Zak / Zackie Oh

The book “Zak / Zackie Oh” started out in 2016 as a textual and photographic project by journalist Maria Louka and photographer Alexandros Katsis narrating the life experiences of Zak Kostopoulos, a young LGBTQI+ activist. A series of meetings, discussions and interviews with Zak, and their combined creative ferment, led to the creation of a patchwork of words, thoughts and images.

With its uncut scenes of everyday passion and struggle, ruminations on existence, love and major social issues, glitter, humor, disappointments, emotions, hashtags, and spontaneous outbursts of speech, the book feels more like the private diary of person whose unpretentious and deeply political voice exerts huge charm. Its pages document Zak’s everyday experiences, from the introversion of his private life to the captivating extroversion of his alter ego, drag queen Zackie Oh. And Zak’s story also captures a community’s ongoing struggle for equality and respect.

“Its epilogue, however, came to be written quite suddenly and by force on the afternoon of September 21, on Gladstonos Street. First we were numb, but then we decided to gather together the materials we had and publish the book.” Maria Louka and Alexandros Katsis completed the project they had begun with Zak. “To Rodakio” publishing house and Onassis Stegi have come together to publish “Zak / Zackie Oh” in Greek and English, bringing the book out in early June, first at Athens Pride and at select bookstores. Proceeds from the book will be used to support Zak’s family in their legal fight for justice.

“Zacharias finds space to exist in many words and images. You see him on walls, in a child’s drawings in Exarchia, on posters in Gazi, in graffiti slogans in Halandri. He is everywhere. And always will be. Rarefied and free in every corner of the city,” says his brother, Nikos Kostopoulos. Zak’s violent death serves as a tragic reminder that the fight against homophobia and violence has yet to be won. The closer we stand in solidarity, the more we keep talking and debating, thinking and learning, the quicker such expressions of hate will be put in check and – one day – gone for good. From the start, Onassis Stegi has openly supported investigations that might shed light on this unresolved crime, and bring justice. The book “Zak / Zackie Oh” and the film “Faster Than Light” by Kentaro Kumanomido and Thomas Anthony Owen spotlight fearless voices of Athens’ LGBTQI+ community, opening us all up to a diversity that fills us, transforms us, and makes us see reality a little differently.