CRIMINAL QUEERNESS
CRIMINAL QUEERNESS FESTIVAL
GLOBAL STORIES FOR GLOBAL IMPACT
ABOUT THE CRIMINAL QUEERNESS FESTIVAL
The Criminal Queerness Festival is an initiative of National Queer Theater that supports the development and production of new plays by international and immigrant theater-makers and playwrights experiencing censorship or criminalization in their countries of origin.
The annual Criminal Queer Festival (CQF) stages international plays that dramatize queerness internationally. Presenting the work of international queer artists alongside activist talks and workshops, CQF aims to uplift the careers of these artists and raise awareness about criminalization around the world.
The 5th Annual Criminal Queerness Festival will return to Lincoln Center in the David Rubenstein Atrium for Pride 2023!
WHY CRIMINAL QUEERNESS?
70 countries still imprison or execute LGBTQ people. Their stories are often lost through censorship and state violence.
The Criminal Queerness Festival provides a stage for artists facing censorship, shining a light on critical stories from across the globe. In order to build a truly global queer community, these writers are inspiring activism and shaping our culture towards the equitable treatment of LGBTQ people in every nation.
PRAISE FOR THE FESTIVAL
"Can't miss...The National Queer Theater is giving a censorship-free voice to four international playwrights whose stories of love, oppression, and injustice shed light on the paucity of civil rights progress made in other parts of the world."
- Thrillist
"Don't skip"
- New York Times
"Brilliant...The work itself will charm the socks off you. Another resounding success by National Queer Theater."
- Hi! Drama
MISSION
To provide a platform and resources to emerging international and immigrant playwrights who are endangered or censored due to their queerness or artistic expression.
VISION
A world where queer artists globally are free from censorship and have a platform to share their art.
