GSAFE and Fair Wisconsin, two LGBTQ+ organizations in Wisconsin, have teamed up to create a photo series that opposes and brings to light the anti-trans student athlete bills sweeping the nation. Because not all trans youth are out, we wanted to protect students’ safety and privacy. We decided to photograph anyone identifying as a LGBTQ+ student athlete in Wisconsin; in that way, no one is singled out. Our fight is most effective when the entire  community comes together to support each other. 

Skye, whose portrait appears in the photo series as the golfer said,“What I love most about golf is the feeling that I’m out on the course playing with my friends, not against them; that sense of community is what matters most to me.”

The idea of community and/or chosen family is something that has been a central theme in queer life since the beginning. For LGBTQ+ people, athletics is another way to build that community as well. It is a way to have a common experience with a group of others—one in which you are cheered on and encouraged to always do your best—and no matter the outcome, you are accepted because we are all on the same team. 

As the photographer of the project, this series was close to my heart. I am a queer BIPOC person who grew up somewhat isolated. Sports became my refuge. The ball field was the place where I was most accepted for all of the things I thought were unacceptable about myself. Being able to photograph these young LGBTQ+ athletes has been a full circle moment in my life. I truly thank them for allowing me to capture a moment of their beautiful lives, and I hope their courage and willingness to share their story with the public helps people understand why playing a sport you love is a human right that should not be questioned or politicized.

In the end, this series hopes to put a human face to LGBTQ+ youth in Wisconsin, and to help them tell their own stories. In too many instances, they are only seen as a statistic when in fact, they are individuals following their own dreams and living out their own passions. They are just starting out in life and need all the support and encouragement they can obtain from their school and their community. We hope to show this through these portraits. 

You can learn more about the project and donate to help fund the project by visiting the QR code below.