I've been shooting since saturday.
Non stop turnstile house of photo shoots. Its been both amazing and exhausting but here it is.
I've been working on this project called out. The whole plan was to visualize the shades of grey in the coming out process.
So here it is. Well a large portion of it at least.
BELLEVILLE, ON (04/12/10) - _______ _______, 19 "I don’t want to be bound by a ‘sexual preference’. I believe that love is what drives someone to fall in love and see another person as beautiful. I believe I’m perfectly capable of falling in love with either gender but I’m scared of coming out to myself in the sense that a label such as ‘bisexual’ will seem falsified no matter what sex I ultimately fall in love with. I’m scared that if I fall in love with a man, I will be a ‘fake lesbian’, or likewise, if I fall in love with a woman, I will be a ‘fake heterosexual’. I admit that much of this fear is also driven by the possibility of others viewing me in this manner as well." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (05/12/10) - Joni-Beth Andrews, 22 "I know my parents believe that being homosexual is wrong and against God. I fear rejection and it would kill me to be disowned by my family. I know they would never approve...." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (07/12/10) - Tristan Kong, 20 "I am scared to tell my family because I never have seen them talking about gay/lesbian people so I dont know what is their feeling or thoughts about them. I thank them for accepting and supporting me because I am Deaf. I feel not ready to tell them that I am gay just because they know that I am Deaf when I was born so they did not change anything toward me. But, they have no idea that I am gay so if i told them, would they accept me for another reason that I am gay? I also dont know how to tell them because many of them do not know sign language so it is difficult for me to express them or explain that i'm gay" - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE,ON (04/12/10) - Brittany Lees, 18 "Because I'm scared they will not accept me into their family for my dad is just marrying into her family. I'm also scared they will alienate him aswell and he deserves to be happy finally." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (05/12/10) - Ian Beaton, 22 "Because I am his only son and he expects me to meet a nice woman and start a 'perfect' family." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (07/12/10) - Robert Nielsen, 23 "If he was to know he would use it as an excuse to drink!" - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (05/12/10) - Michael Oosting, 16 "My older brother, Mike, has been my role model my entire life. I'm afraid if he knows the truth, I'll loose the best positive influence in my life." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (08/12/10) - Niamh Malcolm, 23 "I'm intimidated by them. I've struggled with my sexual identity since I was in grade school and they are so strong in who they are. I feel silly being scared to come out to my lesbian mothers and aunts but I am." - Photo by Natelie Herault.
BELLEVILLE, ON (06/12/10) - Tahatie Diabo, 18 "I'm scared they wont accept it." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (05/12/10) - Jamal K. Marshall, 22 "My grandma is very religious and sick as in frail and I dont want to kill her." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (04/12/10) - Caitlin Smith, 18 "She's fucking British!" - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (03/12/10) - Mihal Zada, 26 "I'm afraid to come out to my grandfather because he is old and sick and comes from a small place. I don't know if he'll understand or be able to handle it, and I want that side of my family to be able to accept my girlfriend and I. I'm scared that if he can't than none of them will." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (06/12/10) - MJ Breault, 63 "Peers and students afraid of judgement (homophobia) I was in a position of authority. I didn't feel safe." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (07/12/10) - Adam Geneau, 21 "Scared of their reaction. Scared of what they might think." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE,ON (07/12/10) - Bradley Boyle, 19 "I have a fear of ignorance" - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (07/10/12) - Tammy Stevens, 34 "My students" - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (06/12/10) - Brian Cannon, 20 "It's hard to come out to new people when you're not sure if they are used to gay people or even the world." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (07/10/12) - Sharon Kallaste, 50 "Cause I'm old. No fear of self truth & honesty." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (05/12/10) - Crystal, 20
- Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (05/12/10) - Michelle K. Stevens, 17 "I used to be afraid to tell everyone, My plan was to come out after I moved to Toronto on my own. But I met a girl, I came out. Over a year later, I'm single and happy. I don't care what anyone thinks. I am me. I am free!!!" - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (03/12/10) - Soizig Provost, 33 "It was scary to come out to my mom, after that I didn't care anymore." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (05/12/10) - Katelynn Way, 15 "I'm not afraid to be me, infront of anyone.Be like a skyscraper, and stand tall." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (03/12/10) - Dylan Fleming, 18 "Love me or hate me there is no in between with me." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm
BELLEVILLE, ON (06/12/10) - Karla Kenny, 27 "I came to a point in my life where I realized that I am not defined by a word and I will not let a word define me. To me, being gay is no different then me being interested in photography, for example. It’s a part of what I live, sometimes it dictates decisions in how I live, but it never makes me who I am. I am a lot of things. I am an aunt, a sister, a girlfriend, a friend, an artist, a Capricorn and a female, just to name a few. None of these define me, so why should my sexuality? The day I realized I other peoples definitions do not tell me who I am, whatever that definition may be, was the day I stopped being afraid. I'm not going to live my life to someone else's standards. If other people have an issue with that, then it's their choice to just walk away. I am who I am and I'm finally ok with that." - Photo by Niamh Malcolm