How Berlin's Arab queers are building their community

"Adira" is an Arabic slang term used in Levantine queer culture to describe someone with a strong presence — someone powerful and accomplished. It is also the name of a Berlin-based collective that curates events and club nights celebrating the diversity of queer Arab* culture. The asterisk signals the inclusion of non-Arab ethnic minorities and people with diverse identities and roots in Southwest Asia and North Africa. Among the collective's events is the ADIRA Drag Festival , which celebrated its third edition in Berlin in late October. This year's theme, "Who's Your Diva?!