Spectrum
LGBTIQ-identified people around the world face various social pressures, whether it be a fight against legislation for marriage or the free reign to live as themselves. This project will document this range of experiences worldwide.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed, queer-identified people inhabit every corner of the world all the while facing various social pressures to either conform or live freely. Listed below are some examples of this range:
Japan: Japanese culture views unmarried people as social outcasts, including those who are queer. Therefore, many queer magazines offer placement for marriage ads to find partners of a different sex who would be more like a best friend to help keep up appearances yet still help create a family.
Senegal: Nine men were arrested in Senegal for eight years over "indecent conduct and unnatural acts" because queer acts are illegal there. They were also considered part of a criminal group when they truly belonged to an association to fight HIV and AIDS. Because of this oppression, many queers are fleeing the country and those who do stay live socially marginalized.
Samoa: Fa’afafine are often considered a third gender or like "like women" within Samoan culture. Full acceptance of this identity with society is debatable, but these boys are raised as girls, whether by inclination of the kid or by need of the family, and perform duties both attributed to women and men, all the while remaining useful and hardworking members of society.
Holland: Amsterdam is often considered the queer mecca of Europe and features the world's first monument to honor persecuted queers. Beyond that, Holland as a whole grants same sex marriage and adoption rights.
These examples are just a tip of the iceberg of queer identities and issues experienced by people worldwide. Because minorities get pigeonholed into limited boundaries, I hope "Spectrum" would expand people's minds and conceptions of what it means to be queer in the our current world. At the same time, I hope that queer people seeing this will understand that they are not alone, no matter where they are and how they identify.
In the end, I want to transform these stories into a photobook and an interactive website containing all the stories. The book would also contain hand-written stories by the subjects explaining who they are in their society so they can have control over their representation as well. Plus, the website will have multimedia aspects, including video and audio.
80 Comments
Japan in High School,New Zealand in College,not to mention Idaho,New York,or Key West.I know Traveling the world is what you really want to do in life.I expereience these places through your pictures,websites,and the postcard you send us.I pray you win this because it definately a dream come true.
wonderful idea, i voted for you, please check out mine, and return the vote, good luck!
I hope you get it. You definitely deserve it.
Ryan! Such a great writer, photographer, and activist. I have high hopes for you. I can't wait for you dream to come true. -mary beth
You are going to be absolutley amazing... what am I saying? YOU ALREADY ARE AMAZING! Show the world... you are going to go places. I have totaly faith in you.
- Melissa
what a great project! good luck!
Ryan has the strength and the humanity needed to present a true picture of people's experiences everywhere, whether they are familiar stories or from unheard of lands I know he will do this with the grace and love it requires. I believe in you Ryan!
Eva P.
I'm intrigued by this idea.
I moved back to London in August 2008 from Manhattan and so I cannot partake. I hope that you get to shoot this project at some point in your career if not as a result of this competition.
Good hunting to you.
Paul Treacy
http://photohumourist.com
Good cross-section of countries, good luck. I'm voting for you. Feel free to return the favor and vote for my project to document political upheaval, land seizures and rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
I think this project sounds amazing. I would love to see it realized. If you need more "models" feel free to message me. I'd be happy to help out if I were what you needed. [email protected]
hope you win Ryan! This sounds like a fantastic idea.
A wonderful vision. If you would, please vote for mine too. Maybe one of us may win!
Ryan is going to all extremes to win this contest. I think his project is very interesting. Good luck!
Way to go, Ryan. I really admire you for at least trying to bring attention to these very crucial and important issues. Good luck with everything!
-MirAngel
Fantastic concept! Good luck!
Great idea. Go Heels.
Ryan, you totally deserve this and I hope you win! Good luck!
Thanks for your vote. I voted for you!
yay! i voted.
I voted too
Awesome vision! I voted for you!
Ryan I learned of your project through Ian Palmquist. It is a great Project and I hope you get the assignment.
Best of Luck, Alex Prada
Ryan, you are SOOOOOO talented! You got this! Love from your #1 fan :)
Voted for ya! Good Luck!!!!!
Good luck Ryan!!
This sounds amazing! Good luck!
sounds like a REALLY sweet project!
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
Ryan has a great Project that should be well respected and voted for! He get my VOTE !!
you got this man!
Inspiring and important, especially given recent politics. Sending you luck!
Good Luck Ryan...i hope u get it...ps thats a great project idea!
Go Ryan!!! Yaay!!
This sounds amazing. GO RYAN!!!!
Ryan-- I want to see this, win!
go ryan!!!
Good luck Ryan!
-Other Ryan
Good luck; hope you win!!!
Best of luck to you Ryan. You will leave your mark on the world and help to make it a better place. It is my hope that your work will lead to better understanding and increased tolerance.
Good Luck!
I'm a friend of Taylor's and saw your deal on his FB. Best of luck, I've got my friends voting for you too Ryan!!!!
awesome proposal!
I am a friend of TB also... best of luck hope to see you out there some where
voted for you! i think this project sounds like a really great idea.
Best of luck.
Ryan, if this contest is worth a damn, they'll choose you're idea, boy! You got a really great idea here! Good luck, man! And come around more! :) You give the best hugs!
Best of luck, Ryan! I really hope you are chosen!
I voted! I don't know you, but a friend at App told me to vote, and I did. Good luck - whoever you are!
Great idea :)
Ryan, this sounds like an awesome idea. 1000s of individuals only see what the media portrays gays and lesbians, but not the real meat, sweat, and blood that each person goes through as they live their life. I really hope you get a chance to be seen in this experience and win the grand prize.
hope you win, boy!
good luck!
-skylar
good luck ryan!
Excellent idea! I agree with ncsuluv. We need some objective (if not queer-positive) stories to hit the media. Good luck!
Hope I could help.
Greetings from "Old Europe"
Ralph
j'aime votre idée!!!!!!! bonne chance!!
this is by far the best idea and the one that will make a change for many people whose voices are silenced everywhere.
Glad to see this one climbing up there. Great exposure for LGBT people, thanks.
Best Wishes.
Best of luck; this is a much-needed project!
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
This is a fantastic idea and project.
Ryan, I guess you live in my dorm. When you, or your buddy slid that piece of paper under my door while I was on the phone, it was a little creepy.
But then I decided to check this thing out, and it's looking fairly awesome. Good luck.
You are amazing, fantastic, and wonderful, This is going to change the way people think. Keep going for it, Ryan!!!!
Good Luck!
i'm giving you a pic b/c you voted for zibs.
heres my vote and please vote for mine- orphanges america and africa! i have wokre din zimabawe..and am in favor of all altrusitc ideas and worldview ideas! alos i touch on trans gender issues in ym film wwww.buddhawild.com
voted for ya
hope you make it. i want this. so bad.
fantastic ideea! GO, RYAN, GO, RYAN, GO!
Thinking about you! Wishing you all the luck you deserve! I know you can and will do it!!
Ryan - I know that the majority of lgbtq people are experiencing struggles and obstacles, but in some places they are very accepted and if you're wanting to do the full spectrum you should consider adding a place like Oaxaca in your list of locations to visit.
love
alexandra
Good luck, Ryan!
Good luck man.
This is an amazing goal. I am 100% behind you all the way. I guess this proves that although people are stupid and ignorant in general, there are a few who are blessed with understanding, openess, righteousness, kindness, and determination.
Ryan, friend of a friend of mine, dude, you will win.
Good luck. Hope that you will vote for all the ideas here of other photographers who share your ideals.
Great idea!! Good luck, I hope you win! :D
solid. sounds outstanding.
Everyone should vote for Ryan! He's put so much effort into this project! Just 200~ more votes! You can do it!!! :D
Good luck Ryan and hope you win this for all the hard work you put into it!!!
Good Luck Ryan! I hope you win! ~Jacqueline~
Good luck, Ryan!!!!!
Ryan is a very hard working young man and he will reach to the sky to make his dream come true. Good Luck