KORIS Zine Series 008

Writing and Zines

KORIS Zine Series Edition #008

Series of Zines, Edition #008 | English translation available on the back of the page
Page 1
The KORIS #008 zine highlights personal stories of LGBTQI+ individuals in rural and urban Timor-Leste, advocating against discrimination and for the right to live authentically. Through heartfelt narratives, contributors like Marlho, Kris, Ano, Emet, and Nanda share their struggles with family rejection, societal stigma, and violence, alongside moments of resilience and self-empowerment. The zine emphasizes the need for respect, inclusivity, and freedom, rejecting the notion of LGBTQI+ identities as a choice while affirming their shared humanity as God's creations. It closes with a call to stop discrimination and foster understanding toward the community.
KORIS Zine is a self-published collection of stories, collages, illustrations and articles developed by the community that aims to highlight LGBTIQ+ contributions and expressions of identity and community. Previous Zines have included interviews of LGBTIQ+ legends who have contributed to inclusive advocacy efforts in their communities; experiences of queer sex-workers; stories of trans women contributing to their families through the creation of culturally significant textiles ('tais' used for cultural purposes); solidarity for liberation movements within Timor-Leste (against conservative and religious discrimination) and ongoing national struggles like in Palestine; and articles on religious acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people.
Artist

KORIS Koletivu

Timor Leste

KORIS is short for Komunidade Ransu ho Istoria (Community hanging out and telling stories- "Ransu" is the Bahasa Indonesian equivalent of "Nongkrong") and was a name chosen during a Zine workshop in April 2024. KORIS is considered the artistic program of CODIVA (Coalition for Diversity and Action) Foundation, an organisation striving to protect and promote human rights for everyone, specifically focusing on the LGBTIQ+ community in Timor-Leste. 

KORIS Koletivu was born out of a need to tell Timorese LGBTIQ+ communities stories in accessible formats and to use as community advocacy. The KORIS Koletivu aims to creatively communicate LGBTIQ+ stories and issues, and the collective is currently producing a monthly Zine, with a video podcast series also in development (www.youtube.com/@fundasauncodiva). KORIS Zine grew as a form of artistic expression of stories from a range of people within the community, with a special focus on "LGBTIQ+ LEGENDS"- older Timorese queer people- who's stories have rarely been told in the national context. 

KORIS Koletivu is run by CODIVA staff and friends in the community in the capitol, Dili, with the hopes of continuing to collect stories of LGBTIQ+ people in rural areas and from diverse contexts. KORIS makes art by the LGBTIQ+ community, for everyone!

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The copyright for each artwork featured in this exhibition remains with
respective artists unless otherwise specified.