Unaffixed

“No Femmes. No Fats.” When I started using gay dating apps as a teen, I saw this phrase frequently. As a fat queer person, this rejection from my peers set in motion a battle between my queerness and my body. This series began with self-portraiture exploring queerness through absurdity, humor, and play. Soon after, collaboration became an integral part of my work, with me often appearing in the photographs with others. The photographs are mostly taken in the individuals’ homes or other spaces they are comfortable in, and we utilize materials from their environment. This collaboration begins to break down the power dynamics that can exist between photographer and subject, as well as embody the camaraderie and companionship of queer communities and relationships. These photographs not only establish a space of queer collaboration and play, but also offer a counter narrative to the normative sexualized gaze of contemporary queer photography. My photographs do not offer concrete narratives of identity. Rather, they present fragmented narratives that exist in-between reality and fantasy, reflecting the transitional space in which queerness exists. When I take photographs, the process is spontaneous—not unlike the practice of freeassociation—and echos the dynamism of non-normative queer identities.