“queer archive-cum-party”

That’s one way Olivia Laing describes Joshua Mardell and Adam Nathaniel Furman’s Queer Spaces in the introduction. In my opinion, no other phrase can better summarize the stories included in this atlas. Same way cum can have a bitter or sweet taste, or so I’ve been told, the stories in this book can either cause a bitter or sad feeling or be sweet and uplifting. Meanwhile, others are more of a lesson on queer space history. All of them, however, give a preview of how queer people, over the years, have been creating spaces where they can feel comfortable enough to be themselves and express who they really are.

Queer Spaces, with its color-changing, shiny (queer?) cover, is a collection of a broad and diverse variety of LGBTQIA+ places and stories, divided into domestic, communal, and public. Its goal is not to tell us how to design spaces for queer people, nor is it an individual view on why queer spaces matter. One can consider it more as a selection of different queer spaces around the world, told through the eyes of each contributor. From the palaces of Ludwig II in Germany to a repurposed theater space (Theatron) in Colombia. From public places such as the “gay cruising circuit” Caminito Verde to a simple personal process of metamorphosis during a train journey in Spain. All these stories demonstrate, simply put, resilience. It is through these stories that one understands the importance of queer spaces and gets a view into the different ways queer spaces have been created throughout time. Together with the book’s cover that changes colors depending on the light, these stories illustrate queer people’s ability to adapt and to queer, yassify if you wish, the spaces they occupy, either temporarily or permanently, into an external expression of their queerness. Creating spaces that society deemed us, as queer people, unworthy of having.

Some no longer exist, like the Centro Cultural Guanuca in Nicaragua, which closed in 2021 due to “the current political climate of state repression against social movements and civil society organisations.” Others went through or are going through hardship, like Hotel Gondolín in Buenos Aires (Argentina), which, earlier this year, was the victim of a transphobic attack. Others, though, fortunately, are still going strong.

But the negative experiences some people in the LGBTQIA+ community suffer don’t always come from those that aren’t part of it. The story of the Black Lesbian and Gay Center in England reminds us that even within the LGBTQIA+ community, there can still be racism happening. How can we, on one side, demand equal treatment while, on the other side, treat people who are also part of our community as lesser? From the outside of the community and from within, there is still work to be done for those who are still being marginalized.

One could only hope that one day, we as queer people no longer need a space just so we can feel safe and welcome. Because society finally understands that we are all worthy of safe environments where we can express ourselves freely without judgment or criticism. That all spaces are for everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, or race.

Don’t get me wrong, though. Queer spaces will and should always exist. Because these spaces are where some queer people find support from others when their biological families don’t accept them for who they are. These spaces serve as places for activism and debate. They also serve as places where queer people can explore their identities and get to know the culture in a safe and welcoming environment. But in the future, they shouldn’t be the only places for queer people to feel safe and welcome. They should, instead, be places where we can celebrate our queerness. Celebrate being able to go anywhere without being scared of our safety.

This book is not intended only for (interior) architects, urbanists, or those involved in the creation of spaces. It’s a book that everyone should get their hands on. At least to get an idea of the diversity of queer places that exist or have existed. To get an idea of the different ways queer people have thrived and survived throughout the years in places where, many times, they weren’t welcomed. This book is far from the complete picture of the queer spaces that exist out there. Hopefully, though, it does serve as a catalyst to inspire more people to start keeping better track of all these spaces and inspire a wave of change to protect them and promote the creation of more. Because, in case you didn’t know, queer people are everywhere. We are here, we are there. And here and there, we shall remain. Never stopping to create spaces to support each other, celebrate each other, and letting our voices be heard loud and clear.

Queer Spaces: An Atlas of LGBTQIA+ Places and Stories was edited by Joshua Mardell and Adam Nathaniel Furman and published by RIBA.