I Am Gay and Muslim project round up - Bram Belloni - freelance editorial, portrait photographer and visual content

Last month the I Am Gay and Muslim project was involved in a lot of activities. Chris visits various international film festivals for the documentary and the photo series is on display in two exhibitions.

I Am Gay and Muslim documentary Banned in Kyrgyzstan

The film documentary makes its way well through the festival circuit. After festival screenings in South Africa, Italy, USA and Portugal, Chris went to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where the film was programmed as closing film at the Bir Duino film festival.

Kyrgyz military prevents screening I Am Gay and Muslim documentary at Bir Duino film festival. September 28th, 2012, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

What should have been the first screening in an Islamic country turned out otherwise. The film got banned by the Prosecutor General’s office after the Kyrgyz State Committee on Religious Affairs determined it to be “extremist,” “offensive to Muslims,” and “inciting interreligious hatred”.

Read more:
> Kyrgyzstan: Rights Activists Condemn Ban on Gay Muslim Documentary – Eurasianet.org
> Film Ban Violates Free Speech – Human Rights Watch
> Poppetje niet gezien – moslimhomo in Kirgizië moet in dicht kastje blijven – NRC (dutch)

Exhibition Mooiman Gallery

On October 6th there was the opening of the Gay & Muslim Exhibition at Mooiman Gallery, Groningen. This gay and Muslim themed exhibition features the photo series (and film) next to the works of Dutch photographer Diana Blok and Secret Garden Foundation.

Exhibition Gay & Muslim, Mooiman Gallery. October 6th - November 26th, 2012, Groningen — Exhibition Gay & Muslim, Mooiman Gallery. October 6th – November 26th, 2012, Groningen

The combination of our series and the series See Thr o ugh Us by Diana Blok (portraits and stories of gay women/men and transsexuals in Turkey) works very well and i am thrilled because i was a fan of this series from the start.

A review in Dagblad van het Noorden, Dutch regional newspaper, on October 8th, 2012:

Review exhibition Gay & Muslim, Dagblad van het Noorden - October 8th, 2012 (click for bigger image) — Review exhibition Gay & Muslim, Dagblad van het Noorden – October 8th, 2012 (click for bigger image)

Gay & Muslim Exhibition
October 6th – November 26th 2012
Mooiman Gallery, Groningen
> website Mooiman Gallery

I Am Gay and Muslim photo series at Pride Photo Award 2012

At last, but not least, there was the Pride Photo Award 2012, for which the I Am Gay and Muslim project was rewarded with a special mention. The Pride Photo Awards focuses on LGBT-issues and gathers a lot of attention on the subject with a exhibition in the Oude Kerk and huge displays throughout the city (on no less than seven locations!).

Exhibition winners Pride Photo Award 2012 at Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam. Middle; the project I Am Gay and Muslim by Chris Belloni and Bram Belloni (Photography). Right; project Moms and gays by Diederick Habermehl. Amsterdam, September - November 2012. — Exhibition winners Pride Photo Award 2012 at Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam. Middle; the project I Am Gay and Muslim by Chris Belloni and Bram Belloni (Photography). Right; project Moms and gays by Diederick Habermehl. Amsterdam, September – November 2012.

Exhibition winners Pride Photo Award 2012 at NDSM Werf, Amsterdam. Right; the project I Am Gay and Muslim by Chris Belloni and Bram Belloni (Photography). Left; project Moms and gays by Diederick Habermehl. Amsterdam, September - November 2012. — Exhibition winners Pride Photo Award 2012 at NDSM Werf, Amsterdam. Right; the project I Am Gay and Muslim by Chris Belloni and Bram Belloni (Photography). Left; project Moms and gays by Diederick Habermehl. Amsterdam, September – November 2012.

I Am Gay and Muslim project, opening exhibition Pride Photo Award 2012. Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, September 28th, 2012. Photo: (c) Wim Salis

Besides exhibition of winners, there was also a side-programme to bring up discussion like Meet & Greets with the makers and the incorporation of the PPA in other events like De Donkere Kamer.

Pride Photo Award Meet & Greet, with makers I Am Gay and Muslim, Chris & Bram Belloni. Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, October 14th, 2012.

Congrats to all winners, who made this year’s PPA one of surprisingly diversity!

Pride Photo Award 2012 Exhibition
September 29th – October 28th 2012
Oude Kerk, Amsterdam
> website Pride Photo Award

read more on the award and see the winners
> on Le Journal de la Photographie – which, btw, also features ours here (with many thanks to Christian Caujolle!)