The Utrecht-based collective Queer in Wonderland highlights the groups within the community that are the least heard. At What You See Festival, they are organizing a club night full of Latin queer joy. It all started in 2019. Irene Cassarini, Anne Chris van Doesburg and Luuk van de Klundert discovered that although there were gay events in Utrecht (like PANN), they couldn’t quite find what they were looking for. They wanted more colour and greater diversity. So they formed Queer in Wonderland, with the intention of organising evenings with more understanding for a different type of queer and trans crowd. ‘We had to go to Amsterdam or Rotterdam for nights like this,’ says Arsalan, who’s been involved in Queer in Wonderland for two years. ‘The collective works from a trans-feminist perspective,’ he continues. ‘This is a feminist movement that focuses on the emancipation of both cisgender and transgender women, transgender men, intersex people and anyone else. We want to raise awareness of groups that aren’t given much attention. When you think about it, only cis gay men are truly emancipated. Transpeople of colour are by no means fully emancipated, for example. We’re here to highlight the groups within the queer community that tend to go unnoticed, but face the most discrimination. That’s how we differ from other gay event organisers.’ Arsalan mainly concentrates on programming Queer in Wonderland-parties at EKKO. ‘But we also organise events jointly with organisations like Utrecht Ballroom Scene, the Centraal Museum and RAUM. These might include sets with comedians and drag artists, or we sometimes arrange panel discussions and workshops. In terms of music, we look close to home to see which artists we enjoy. It’s very varied; we often programme queer musicians and DJs, and we organise evenings with Surinamese hits, funk, house, techno, whatever.’ The aim of the collective is clear: to provide a podium for queer artists and to organise safe, inclusive events where everyone feels welcome. ‘That’s why our evenings include house rules, explaining to visitors that they’re in a safe space,’ says Thomas. At Queer in Wonderland, his particular focus is developing a visual identity. ‘Nobody is marginalised at our events,’ he continues. ‘At regular gay evenings, men often wander around with bare chests. That creates a specific vibe, which excludes non-male bodies. Queer in Wonderland aims to be a place where everyone feels free to be whoever they want to be.’ From all over A door host welcomes visitors to the events and briefly explains what they should expect. Anyone who breaks the rules is refused entry. People from the collective mingle with the crowd as ‘floor-angels’ to ensure a pleasant, safe atmosphere. Arsalan: ‘We want to create a world, a Wonderland, where the regular rules imposed in day-to-day life don’t apply. I’m talking about the hetero norms; how you have to behave or look to avoid being verbally or sexually intimidated. You can totally disregard norms like these at our events.’ Thomas: ‘But our Wonderland isn’t only about safety and acceptance. We’ve already moved on from this: we’re here to celebrate the queer community.’ The club night at the What You See Festival is being jointly organised with the Latinx-collective PERRX, which also aspires to safety and fun on the dance floor. It’s a perfect partnership for Queer in Wonderland. Arsalan: ‘We try to get cool sounds from all over for our programming, stuff that you don’t hear at other events. The queer community extends across national borders so we think it’s logical to work with organisations like PERRX, for example.’ The collectives will join forces for the What You See Festival, to create an eclectic club evening packed with reggaeton, dembow, cumbia, Brazilian funk and more. Self-expression Arsalan acknowledges that the cultural landscape is becoming more aware of the existence of the queer community. ‘Podia are finally starting to understand how important and attractive it is, for example in terms of the potential for self-expression. More events are now being organised to provide greater opportunities for this.’ Thomas: ‘Nightlife is often a formative phase in people’s lives; it certainly was in mine. I want to give this back to young people at the start of their journey to discover who they are. It’s so important that they have a podium that allows them to experiment with their talents and identity. But also a place where they can experience a community spirit. This is a mission without end!’ PERXX in Wonderland, 16 november, EKKO. Tickets via whatyouseefestival.nl.