Queer Lens

Photography's
power to capture a subject-representing reality, or a close approximation-has
inherently been linked with the construction and practice of identity. Since
the camera's invention in 1839, and despite periods of severe homophobia, the
photographic art form has been used by and for individuals belonging to
dynamic LGBTQ+ communities,
helping shape and affirm queer culture and identity across its many
intersections.



Queer Lens explores
this transformative force of photography, which has played a pivotal role in
increasing queer visibility. Lively essays by scholars and artists explore
myriad manifestations of queer culture, both celebrating complex
interpretations of people and relationships and resisting rigid definitions.
Featuring a rich selection corpus of images-including
portraits of queer individuals, visual records of queer kinship, and
documentary photographs of early queer groups and protests-this volume
investigates the medium's profound role in illuminating the vibrant tapestry
of LGBTQ+ communities.