Celebrating Diversity and Promoting Health: The #StopHIVTogether Campaign
In an inspiring new initiative featuring an all Latinx / Hispanic cast of trans women and queer males is here! This groundbreaking campaign, entirely in Spanish, highlights the critical importance of knowing one's HIV status and urges individuals to order free HIV self-test kits through a user-friendly portal available in both Spanish and English. Participants can order up to two kits, which are delivered discreetly to any address they provide, ensuring ease and accessibility for all.
Celebrating Queer Leadership: We Create Space LGBTQ+ Awards and Gala
The world around us has painted a very narrow picture of what a leader can look like, one that doesn’t recognise that so much of what Queer people go through as a result of coming to terms with their identities sets them up with great leadership qualities. We’re compassionate, self-aware, courageous and innovative. We’ve often had to learn the hard way that to live a fulfilling life we must be authentically ourselves.
Virtual Communities: How Queer Artists Use Digital Platforms
Queer artists are redefining the art scene by using digital platforms to create, share, and market their work in dazzling new ways. These platforms are not just showcases of vibrant artistic expressions; they are virtual havens of inclusivity and creativity.
Queer Pastels of Sicily: Magió's Artistic Vision for an Inclusive Cultural Tapestry
Magió's illustrations invite viewers into a "cute & queer world," a utopian vision where every individual is celebrated for who they are, free from societal expectations and constraints. This world is one where the joy of queer life is not just recognized but exalted, showing the potential for a society that embraces diversity in all its forms.
Emolsa: the Superpower of Both
Emolsa Haasacha is a New York City based Ugandan fashionista/stylist, artist and model. Born and bred in Uganda, a developing country at odds with gender fluidity and where gender expressions is considered an anomaly. A boiling desire to break free from all society’s stereotypes was the foundation for his quest to championing change and visibility in his community.
Amanda Lepore: Illuminating Glamour and Resilience
"The happiest day of my life was when I had my reassignment surgery, becoming the woman I was born to be," she shares.
The memoir, though challenging to write, provides a profound insight into Amanda's resilience and the transformative power of embracing one's true self.
Threads of Change: Emerie Udiahgebi's Fashion Revolution in Lagos
Emerie’s past collections have often drawn from a rich array of inspirations, weaving narratives that challenge and transcend conventional gender identities. One such collection imagined its muse as both regal and predatory, embodying the duality of visibility and vulnerability that characterises the queer experience in Nigeria. These inspirations are not just artistic choices but are deeply rooted in the lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community—each design a narrative of defiance, resilience, and beauty.
Aisho Nakajima: The Unapologetic Queer Artistry Redefining Tokyo's Scene
In the heart of Tokyo, a city where fashion, culture, and tradition intermingle in a captivating tapestry, there emerges a luminous figure who refuses to be confined by boundaries.
Aisho Nakajima, a 26-year-old artist, stands at the intersection of vibrant self-expression, embracing queerness, and redefining Tokyo's creative landscape.
I will take you on a journey into Aisho's world, where makeup, fashion, visual arts, and music converge to create a vision of artistry that is wholly and unapologetically his own.
Beyond Boundaries: Beltran's Bold Dance of Identity
In the ever-evolving landscape of queer culture, there exists a performer who defies the traditional confines of gender norms with an audacious blend of artistry and activism. Born in Argentina and currently captivating audiences in Barcelona, Spain, Beltran stands as a beacon of self-expression and inclusivity. Through his work, both online and off, Beltran has become a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, using his platform to spotlight issues of diversity and acceptance. His activism extends beyond the digital domain, making tangible impacts through various initiatives and serving as a spokesperson for causes close to his heart.
“Love Is Life Force”: A Conversation with ALOK
ALOK is “constantly becoming.” That’s what the trailblazing multihyphenate says when asked who they are.
“It feels less honest to say who I am and more accurate to say what I’m doing. And what I’m doing is: trying.”
Capturing Queer Brilliance: A Journey through the Lens of Abhishek Yadav
In the vibrant landscape of North India, where tradition dances with modernity, emerges Abhishek Yadav — a queer photographer, who describes himself as: “[a] contemporary man of India. Sketching, curating, designing, and narrating editorials which are potent to ethno contemporary India”. In short, Abhi is on a mission to redefine beauty and expression.
Pussy Pitstop: Kuntessa's Bold Journey into DIY Pop
Kuntessa, an electrifying presence in East London's music scene, brings her distinctive blend of DIY pop from the picturesque landscapes of Italy to the bustling urbanity of the Thames. Her debut EP, "Pussy Pitstop," is a kaleidoscope of sound that deftly navigates the realms of punk, R&B, and bubblegum pop, wrapped in a package of erotic themes and camp, tongue-in-cheek humor. Her music, known for its unforgettable melodies and vivid storytelling, draws listeners into a world where the lines between satire and sincerity blur, inviting them into the depths of her imaginative universe.
Redefining Fashion with Unapologetic Queer Joy and Activism
Frank Betancort es todo un estado de ánimo, un prisma deslumbrante de alegría queer y delicadeza de la moda, proveniente de las soleadas y animadas costas de Lanzarote en las Islas Canarias. Ha estado incendiando las pasarelas desde Milán/Paris hasta Zúrich y Ciudad de México, no solo con su impresionante apariencia sino también con una expresión valiente de su fluidez de género que es tan refrescante como la brisa del mar. Imagínatelo: un camaleón lingüístico, que habla cuatro idiomas con fluidez y que hace conexiones más profundas que la última puntada de un vestido de alta costura, al mismo tiempo que encarna la esencia de un alma antigua con un toque moderno.
Frank Betancort is an entire mood, a dazzling prism of queer joy and fashion finesse, hailing from the sunny, spirited shores of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. They've been setting the runways ablaze from Milan/ Paris to Zurich to Mexico City, not just with their killer looks but with a fearless expression of their gender fluidity that’s as refreshing as a sea breeze. Picture them: a linguistic chameleon, fluent in four languages, making connections deeper than the last stitch on a haute couture gown, all while embodying the essence of an old soul with a modern twist.
HANABI The K
Hanabi is a standout figure in the Parisian arts scene, seamlessly blending dance, fashion, and music into a unique expression of creativity. Known for their voguing roots, Hanabi’s journey began with a photoshoot opportunity on La Croisette in Cannes. Despite initial rejections for being "too short" or "too different," their persistence paid off when they joined the House of Ladurée, where they honed their voguing skills and found their voice.
Marina: Delineando Nuevos Horizontes en el Drag y el Transformismo
En el vibrante espectro de grises del arte contemporáneo, ciertas estrellas brillan con una luz tan peculiar que capturan la atención no solo de les conocedores, sino también de aquelles que apenas rozan el universo en el que resplandecen. Marina, finalista de la segunda temporada de Drag Race España, es una de estas estrellas, cuyo viaje desde los primeros destellos de fascinación por tacones y pelucas en su infancia, hasta convertirse en una fuerza indomable en el mundo del drag, nos invita a una odisea de autodescubrimiento, expresión y arte sin fronteras.
In the vibrant spectrum of contemporary art's grays, certain stars shine with such a peculiar light that they capture the attention not only of connoisseurs but also of those who barely brush against the universe in which they shine. Marina, a finalist from the second season of Drag Race España, is one of these stars, whose journey from the first flashes of fascination with heels and wigs in her childhood to becoming an indomitable force in the world of drag invites us on an odyssey of self-discovery, expression, and boundless art.
Radiant Resilience: Queer Excellence Amidst Chaos
The last several years have been, for lack of character allowance, fuckedt.
Yet with all of the devastation, isolation, death, grief, and information overload we’ve experienced as a single humanity and as queer humans – there have been several linings of silver, gold, and even glamor.
Our eyes are open. Our hearts are gaping. We are learning to hold grief and joy together simultaneously.
These collective experiences have allowed for healing, growth, and increased self-awareness. It has allowed for action from those who were previously immobilized. It has allowed for little and big moments of joy, during long periods of despair. It has shaped how, and for what, we celebrate. Our collective and individual experiences are embedded in the art we create.
Lupe Guerra García: A Dance to the Rhythm of Freedom
Lupe Guerra García dances between two worlds: the vibrant Panama that saw her birth and the eclectic Barcelona that embraces her as one its own. A fashion designer, dancer, and multidisciplinary artist, Lupe weaves her story with threads of identity, challenges —overcome and yet to be faced— and an unwavering commitment to her Panamanian roots and culture.
DENIM FANTASY snapped by Pedro Quintana
DENIM FANTASY snapped by Pedro Quintana. Check out the gallery of images.
Arpía Debut Collexion
Arpía, fashion brand from the minds of Nicolás + Felipa, debuted their collexion at IAMICONIQA.
THE SCENE captured by Joyce V. Newrzella
The scene at IAMICONIQA 5 captured by Joyce V. Newrzella. Check out the gallery of images here.