PEOPLE LIKE US is a participatory photography project exploring AFAB (assigned female at birth) trans and non-binary identities and experience; masculinity, gender dysphoria and gender euphoria, cis expectations and the magic of gender non-conforming bodies, why they are or are not looked at, rituals and individual complexities.
I began this project about 18 months ago with a few friends who make up some of the 10 participants now involved who include Jen Smethurst, Krishna Istha, Sabah Choudhury, Azara Meghie, Felix Lane, Lucy Hutson, Chiron Stamp and Anna Wates, plus I’ll be working with more people in the new year as the project expands.
When I started the project I didn’t know what it would look like like, I just knew what I didn’t want to do which was a series of sombre editorial portraits. It is also very important that the work is collaborative and that the participants have autonomy over their images, they possess them.
Starting with chats over tea and spicy ginger beers, I soon found that this was a very welcome project from the participants and that they trusted me to do it which was affirming and exciting. It came about when I realised that I knew quite a number of AFAB people who identify as non-binary and trans within our community and I felt they weren’t getting as much attention as others perhaps, but more to the point they had something very interesting to say. A friend had started to trial a new name and I was learning about some of their issues and dilemmas. Another friend had come out as non-binary and was literally bouncing about the scene as if they’d been born again, I was learning what it was to really ‘see’ my friends as they took about being ‘seen’ themselves.
“Being visible isn't always possible or safe but being seen for who you truly are is a beautiful thing”. (participant quote)
initial shoots have taken place in the studio and have become a space for continuing the dialogue, both in conversation and through image making.
Binding has been a popular subject due to the day to day issues of dealing with breasts both physically and emotionally. Along with documenting various situations and forms, we have also used humour to play with the absurdity and difficulties in concealing ones chest area.
We have discussed bodies and how they don’t conform to cis expectations and why should they. Some of the participants are on T (testosterone) as hormone therapy , some are not but people often assume they are because apparently AFAB bodies are hair free for example - well this project disproves that one and shows real bodies.
The messiness of gender is very much at the heart of this project, as well as celebrating the magic of gender non-conforming bodies and the humans within.
The images below are a peak into a series of portraits (yet to be revealed) that make up part of the project which searches for a state of gender euphoria and also plays with campness, sexiness and the homoerotic showing the beauty and empowerment of the participants.
This is just a snapshot of the beginning of a long project which will carry on the conversation, work with more people and follow the lives of some of the participants as their identities continue to grow.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and watch this space for more from the project in the new year!