The story of queer people in Georgia, on the south-eastern edge of Europe, is one of remarkable tenacity and a spirit embodied by Mariam who, in 2019, was one of the founders of Tbilisi Pride. Their first ‘March for Dignity’ was banned five days before the event and yet over subsequent years, the organisers persisted and the event grew both in size and significance. That all changed in 2023 when police stood back as a far-right anti-LGBTQIA+ mob stormed and destroyed the event.
Less than 18 months later and the decimation of democracy in Georgia led to the protests that we continue to see today. But what is often missed from the reportage and coverage of these protests is a profile of some of the key activists involved: they are young people, often young queer people, often young queer women. Young queer women at the forefront of democratic struggle in the heart of the future of Europe.
Despite the challenges, the queer community continues to gather and to meet to provide support, kinship and space to be themselves. Tbilisi’s drag scene, although underground, is thriving.
The story of these inspirational young people and their demands for dignity will be the focus of Mariam’s Pride: Out Loud! Her talk and Q&A will be followed by an exclusive performance by Levau, a Tbilisi drag artist in their first performance outside Georgia.