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Queerland Magazine, Helsinki (2025)

13/09/2025

LGBTQ+ theatre is more than entertainment – it’s a space for resistance, identity, and community. In Helsinki, Helsinki Gay Theatre (HGT ry) has been a cornerstone of q***r stage art since 2007. Without a permanent venue but with unwavering passion, they produce one to two premieres each year, alongside workshops and training that bring the community together. HGT is volunteer-run, amateur-based, and powered by love for the craft and the mission to tell stories that matter.

Their current production is AJANOTTAJA (Translated to English mean “Timekeeper”), a dark comedy written and directed by Juuso Kekkonen, exploring extreme burnout, daily pressures, and the absurdity of life. Through sharp, dark humour, the play reflects on the delicate balance between work, family, and mental health. Kekkonen, known for his monologue “Outo homo” and the variety show “Punch up! - Resistance & Glitter”, first wrote Ajanottaja in 2007 – before realizing he was q***r and before he recognized his own struggles with burnout.

Supporting local LGBTQ+ theatre means supporting the soul of the community. Every ticket you buy, every friend you invite, every post you share helps keep these stories alive. It’s a way of saying: “We are here, our stories matter, and we deserve to be heard.”

If you want to be part of this movement, visit www.hgt.fi or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Go to their shows, buy tickets, share their work, donate, and join organizations that champion q***r art. Supporting LGBTQ+ theatre isn’t just for Pride Month – it’s for all 365 days of the year.
hgt

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10/09/2025

In 1983, Sally Ride made history as the first American woman in space. Decades later, the world learned she was also one of us: a q***r astronaut who never lived her truth openly. Her story echoes her own words: “You can’t be what you can’t see.”

This September, Fotografiska Tallinn looks to the stars with SPACE – A Visual Journey, a groundbreaking exhibition where art and science collide at the edge of the universe. Featuring works by 14 international artists, it poses questions about Earth, space, and our identities: who we are in the face of eternity, and who has the right to dream about the future, the grandeur of space unfolds — asking who we are in this eternal cosmos, and who is allowed to dream of the future.

Two q***r artists stand out for the way they boldly embrace inclusivity. Mackenzie Calle (US), with her series The Gay Space Agency, calls out the American space program’s long history of excluding openly q***r astronauts. Rhiannon Adam (Ireland) said she was honoured to not only make history for Ireland, but also to be visible for the LGBTQ+ community.

*Mackenzie Calle (US), with The Gay Space Agency, reimagines NASA’s history to celebrate q***rness and challenge the exclusion of openly LGBTQ+ astronauts.

* Rhiannon Adam (Ireland), once selected for the dearMoon SpaceX mission, offers a moving meditation on suspended dreams and the urgent need for diverse voices in the space industry.

The exhibition will first be unveiled on Friday, September 12, with a space-themed party as part of Fotografiska Tallinn’s Night Shift, the museum’s late-night program held every Friday, starting at 20:00 in the exhibition hall and continuing from 22:00 in the rooftop restaurant with music and performances. From Saturday, September 13, the exhibition will be open with a general museum ticket.

Because yes, we have always been everywhere: on Earth, in art, in science… and in space too. This exhibition is a celebration of q***r power to imagine futures that don’t yet exist.

More information about the exhibition Fotografiska Tallinn Picture #1 Rhiannon Adam Picture #2 .calle picture #3
Visit Estonia
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09/09/2025

The story of Finnish q***r artist Siri Viljakka is truly inspiring. Yesterday, in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, we learned more about her journey, and we just had to share it here at Q***rland Media.

*Last October, during a trip to the United States, her path took an unexpected turn. What began as a visit to a comics event in Ohio evolved into a decisive moment in New York. There, in a Brooklyn comic book store, she left a few of her sketchbooks. Someone found them, and that discovery eventually caught the attention of none other than the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). *Helsingin Sanomat
Author of the graphic novel Kohti sumua (2022), nominated for the Comic Book Finlandia Award, and named Q***r Artist of the Year by Quaareva ry, Viljakka continues creating from Turku, working on projects that highlight q***r identities- including her upcoming graphic novel on butch identity.

Finnish q***r art has always existed, and today it crosses borders. As an LGBTQ+ community, let’s support our local artists: buy their work, attend their exhibitions, and help their voices reach even further.

Her journey also reminds us that Finnish q***r art has always existed and made its mark, from legendary names like Tom of Finland and Tove Jansson, to contemporary creators such as Max Sarin, Otava Heikkilä, Uolevi (Viima) Aikäs, and of course, Siiri Viljakka.

As an LGBTQ+ community, these stories are not only a source of pride but also a call to action. Supporting local q***r artists-buying their works, attending their exhibitions, and sharing their projects-is how we strengthen each other. Because when we uplift our creators, we amplify our voices and ensure our stories continue to be told.

Picture by Tinksu Wessman

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08/09/2025

Drag Affair: Finland’s Wildest Wedding Tour Hits the Stage

Who needs a traditional wedding when you can have Kiukkupussy and Narri Koira tying the knot drag-style across Finland? That’s exactly what’s happening this autumn as Tampere’s very own kings set sail with their fabulous Drag Affair tour.

Picture a rainbow-drenched wedding gone completely off the rails: vows, veils, farce, cabaret numbers, misunderstandings, and yes… even Shakira. Inspired by Finnish reality hit Unelmahäät (Dream Weddings) and sprinkled with the chaos of the first S*x and the City movie, this show takes “happily ever after” and turns it into a glitter-fueled rollercoaster.

The tour kicks off in Seinäjoki at Rytmikorjaamo, before rolling into Uusikaupunki’s Cultural Centre Cruselli on September 26, where Kiukkupussy and Narri Koira will be joined by three new-wave drag powerhouses: Anafina Slick, Knoxenful, and Will Turneron. From there, the wedding caravan travels north to Oulu’s Pop Up Klonkka, dances east to Joensuu City Theatre, and finally wraps up the chaos with a New Year’s Eve blowout at Tuulensuu Palace in Tampere.

According to Jonas Kuusisto, CEO of production agency Diivavälitys, the reception has been “overwhelmingly positive.” No surprise there — who wouldn’t RSVP yes to a wedding with tax fraud and confetti in equal measure?

Mark your calendars: Drag Affair runs from September through December, proving that in Finland, weddings don’t just last one night — they last an entire season.

Let’s support our local drag artists, because without them, the party’s just a plain reception with bad cake.

Pictures by

.turneron

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08/09/2025

RAINBOW MAGIC IN HÄMEENLINNA: when q***r art becomes ritual

Q***rland Media was present at Rainbow Magic in Hämeenlinna, and let’s be clear: this exhibition is not just art—it’s an open portal to magic, memory, and the unapologetic power of q***rness in cultural history.

The artistic duo Tatu Vuolteenaho and Jani Maunula deliver an experience that goes far beyond contemplation—it’s a collective spell. Tatu’s paintings—his bold self-portraits of Eye-Lee and the striking Q***r Witches—are a visual hymn to dissident spirituality, a connection between identity and magic that transcends borders. Acrylic on canvas, colors that breathe, figures that whisper: q***r is not just existence, it is resistance and reinvention.

Jani’s textiles bring a whole new dimension: fabrics that don’t just decorate but embrace, transform, and create immersive spaces where we literally step into the closet… only to come out stronger, brighter, and q***rer. The installations feel like ritual capsules, where everyday life turns mystical and q***rness becomes celebration.

The strength of Rainbow Magic lies in its central thesis: q***rness as an act of magic, as a performance of freedom, as cultural resistance. It’s not only about what we see, but what it means: a mirror where diversity becomes power and collective storytelling.

Our take is clear: the exhibition brilliantly opens new pathways for q***r art in Finland and beyond. The dialogue between painting and textiles, tradition and innovation, proves that q***r art has never been a margin but an ever-expanding center.

This is a must-see. Rainbow Magic in Hämeenlinna runs until September 21, 2025, already building momentum for future shows, including Ylivieska 2026 as part of the Oulu2026 cultural program.

Q***r art is writing history, and Q***rland Media was there to witness it.

Q***r Artists:

Cover picture: Jani Maunulan

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08/09/2025

Sabrina Carpenter didn’t just perform at the 2025 MTV VMAs—she transformed the stage into a rallying cry for trans rights. Emerging from a manhole drenched in theatrical rain, she was flanked by an electrifying lineup of drag icons—Willam, Symone, Denali, Lexi Love, Laganja Estranja, Honey Balenciaga, Dashaun Wesley, Jonte’ Moaning, and more—those fierce souls from RuPaul’s Drag Race and ballroom royalty. They held up unapologetic signs: “Protect Trans Rights,” “Support Local Drag,” “Dolls, Dolls, Dolls,” “If You Hate You’ll Never Get Laid,” “In Trans We Trust,” and “Love Each Other”—turning choreography into protest.

Her performance of “Tears” was a masterpiece of q***r solidarity—bold, unapologetic, absolutely q***r—and a spotlight moment at the VMAs, now broadcast live on CBS for the first time, reaching a massive audience.

Backstage, Sabrina took home the Moonperson for Best Album (Short n’ Sweet) and used her acceptance to honor “my queens on stage with me tonight,” reminding us all: “This world… can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity… to be part of something that can bring you light… I’m so grateful.”

The energy was electric. As allies and q***r icons starred across the night—Lady Gaga walking away with four trophies including Artist of the Year, Rosé making history with Song of the Year alongside Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande giving love to her therapist and gay people, Mariah Carey earning the Video Vanguard award, Ricky Martin celebrated as Latin Icon, and Alex Warren rising as Best New Artist—the VMAs turned into a vivid tapestry of q***r visibility, resistance and celebration.

This wasn’t just a show. It was a q***r uprising; an unfiltered, unapologetic declaration that drag, trans voices and q***r joy are unstoppable—and that pop has never been wilder, realer, or more needed.

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06/09/2025

Yesterday we had the honor of being part of the press conference for the upcoming Tom of Finland Musical – and trust us, as a Q***r media platform, we simply had to be there.

Back in 2017, when this musical first premiered at the Turku City Theater, the show sold out and received extraordinary reviews. Now, the story of Touko Laaksonen – the man who became Tom of Finland – is coming back to the stage with even higher expectations.

Tom of Finland didn’t just create art. He created a vision of gay men that was bold, unapologetic, hypermasculine, and proud, in a time when repression was the norm. His work shaped q***r aesthetics, gay identity, and even fashion, leaving behind a legacy of empowerment, freedom, and self-acceptance that continues to inspire the LGBTQ+, Q***r, and Gay communities worldwide.

This new production, written by Tuomas Parkkinen with music by Jussi Vahvaselkä and Jori Roosberg, will premiere on September 3, 2026 at Vanaja Hall, Verkatehdas. With Olli Rahkonen as Touko Laaksonen - Tom of Finland, alongside Antti Lang, Natali Lintala, Severi Saarinen, and many more, the stage is set to bring his story to life again – this time with English subtitles for international audiences.

We can’t wait to see what this new chapter brings. Because every time Tom of Finland’s world comes alive, our community feels that same rush of excitement, pride, and anticipation.

Love. Freedom. Q***rness. That’s the spirit of Tom of Finland.

Picture by Tom of Finland Foundation 1982
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05/09/2025

Historic First: Finland Approves Same-S*x Ice Dancing Team

Two young athletes are rewriting Finland’s sports history and sending a powerful message far beyond the ice rink.

Emma Aalto, 19, from Finland, and Millie Colling, 20, from England, are about to become the country’s first same-sex ice dancing duo, after the Finnish skating federation made a groundbreaking rule change earlier this year.

For decades, ice dancing has been strictly defined by gendered roles — man and woman, leader and follower. But Emma and Millie challenged that tradition, requesting to skate together and prompting the federation to update its rulebook. Now, instead of “man” and “woman,” the categories are simply “Skater A” and “Skater B.”

This isn’t just a victory for Emma and Millie — it’s a bold step for equality in sport. By removing gender restrictions, Finland joins Canada in opening the door to more inclusive ice dancing, proving that artistry, athleticism, and teamwork aren’t defined by gender.

For q***r athletes and allies around the world, this moment is bigger than sport. It’s about visibility, breaking barriers, and showing the next generation that the ice belongs to everyone.

***rlandmedia ***rathletes

03/09/2025

A New Chapter in HIV Prevention: The EU Approves a Twice-a-Year Injectable PrEP

Big news for our community: the European Union has just approved a groundbreaking HIV prevention option — a PrEP treatment that only requires two injections per year. The drug, known as lenacapavir and marketed under the name Yeytuo, is the first and only long-acting injectable PrEP approved across all 27 EU countries, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Why is this so important? For years, PrEP meant taking a daily pill — effective, yes, but not always practical for everyone. Now, with just one injection every six months, Yeytuo has the potential to remove barriers and make HIV prevention more accessible and easier to follow.

This milestone is the result of nearly two decades of research by Gilead Sciences, and it’s already being recognized as a game-changer in the fight against HIV. The World Health Organization has also recommended lenacapavir as a new option for HIV prevention.

Beyond Europe, applications are underway in countries like Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, and Peru — signaling that this innovation could soon reach even more communities worldwide. Gilead has also partnered with The Global Fund to make the therapy available to millions of people in low- and middle-income countries once fully approved.

For LGBTQ+ people, who remain disproportionately affected by HIV, this approval represents more than just a medical advancement — it’s a reminder that science and activism continue to open doors to healthier, freer futures.

***rlandmedia ***rnews ***rbalticsnews ***rnordicsnews

02/09/2025

Anna-Stina Treumund: How to Recognise a Le***an?

This September, the Kumu Art Museum in Tallinn opens its doors to one of the most important q***r feminist exhibitions in recent years: Anna-Stina Treumund: How to Recognise a Le***an?

Treumund (1982–2017) was more than an artist—she was a visionary feminist and activist whose work continues to challenge, inspire, and affirm q***r lives today. Through photography and conceptual art, she boldly explored themes of gender, sexuality, self-discovery, and the search for community. She q***red Estonian art history, brought visibility to le***an experience, and gave space to narratives often erased or silenced.

This is the most comprehensive survey of her work to date. It gathers pieces from museums, private collections, and even Treumund’s family archives—many of which have never been exhibited before. Alongside the exhibition, a richly illustrated book featuring critical essays about her art and activism will also be released.

For q***r communities in Helsinki, Tallinn, and beyond, this exhibition is more than art—it’s history, it’s resistance, and it’s belonging. Treumund’s voice resonates as powerfully today as it did in the 2000s, reminding us that representation matters, that visibility saves lives, and that art can be a form of activism.

Where & When:
• Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn Kumu Eesti Kunstimuuseum
• 5th floor, Contemporary Art Gallery
• Open from 5 September 2025 until 11 January 2026

Cover Picture: Anna-Stina Treumund (1982–2017). Drag. 2009. Pigment print. Art Museum of Estonia

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29/08/2025

Sateenkaari-ihmiset tarvitsevat turvallisen median

Olemme aviomieheni Raulin kanssa Virossa nevottelemassa yhteistyöstä eri toimijoiden kanssa.

Eilen tapamisemme virolaisen Vikervaade sateenkaarimedian perustajan.

Keskustelimme yhteistyöstä ja sateenkaarimedian tarpeellisuudesta maissamme.

Suomessa ei ole ollut ikinä kaupallista sateenkaarimediaa. Moni kysyy mihin sitä tarvitaan?

Syitä on monia: tiedon ja yhteisöllisyyden lisääminen, sateenkaariviestiminen maailmalle täältä pohjoisesta, sateenkaariyhteisön representaation moninaistaminen m***a myös turvallisen mediatilan rakentaminen.

Olen juuri lukenut Tampereen pormestarin ja hänen puolisonsa haastattelun, jossa he kertovat parisuhteestaan ja toiveestaan perustaa perhe ja tulla isäksi.

Niin kuin aina kun on kyse homoista, lehtien myös kyseisen lehden kommenttikentät täyttyvät ilkeistä ja homofobisista, vihamielisistäkin kommenteista. Tämä sama on toistunut joka kerta kun itsekin olen ollut haastateltavana työstäni sateenkaariviestinnän ammattilaisena tai yhdessä aviomieheni kanssa.

Tätä viestittelyä ei juuri edes moderoida pois.

Meillä on ollut tämän takia Raulin kanssa pitkään haaveena perustaa media, jossa voimme tuoda esille sateenkaari-ihmisiä ilman jatkuvaa hyökkäystä. Media, jossa lukijat ovat pääosin sateenkaari-ihmisiä ja heidän liittolaisiaan. Media, jossa voimme olla turvassa vihamielisiltä ja homofobisilta ja transfobisilta hyökkäyksiltä. Olla juhlittuja ja kokea se, mitä heterot pitävät itsestäänselvänä.

Nyt se haave on toteutumassa, kun Q***rland Media ottaa ensimmäisiä askeleitaan.

Alla oleva kuva on Q***rland median somepöivityksestä.

Q***rland Magazine

27/08/2025

For decades, sports have been a tough place for LGBTQ+ athletes. Strict gender roles, toxic masculinity, and homophobia created an atmosphere where being openly q***r often felt incompatible with being an athlete. But change is happening—and Finland is one of the countries showing how visibility can break barriers and inspire new generations.

Several Finnish athletes have stepped forward to live their truth publicly, proving that excellence in sports has nothing to do with who you love or how you identify. Olympian Ari-Pekka Liukkonen, triple jumper Senni Salminen, soccer goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela, and cross-country skier Anni Lindroos are just some of the names that have helped pave the way for more LGBTQ+ visibility in sports.

One of the most powerful examples is Janne Puhakka, a former professional hockey player who came out in 2019. Even though he is no longer with us today, his courage left an enduring mark—not only in sports but also as a role model for young people who dream of playing without hiding who they are.

The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Homophobia and criticism still exist. Yet, the victories are louder: hockey teams like Ilves and TPS have played Pride-themed matches wearing rainbow colors, and organizations like HOT ry, founded in Helsinki in 1997, continue to provide safe spaces for LGBTQ+ athletes to compete and thrive.

This visibility matters globally. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, at least 290 openly LGBTQ+ athletes competed, according to Outsports, showing that the movement is growing and that q***r kids everywhere can dream of a future in sports without fear.

The message is simple but powerful: being LGBTQ+ and being an athlete are not contradictions. On the contrary, authenticity is strength. To every young person who wants to step onto a field, a track, or an Olympic stage: your heroes are already showing you that the future of sports is also q***r, inclusive, and proud.

Cover picture by
Athlete

Athletes:
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Queerland Magazine

13/09/2025

10/09/2025

09/09/2025

08/09/2025

08/09/2025

08/09/2025

06/09/2025

05/09/2025

03/09/2025

02/09/2025

29/08/2025

27/08/2025

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