Kelma

Kelma (Arabic for 'word') was a French association created in 1997 by the Algerian journalist and anti-racist gay activist Fouad Ziraoui. Its stated purpose was to give visibility to homosexuals of Maghrebi origin and to fight 'the ostracism and isolation they suffer.' The association became known for organizing the weekly 'Black Blanc Beur' (BBB) parties at Les Folies Pigalle in Paris, which provided a rare social space for gay Maghrebi men who faced rejection from their families and neighborhoods as well as discrimination within more mainstream Parisian gay venues. Kelma also engaged in HIV/AIDS prevention work among Maghrebi homosexuals in France. Over time, the association shifted its focus from activism toward the conviviality of its parties, reflecting the preferences of its members and sympathizers, and it maintained a website as the interface for its community activities. It was careful to preserve the anonymity of its members and avoided militant campaigns. Kelma was dissolved in 2002 by Ziraoui, but the weekly BBB party it was linked to was still being held as of 2024. A related online journal, Kelmahgreb, produced by and for Maghrebi gay men, was censored in Morocco.

Kelma was founded in 1997 by Fouad Ziraoui, an Algerian journalist who was both a gay and anti-racist activist. The name means 'word' in Arabic. The association's social purpose was the visibility of homosexuals of Maghrebi origin and the fight against 'the ostracism and isolation they suffer.' It became known through the organization of the 'Black Blanc Beur' (BBB) parties in Paris at Les Folies Pigalle. These parties specifically addressed gay Maghrebi men who did not know where to turn: beur gay men faced not only the distrust of their neighborhoods and families toward homosexuality but also discrimination — based on skin color or appearance — in the more 'classic' Parisian gay nightclubs, experiencing what was described as a 'latent racism expressed in certain gay circles.' Kelma also took part in the fight against AIDS among Maghrebi homosexuals in France. Over time, Kelma refocused its activities to meet the needs of its members and sympathizers, who were more interested in the conviviality of the party than in activism. The interactivity of the association's website served as the interface for the community's activities. Kelma also took care to preserve the anonymity of its members and thus avoided engaging in militant campaigns. Kelmahgreb was a parallel online journal produced by Maghrebi gay men, for the gays of the Maghreb or those interested in gay life; the site was subject to censorship in Morocco. Kelma was dissolved in 2002 by Ziraoui, but the weekly BBB party to which it was linked was still being held as of 2024.

• 2024

  The weekly Black Blanc Beur (BBB) party linked to Kelma is still being held.

• 2002

  Kelma is dissolved by its founder Fouad Ziraoui.

• 1997

  Kelma is founded by journalist Fouad Ziraoui as a 'gay and ethnic' association.

A 'gay and ethnic' community association providing visibility, social space, and HIV prevention for homosexuals of Maghrebi origin in France, with an emphasis on conviviality and member anonymity.

• Black Blanc Beur (BBB) parties

  Weekly parties at Les Folies Pigalle in Paris aimed at gay Maghrebi men.

• Kelmahgreb online journal

  A parallel online journal produced by Maghrebi gay men; censored in Morocco.

1. 1Kelma — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kelma — Wikidatawikidata.org