Translating the "Queer": Subtitling and Taboo Words

Using taboo words is intricately linked with culture specific utterances which reflect the cultural background embedded in each culture. Should there be a need to be transferred from one linguistic system to another, finding cultural equivalents can challenge the translation act. Especially when dealing with subtitling, the existence of parallel channels of information i.e. visual and linguistic (both in source and target language) can pose further difficulties for the subtitlers. The aim of the present paper is the analysis of these challenges and a potential justification of the choices made within a framework of norms, directives and stereotypes. How is this task differentiated when translating for a wider audience via television programs? How much freedom is at hand when translating for a festival dealing itself with a taboo issue such as homosexuality? (International LGBT Film Festival/ Co-organized by Thessaloniki International Film Festival). What is thought to be acceptable and how is this being altered on different occasions?