Queer Lens: A History of Photography

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.