- Spotlight -

Combating gender dysphoria, my sibling’s gender identity has taken many forms. For those who haven't experienced or witnessed this journey, it’s one of many mental and physical hardships. While my sibling's physical endeavors have healed, their mental wounds continue to be reopened by members of our society. This battle is not one born from my sibling's insecurities but one that has been perpetuated through generations of hate and political bias. It all sounds so general and insignificant when heard through the news, yet every day, my sibling is met with cold stares and a flooding sense of unwelcomeness. While I am proud to say that my family has done everything possible to create a loving and empowering environment for them, it is painfully clear that many people want the opposite. Fighting this every day, it is easy to say that Max is one of the strongest people I have ever met. Max greets everyone with love and empathy, even if they don’t wish the same for them, and to me, that is one of the hardest things a human can do.

In honor of Max, I wanted to use this project as an opportunity to represent their daily fears and frustrations. With a mix of harsh red lighting and a broken environment, I aimed to depict the disapproving cage Max often finds themselves in. Alongside this, I used a monochrome white outfit and a neutral spotlight to symbolize the internal purity of everyone on this journey. Additionally, this neutral light represents the fact that everyone in the LGBTQ community is placed under a spotlight just for being who they are.

While it is a disturbing sight, I chose to capture Max taking their hormonal therapy injection because it is a crucial part of what makes them who they are. Usually, they inject the medication into their stomach, but for this project, I had them stick it in their arm. I hoped to draw a connection between these shots and their tattoos because, to me, both represent crucial parts of who Max is as a person. I also wanted to emphasize this because many people, including politicians, view these medications as harmful. Yet for Max, these meds have been one of the most helpful tools in healing their internal wounds. HRT not only allows Max to become who they want to be, but it also gives them hope that one day people will no longer see them as a threat to our society.