t-fags BOOK LAUNCH 🔥
A photo book exploring 'fag' identity for trans men, transmasculine and non-binary people.
Join us for a celebration of this project, with a discussion and Q&A with visiting artists El Hardwick and Orion Isaacs
t-fags is a series of photographs and interviews with trans men, transmasculine and non-binary people who identify with the term ‘fag’. By reclaiming the historically loaded slur, the project’s contributors embody masculinities that embrace femininity and gender expansiveness; deconstructing expectations of heteronormativity for those who transition gender.
Scouring the shelves of photography and LGBTQ+ bookshops, we would often search through homoerotic photo books, only to find photographs of predominantly muscular, white, cis gay men. Whilst we were drawn to the aesthetics and motifs in this work – cowboys, sailors, cruising, sports teams, locker rooms – we felt an absence of trans representation in this canon. This is why we decided to make it ourselves.
The book will include portraits of twenty subjects (all of whom responded to an open call for participants), photographed by El and creative directed by Orion. Some of the portraits are candid and intimate moments at the subject’s home, whilst others are orchestrated images with a cinematic quality that materialise fantasy scenarios the subjects have expressed to us. Many participants cite Lou Sullivan (who is often hailed as the first example of an openly gay trans man in the public eye) as an inspiration, whilst others describe their identification with faggotry as permission to play with gender expression.
🌟Practical Information! 🌟
This book launch is free!
Copies of t-fags will be available to purchase at the event. There will also be copies available using the bookshop pay-it-forward fund.
📚 A note on the bookshop space and expectations. The bookshop space is small, so events like this tend to be magical, intimate, low key and occassionally chaotic. Seating is a mix of some chairs with backs, as well as benches, stools and floor cusions. Lighting is soft and low. There is a HEPA filter installed into our heaters. The big doors can open for ventilation - and we always do a check before we start to make sure everyone is comfortable, and to make sure everyone who needs a seat has one. Get in touch if you need a space reserved.
Please note: There is (still) no bathroom at the bookshop. The closest accessible toilets are Glad Cafe, Bungo and Tramway.
The bookshop has level access from the street. Let us know if you need more venue information or have specific questions on access / disability / neurodiversity needs.