"I [want] to express my sincere regret for having performed under a government that continues to violate fundamental human rights. I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government."
"a guarantee that I could be openly out as a lesbian on stage and perform gay material"
"could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued"
Jessica Kirson performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, an event tied to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 cultural initiatives. Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia, punishable in some cases by death, and LGBTQ+ topics are censored under Sharia Law, which criminalises transgender expression as "cross-dressing." Comedians at the festival were reportedly asked to sign agreements avoiding jokes at the kingdom's expense. Kirson sought and received a guarantee that she could be openly out on stage and perform gay material. Kirson later expressed deep regret for performing under a government that violates fundamental human rights and apologised to those hurt by her participation.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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