Story – Riyadh Khalaf

Q: What d’you think is the biggest stumbling block in the way of better queer representation and visibility?

Riyadh: I think it’s tokenistic representation. I think it’s when brands, international organisations, and NGOs use queer people in a way that’s a box-ticking exercise. I also think that it’s the need to change really old traditional norms – for us to come in, shake it up, and de-sensitise the public eye. So that when they see a non-binary person, a trans person, a gay person, they’re not going to go, “Gasp! Why is that there? Why is this different?” It’s making it feel more natural, normal, whatever.