#theidentityproject

[liquidsadism]

. Gender Fucker Bitchcraft. 🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷. . Shoot for @theidentityproject . 📸@sarahderagon . 🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷. . #theidentityproject #gender #genderidentity #agender #nonbinary #queer #LGBTQ #gothicqueen https://www.instagram.com/p/BsSuoS6hitE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v0up21rg8rql

[craigandkarl]

So proud of the type we did for @harrys Pride campaign! It’s all over Union Square station if you’re in NY 🗽 Awesome portrait photography by @theidentityproject

[girlinabowtie]

@sarahderagon will always be my favorite. Funny that I now live in Williamsburg. Thanks for your friendship and kindness Sarah! NYC misses you. #giabt #girlinabowtie #sarahderagon #theidentityproject #lgbtq #dapper #dcny #photoshoot #tomboisociety #tomboylookbook #dapperq #fashion #style #outfit #throwback #brooklyn #bk #GQ #evanrachelwould #boi #queer #dapperhair #blog #williamsburg #nyc

[theprideartist]

#TheIdentityProject Exhibition in Knoxville is up for the weekend! #GoodVibes #GreatWork (at 15 Emory Place)

[scthesisjournal]

From the Identity Project, 2014, Sarah Deragon

JOURNAL ENTRY 5

After spending a good deal of time researching Thomas; listening to the ways in which she describes and situates her work, the way she talks about her intentions, the processes of reclaiming and validating identity, I realized it was time to start forming the language around my own work. I am realizing now the intensity with which these same themes are present in my work surrounding queerness.

As a first step, I looked into a few artists who focus on queer identity in their work to see how they talk about it. As a side note, I think it goes to show how complicated speaking about any identity can be, let alone queerness, that I, as a self-identifying queer person, have to do research on how to talk about queerness in my work. Language surrounding identity is constantly evolving. Queerness and genderqueerness exists in more forms than I will probably even see in my lifetime. If you think you know it all, you’re wrong. That’s something I have come to understand as one of the only constants in life. 

The Identity Project, a fantastic current body of work by Sarah Deragon, has been both extremely inspiring and helpful to me. The project consists of an ever-growing series of portraits featuring self-identifying queer humans. One of the most important aspects of the work is that each person who is photographed also names their identity with one or a few words (examples: “butch queen,” “boi,” “artsy femme”) which accompanies their portrait. 

From reading both about the artist and also the thoughts of those photographed by her, I have come to both understand and verbalize better why visual depictions and development of language about queerness are SO goddamn important.

First, it is important to realize that many people in current queer culture are very critical of labels since they can be limiting to certain identities. This lack of visibility for some humans’ identities often makes it extremely painful to expose these parts of themselves. One of Deragon’s subjects, Logan “Born-Again Transgenderqueer”, emphasizes this point by explaining how queer identities and labels are often “demanded, derided, exposed, or stripped away.” Gaining that visibility helps to make that process less painful and also challenges the stereotypes of what certain identities look like. As you can see in the portraits above, the subjects chose words that are most present to them, whether focused on sexuality, gender, race, personality, or parenting as queer people. In this way, there is also a focus on diversity in self-identification. As the terms queer and genderqueer mean so many different things, they align with other intersecting identities such as race, ability, age, etc.

As film-maker Sam, “Queer Trans Genderqueer,” states from experience, “It is so important for queer and gender-variant people to see themselves reflected back: whether on screen, in print, or in a gallery.” And I agree. This is my focus. I want to flood the structures we exist in with the images, voices, and texts of the queer humans who need to be represented, empowered, and valued. I ask the same questions: Which words give you power? How do you see yourself? How do you wish to be seen? Compose your portrait EXACTLY how you want it. Don’t leave anything out. 

Self-identification is power. Using words to identify yourself affirms that your identity and experience are valid and real. As Shimina, “Gay Mascuine of Center,” says, “I am here and I count.” 

[boisociety]

Love These Two @blaktivist and @kholi #TheIdentityProject HowDoYouIdentify

[arepafemme]

Repost from the @theidentityproject. I love my bestie femme @hurricanesjayne. #femme #theidentityproject

[radremedy]

San Francisco based photographer Sarah Deragon is working to change the way the LGBTQ community is labeled....

Look how one photographer is showcasing all the beauty of different identities! You are all so beautiful!  Also catch the project on Tumblr under theidentityprojectsf

[pinkeryellow]

[lifesbigadventure]

I am playful queer lover gentleman. So glad I went to the panel last night and got to meet and listen to amazing people. #theidentityprojectsf

[krysfree]

"KING"

I had the distinct honor of being photographed for Sarah Deragon's "The Identity Project" in San Francisco last weekend. This was my final select for my solo shot. See more shots from The Identity Project and check out the IndieGoGo campaign too!

[kholioli]

Accurate. -- @sarahderagon has pretty much captured my essence for @theidentityproject -- #theidentityproject #imintoit #kholioli

[girlinabowtie]

I had the pleasure and honor of being shot by Sarah Deragon yesterday in Williamsburg, BK.

If you don’t know her she is a Bay Area photographer who started the insanely beautiful and boundary breaking photo series; The Identity Project

Sarah approached me via Girl in a bow tie a little while ago and asked if she could shoot me while she was in New York. I almost didn’t think it was real. I was like “wait what? No…that woman? From the identity project? ME?!”

Needless to say it was the real Sarah and I was over the moon excited.

These are a few iphone shots she took in addition to the awesome shoot we did with her beautiful DSLR.

It was a fantastic day for a photo shoot and I was in good company (and in good hands)

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the series and staying in touch with the lovely Sarah.

Please go check out http://www.identityprojectsf.com/ and http://portraitstothepeople.com/ — you won’t regret it.

And in case you want to know:

Outfit 1:

Striped Sweater- J.Crew

Bow Tie- H&M

Short Sleeve Button Down- Saturdays (On super sale at Century 21)

Pants- Gap

Shoes- Desert Boots (J.Crew)

Outfit 2:

Crewneck Sweatshirt- Saturdays for Gap

Jeans- Gap

Short Sleeve Button Day- Saturdays

Keep checking back for more updates!

Thank you so much following.

xoxo,

GIABT

[ijuniperbloom]

The Identity Project

Was looking at (and really digging) the work of Sarah Deragon over at the identity project today and it got me thinking about the words I would choose to describe my own personal identity. My fiance and I came up with:

Laidback Hetero Marxist Geek (Ally) - him

<3's

Creative Femme-inist Bisexual - me

yeah. that works for us! :D

[acetheinvader]

Aromantic Asexual Superstar. #theidentityproject

[boisociety]

#TheIdentityProject Love This