Cold Cuts magazine is a photo journal exploring intersections of queer culture and Middle Eastern culture around the world. In this episode, founders Mo and Charlie talk to Kate Gordon about the story behind their magazine, and working to create representation for their community.

Produced by Kate Gordon

Music: Kapitol by Aix and Ricci on Creative Commons
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E7 - In Print

Queer Narratives Beirut E7 - In Print - Mohamad Abdouni And Charlie

One of the hardest working women in Beiruti fashion and nightlife, Sasha Elijah is a transgender model, drag artist and club promoter. In episode 8, Sasha speaks to Tanja Van Deer about creating her looks, transitioning as a teenager and her relationship with her city.

Produced by Tanja Van Deer

Music: Passion by Labisch on Creative Commons
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E8 - You Better Werk

Queer Narratives Beirut E8 - You Better Werk - Sasha Elijah

Star of 'Lary Screens' YouTube series, comedian and stylist Lary BS can be found at all the best parties in Beirut. In this episode Lary tells us about how he got into comedy, what it's like being queer in the spotlight, and about an incident with Paddington Bear on Grindr.

Produced by Joy Stacey

Music: Sahara byYuval A on Creative Commons
Image by Didi Kamal

E10 Talking BS

Queer Narratives Beirut E10 - Talking BS - Lary BS

Izdihar Afyouni is an artist and curator captivated by sadomasochism, the body in pain, and biopolitics. In episode 9, Izdihar talks to Joy Stacey about rhizomes, torture, working with blood, and using art to reexamine our bodies.

After recording this episode, Izdihar wrote Joy an amazing open letter about censorship, sexuality and art in the Middle East. Read it at interventionistgod.com/jailhouse-mentality

Produced by Joy Stacey

Music: Gambol (Mystical Haze Remix) by Bottlesmoker on Creative Commons
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E9 Art and Rhizomatters

Queer Narratives Beirut E9 - Art And Rhizomatters - Izdihar Afyouni

In the first Letter to Queer Narratives Beirut, listener Elie sent us his own story about growing up in a religious community in Lebanon's South.

To submit your own Letter to QNB with your personal story, a message to Lebanon's LGBTQI+ community or your thoughts on the podcast series, email your phone recording to queernarrativesbeirut@gmail.com

Music: Supernova by EzaOne on Creative Commons
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E11 - Letters to QNB no.1

Queer Narratives Beirut E11 - Letters To QNB no.1 - Elie

In the second Letter to Queer Narratives Beirut, listener Naomi sent us a message for Lebanon's LGBTQI+ community with her thoughts on facing homophobia and choosing your friends wisely. 

To submit your own Letter to QNB with your personal story, a message to Lebanon's LGBTQI+ community or your thoughts on the podcast series, email your phone recording to queernarrativesbeirut@gmail.com

Music: Sanctuary by Covinos on Creative Commons
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E12 - Letters to QNB no.2 - Naomi

Queer Narratives Beirut E12 - Letters To QNB no.2 - Naomi

In the 4th Letter to Queer Narratives Beirut, Tarachi podcast sent us a message about their new series, produced by queer Iraqi refugees Bilqis and Ishtar.

To send us your own letter to QNB, email your phone recording to queernarrativesbeirut@gmail.com

Music: Away by Covinos on Creative Commons.
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E14 - Letters to QNB no.4 - Tarachi Podcast

Queer Narratives Beirut E14 - Letters To QNB no.4 - Tarachi Podcast

In the third Letter to Queer Narratives Beirut, Queer Arabs podcast send us a message about the importance of queer Arab visibility. Queer Arabs is produced by Alia and Elie.

To send us your own Letter to QNB, email your phone-recordings to queernarrativesbeirut@gmail.com

Music: Prima by Zenaware on Creative Commons
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E13 - Letters to QNB no.3 - Queer Arabs Podcast

Queer Narratives Beirut E13 - Letters To QNB no.3 - Queer Arabs Podcast

In the fifth of our Letters to Queer Narratives Beirut, Saba sent us an amazing conversation with intersex activist Suz Temko, who discusses her experiences as an intersex woman, the pressures on queer people to conform, and how to best support intersex people in Lebanon.

Find out more about Suz and her work at xysuz.com

Send your own Letter to QNB phone recording to queernarrativesbeirut@gmail.com

Music: Superhot by Another Cat on Creative Commons
Illustration by Didi Kamal

E15 - Letters to QNB no5 - Suz ad Saba

Queer Narratives Beirut E15 - Letters To QNB no.5 - Suz And Saba

Queer Narratives Beirut is a podcast about sexual and gender diversity in Lebanon's capital. The podcast is a word of mouth collaboration between multiple producers and individuals living in Beirut, and each person who participated was invited to choose the location of their recording, the language they spoke in, and the way in which they told their story to us.​

This method of story telling has been designed to give control over narratives to the people who participated. It is representative of individuals, not of the entire community, and it is important to recognize that these stories belong to people with the security and confidence needed to represent themselves in this way.

Queer Narratives Beirut stands in support of gender, sexual and bodily rights, intersectional understanding of identities, and equality between individuals. We understand 'queer' to refer to any action or person that questions normative gender and/or sexual roles, and believe that everyone has the right to narrate their own experience.

Queer Narratives Beirut

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