Queer and non-binary photographers are some of the most undervalued and underappreciated talents in the medium. Although more and more individuals from the community strive to reclaim their rightful place in society, the struggle to be who they are is far from over. They are often discriminated against or silenced by the government and society at every nook and corner. Amid such profound struggles to exist as their true selves, some independent publications work tirelessly to provide a platform for marginalized artists to flourish. One of them is Balam, a contemporary queer photography magazine working independently in Buenos Aires.
The lead image is a screenshot of Balam’s Instagram page.
Latin America’s First Queer Photography Magazine
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary with its latest issue, La Bohemia, Balam was originally the brain-child of Luis Juárez. While he was keen on learning photography in his teens in Honduras, he left the city and the medium for a more stable career. But as it is said, sometimes you leave only to find yourself; a similar experience transpired with Juárez. “In Buenos Aires, I was able to develop freely and start meeting artists and photographers with different points of view from the ones I’d known in Honduras,” he told It’s Nice That platform in an interview. Today, Juárez plays a critical role in Buenos Aires’ art and culture circles. In addition to Balam, he is also the founder of MIGRA, an Art Book Fair in the city, and INFO, an independent Art Photography Fair.
But what sets the queer photography magazine apart is that it does not shy away from being political. Juárez, who founded Balam in 2015, noticed how our world was being dominated by “hetero-cis white content” and institutionalism, leaving no space for those who were different, including dissidents and marginalized. Juárez soon realized this was due to South America’s heteronormative societal structures and a lack of funding for cultural growth. “Balam arose in response to how photography is being fractured, unable to represent and make visible dissident and marginalized communities,” Juárez told AnOther Magazine in an interview. “[I wanted to explore] realities that are outside the norm.” Balam‘s aim, thus, is to “transform, make visible, question and (re)invent critical discourses” in the social, cultural, and political domains. However, they also hope to convey these narratives “from an anti-hegemonic stance and with a poetic effect/affect unusual in traditional photographic practice.”
How Does Balam Work?
The queer photography magazine functions on two different tiers. Their first aim is to highlight the problems and injustices faced by Latin America’s LGBTQ+ community, as well as depict their rich, albeit forgotten, history. The second level is to open conversations around the community to honor everyday experiences while fostering relatability and accessibility.
Each issue is very special as Juárez pushes an open call for artists with a theme in mind. For instance, in the fifth edition, the theme was Metamorpfosis, while in the eighth edition, it was Chosen Families. However, for the latest issue, La Bohemia, Balam‘s objective is to highlight the Indigenous rights movement, which has been a central issue during the voting phase for multiple Latin American countries. Speaking about this edition, Juárez told BJP that the magazine aims to “echo the ruptures, especially of the religious, spiritual, musical, aesthetic, academic, and imaginary boundaries established by colonization, cultural aspects in direct dialogue with the history of photography.”
In addition, the queer photography magazine also hopes to leave behind the idea of ‘fast’ magazines. “Our objective is to generate a kind of photobook magazine and thus be able to give formal value to the work of the photographers in each issue,” Juárez revealed to It’s Nice That platform.
The Uncertain Future
Independent publications often struggle with resources and cash crunch. In Balam‘s case, it’s this and much more. As Argentina welcomed its far-right president, Javier Milei, in December 2023, the marginalized community continued to be suppressed under his regime. Juárez revealed that “actions of censorship” are now being carried out in the cultural spheres due to the circumstances. So far, Balam has survived due to the community’s collective efforts from its allies and friends, who have continually supported the publication. But with the way things are, they are unsure of the tomorrow.
Balam stands as a beacon of hope in the face of hardships and systematic erasure of the LGBTQIA+ community and its visibility. The magazine proves the perseverance of queer photographers, who, despite obstacles, document their true selves and their beliefs. In doing so, they reaffirm their existence and inspire others. As editor Juárez reminds us, the queer photography magazine is “a record of the passing of the identities of the LGBTIQ+ community.” So, Balam is an instrument to harbor change, not just in photography but in any sphere across cultural, societal, and geographical boundaries.
If you want to see the publication, head to Balam’s website.