Ghislain Pascal

NAME: Ghislain Pascal
PLATFORM & USERNAME: Insta – @queer_art_photography
CENSORSHIP: Account Ban

What reason was given for your ban?

It goes against our Community Guidelines on adult sexual solicitation.

Why do you think your post(s) was censored?

Because Instagram censor any gay content.

Were you able to appeal and what was the response?

Yes – the first time we got it back with an apology saying it has been taken down my mistake (coincidentally after an article appeared in the Evening Standard), and then two weeks later it was removed again. We’ve appealed and they say they stand by their decision. We have appealed again and have written to Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri and launched a campaign INSTAGRAM BRING BACK BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! to get it reactivated.

What effect has your experience of censorship had on you?

“It censors our BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! programme to support queer and gay photographers, by my gallery The Little Black Gallery, that represent 65 photographers from more than 30 countries – including China, India, Iran, Poland, Russia and Turkey – where gay rights are repressed and gay lives under constant threat. Our programme includes an online art platform, exhibitions, education, and publishing. See boysboysboys.org

Instagram generates about 30% of our income so this has a significant effect.”

What’s one thing you want people to know about this topic?

That it is ridiculous to censor art.