The exhibition ‘Out of the closet’, which consists of a collection of stories about the experiences of LGBTI persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina and objects they associate with 'coming out', was opened at the Museum of Literature & Performing Arts in Sarajevo on Sunday.
The exhibition, which will be open until Saturday, October 17, is organized by the Sarajevo Open Center (SOC), an independent organization that advocates full respect for human rights and social inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people and women.
The date was chosen to mark Coming Out Day.
According to the program coordinator at SOC, Amina Imamovic, 23 objects and stories that members of the LGBT community in Bosnia link to their experience of ‘coming out’ in the public are displayed. It is not easy for LGBTI people to come out and it is a never-ending process. In a society unaware of the existence of LGBTI people, they have to come out every time they meet a new person, change their environment, etc. Every time it is an emotional experience which requires a lot of energy, strength and risk that the relationship with people they love will end, or that their lives, safety or loved ones will be endangered because of it.
Visitors at the exhibition will have the opportunity to read stories of LGBTI persons and see some of their belongings which they link to coming out to their parents, friends, work colleagues or other important people in their lives.
