Manifest Yourself

I didn’t plan to write a new Manifesto. Yet, here it is.

For years, I have lived and worked by a set of principles (my “Manifesto”) that felt good: realistic, positive, easy, and as such very much “me.” These principles were never abstract ideas to me; they were daily practices, ways of showing up in the world, ways of communicating — with myself, with others, and with communities. And yet, the world has changed (turned crazy, really), and I feel the need to respond.

Wars are no longer distant headlines; they unfold live on our screens. Genocidal violence seems to be normalized. Colonial power structures are taking on new, aggressive forms. Fascism is no longer a warning from the past but a visible and very dirty daily reality. Algorithms reward division. Silence is encouraged. Nuance is punished. The list goes on and on.

In this context, I realized something uncomfortable yet unavoidable: My old Manifesto was no longer clear enough. And that’s not because my long-held values were wrong — they still hold — but because the world now demands clearer language, firmer positioning, and definitely more action.

So, this is why I wrote a new manifesto for 2026. Download my new Manifesto here (pdf).

Manifestos Are Helpful Communication Tools

A Manifesto is not a branding exercise. A Manifesto is a communication tool. It says: this is where I stand, this is what I stand for, and this is how I choose to move forward. That applies to every person, community, or organization.

For queer people, manifestos can be extra valuable. When laws, institutions, religions, and media deny our existence or try to sanitize it, stating who we really are becomes an act of resistance. When visibility is dangerous, clarity becomes protection. When confusion is weaponized, intention is our power.

That is why I place this new Manifesto within my Queer Communication series. Because communication is not neutral; it either supports the status quo — or it challenges it. I have always believed that communication should be objective and neutral; these days I can’t hold on to that belief anymore.

What Changed — and What Didn’t

The principles I live by are still the same. But how I express them has shifted.

Joy is no longer just about pleasure or lightness. Joy is resistance. It is choosing life, creativity, and connection in a world that profits from despair.

Love is no longer only tenderness. Love is care. It is solidarity. It is showing up even when it’s uncomfortable, especially when it costs something.

Wisdom is no longer passive observation. Wisdom now requires listening deeply, unlearning quickly, and refusing oversimplification.

Harmony is no longer about avoiding conflict. It is about staying present, holding tension, and refusing the false peace that comes from silence. Harmony is when joy, love and wisdom come together.

My 2026 Manifesto names these things clearly. It does not hide behind soft language. It does not apologize for taking a clear stance.

Why This Matters for Queer Communities

Queer communities have always been early targets of authoritarianism. We disrupt binaries. We question hierarchy. We live visibly outside prescribed roles. We think independently. We are the creatives. That makes us dangerous to systems that rely on control.

At the same time, Queer communities are incredibly skilled at survival. We know how to read rooms. We know how to build chosen family, underground networks, mutual aid, and culture that carries meaning.

But we are also being deliberately divided — by governments and by (social) media platforms.

This Manifesto is my refusal to play along with that division.

I decided to communicate more intentionally from now on. I align words more closely with my acts, actions and activities. I’ll be more clear about what I stand for — and what I will not tolerate, at any cost.

A Manifesto Is a Starting Point

I don’t see a Manifesto (my Manifesto) as a finished document. I use it as a living guidebook. Something I can return to. Something to test myself against reality. Something that evolves as the world does. That makes it such a powerful tool for me, and those who I’ve helped develop their own.

If you are curious about writing your own manifesto — personal, collective, artistic, political, or community-based — I have created a dedicated page on my website that walks through how to approach it thoughtfully and honestly. You’re also very welcome to ask me, so please feel free to get in touch!

Moving Forward

I’m so sorry it had to come to this, but here we are… my new 2026 Manifesto is my response to the world as it is now — not at all the world I wish it were. My Manifesto is extremely deliberate. Sure, it demands more from me, and it also asks more from those who choose to walk alongside me. I never told you it was going to be easy, but together, we can — and should — make a difference!

Queer Communication, for me, is about exactly this: speaking clearly, listening intently, and refusing to disappear. My other posts in the “Queer Communication” category could also be very helpful, and I’m still planning to organize dedicated masterclasses on the subject. If you’re interested: please let me know!