‘Being Human – Human Being’ is a national youth initiative which aims to break down barriers and prejudices for young trans* people.
The project uses photography as a medium to explore everyday issues groups face, as well as help educate on how gender identity and gender expression translate into everyday life for many people.
The project is run by a group of young people who attend Transformers at Allsorts Youth Project for young trans* people.
They have led on the project to create a book of images which replicate what it means to be trans* for them, while also hi-lighting the common issues and prejudices they face. The book will then become a tool from which to kick-start discussions in a workshop format with other groups of young people in schools and youth groups across Brighton, Essex and London.
Their aim is that this book will become something educational; outlining the correct terminology and dismissing common myths, as well as advocating ‘trans-allies’; people who don’t harbor fear and prejudice towards trans groups.
The project will take place over 27 weeks with one young person acting as lead and a further 15 taking part.
Teddy, a young person involved, in the exhibition said: “It’s exciting take in part of something that is potentially much wider then just people I can talk to face to face. Showing so many deeply personal things is scary but also pretty freeing, it’ nice being able to take things that I only really talk about in certain spaces and showing it to so many people. After you’ve started living as your real gender you easily get into the habit of omitting certain things from daily conversations just so you don’t derail the whole conversation with half of your life story, or you don’t feel comfortable with that person knowing, or for so many reasons, and it’s nice to be able to just put everything I want out there, with me still controlling the conversation and topic, so there’s no misinformation or further stereotyping. It’s pretty empowering and also fun to let out my artistic side for once.”
The exhibition starts on Tuesday, February 4 to Sunday 16 during library opening hours.
Preview and launch is by invite only on February 12 6-8pm in Brighton Jubilee Library foyer.
For more information email:
Event: Being Human – Human Being
Where: Jubilee Library, Jubilee St, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1GE
When: Tuesday, February 4 to Sunday 16
Time: During library opening hours. CLICK HERE:
Entry: Free