Through the queer program we strive to foster a culture of queer togetherness. At a time when the queer community has experienced isolation that has been exacerbated by the covid pandemic and its aftermath, when our social and activist circles have begun to narrow, and when our connections have become thinner – it is more necessary than ever to rebuild and strengthen those connections.
The exhibition Queer love, legacy and resistance showcased photos of queer couples, individuals who identify as queer, as well as activists who fight for the rights of the queer community. The exhibition also showed segments of interviews that were done with all the participants, as well as objects that have a strong emotional meaning and that are related to first dates, joint trips, love letters, photographs or objects from their home. This exhibition was an attempt to show the love of queer people outside of our 4 walls, where we are often told to keep our relationships, families, lives and identities. By entering the world of queer people and couples, we wanted to give insight into intimacy, to present our lives as no less valid than other forms of existence or understanding of the concept of family. In this way we wanted to give new meaning to our private spaces and homes, or our 4 walls, as places of radical love, loving and setting new directions for how to build relationships, rather than as places to hide something that should be visible.
The stories of the queer couples and individuals were collected by the members of the Ekvalis Queer Club. They were the ones doing interviews with the couples/individuals which were then transcribed and from them the most powerful messages were selected to be used in the exhibition. They were trained on collecting these stories by Ekvalis mentors and partners from the Serbian initiative “Our 4 Walls“. Together with the Queer Club members went a photographer that took the photos that were then exhibited. Each participant in the exhibition had the opportunity to choose if they were to be shown on the pictures with or without their face and the photographer then took the photos accordingly.
The exhibition had a huge impact on the LGBTIQ+ community and our supporters. It was showcased in Skopje and at D festival in Dojran. Hundreds of visitors witnessed the powerful messages of queer love, legacy and resistance through the different parts of the exhibition.
The social activities of the Queer Club are organized on the premises of Ekvalis and are open to the public, but the organization of the events is carefully planned in order to ensure the safety of those who come to them. Activities vary, but so far the club has organized: two board game nights, a workshop “Same-sex couples in Serbia through the Nasa 4 Zida exhibition”, two movie nights, a Halloween pumpkin carving night, an activist talk with a local queer activist and a workshop for drag. These activities are open to queer people as well as allies. The purpose of the activities is informal socializing and building a safe space for expression and free existence.