By Khouloud Mahdhaoui

It seems important in the current context of Tunisia, to denounce the lack of individual freedom to live one’s sexuality. This series of photographs was therefore thought to question gender identities and sexual orientations. The aim is to deconstruct the widespread prejudices that rely primarily on heteronormativity as societal norms.

In Tunisia today a person can spend up to three years in prison for having homosexuality. As Tunisian lesbian, so this is an issue closed to my heart, which I wanted to explore through a photography series. It was also essential to increase the visibility of people defining themselves outside the norms imposed by a patriarchal and heterosexist society, both by the Tunisian society and the continent at large. Indeed, the recognition of LGBTQI people in Africa is very limited.

Six people were involved in this project as models. The limited number of participants is not a choice but a result of the fact that most people I contacted could not afford to have their face or body visible without risking repression or censorship, in one way or another.

The fact that homosexuality is punishable by law in Tunisia also justifies shooting indoors for most of the pictures shown here. Each image was taken in Tunis or in the vicinity of the city.

It is very important that the criminalization of homosexuality and heteronormativity imposed upon us be questioned. This is the aim of this series of photographs. LGBTQI people should enjoy the same rights and freedoms as any other citizen. That is why it is essential that this photographic series be distributed as widely as possible.