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The photo project increasing queer visibility in Bristol
“There are still parts of Bristol where I don’t feel safe holding my wife’s hand,” says Karen Freer, founder of a new LGBTQ+ photography project.
“That’s why LGBTQ+ Faces of Bristol is so important. It means representation, role models to look up to and empowerment for LGBTQ+ people.”
Karen launched LGBTQ+ Faces of Bristol in July 2020, following two months of planning during lockdown.
is needed now More than ever
While the pandemic has been difficult for everyone, Karen was able to use her increased spare time to start something positive and new.
The south Bristol photographer shoots for Bristol Roller Derby, which has been put on hold during the pandemic, and with less commitments she was able to explore portraiture more.
“Charlotte has bi-lateral sensorineural hearing loss, which is why she wanted to wear the sign language t-shirt for the shot,” says Karen. “She is as lesbian and is gender non-conforming.” Photo: Karen Freer
“Ellie is as a lesbian and Lydia is bisexual,” says Karen. “They are both super cool, I felt like such a loser standing next to them. They are basically what I wanted to be like when I was their age but I was never really cool enough.” Photo: Karen Freer
“I wanted to focus on something meaningful and get involved in the city’s queer community,” she says.
“I only started taking portraits in 2020 – I photographed one of my friends transitioning – but it has been really fun.
More than 20 people initially signed up for the portraits, which are taken using a film camera, through a call-out on social media. Karen says: “I’m naturally introverted, so I was a little worried, but it’s not been too difficult!”
Working with her wife as an assistant, and now having recruited two extra volunteers to support the project, it’s a communal queer effort to increase LGBTQ+ representation in the city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpt9yNHbCz/
Portraits sessions are free, so no one is denied access due to lack of funds, and the project has recently received a micro-grant of £250 from the Voice and Influence Partnership. Karen hopes to use this money to hold a virtual or outdoor exhibition or create a photobook.
The project will also be working with OutStories, which collects and preserves the social history and recollections of LGBTQ+ people living in or associated with Bristol. Karen and her volunteers will be taking photos to accompany the stories they post.
LGBTQ+ Faces of Bristol also hope to increase the range of people they photograph, including older queer people and photographing members of Kiki Bristol, the city’s group for queer and intersex people of colour.
“In 2020, I was just getting started,” says Karen. “In 2021, we’re expanding and increasing representation further.”
Main photo of Rapha, who is bisexual and currently running for president at UWE Bristol’s Student Union: Karen Freer
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