The best defence is a queer counter-attack

How to fight back against moral panic in Europe

Round table

Whilst Europe burns, reactionary right-wingers continue to stir up moral panic at the expense of queer people. From ‘therians’ being brandished in Spain to discredit trans people, to children’s drag readings being turned into proof of the Apocalypse; from Algerian boxer Imane Khelif being handed over to the global pack of gender police, to Greek ‘Family Pride’ events staged as musty, outdated anti-Pride rallies: the reactionary right never misses an opportunity to stir up moral panic, and things are heating up for us!

In the face of this offensive, queer journalists and writers are investigating, challenging misinformation and reframing the debates in an attempt to halt the machine. With this panel, we will dissect the modus operandi and rhetoric of the European right, whilst exploring the responses being deployed.

Anastasia Vaitsopoulou

Travelling specially from Greece, Anastasia is a journalist, documentary producer and deputy editor-in-chief at MEGA News, one of Greece’s leading television channels. Her work focuses on human rights, queer struggles, gender, migration, forced displacement and climate justice, from an eco-transfeminist perspective. Her documentary Transistence was screened at the Athens International Film Festival.

Anas Daif

Anas Daif is a journalist, poet and author. He is notably the writer behind And One Day I Became Arab and the podcast At the Intersection. His work explores the concept of ‘Queerab’ identity, encompassing queerness, decoloniality, spirituality and Arabness.

Deva Mar Escobedo

Having travelled specially from Spain, Deva Mar Escobedo is a journalist, a Scorpio, and works for the independent media outlet Pikara Magazine. Having previously worked at elDiario.es and El Salto, she covers feminism, queer movements, the sexual and reproductive rights of trans people, and the climate crisis.