Trans*Americans

Transgender people begin to face challenges early in life. When a person discovers that they belong in a different body, that they are actually someone of the opposite gender with which they were born, roadblocks are formed. Rejection from families and friends leaves transgender youth especially at risk for homelessness and more likely to engage in behaviors that can have a negative impact on one’s life. My mission is to use photography to reveal the humanity, courage and strength of people in the Trans* Community.

For transgender individuals, the time before, during and after physical transformation comes with many challenges. Even after they have made their transition and discovered more comfort in their self- expression and identity, transgender individuals still experience alarmingly high rates of violence, assault, abuse, and discrimination. According to the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime, it is estimated that 50% of transgender individuals are sexually abused or assaulted at some point in their lives.

My goal is to chisel through these statistics and show the humanity behind them. Trans* individuals go through a unique process of self-realization, but they are regular people who face the same challenges, fears, and ambitions as cisgender individuals. Still, there is disconnect in society when it comes to empathizing with trans* people.

With guidance and assistance I am receiving from Pride Centers, I will visit Trans* people living in the North-East United States. Subjects are photographed in their homes, where making the environmental portraits will be done in a place where the subjects are most comfortable and at ease with their surroundings. The environmental portraits that I create will become an exhibit, both virtual and physical.