People Like Us - Statement 2024
I have grappled over the years with whether or not to inform viewers that the participants are AFAB (assigned female at birth), as to include this detail adheres to binary concepts, it locates participants in something assigned to them rather than necessarily chosen, and whose business is it anyway. It varies considerably of course, but we are socialised differently and have various experiences depending on our perceived gender or sex, so although I don’t think it should matter, it does in today’s society. It is also an important part of many of the participants’ identities and journeys, with even those who preferred to not have this acknowledged initially, becoming more relaxed about it the further they stepped into their authentic genders.
When we began the project in 2017 there wasn’t much representation for this demographic and my own archive was certainly lacking, so it felt important to focus on the trans-masc, AFAB non-binary and GNC folk around me at the time. This has changed considerably over recent years, however there is a trend to certain body types and narratives. People Like Us’ ethos has always been to find a broad spectrum of gender-diverse folk, with different body shapes, race, age, disability and backgrounds. It is also really important that participants are portrayed in a positive light which celebrates and centres the vibrancy of their personalities and the joy of being queer. Rather than focus on the common themes of the difficult stuff, which is still there, but is not everything, my commitment was to create fresh images that show people from our community in a more optimistic and encouraging light than those seen in previous standards of representation. In fact when I began the project all I knew was that I did not want to add to the many sombre, melancholic, depressing depictions of this subject.
People Like Us authenticates the power of photography; how it can make things happen, activate and facilitate, which has always been the most exciting element of the artform to me. As you will discover reading some of the participants’ journal entries, the photoshoots provided a space for them to play with and explore their identities, try on new characteristics, different parts of themselves or simply be and feel good in the moment, making images which reflected how they felt inside.
In the context of the current culture war over trans identities, where gains in visibility and awareness made over recent years have come at a price, with anti-trans legislation and misinformation resulting in restrictions to basic rights, fear and confusion, it is important that there are as many authentic positive portrayals and voices with lived experience documented. I hope this will lead to wider acceptance in society and crucially to show our trans and non-binary youth, not only that there are others like them, that they exist and are valid, they can live happy, fulfilling lives and can actually thrive. Although visibility isn’t possible or safe or even desirable for everyone, we hope that our photobook can help more people see themselves or others and take something from that.
This project is representative of the people around me, who I’m connected to in the UK, it is not definitive. There are countless other stories and experiences, and we hope for many more books exploring ever evolving identities that transcend gender binaries.
People Like Us hopes for more positive representation, more access to rights and freedoms, and for many more people to live authentically, queerly and joyfully.