“This is Trans: A Photography Journey of Awareness and Love” is an ongoing photo gallery started by NV Gay, a photographer, educator and advocate of trans and LGBTQ rights. By request of the SDSU Women’s Resource Center, the gallery opened on March 13 and is currently being displayed on the first floor of Love Library. 

According to Gay’s photography website, “This project was started at the beginning of 2022 as a way to bring visibility and awareness to transgender people of all forms.” 

Each photograph is a portrait of an individual who identifies as trans, paired with a statement from them answering the question, “What does trans mean to you?”

Photos of transgender individuals are displayed at “This is Trans: A Photography Journey of Awareness and Love” (Laura Brill)

This is an untraditional gallery. Rather than being displayed at a fixed location for a fixed amount of time, select portraits are displayed in many various locations around the country as an unofficial traveling exhibit. It was originally held at Stonewall Columbus, a community center in Columbus, Ohio, but has also been shown at the Salem Arts Association in Salem, Mass.

Another unique feature of this exhibit is that many of the subjects started as viewers of the gallery. At many of the gallery locations, there are set days in nearby studios where Gay continues to photograph trans individuals to be featured in the exhibit, highlighting their stories and journeys through the art of photography.

“No matter how a person looks, the soul is the same,” Gay said. 

Sessions between Gay and the volunteer subjects take around 20-30 minutes, where Gay takes between 50 and 100 photographs. After the session, Gay will narrow down the photo collection to around 10 images and then begin the process of selecting the final portrait with the subject. 

This interactive feature was also a part of the SDSU Gallery opening. Photo sessions for those wishing to be included in the gallery were open to the public in the Aztec Student Union on March 14, giving the local trans community the opportunity to participate in the immersive exhibit. 

The concept of the gallery was inspired by Gay’s own journey with their identity. After they came out as trans, they “spent years trying to figure out what that meant.” 

Gay’s favorite portrait on display at “This is Trans: A Photography Journey of Awareness and Love” (Laura Brill)

Gay recalled a favorite portrait they have taken as a part of this project. The portrait shows a man holding his daughter after he had recently gained back custody of her. Gay noted not only how cute the daughter in the picture was, but the joy on both of their faces. The unstaged, real-life emotion captured within this photograph is what makes the portrait Gay’s favorite.

The atmosphere within the gallery was one of acceptance and inclusivity, created by the collection of photos that showed people from many walks of life. A major theme of the event itself was that all genders and sexualities are welcome to the gallery and to the SDSU Women’s Resource Center as well. 

SDSU student Brock Taylor visited the exhibit searching for an educational experience.

“I wanted to look into different perspectives of the queer experience. I know more about it from a sexuality side, not gender,” Taylor said. 

Gay also spoke about their newest book, “The Queer Allies Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Being an Empowering LGBTQIA+ Ally,” with visitors at the exhibit. In an intimate, vulnerable moment, Gay shared the inspirations behind writing their book with the crowd.

“Right now, more than ever, we need you,” Gay said. “I’m gonna be real here for a second, trans lives are disappearing.” 

Gay was referring to various laws across the country and examples of trans people receiving passports and other government identification changed to their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. 

Gay expressed their gratitude to the Women’s Resource Center for opening a door to allow a portion of the gallery to be showcased for SDSU students. Portraits can be found in Donor Hall, allowing for an informal and accessible viewing experience. 

Overall, the gallery promotes themes of identity, self-acceptance and LGBTQ education. Gay has carried these themes since the start of their career. 

“I got into photography with this understanding of ‘I want to see people for who they are.’”