Trans Model Wears Dress Made of Flags Where Being LGBTQ Is Illegal

Dutch fashion designer Mattijs van Bergen and spatial designer Oeri van Woezik are making waves as they presented Valentijn de Hingh, a trans model, wearing a dress made of flags. The dress is meant to challenge and raise awareness among the citizens of Amsterdam that though Amsterdam is a safe haven for queer people, elsewhere in the world, 72 countries in total, this is not the case. The dress was designed in conjunction with EuroPride festivities.

The bodice of the dress is the flag of Amsterdam and the remaining part are the flags of the 72 countries where it is illegal. It’s disconcerting that LGBTQ individuals can be punished by death in the following countries: Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE, parts of Nigeria, parts of Somalia, and parts of Syria and Iraq.

What unique examples have you seen where art is being used to challenge the status quo?

Photo credit: Pieter Henket