Tom Dingley started his #Outcome project in 2014, to photograph LGBT people while holding a picture of themselves as a child – showing that it does get better, by providing young LGBT people with role models for life beyond adolescent angst, uncertainty and bullying.
His message is: No matter how hard it is growing up and coming to terms with your sexuality or identity; you can be who you are, living a successful and happy life, out of the closet. His aim is also to help breakdown stereotypes of what an LGBT person looks like, or can be – because as the project shows, there is no absolute definition.
Tom has exhibited the ongoing project at London Pride, Brighton Pride, Student Pride, Digital Pride and as part of LGBT History Month celebrations.
Over time, more portraits have been added to Outcome and the collection now includes: Lord Chris Smith, Elly Barnes MBE, Britain’s Got Talent’s La Voix, Bake Off’s John Whaite, The Apprentice’s Sanjay Sood-Smith, Emmerdale’s Alicya Eyo and many other people.
The project is a celebration of all LGBT people, known and unknown.
The University of Greenwich will host the book launch and exhibition. Tom is a Greenwich Alumnus, many of the portraits were taken locally and while the exhibition is at the university, he plans to have as many of the 112 portraits on display as possible.
Tom will organise pop-up studio days for LGBT people who would like to be photographed for Outcome on Tuesday October 11 and Thursday October 13 at the university.
The university is organising a number of events linked to the exhibition, including a public Q&A panel on Wednesday, October 12, from 1-2pm.
Tom, says: “It has been such a privilege to meet so many wonderful people over the course of this project and is very humbling to see it come together in a book & exhibition for all to enjoy.”
Sarah Cretch, Head of Alumni & Development at the university, says: “We are so proud that Tom is an alumnus and fully support his work. Tom and the whole Outcome project are a great inspiration for all our students and staff.”
The Outcome book published by Arachne Press is 168 pages and contains 80 full-page portraits, with accompanying text from each of the subjects and costs £25.
To purchase online, click here:
Launching on October 10 for National Coming Out Day on October 11, Tom plans to expand the launch exhibition into a travelling exhibition to visit colleges, schools, libraries and community centres around the UK, setting up a studio day at each location to add to the project.
Event: Book launch and exhibition – LGBT photographic portrait project #Outcome
Where: The Heritage Gallery, University of Greenwich, Queen Anne Court, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS
Book launch (invite only): Monday October 10 from 6pm till 9pm
Exhibition: Monday, October 10 until October 15, 10am-5pm
You must be logged in to post a comment.