It was last year in a documentary series, where we found great footage of the proud lgbtqia+ people that walked before us – marching for themselves just as much as they were marching for us. We saw two people who were holding a sign that said everything. Everything we needed at this moment and everything everyone should ever know. WE ARE EVERYWHERE.

Just this February, we had the first ever gay kiss sneaked into the broadcast of a Singaporean news channel, while it is still officially forbidden to report about lgbtqia+ people – as is in many more regions of this world we live in. And we live. We live everywhere and we are diverse as can be. We just wished society wouldn’t get scared of us but get excited. Infinite potential if we could live our authentic lives to the fullest.

While we know today that it is not every queer persons responsibility to be openly queer in every context they live in – safety first – coming out is still one of the most powerful statements that any lgbtqia+ person can make because it takes away the shame and the fears we were taught.

Being out or keeping it confidential, we are here. Seen or overlooked. We are gay grandparents, nonbinary doctors, lesbian students, asexual colleagues, queer friends, you name it. Because WE ARE EVERYWHERE.

Indeed Harvey, everywhere. E – VE – RY – WHERE. Oh, and also we are very smart and sexy. Except if you wish not to be, then you aren’t of course. Because you are everything – everywhere.

This year, Queer Festival Heidelberg is again opening its call for the annual exhibition. We welcome submissions from all over the world. Queer Festival Heidelberg is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 in Heidelberg, Germany. Professional and amateur photographers are invited to submit a solo or group project. Projects may contain 10-15 photos and must have the contests title „WE ARE EVERYWHERE“ as a central theme. Judging criteria are originality, composition, expression of theme and personal expression. The winners projects/works will be shown in different exhibitions and locations during the festival month of May 2022 in the city of Heidelberg, as well as in a timeless digital version of the exhibition on www.queer-festival.de. Queer Festival Heidelberg is also currently working on potentially showing the exhibition at further European queer festivals.