Zoe Terakes Takes to Instagram After Talk to Me Banned in Kuwait
Writer and actor Zoe Terakes has spoken out on Instagram since the news that the Australian horror film Talk to Me was banned in Kuwait over the inclusion of Terakes, who identifies as nonbinary transmasculine.
Stating that they were "wondering how to respond to this" and "whether it deserves the dignity of a response", Terakes goes on to explain, "If there are queer or trans themes or scenes in your film, it's probably not gonna make it to the Gulf".
In an article from The Hollywood Reporter, journalist Alex Ritman states that "banning a film because of the gender identity of the one of the cast — which isn't at all referenced in the movie — is believed to be a new development and could represent the start of worrying trend going forward when it comes to LGBTQ talent."
In Terakes' Instagram caption, they write, "I'm not a theme. I'm a person", and go on to say, "Eliminating trans actors on screens will not eliminate trans people".
Talk To Me broke some box office records just last week, and the film is receiving high praise from audiences and critics alike, so the news that release has been pulled for those in Kuwait means the country will miss out on a piece of the pie.
