Queer Unlimited

Cultural Celebration & Identity Reclamation

Jun 19, 2025

17:00

-

22:00

Tilla Tec

Sliding scale starting at €5 and education events are free, if you do not have means to purchase a ticket please email us.
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We warmly invite you to Queer Unlimited an inspiring evening dedicated to the voices, talents, and resilience of queer refugees, artists, and organizers. This special gathering takes place on the forth day of the first Refugee Welcome Week in the Netherlands. It is initiated by Sajad Salmanpour, founder of Queer Work and researcher, in close collaboration with the community and Refugee Academy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Together, we aim to shine a powerful light on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ refugees through storytelling, creative expression, and collective care. Join us for a vibrant celebration of art, identity, and solidarity that reaches across borders.

17:00-22:00 | Queer Market: Art, Food & Community Support and connect with queer refugee creatives
Meet and support queer artists, creators, and makers from refugee backgrounds. Browse original artwork, enjoy food, and get a fresh haircut from a queer newcomer! Featuring:
Aydin Azizov (he/him)
a citizen of the world who grew up in Baku, Azerbaijan, but spent his summers in Ganja, the second biggest city of the country, and despite being under Soviet influence, he managed to travel extensively in his early years. Speaking 5 languages from English and Turkish to Russian, Dutch and of course Azeri, Aziziov sees the world through the prism of polyglot, asylum seeker, politician and queer refugee and above all a human who loves people, animals, food, music, culture and revolutionary art. Growing up in a society where lgbtq community is often subjected to marginalisation and stigma, Azizov’s art depicts the balance between love for the beauty of his own culture and the struggle coming with the painful experiences of a mentality he grew up in. Aydin is the founder of Queer Kitchen, a monthly gathering where queer people come together toneat and meet At tillatec event, he will showcase some of his artwork—and serve his signature vegan soup, made with love and care.
Parsa (he/him)
I’m a newcomer from Iran to the Netherlands and a hairdresser with about a year and a half of experience cutting hair for both men and women. I’ll be at the event offering advice, styling, or haircuts.
Yohannes Biru (he/him)
I am originally from Ethiopia and have been living in the Netherlands for the past year and a half. My art primarily explores themes of gay love and physical intimacy. I first began drawing these subjects after being inspired by messages I received on dating apps. I’m also part of the organizing team for the LIMBO collective workshops for queer refugees a space that has been deeply meaningful to me and has given me the confidence to share my drawings with others.
M. Wael Qarablli (he/him)
I’m a Syrian artist. Most of my drawings explore themes like multiple personalities or other dimensions, and they often carry many meanings. I don’t like to limit interpretation—I leave the drawing open and free. Everyone sees something different, shaped by their own personality and experiences.
Mohammed Aref (he/him)
Palestinian artist, Mohammed says, there’s the maker, the tool and what is made, I can chose one of them to be, this is how art becomes to life in my world. As human is blind of itself, there’s the light that lightens its vision, in the vision I see the light unfolding in darkness.
Karl Emerick Anushka (he/him)
A portrait photographer born in the United States who has spent most of his life outside the country. His work explores themes of identity, visibility, and belonging, shaped by years of moving between cultures and always feeling like an outsider. He creates studio portraits—of others and of himself—that explore queer identity, transformation, and presence. Using dramatic lighting, bold color, and theatrical elements, his work blends intimacy with performance. Rooted in a commitment to queer visibility, his images create space for people who are often unseen and convey pride and power without losing vulnerability.
Saeed Zamzam(he/him
A multidisciplinary designer, scenographer, and visual artist based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He seamlessly integrates various artistic disciplines, creating immersive spatial experiences, compelling narratives, and transformative visual storytelling. With over a decade of experience, Saeed has worked across theatre, film, fine arts, branding, and art therapy research, exploring themes of freedom, identity, and human emotion. His innovative One-Line Concept represents the unbroken journey of life, reflecting interconnected experiences through a continuous stroke of artistic expression.
Yazan Atassi
Yaz is a queer Syrian artist whose artistic expression was initially challenged by societal gender norms and later by civil war. Arriving in the Netherlands marked a pivotal moment, as he passionately re-engaged with art after 20 years away, determined to reclaim his story. His current practice is a compelling fusion of joyful childhood memories and the powerful resonance of untold traumas.
DJ Melqart
From Lebanon, starting the night dancing to an electrifying DJ set of new-wave Oriental beats by DJ Melqart, bringing rhythm, joy, and movement to our collective celebration.
DJ PISCES (she/her)
PISCES – born and raised in Amsterdam, brings an irresistible energy to the DJ booth that gets everyone moving. With a mix of ghetto beats, breaks, bouncey rhythms, trance vibes, and sexy vocals, PISCES creates an atmosphere that is .both intense and seductively danceable. Her sets are an ode to underground club culture, where identity, authenticity, and emotional release take center stage. Expect fiery rhythms, unexpected twists, and vocals that captivate.
17:00-19:00 | Panel Talk: Voices of Queer Refugees
• Alaaddin Ammar (they/them) • Angel Spiders (they/them) • Bahnam (he/him) • Mini Maxwell (they/them) • Nila Fouladi (they/them) • Sabina (they/them) •
Mini Maxwell (they/them) Founder of Queer Landing Mini Maxwell are a multidisciplinary artist and activist who is from, lives, and works in Amsterdam. They are fascinated with human bodies and are drawn to the mediums of photography, performance, film and fashion. Their work is personal and political and addresses social issues with a focus on the LGBTQIAP+ community. Their medium of choice often changes, but their focus remains on the human.
Alaaddin Ammar (they/them) Alaaddin brings lived experience into every part of their work. After spending three years in Dutch asylum centers (AZCs) facing unsafe conditions, they turned their personal story into a source of strength helping other queer refugee artists find stability, self-expression, and community. They are dedicated to creating safer spaces where queer refugees can be brave, be seen, and belong. Currently, Alaaddin is co-organizing Queer Unlimited and curating spaces of joy, resistance, and healing through queer refugee-led events that blend techno, performance, and art. Their work is a continuous celebration of queer refugee lives resilient, expressive, and unapologetically free.
Bahnam (he/him) – Originally from Iran, he is the director of AZAD NGO and owner of Health Corner in Amsterdam. AZAD focuses specifically on supporting LGBTQIA+ refugees who speak Farsi, including individuals from Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, parts of Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan. He was also one of the organizers of the Iranian Boat at the Canal Pride in Amsterdam.
Angel Spiders (they/them) is a dynamic performer, club kid, and co-founder of Apoqalypse, Tilburg’s iconic queer party series. Their performances blend acrobatics, sensuality, and unapologetic self expression. As a performer, Angel lights up spaces with bold acts that celebrate queerness, individuality, and the freedom to be fully seen.
Sabina (they/them) is a community worker, artist, and initiator of Viva La Vulva, a festival that uses art to challenge stigma and celebrate body acceptance. Growing up in Azerbaijan, where judgment and silence often surrounded the body, Sabina experienced firsthand how deeply shame can shape self-image. With her work Sabina tries to create spaces for conversations around gender, identity, and body positivity. Through vulva art and casting sessions, Sabina works toward a world where everyone can live without body shame or apology.
Nila Fouladi (they/them) I'm Nila, a refugee from Iran. I’m a dreamer, still on a journey and not yet at a point where I can fully call myself queer. Maybe when we label ourselves, we stop feeling the need to evolve. I am still becoming. I write, and sometimes I perform. Every month on a Wednesday at Vrankrijk, I host screenings of independent films from faraway places, followed by open discussions with the audience.)
Sajad Salmanpour is a sociologist, researcher, and community organizer based in Amsterdam, originally from Iran. He holds a research master’s in social sciences from VU Amsterdam, where his thesis focused on cultural transformation in Iranian society. Since 2022, he has worked at the Refugee Academy and the VICI group, coordinating projects like Limbo, which explores the uncertain status and future aspirations of refugees. In 2023, he founded Queer Work, an empowerment-based initiative supporting LGBTQIA+ refugees through coaching, skills training, and inclusive career development. His work bridges academic research with lived experience, centering care, autonomy, and resilience. In 2024, he was named one of the 25 Most Inspiring Newcomers in the Netherlands and co-authored De Vrije Vogels van Amsterdam, a tribute to the city’s free spirits.