Abdellah Taia is the first openly gay writer and filmmaker from Morocco, a country in which homosexuality is a crime. Taia moved to Paris and publicly declared his sexuality in 2007 during an interview with TelQuel, an independent Moroccan newspaper. Taia has since become a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the Muslim world. His latest film, an adaptation of his 2006 book “L’Armée du Salut” (Salvation Army), describes his experiences growing up in a country where homosexuality is an offense punishable by imprisonment. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Angers Film Festival. In 2010, Taia was awarded the prestigious Prix Flore for young authors for his novel Le Jour du Roi. In September 2022, Taia premiered his theatrical production titled “Comme le Mer, Mon Amour” (Like the Sea, My Love) in Paris.