When Love Is Forbidden at the City Lab Göttingen: Making Queer Stories Visible
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When Love Is Forbidden: Photographic Evidence of Queer Life Realities
On Friday, October 9, 2026, the evening at the City Lab Göttingen combines the compelling photo exhibition Where Love Is Illegal with a discussion about the situation of queer refugees in Germany. Amnesty International presents portraits and stories of individuals whose lives are marked by discrimination, persecution, and the struggle for visibility as part of the Queer Cultural Days Göttingen.
Photography as Evidence of Courage and Self-Assertion
The internationally exhibited work of photographer Robin Hammond documents personal stories of queer people worldwide. The photographic portraits make individual life paths visible and provide a concrete space for experiences of exclusion, violence, survival, and self-determination. In the focused examination of the works, documentary photography, humanitarian engagement, and an art of listening meet.
The atmosphere of the exhibition thrives on the immediate closeness of the images. Faces, body postures, and gazes emerge from the photographic space and demand an aesthetic experience that goes beyond mere observation. The installation opens the view on societal power dynamics and the strength of queer communities who assert their dignity and beauty despite hate and persecution.
Discussion about Queer Refugees in Germany
Surrounded by photographs, Kristin Pelzer speaks about her work with queer refugees. As a psychological psychotherapist, she has been working in psychological-psychiatric health care for refugees since 2012. Since 2022, she has been leading the PLUS for Refugees area at PLUS Rhein-Neckar e. V., a specialized counseling center for queer individuals.
The focus is on structural barriers in the German and European asylum systems, psychosocial stressors, and political action fields. At the same time, the discussion highlights encounters, learning processes, and the encouraging aspects of work that connects counseling, human rights work, and social responsibility.
Cultural Education and Human Rights
The event demonstrates how exhibitions can contribute to cultural education. Photographic images are not viewed in isolation but are placed in dialogue with biographical experiences, stories of flight, and political frameworks. The curation connects a global perspective with specific questions of coexistence in Germany.
This creates an art experience that informs, touches, and stimulates personal reflection. The event is open to all interested parties and invites participants to experience photography as a form of testimony and as a spark for social change.
Conclusion: An Evening That Creates Visibility
Visitors can expect a compelling encounter with documentary photography, personal life stories, and an expert discussion about queer refugees. Free admission allows everyone the opportunity to engage with the images and the political questions. Anyone wishing to connect human rights, contemporary photography, and cultural education should not miss this art experience at the City Lab Göttingen.
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