and unyielding vats of blue and yellow dye. below. She looks at the sky around her, which is
in its frame / Her father’s reassuring words break as “Are you ready, Mara?” getting darker with each passing moment.
she braces herself for the impact / “Here it comes! ***
Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” At her dad’s question, Mara snaps back into Then, from the corner of her eye, she catches
A gardener at the Botanical Institute notices it. The telltale wave of blue and yellow kites a flash of bright crimson. Her heart jumps
The rest of Mara’s memories of her first Wind the last dandelion of the season has finally surges up over the rooftops in the southeast. into her throat, and she quickly snaps her
are blurry, dimmed by an overwhelming feeling bloomed. A flurry of phone calls fills the aether, Moments later, the front hits them, and Mara head around to see nothing but an open sky.
of general discomfort. as meteorological stations are put on high only just manages to stay upright. Her mother With tears welling up, Mara tilts her head and
12 alert. That same afternoon, Mara’s family is and father let their kites fly—a monoplane succumbs to a sob. At last, the tears exhausted, 13
*** waiting feverishly in the living room. All wires kite and a six-sided rokkaku this year—and at she looks down at her wingsuit through watery
and knots have been checked and rechecked the same time almost a hundred kites soar up eyes, only to find the white nylon glowing bright
As the days pass, the initial excitement makes ten times over. On the TV, the film nobody is around her in a blue and yellow flurry of wire red in the last light of the setting sun. She dries
way for fervent preparation throughout the really watching is interrupted by an emergency and frame and fabric. Mara’s muscles feel like her eyes on the newly-red sleeves, takes a deep
city. The well-to-do rush to high-end stores to broadcast: steel wires as she braces herself against the breath and straightens her back. Floating on
buy up the season’s hottest fabric: silk. The Wind. In her mind’s eye, she keeps seeing the the Wind, a crimson fleck above an endless
less-well-to-do raid their attics in search of last “The Wind is here.” dancing red kite. This year, she says to herself, yellow-blue ocean, Mara is no longer looking or
year’s scraps of polyester and cotton. Mara’s she will find it. worrying, but, finally, flying.
Back to Table of Contents
The Illustrated Encyclopedia Ally
/ˈælaɪ/
1. (noun) — a country that has agreed to
help and support another country, especial-
ly in case of a war.
of Double Meanings 2. (noun) — anyone who supports the LG-
BTQ+ community without being part of the
group themselves.
by
ANNELEEN OPHOFF
Camp 1. (noun) — a place where people live tem-
porarily in tents or temporary buildings.
/kæmp/
2. (adverb, adjective, noun) — an aesthetic
style with strong roots in gay male subcul-
Words have undeniable power. They help there’s a parallel linguistic universe in queer ture that regards something as appealing
us share complicated thoughts with one communities, in which words have been because of its bad taste, exaggeration,
another—with some people being much reclaimed, deconstructed and completely theatricality or ironic value, as a critique of
more effective in their communication than reimagined. From the Oxford English Dic- societal norms.
others—and can shape, break and mend tionary to the streets, bars and family dinner
hearts. The Second Edition of the 20-vol- tables: these are your alternative definitions
ume Oxford English Dictionary contains no of everyday words.
less than 171,476 words in current use. But
Constellation 1. (noun) — a group of stars that forms a
shape in the sky and has a name.
/ˌkɒnstəˈleɪʃn/
2. (noun) — a way to describe the arrange-
ment or structure of a polyamorous relation-
Queer 1. (adjective) — (archaic) strange or unusu-
al, odd.
ship.
/kwɪə(r)/
2. (noun) — (taboo, slang) a slur used to re-
fer to a gay person, especially a man, which
is, however, also used by some gay people
to describe themselves. Erasure 1. (noun) — the act of removing writing,
drawing, recorded material or data.
/ɪˈreɪʒər/
3. (adjective) — a reclaimed word to illus-
2. (noun) — the act of obscuring, denying,
trate anyone and anything non-heterosexual
or belittling the existence of the LGBTQ+
or gender non-conforming. Often used as
14 community or their lived experiences. 15
an umbrella term to describe themselves,
Queer is now used by people who are
attracted to the same gender or all gen- For example:
ders, identify as transgender or by anyone
questioning their sexual and gender identity. “Bisexuality is a stepping stone
While many people in the LGBTQ+ commu- to admitting they are gay.”
nity prefer the welcoming term, others resist
its historical roots or prefer more specific “She’s just straight, and is
labels. doing it for attention.”
Back to Table of Contents
Euphoria 1. (noun) — an extremely strong feeling of
happiness and excitement that usually lasts
Questioning 1. (verb) — the activity of asking somebody
questions.
/juːˈfɔːriə/ /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
only a short time.
2. (noun) — when a person is unsure of
2. (noun) — the feeling of ecstatic happi- their sexual or gender identity.
ness and peace with your gender identity
and expression.
Even just thinking about one's true gender
identity can cause gender euphoria, regard-
less of their current reality.
Fluid 1. (noun) — a liquid; a substance that can
flow.
/ˈfluːɪd/
2. (adverb) — not fixed, and therefore able
or likely to change. A genderfluid person's
identity can change constantly, sometimes
in sudden and seemingly random ways, or in Spectrum 1. (noun) — a range of sound waves or other
types of wave. A band of coloured lights in
response to different circumstances. /ˈspektrəm/
order of their wavelengths, as seen in a rain-
bow and into which light may be separated.
Outing 1. (noun) — a trip that you go on for pleas-
ure or education, usually with a group of
2. (noun) — A range. Alfred Kinsey, a pio-
neering sexologist, coined the concept of
/ˈaʊtɪŋ/
people and lasting no more than one day. using a spectrum to identify sexuality on
a scale from hetero to homosexual identi-
2. (verb) — the non-consensual reveal of a ties, from zero to ten. Since inventing the
person’s gender or sexual identity by some- one-axis Kinsey Scale in 1943, over 200
one other than themselves. scales have been developed measuring
sexual orientation.
Policing 1. (noun) — the activity of keeping order in a
place with police, the activity of controlling
/pəˈliːsɪŋ/
an industry, an activity, etc. to make sure
that people obey the rules. Validate 1. (noun) — to prove that something is true,
to make something legally recognised.
/ˈvælɪdeɪt/
2. (adverb, adjective, noun) — imposing
limits on another person and their gender or 2. (noun) — to support the accuracy and
16 sexual expression, usually based on societal truth of something without the need to veri- 17
norms. fy. The idea is to accept that what someone
says is true and the feelings they discuss
For example: are genuine. Basically, you shouldn’t assume
people are liars when they open up to you.
“Why do you have to hold hands in public?”
“Wouldn’t you rather wear something less
extravagant?”
Back to Table of ContentsWaiting for the Cutscene
How a queer video game by/par EDWIN VAN DE SCHEUR
character made me fall in love illustration by REE A.
En attendant la cinématique
Comment je suis tombé amoureux traduit de l'Anglais par
du personnage queer d’un jeu vidéo. ANTOINE PAICHARD
18 19
RADUIT
T
P
UR -
O
UR -
O
P
TR IT
ADU
Back to Table of ContentsIt’s a warm August evening
and most people are outside
characters can be moved around
by the player during fight scenes, «Soudain, mon C'est une chaude soirée
d'août et la plupart des gens
but they also come with their
enjoying the last rays of own personality, voice acting
performance, and storyline. These
cœur battait sont dehors pour profiter des
sunshine. I’m sitting in my derniers rayons de soleil. Je
plus vite qu'il ne
storylines are mostly left to be
bedroom with the curtains discovered by the player during suis assis dans ma chambre
extensive conversations at the
closed so that the light does avec les rideaux fermés pour
not interfere with the artificial
game’s campsite, which players often
return to in-between adventures. le l’aurait fait que le jour ne vienne pas
glare of my television. The
set is hooked up to a gaming
When I first started playing the game
at 15, I was still quite the closeted
lors des batailles gêner la lumière artificielle de
l’écran de ma télévision.
les plus féroces.»
kid who was only barely coming to
console; a splash of blood, terms with his sexuality. As such, I
accompanied by the mighty was left both equally shocked and Cette dernière est connectée
roar of a winged monstrosity,
ecstatic when one of my character’s à une console de jeu ; une
companions, Zevran—an elven
spells out the game’s title character who can only be described éclaboussure de sang,
on the screen—Dragon Age:
as Shrek’s Puss in Boots with pointy accompagnée du puissant
ears—openly came out as bisexual
Origins. The portal to a reality during one of our conversations rugissement d'un monstre
far grittier, yet grander, than
around the campfire. ailé, énonce le titre du jeu à
the one outside my bedroom “I fancy many things,” he said with a l'écran - Dragon Age: Origins.
window.
suave voice. “I fancy things that are Le portail vers une réalité
beautiful, and things that are strong.
I fancy things that are dangerous and bien plus mystérieuse, mais
exciting. Would you be offended if I plus grandiose, que celle qui
said I fancied you?”
se trouve à l'extérieur de la
The game paused, patiently waiting fenêtre de ma chambre.
Released in 2009, Dragon Age: Origins for me to pick one of the following
was developed by Bioware, a Canadian responses:
studio renowned for its story-driven game
design. The video game is set in a fantasy - “No, but you needn’t bother.” Sorti en 2009, Dragon Age: Origins a
world reminiscent of Game of Thrones, été développé par Bioware, un studio
filled with dark undertones and political - “Not at all.” canadien réputé pour sa conception de
intrigue. Having created a character to jeux scénarisés. Le jeu vidéo se déroule
their liking, the player has to fight their way - “But I’m a man.” dans un monde fantastique rappelant
through highwaymen, demons and the Game of Thrones, rempli de nuances
20 like. The battle sequences are intercut by sombres et d'intrigues politiques. Après 21
- “Err… yes, actually.”
cinematic dialogue scenes, in which they avoir créé un personnage à son goût,
can choose from multiple responses which Suddenly, my heart was beating “My heart was le joueur doit se frayer un chemin à
allow the story to branch out in various, faster than it would during the travers des bandits de grand chemin,
unpredictable directions. fiercest battles. What would happen beating faster than des démons, etc. Les séquences de
if I picked the second option, I batailles sont entrecoupées de scènes
Throughout this journey, the player is wondered. it would during the cinématographiques de dialogue, dans
joined by a diverse cast of companions. lesquelles il est possible de choisir parmi
Like pieces on a chessboard, these “Not at all,” my character responded average battle scene.” plusieurs réponses, qui permettent à
Back to Table of Contentsafter my pulse had settled. It was a
decision with immediate consequences «La reconnaissance l'histoire de bifurquer dans différentes
directions imprévisibles.
les plus féroces. Que se passerait-il si
je choisissais la deuxième option, me
as it meant the start of a romantic subplot demandais-je.
between my character and Zevran,
which would slowly but steadily develop
dans la fiction peut Tout au long de ce voyage, le joueur est
rejoint par un groupe composé de divers "Pas du tout", a répondu mon personnage
throughout the rest of the game.
Zevran’s storyline was an eye-opener.
apporter le plus compagnons. Comme des pièces sur un
échiquier, ces personnages peuvent être
déplacés par le joueur durant les scènes
après que mon pouls se soit calmé.
C'était une décision aux conséquences
immédiates car cela signifiait le début
Not only was I presented with a
queer character in a safe and familiar
grand des réconforts de combat, mais ils ont également leur
propre personnalité, leurs voix et leurs
d'une intrigue secondaire romantique
entre mon personnage et Zevran, qui se
aux personnes qui
environment—I was the one who wielded histoires a part entière. Ces histoires sont développerait lentement mais sûrement
the controller, and it was up to me whether pour la plupart laissées à la découverte tout au long du reste du jeu.
or not my character would become a du joueur, lors de longues conversations
part of this romance. Unlike books or
films, where the direction of the plot is se sentent les plus au camp de base du jeu, celui auquel
les joueurs retournent souvent entre les
L'histoire de Zevran m'a ouvert les yeux.
On m'avait présenté un personnage
set in stone by the author, games put aventures. queer dans un environnement sûr et
the player in charge. This comes with a
certain level of agency. My conversation
seules.» Quand j'ai commencé à jouer à ce jeu à 15
familier – comme j'étais celui qui dirigeait
le jeu, c'était à moi de décider si mon
with Zevran provided me with a sense of ans, j'étais encore un gamin assez fermé personnage prendrait ou non une partie à
control over situations that I’d previously qui commençait à peine à accepter sa cette romance. Contrairement aux livres
felt were entirely out of my hands. It was sexualité. C’est en tant que tel que j'ai été ou aux films, dans lesquels l’intrigue est
empowering. à la fois choqué et extasié lorsque l'un l’entière responsabilité de l'auteur, les jeux
des compagnons de mon personnage, mettent le joueur aux commandes. Cela
However, as revolutionary as this form of Zevran – un personnage elfique qui ne vient avec un certain sens de pouvoir. Ma
representation was at the time—and as peut être décrit que comme le chat botté conversation avec Zevran m'a donné un
empowering as the experience was to de Shrek avec des oreilles pointues – est sentiment de contrôle sur des situations
me personally—that kind of agency came ouvertement devenu bisexuel lors d'une de que je pensais auparavant être totalement
with a price. Should the player decide nos conversations autour du feu de camp. hors de mes mains. C'était stimulant.
not to pursue this queer subplot, little
representation was left. The queerness “Il y a beaucoup de choses que j’aime”, Cependant, aussi révolutionnaire qu’était
of Dragon Age: Origins was very much an dit-il d'une voix suave. “J'aime les belles cette forme de représentation à l'époque
opt-in experience, and those not interested choses, et les choses fortes. J'aime les - et aussi stimulante que l'expérience ai
could happily game on. choses dangereuses et excitantes. Serais- été pour moi personnellement - ce type
tu offensé si je disais que je t'aime bien ? " de libre arbitre avait un prix. Si le joueur
*** décidait de ne pas poursuivre cette quête
Le jeu s'est interrompu, attendant romantique, il restait peu de d’intrigue. La
A mere 17 months after the release patiemment que je choisisse l'une des dimension queer de Dragon Age: Origins
of Dragon Age: Origins, a sequel was réponses suivantes : était une expérience optionnelle et ceux
released. Dragon Age II offered an qui n'étaient pas intéressés pouvait
expanded, yet very similar approach -"Non, mais n’y pense plus." totalement jouer sans.
to its queer subplots. Beyond the opt-
22 in storylines, representation was still *** 23
- "Pas du tout."
scarce. One of the few instances that
were presented, featured the character “Recognition in - "Mais je suis un homme." À peine 17 mois après la sortie de Dragon
of Serendipity, an elven sex worker who Age: Origins, la suite sortit. Dragon Age
shows up for about as long as an average fiction can bring the -"Euh… oui, en fait.” II offrait une approche élargie, et très
blink of the eyes. similaire, à ces intrigues secondaires
greatest of comforts to Soudain, mon cœur battait plus vite queer. Au-delà des scénarios optionnels,
Serendipity just has three lines, all sexual qu'il ne le l’aurait fait lors des batailles la représentation était encore rare. L'un
puns, and spoken in a deep masculine the loneliest of people.”
Back to Table of Contentsvoice. Due to the fiddly nature of game of mercenaries called the “Chargers.” des rares exemples présentés mettait en Un exemple flagrant est celui de Dorian
development—which gives developers only Initial conversations with Krem mostly vedette le personnage de Serendipity, une Pavus, un sorcier en vogue et audacieux
a certain quantity of assets to work with— concern his military background. It is travailleuse du sexe elfe qui se présente qui fut fièrement présenté comme le
she was given a female body model, making only revealed much later, during a jolly pendant environ la durée d'un battement premier personnage masculin ouvertement
her physique identical to all other women in old tavern scene, that Krem was not de cils. gay dans un jeu pour le grand public. Alors
the game. born in a male body and deserted the que son histoire est remplie de toutes
army because of it. As he was chased Serendipity ne prononce que trois sortes de sorcellerie, du voyage dans le
While she was originally meant to represent across the country, the leader of the lignes. Toutes, des jeux de mots sexuels temps à la magie du sang, son centre
a male drag queen, this specific appearance Chargers decided to step in and assist et prononcées d'une voix masculine émotionnel est basé sur une confrontation
let her be read by some to represent a Krem in the brawl. He invited him to join profonde. En raison de la nature délicate avec son père qui, désapprouvant la
transgender woman. Critics would point the mercenaries—a place where Krem du développement de jeux – qui ne donne sexualité de son fils, s'était tourné vers de
out that she came across as a rushed, aux développeurs qu'une quantité d’outils sombres rituels dans l'espoir de convertir
could finally let his military skills flourish
stereotypical butt of the joke and that she limités avec lesquels travailler – elle a reçu son fils, qu’il "redevienne normal."
while being fully accepted for his past.
was yet another trans character in the role un modèle de corps féminin, ce qui rend
of a prostitute without any nuance. son physique identique à celui de toutes Le jeu a également présenté le
The characters of Dorian and Krem
les autres femmes du jeu. personnage de Krem, second
provided the Dragon Age series with a
The writers at Bioware took the criticism to commandant d'un gang de mercenaires
new kind of queer representation. They
heart. They decided they could do better— Alors qu'elle était à l'origine censée appelé les «Chargers». Les premières
were a testament to the struggles of
and so they did. représenter un drag queen masculin, conversations avec Krem concernent
our community and a celebration of our principalement
cette apparence
quirks. However, their
***
“After all, I knew I was stories were not the
spécifique lui a
permis d'être vue par
«Après tout, je savais ses antécédents
militaires. Il n'est
only kind to be told.
In 2014, more than
three years after the
a geek way before I certains comme la
représentation d’une
que j'étais un geek bien révélé que beaucoup
plus tard, lors d'une
Sera was the female
release of Dragon
Age II, Dragon Age:
knew I was gay.” leader of a Robin
femme transgenre.
Les critiques
avant de savoir que scène joyeuse dans
une vieille taverne,
Inquisition came out
to critical acclaim. Following the ambitions
Hood-like network
of roguish well-doers, whose romantic
soulignèrent qu'elle
semblait caricaturée
j'étais gay.» que Krem n'est
pas né dans un
expressed by the developers, the game interests are just as exclusively gay as et qu'elle représentait corps masculin et
marked a major step forward in queer Dorian’s. Yet her storyline had nothing encore un autre personnage trans dans le a déserté l'armée à cause de cela. Alors
representation. It went beyond opt-in to do with her sexuality. That part of her rôle d'une prostituée, sans autre nuances. qu'il était poursuivi à travers le pays, le
romantic subplots and embraced several character was just … there, telling the chef des Chargers a décidé d'intervenir
storylines in which a character’s queerness audience that someone’s queerness Les auteurs de Bioware prirent la critique à et a aidé Krem dans sa lutte. Il l'a donc
had a critical role to play. is just one of many other qualities that cœur. Ils décidèrent qu'ils pouvaient faire invité à rejoindre les mercenaires, un
make up a person’s identity. mieux - et c’est ce qu’ils ont fait. endroit où Krem pourrait enfin laisser ses
A striking example is that of Dorian compétences militaires s'épanouir tout en
Pavus, a fashionable and sassy sorcerer *** *** étant pleinement accepté pour son passé.
who was proudly marketed as the first
openly gay, male character in mainstream Going through puberty in the 2000s En 2014, plus de trois ans après la sortie Les personnages de Dorian et Krem
gaming. Whilst his storyline is filled with and early 2010s, I did not have much de Dragon Age II, Dragon Age : Inquisition fournirent donc à la série Dragon Age un
all kinds of wizardry, from time travel to access to queer representation. The arriva, acclamé par la critique. Faisant nouveau type de représentation queer.
24 Ils étaient un témoignage des luttes de 25
blood magic, its emotional core centres internet was not yet as widespread in suite aux aspirations exprimées par les
around a confrontation with his father its usage as it is today—which meant développeurs, le jeu marqua une avancée notre communauté et une célébration de
who, in disapproval of his son’s sexuality, majeure en matière de la représentation nos traits particuliers. Cependant, leurs
queerness as a whole definitely didn't
had previously turned to dark rituals in queer. Il allait désormais au-delà des histoires n'étaient pas les seules à être
feel as normalised as it does now.
the hopes of converting his son “back to intrigues secondaires romantiques et racontées.
The few images of queerness I did
normal.” embrassait plusieurs intrigues dans
encounter were either too discreet for
lesquelles un personnage queer avait un Sera était la dirigeante d'un réseau de
me to notice, or they were of facets I
The game also introduced the character rôle essentiel à jouer. bienfaiteurs à la Robin des Bois, dont
personally did not relate to all that much.
of Krem, second-in-command to a gang les intérêts romantiques étaient tout
Back to Table of ContentsBut then, on that warm August evening, aussi homosexuels que ceux de Dorian. de jeux vidéo LGBTQ en ligne montrent
when I first entered the gritty world of Pourtant, son rôle n'avait rien à voir une augmentation exponentielle de la
Dragon Age, I was finally presented with avec sa sexualité. Cette partie de son représentation queer au cours de la
a role model that managed to speak my personnage était juste… là. Envoyant dernière décennie.
language. After all, I knew I was a geek way un message au public comme quoi
before I knew I was gay. Recognition in l'homosexualité d’une personne n'est ***
fiction can bring the greatest of comforts to qu'autre que l’un des nombreux autres
the loneliest of people—and for a moment, traits qui peuvent composer son identité. L'histoire de l'émancipation queer, et par
Dragon Age gave me the feeling that I was extension la représentation queer, est
not that alone in my struggles after all. *** en progression. Pour moi, cette suite est
un véritable témoignage de la rapidité
But what the game did for me, it may not En passant par la puberté dans les avec laquelle cela peut arriver. Mettant
have done for others. Luckily, gamers have années 2000 et au début des années en avant sans complexe l’aspect queer
more and more queer-friendly options to 2010, je n'avais pas beaucoup d’un personnage tel que Zevran, la
choose from. The Mass Effect series, also accès à la représentation queer. série est apparue comme un diamant
by Bioware, and The Last of Us by Naughty L'utilisation d'Internet n'était pas brut. C’est une avancée remarquable
Dog, are probably some of the best- encore aussi répandue qu'aujourd'hui, mais qui laisse encore beaucoup de
known examples. Though the data is still ce qui signifiait que l’exploration de place à l'amélioration. En cinq ans, les
insufficient to draw sweeping conclusions, la sexualité n’étais certainement pas développeurs ont franchi des étapes
the online LGBTQ Video Game Archive aussi normalisée qu'aujourd'hui. Les majeures, allant au-delà des scénarios
shows an exponential increase in queer quelques représentations queers que j'ai optionnels et des représentations
representation during the last decade. rencontrées étaient soit trop discrètes stéréotypées, vers un monde plus
pour que je puisse les remarquer, soit sophistiqué qui présenterait avec
*** elles représentaient des facettes dans confiance une gamme de personnages
lesquelles je ne me reconnaissait pas queers diversifiés et pleinement
The story of queer emancipation, and by personnellement. développés; de Dorian et Krem, à Sera et
extension queer representation, is one bien d'autres.
of progression. To me, this franchise Et ce fût, en cette chaude soirée d'août,
stands out as a testament to how fast this lorsque je suis entré pour la première fois Le parcours de la série Dragon Age n'est
can happen. Featuring the unapologetic dans le monde mystérieux de Dragon pas sans rappeler le mien. Depuis cette
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
queerness of characters such as Zevran, Age, que l’on m'a finalement présenté un soirée d'été solitaire en 2009, je suis
the series launched as a diamond in the Edwin van de Scheur (he/ modèle qui a sut me parler. Après tout, je passé de jouer à des jeux tout seul dans
rough. It tried its best, but still had much him) is a storyteller with a savais que j'étais un geek bien avant de une petite chambre - avec les rideaux
room for improvement. In five years, the passion for history and fan- savoir que j'étais gay. La reconnaissance fermés - à partager mon expérience
developers took major steps, moving tasy, as well as the co-found- dans la fiction peut apporter le plus ouvertement, ne ressentant que de la
beyond opt-in storylines and stereotypical er and editor-in-chief of grand des réconforts aux personnes qui fierté.
representations, to a more sophisticated Dare to be Grey. se sentent les plus seules- et pendant
world that confidently presented a range of un instant, Dragon Age m'a donné le
fully developed, diverse queer characters; AUTHOR'S MOTIVATION sentiment que je n'étais pas si seul dans
from Dorian and Krem, to Sera and so many ma lutte après tout. Mais ce que le jeu
more. Video games come as naturally to me as movies, a fait pour moi, il ne l'a peut-être pas
26 books, or theatre might come to others. Quite 27
fait pour d'autres. Heureusement, les
The journey of the Dragon Age series is not often, I still find myself explaining to non-gamers joueurs ont de plus en plus d'options
unlike my own. Since that lonely summer how powerful and beautiful this medium can adaptées aux queers parmi lesquelles
evening in 2009, I’ve gone from playing be—and how it can tell stories in ways that other choisir. La série Mass Effect, également
games by myself in a small bedroom— media just can't. To me, this article is a testament de Bioware, et The Last of Us de Naughty
with the curtains closed—to sharing my to games as a form of art. And I hope that one Dog, sont probablement quelques-uns
experience openly, feeling nothing but day, when we write the history books of our queer des exemples les plus connus. Bien que
pride. revolution, this small piece of progress will be les données soient encore insuffisantes
included in the chapters on representation. pour tirer des conclusions, les archives
Back to Table of Contentsphotography by interview by
DAMIEN FROST HANNA TORSEKE &
ANNELEEN OPHOFF
Are We Europe interviews Damien Frost,
graphic designer by day, and photographer
of the weird and wonderful by night
Journey
28 Into the
Night Back to Table of ContentsIn 2016, you published Night Flowers, focus on the beauty, and not the grit of the
documenting the unsung heroes of London’s nightlife scene?
nightlife: drag kings and queens, goths, queer
and transgender people, fetishists, burlesque I'm a big fan of documentary photography:
performers. How did a project of this magni- the process of capturing a moment and
tude originate? an essence of real life. But I'm also a big
fan of classical painting and portraiture.
I studied Fine Arts in Australia and majored Since there were countless examples of fly
in painting. I took photographs as studies on the wall documentary photography of
for my paintings, which could take months nightlife, I made the conscious decision to
to finish. Sometimes, I’d look at the photo- try to present these subjects in an alternate
graphs and wish they could fulfil my vision light. It dawned on me early on that much
since they took so much less time, but they of the fashion styles and aesthetics of the
all lacked a “voice." They were a means to people I was photographing in the street
an end and I didn’t pursue photography at also referenced the past—albeit in a very
all. Years later, after a health scare, I began deconstructed, postmodern way. Taking
thinking about my past and all the vivid and photographs that referenced classical
colourful people I used to know. I didn’t have portraiture made sense to me. But it also
any photographs of them, so I started doc- affected how the photos are received—
umenting my surroundings and the people people often don’t realise that they might
around me. Eventually, I began a project— be taken inside a club, in a carpark next to
taking a portrait of a stranger every day for a a club, or on a street.
year.
Let’s break that barrier and take the view-
I would wander the streets after work looking ers behind the scenes a bit. How does your
for people who stood out from the crowd process normally unfold?
for whatever reason. One of the things I’d
always loved about London was its extreme I used to wander the streets looking for
diversity of people and the idea that you people, using any available light and neutral
could be whoever you wanted to be in a city background I could find. Now I'll take a
this size. I would stay out later and later in rolled-up canvas and a single light to set up
search of interesting subjects—sometimes in the corner, backstage, to the side of the
returning home at 3 in the morning. This led dance floor battling smoke machines and
me to meet more drag queens, club kids, disco lights, or even outside the club in a
performers, and other inhabitants of the late- smoking area or carpark where I have to
night streets of London, who I would often deal with rain or wind and the cold.
find outside clubs smoking or coming and
going from various venues. I was immedi- Having moved in and around LGBTQ+
ately fascinated by the craft of the makeup spaces for the last years, what shifts have
and bespoke fashion they’d create—often you observed in society?
worn just for the one night only—and my
30 portrait project became more focussed on There’s an element of drag that has be- 31
this world. It was certainly not something I come more mainstream through popular TV
intended to do—I probably would have felt shows that create an unhealthy obsession
uncomfortable imposing myself in doing that. with younger drag artists—ones that aspire
But in following my muse, I discovered this towards fame. It’s really like the fast-food
amazing community of “Night Flowers.” equivalent to a good meal. I think shows
like that run the risk of making drag artists
There are over 300 portraits and they all look appear more like court jesters that viewers
quite otherworldly. Why was it important to can laugh and cheer at, while still poking
Back to Table of Contentsfun at someone out of the ordinary if they a form of protest.
saw them in their local supermarket.
Photography can be empowering, but also
Are there any challenges or ethical dilem- ostracising and stigmatising. What do you
mas you face that come from photographing hope your work brings across to anyone
LGBTQ+ communities and spaces as someone seeing it?
who doesn’t identify as queer?
A few years ago, I gave an artist’s talk at an
I've always been uncomfortable with het- exhibition I had in Australia and was told
eronormativity, especially heteronormative that many people in the audience had no
masculine attitudes. While I don’t personally exposure to the drag or club-kid scenes.
identify as queer, I feel at home in a queer Yet, they were fascinated by the glimpse
environment as my political and personal into the world of the subjects in my work.
outlook is more aligned in that space. Lon- They wanted to talk about the craft in-
don has a strong sense of community in the volved in the looks and really understood
queer scene—made up of a myriad of people the ephemeral nature of the artwork. I hope
with different experiences and outlooks— that the classical nature of the photos
but generally, there’s a common thread of perhaps helped make them accessible to
respect. If you’re respectful of each other, an audience that might not otherwise have
you’re welcome in the community. Because been receptive to this community.
I invite my subjects to be photographed, it’s
very much about collaboration. I might be at You consider yourself an “ally” to the LGT-
clubs where some crazy shit happens and it BQ+ community. What does allyship mean
could be tempting to photograph that, but I to you and to the people around you?
don’t feel comfortable invading someone’s
space. I think we should be able to live a life To me it’s being supportive where I can,
where someone’s not sticking a camera in in whatever way I can, whether that be
our face all the time. helping people in the community out with
photography, or calling out people in other
Have any of your projects taught you about walks of everyday life for being insensitive.
your own biases or unconscious stereotypes? I think it’s also important to be aware that
no matter how far we think we’ve come in
I used to think that in London you could terms of equality for marginalised com-
be who you wanted to be and have the munities, things are often still harder for
freedom to walk down the street looking LGTBQ+ people and there’s still a lot of mis-
however you wanted, but I was completely guided biases. At the end of the day—and
wrong—it’s really hard work doing that. I was even though it’s only in a very small way—I
shocked by the number of times I would be hope my photography might help break
out photographing or accompanying some- down people’s biases and predispositioned
one who has been on the receiving end of ways of thinking about the communities
homophobic or transphobic abuse. And it’s represented.
32 all too common to hear stories of assaults on
the way to or from a club. Soon, I learnt that
London—like most places—isn’t as accepting
as I once thought. I have the utmost respect
for the people who have had to battle this
before or after a photograph is taken, and will
no doubt have to deal with this at some point
in the future. It’s important to acknowledge
that the very act of expressing themselves is
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