Out and in Love: A Global Representation of Gay and Lesbian Committed Couples
Seeing ourselves in photographs builds awareness and familiarity. I would travel the globe to make photos of gay and lesbian couples and their families. The portraits would validate these relationships as part of our human family.
I would like to create images that I never saw growing up. Seeing photographs of family cultivates a sense of belonging. Not seeing depictions of gay and lesbian couples and their families causes feelings of isolation, peculiarity, or abnormal existence and reinforces the notion that these relationships are unacceptable.
Images have the power to educate and to help end bias. My hope is to create a traveling exhibit/website that would be shared in schools. On assignment around the world, I would interview and make portraits of loving families that celebrate our differences as well as the values common to all loving relationships. There are gay and lesbian couples of every race and in every culture. A global representation of same-sex couples would serve to affirm an inclusive and expansive vision of family life today.
Since we are the first generation of gay and lesbian couples to choose to live without fear and to be open about our sexual identity, these photos would serve to bear witness. My goals are to express the beauty of love, combined with a cultural awareness of place, and to use these portraits and the stories they tell to create social change. Providing a global perspective of multi-cultural, same-gender loving families would put a face on and give voice to these committed, loving couples. Similar to the classic exhibit “ The Family if Man” this assignment would show our similarities and our differences. To my knowledge there is not a book, exhibit or video like the assignment I am envisioning. Four years ago, I had the opportunity to be one of the main photographers at The Gay Games in Chicago and this put me in touch with gay and lesbian people from all over the world. I would use these contacts and the use of the Internet to connect with interested subjects. I would seek out culturally significant locations in which to photograph these couples. This assignment would share an emerging story of the freedom to love.
28 Comments
You have my sincere vote ... yes, as opposed to the vote above ...
All my best wishes.
I love this. What an encouraging idea. Thank you for realizing this deep need and bringing it to the table.
I am sincere. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If a dream is shared, should it not receive a vote? If you love only those who love you, what reward will you get? I believe all are deserving and ask nothing in return.
This is a really important idea and project. Best of luck.
This is a great idea Betty. I support it completely. This is one of the last fronteirs for civil rights.
Happy Anniversary honey. Hope you get 1000s of votes. :) xoxoBek
Bless you!!! This is an absolutely vital project - Great idea & Best of luck - you have my "PIC" - please check out my dream of furthering peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. Thanks!!
Love seeing a bit of queerness in amongst these self important do gooders. You got my vote.
I love this, good for you for making this your dream, you have my vote
This idea is rad! I pic'd it. Mine is all about exposing a fatal conflict in the Congo. Return the vote?
A good awareness and undderstanding idea. Voted for you. Feel free to return the favor and vote for my project on Zimbabwe.
I wish you had added your idea earlier so that you would have a better chance - but who knows, there is still time.
Good Luck!
Great message, great project. Good luck!
Good luck with this, I look forward to seeing the completed project!
All the best with this civil rights project .. just do it anyway!
We need more visual representation. Good luck.
This is such a beautiful project idea. I hope it makes a difference in the world. Obama's signing of the UN Declaration for Gay Rights will hopefully be the beginning of a great change. You have my vote. Good luck!!
One more vote for this great project - good luck, Betty! Louise
Good luck. Please look at my ideas. Thanks.
Very powerful project. You would be more than welcome here in Massachusetts. Voted.
Check out my project on innovation and technology as change for the developing world and my portfolio here: http://maclellanimages.com/blog1/galleries/
Best of luck with your amazing project Betty.
You have my vote, If you get the chance, check out my dream "From Australia With Love" and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for it!
Thanks.
-Adam
Great assignment. I'd like to show this project in our school gallery.
To shown that (minus the homophobia) our lives are like everyone else's. Work that can be shown in galleries, public spaces, on the web and print media to inform, celebrate, and acknowledge the lives and love of same-sex couples and their families is timely and needed.
You've got my vote.
This is an incredible project.
Really important issue, and a great approach.
I believe in the Great Commandment of Jesus and I believe that means love everyone as yourself. You have my vote. Good luck with your dream.