Mr Gay Syria
In 2016, for the first time, there was a contest to find Mr Gay Syria, a candidate to represent the country in the annual Mr Gay World contest, which aims to progress LGBT rights globally through a chosen candidate.
With the Syrian conflict is in its fifth year (at time of shooting), those forced to flee Syria have long since formed diaspora communities around the Middle East and further afield. Istanbul has become one of the main centres of Syrian culture and life in exile, and is also home to a growing community of LGBTQ Syrians standing up and asserting their identities and their rights.
Hussein Sabat was the winner of five brave gay Syrian men that competed in the Mr Gay Syria contest, held in Istanbul, Turkey. This story follows Hussein and the four other competitors in the community, from the competition in Istanbul to Malta for Mr Gay World 2016.
This isn't just the story of the search for Mr Gay Syria, it's the story of a movement of individuals forming a community and empowering themselves and each other in exile. This is a story about resilience in the face of fear, and unity amid increasing polarisation and sectarianism.
Hussein was resettled by the IOM/UNHCR to France in mid 2018, after several years of waiting in Turkey. He is learning French and hoping to bring his daughter and ex-wife to live with him and his partner.
*Images shot between June 2015 to August 2018.
Both Syrian opposition (left) and government (right) flags are held together at Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride in 2014. Syrian journalists and human rights advocate Mahmoud Hassino decided to have both flags alongside the LGBT rainbow flag to say that homophobia exists from everyone, promoting the LGBTI community to unite.
During a meeting about the Mr Gay Syria contest, Hussein (left) sits with Mr Gay Syria judges Ayman (centre left) and Mahmoud (centre right) and contestant Omar (red T Shirt) and his boyfriend Nader (far right).
Applicants for Mr Gay Syria are interviewed by judges Mahmoud Hassino and Ayman, late into the night on the coastline of Istanbul, Turkey.
Judges questions for potential contestants in Mr Gay Syria 2016
Hussein, the winner of Mr Gay Syria 2016 being interviewed prior to the contest, by two judges Mahmoud Hassino (left) and Ayman (right), in central Istanbul, Turkey.
The five Syrian contestants during the rehearsals for Mr Gay Syria 2016, in Istanbul, Turkey
Mahmoud Hassino, organiser of Mr Gay Syria, accompanies Hussein, the contest winner, to a barber shop in Istanbul for an attempted new look.
Four of the five contestants of Mr Gay Syria backstage during the contest in Istanbul, Turkey. Isam (left), Wissam (centre) and Omar (centre right) are all still living in Istanbul. William (far right) smuggled himself to Greece after the contest and is currently stuck in Athens.
Wissam, one of the contestants, during his stage performance for Mr Gay Syria 2016, held in Istanbul, Turkey
Hussein (centre left) is hugged by friends after being announced as the winner, Mr Gay Syria 2016
Hussein (centre right) is celebrated as the winner of Mr Gay Syria 2016
Hussein working at his barber shop near Istanbul's Taksim square, Turkey.
Mr Gay Syria 2016, Hussein. Istanbul, Turkey
Hussein Sabat, Mr Gay Syria 2016 on the roof of a building in Istanbul's business district, Levent. In some areas of Syria under ISIS control, he would be thrown to his death like other men accused of being homosexual, from such a building.
Wissam practises his runway walk with fellow contestants William (L) and Hussein (C) watch
Wissam performs a dance in high heels on the catwalk at the Mr Gay Syria contest. 14th February 2016, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hussein comforts his boyfriend on a balcony after he overdosed on hashish. Istanbul, Turkey
Hussein (R) receives a final makeover before heading to Malta for the Mr Gay World competition.
Contestant William during his on stage performance at the Mr Gay Syria contest, in Istanbul, Turkey
Rehearsing his lines for his video message and campaign for Mr Gay World 2016, Hussein (R) seeks support from close friend Wissam (L)
Hussein's birthday celebrated in Taksim, Istanbul. He was refused a Schengen visa on the same day (the day before supposedly departing), and won't be able to attend the Mr Gay World 2016 competition in Malta.
Salah (L), and Mr Gay Syria judges Samer (C) and Mahmoud (R) prepare banners for Istanbul Pride 2015, Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hussein Sabat, winner and title holder of Mr Gay Syria 2016, stands in the doorway of a gay friendly cafe in Mis Sokak, near Taksim square, as Turkish riot police pass by to prevent the LGBTI+ Pride march from taking place. The march was banned citing security concerns. Istanbul, Turkey, 26th June 2016
Hussein, Mr Gay Syria 2016, at home in Istanbul, Turkey
Nader (Lower L) proposed to Mr Gay Syria contestant Omar (Lower R) during Omar's birthday party in Istanbul, Turkey. Omar accepted and hopes to marry Nader when he is resettled to Norway, where Nader is currently awaiting him.
Hussein (C) dances with his boyfriend at his birthday party, at a gay friendly cafe in central Istanbul, Turkey.
LGBT Syrians hold placards before the start of Istanbul LGBT Pride 2015, which was banned minutes before it was supposed to begin.
Hussein (C) and Mahmoud (R) during his birthday party in Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey.
Mahmoud Hassino (L) representing Syria at Mr Gay World 2016, with Mr Gay Chile (C) and Mr Gay Germany (R), during a tour of Malta, the host country of the contest.
Waiting for the start of the 2016 Pride (which was subsequently banned by local authorities) Hussein kisses his boyfriend, Ahmed (centre front) whilst friend and fellow activist Ayman makes placards in Arabic in a gay friendly cafe near Mis sokak.
Mahmoud (far left), representing Hussein, the Mr Gay Syria title holder, in Malta's Mr Gay World 2016. 22 contestants from around the world looked out at Valetta, Malta's capital city during a tour of the nations islands.
Mahmoud Hassino (1 from right) represents Syria at the 2016 Mr Gay World competition, held in Malta.
During the rehearsal of the contest, Egyptian judge Souma (hand shown) gives advice to contestants Omar (red) and Wissam (R)
Wissam dances for Hussein (C), Mr Gay Syria 2016, for his birthday in Istanbul, Turkey.
Mahmoud Hassino (sitting centre) who is representing Mr Gay Syria at the Mr Gay World competition's sports challenge event on a beach in Malta. Mr Gay Syria, Hussein Sabat wasn't given a Schengen visa to participate in the event, so Mahmoud, who has political asylum in Germany, represented both Hussein and Syria instead.
Mr Gay Syria judges, Ayman (L) and Mahmoud Hassino (R) between interviewing candidates for the contest in Istanbul, Turkey.
The sash of Mr Gay Syria in a hotel in Malta. Hussein, the Syrian contestant was refused a Schengen visa to compete at the event, so the organiser, Mahmoud Hassino represented both Hussein and Syria instead.
Hussein (right) sitting in his new home in southern France, with his boyfriend Ahmad (left). After being resettled together, the two are learning French, and planning a future together in the country.
Hussein (left) and his partner Ahmad (right) on the metro en route to their new home from the city centre in southern France.
Hussein walks down the stairs in his building, on his way out to buy food at the supermarket. He is beginning to learn French, and settling in to life in a new country just a week after being resettled by the UNHCR/IOM.
Hussein and his partner Ahmad in southern France, where they now call home.