Uplifting and Creating Space for Black Trans & Non-Binary Folk

Uplifting and Creating Space for the Trans and non-binary community

Pictured: Khris Goins, He, Him, His

It brings me great joy to announce that the Trans Visibility photo project will continue in 2022. The Trans Visibility project has helped spread awareness and provide space for the Trans and non-binary community. It brought families, friends, chosen families, and new connections to and within the community. The success of the Trans Visibility Gallery in 2021 allowed us to raise $6,000 in donations to help fund the project as well as provide a donation of $725.16 to one of the participants. Photographing 27 individuals was no easy task and took a lot of planning, funding (mostly from personal donors like you), and stamina, but I’m ready for more.

The feeling of standing in a room filled with Trans and non-binary portraits is something that is very hard to put into words. The continued pushback against Trans and non-binary rights in our society shows me the importance of a project such as this.

Image captured from the Trans Visibility Gallery at Wild Goose Creative in 2021.

This past week I spoke with Khris U. Goins the Founder and President of Black Transmen of Ohio (BTMO) on the phone and we chatted about the importance of being seen and heard as a Trans person.

The Trans Visibility project provided space for the Trans and non-binary community. With the continuation of this project, I decided that I’d like to kick this off by focusing specifically on photographing the Black Trans and non-binary community. As Khris wrote to me later about what it means to be visible, “I am a black Husband, entrepreneUr, Man, fAther, americaN, That happens to be Trans.”

This Black History Month it’s important to remember that these celebrations of the Black community can’t just be confined to February. I celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community year-round, not just in June (that’s for sure). If we want to enact meaningful change, we have to acknowledge, center, and celebrate the Black community 365, but while we work towards that, maybe more ears and hopefully more hearts will open this month in 2022, and if that’s the case and we can help out more now, I want to maximize my impact if I can.

We fear what we don’t understand, and I will continue as a photographer to try and figure out how I can help my LGBTQIA+ community. There are still some pieces I need to iron out such as funding, finding resources, etc. However, I don’t see slowing down as an option, when there is so much need.

Pictured: Caleb Goins Robinson/Mikayla Denise All pronouns

This Black History Month it’s important to remember that these celebrations of the Black community can’t just be confined to February. I celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community year-round, not just in June (that’s for sure). If we want to enact meaningful change, we have to acknowledge, center, and celebrate the Black community 365, but while we work towards that, maybe more ears and hopefully more hearts will open this month in 2022, and if that’s the case and we can help out more now, I want to maximize my impact if I can.

Please contact me if you identify as Trans and/or non-binary and would like to be featured or if you have any resources that might help the continuation of the Trans Visibility Project.

I appreciate you.

Cheers,

Emma