July 2024 – Queer at Work

My most recent photo shoot picked up thematically where the drag shoot from November 2023 left off. The political aspect and the tension queer people are under today wouldn't let go of me. At the centre stood the message: queer people are everywhere. They work with you at the office. They are in your family. In your circle of friends. And every vote for the AfD, for these new Nazis, means more pressure, more fear, more insecurity for these people.

I wanted to make this thought visually tangible – and developed the idea of a flowing transition: from office outfit to Pride outfit. To show that queer people have many facets. That what is visible at Pride is only one expression – not the whole life. Perhaps a somewhat cerebral idea, but it also describes exactly that diffuse feeling of fear and tension that accompanies many of us.

The shoot took place in Berlin – once again photographed by Caro Gugu. It was the first time I stood almost naked on a public street. Admittedly in a quiet side alley, but still outside, in the city. And surprisingly, it hardly took any effort anymore. I even found the whole thing not that exciting. At first, I wasn't even sure whether I wanted to do the shoot at all.

But then came Berlin Pride. I took part – and a short video of me, dancing in the street, went online. What followed was a shitstorm. Hate comments, far-right slogans, in some cases even death wishes. At the same time, Leipzig was in the news – Nazis had tried to disrupt the Pride parade there and were detained by police at the train station before they could attack people.

All of that was a burden. The shitstorm cost me strength. Because as much as you try to rise above it – you have to keep reminding yourself that it's not about you. And still: I uploaded the pictures. I didn't let myself be made small. And I'm proud of that. Grown another bit. Another bit more backbone.