Sofiane (alias Rawel) lives with his family near Marseille. During the weekend, he often gets locked in his room by his parents so no one will see him and bring disgrace to his family. Advised to be patient by social counsellors by the Association le Refuge, he's waiting until his 18th birthday to run away. © Jean-Christophe Husson

Princesses of Sheeba, at night

Jean-Christophe Husson

2017 — Marseille, France

About this series

Princesses of Sheeba, at night, is the first chapter from the photographic project Lotheidoscope, a photographic journey throughout Europe about the Muslim LGBTQ+-community.

This is the story of seven young gays and transgenders (men to women) from the Muslim community in Marseille. Although each story is singular, they share the desire to embrace a crucial experience: together, at night, they reveal their true self to the world, without suffering the verbal and physical abuse they usually face alone.

Some of them wear gender non-conforming looks throughout the day. Others only wear women’s dresses when they are together. They meet in the evening and get ready to go out, defying their fellow Marseille’s inhabitants. Wearing high heels and beautiful dresses, they walk down the street like oriental princesses. Together, they feel stronger and fearless, finally able to live their dream.

While most of them are from Maghreb countries, some grew up in France. These intimate portraits and testimonies aim to break stereotypes often associated with both identities, they open up conversations.

Anisse (alias Anissa) was born in France but considers himself Algerian. When he was eighteen, he left France to find work in Saudi Arabia. As with his Arab friends, he finds it easier to get work there, despite being able to speak English and Arabic. Eventually, he returned to France because he missed his family, who does not talk about his homosexuality. © Jean-Christophe Husson
 
Anisse (alias Anissa) © Jean-Christophe Husson
 
Hamza (alias Mey) was born in Lebanon of a Lebanese mother and Algerian father. In 2014, he moved to France to marry a man he met online; they divorced soon after. Now, Hamza avoids dating men since he tends to attract hyper-masculine, controlling men. He plans to undergo sex reassignment surgery, saying that « his dream is to become a real woman and adopt a child. Then I will be happy. » © Jean-Christophe Husson
 
Omar (alias Mano) was brought up by his grandmother. Five years ago he left Algeria to live with one of his aunts in Marseille until that relationship became difficult. He is now twenty-one years old, and he will earn his bachelor’s degree in June 2018. Mano is still in love with a young man who lives in Algeria. They call each other every day and sometimes meet in Tunisia since his boyfriend doesn’t have a visa to visit France and Mano doesn't want to go back to Algeria, where his family doesn’t accept his homosexuality. © Jean-Christophe Husson
 
Hamza (alias Mey) was born in Lebanon to a Lebanese mother and Algerian father. In 2014, he moved to France to marry a man he met online; they divorced soon after. Now, Hamza avoids dating men since he tends to attract hyper-masculine, controlling men. He plans to undergo sex reassignment surgery, saying that his dream is “to become a real woman and adopt a child. Then I will be happy. » © Jean-Christophe Husson
 
Popia. © Jean-Christophe Husson
 
Sofiane © Jean-Christophe Husson

Photographer: Jean-Christophe Husson
Nationality: French
Based in: Amsterdam
Website : www.jchusson.fr
Instagram: @jchussonphotography

His work lies somewhere in between reality and fiction. « Mostly, I use the photographic medium to confront 
the real world and screenwriting for fiction. Both of these disciplines feed each other constantly. » 
After graduating from Ecole Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, he started his career as graphic designer than 
art director for well-known women’s and fashion magazines such as Elle, Numero, Numero Homme.

« A few years later, I was drawn to the publishing world, and designed books for publishers such as Hazan 
and Calmann Levy. I collaborated with Raymond Depardon on the production of his Paris-Journal photography book. 
That marked a turning point in my career, It was quite an experience! Afterward, you have only one desire: to pick up a camera. » Husson then became the personal assistant to world-renowned acting coach Suzanne Batson and to Juliette Binoche. « It was the best acting and script analysis training ever! A memorable experience! »

Today Jean-Christophe Husson focus on portrait and documentary photography, along with screenwriting, in the pursuit of constant back and forth movement between the two.