Social constraints and expectations of gender behavior lead daily human life. The Western idea of the gender binary dominates world views and obscures the real spectrum. Genders exist as manifold as people in this world and yet people are raised to become unattainable prototypes of femininity and masculinity. From boys with long hair to women in executive positions to the simple existence of non-binary and trans* individuals – we are all born into a game that cannot be won. A person’s individual gender identity does not inherently condition if they can achieve their aims; external barriers of gender definitions restrain our ways. Gender is irrelevant. Is gender irrelevant? How can something socially fabricated shape the individual and the collective to such an extent? How is it sustained; how does it evolve? Do we break gender into pieces only to rebuild it?

This year, Queer Festival Heidelberg is again opening its call for its annual exhibition. We welcome submissions from all over the world. Queer Festival Heidelberg is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 in Heidelberg, Germany. It is Germanys first ever queer festival. Professional and amateur photographers are invited to submit a solo or group project. Projects may contain 5-20 photos and must have the contests title Breaking Gender Stereotypes as a central theme. The photos must creatively display facets of constructing, deconstructing and disrupting conventions of gender. Judging criteria are originality, composition, expression of theme and personal expression. The winners projects/works will be shown in a public exhibition during this years Queer Festival Heidelberg in May 2020 as well as in a timeless digital version of the exhibition on https://queer-festival.de. Queer Festival Heidelberg is also currently working on potentially showing the exhibition at further European queer festivals.

Juror information

• F. Busch (media artist, photographer and university teacher)
• D. Ćubelić (head of anti-discrimination and diversity management, Office of Equal Opportunities Heidelberg) 
• M. Emmerich (queer linguist / lgbttiq coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunities Heidelberg)
• D. Hauser (founder of Queer Festival Heidelberg) 
• J. Mahla (dance dramaturg, Dance Theatre Heidelberg) 
• M. J. V. Müller (founder of Queer Festival Heidelberg / festival curator and curator of Kulturhaus Karlstorbahnhof) 
• T. Panizzi (art historian)