Elaine Hosking Photography

Just like the history of LGBT+ culture, the etymology of the word “queer” has an interesting backstory. The Stonewall Inn in New York, owned by the Mafia, was one of the few establishments that welcomed openly LGBT+ people, and many gay bars at this time had been targeted and shut down by the police. On June 28th, 1969, the police raided the Stonewall Inn under the pretenses of “serving liquor without a license”; but this time, the patrons fought back—thus causing the single most important event leading to LGBT+ liberation. The Stonewall riots lasted for days, as protestors marched down the streets of Greenwich Village demanding fair treatment and civil rights for LGBT+ people. Now, people take to the streets every June to commemorate this historical event. During June, also known as Pride month, parades and marches commemorate the Stonewall riots all over the world.

Just as the Stonewall riots have progressed to celebrations of pride, the meaning of the word “queer” has progressed from a derogatory slur to a blanket term that encompasses many identities within the LGBT community. While the word “queer” has become a label of identity, this series moves beyond the limits of stereotyped cultural identity by presenting each subject in diptychs that reflect the dichotomy between public presentation and personal reality. Regardless of cultural labels we choose or are applied to us by society, Reclaiming Queer addresses the diverse range of identity reflective of all humans.