Queer Algerian Siblings : Nesma (left, Pronouns : she) and Anys (right, Pronouns : he)

Shot in Paris, France

2017

Nesma (left): Even though I’ve become more aware of and comfortable with these two components of my identity, I’m still doubting myself and my validity as a queer North African woman. This is mostly due of the lack of knowledge and experience I have gained so far regarding queerness and Africanness, and of course the last remains of wanting to be “normal” compared to heteronormative standards. The best way for me to overcome these obstacles is to immerse myself in queer and diverse communities as much as I can. There, I can finally identify to others, discover new ideas that speak to me, and push myself to move forward.

Anys (right): Still, right now I must admit that I’m in a personal struggle between my african and my queer identity, and I have to make them merge together. In fact, the internalized homophobia from which I suffered makes me unable to say the truth about me being gay to my old friends and family (even the closest friends I have known since before I came out)[...] Even my gay friends can’t seem to be able to help me with this self censorship issue because, as french people, they find it hard to understand the complexity of evolving in an arab muslim country as gay.