Curated by Jake and Hannah Graf and soundtracked by Yungblud, ‘Trans is Human’ will explore the stories of 13 trans people in an immersive exhibition at the iconic Outnernet on Monday 17 November.
Using the venue’s impressive collection of floor-to-ceiling screens, the space will become an expression of the trans experience through thirteen regular trans people from across the UK. The main focus will be the monochrome portraits, taken by renowned photographer Mariano Vivanco, and the accompanying real-life stories of their subjects; tackling issues of adversity and finding the courage to live authentically in resilience and hope. The subjects in question include Sarah who supports LGBTQ+ people with disabilities by raising money from running marathons, overcoming her own sight loss to do so, refugee and the first Miss Trans Global Uganda, Amanda, and Leo who uses his voice and experience of living with Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy to empower others.
Jake and Hannah Graf MBE are a couple who’s stories couldn’t be more different. Jake, a trans man born in the 1980s under Section 28, fell into drugs, alcohol, addiction but later found his place in the film industry. Hannah, on the other hand, grew up in small-town South Wales and then went on to lead a distinguished career in the military, after coming out she became one of the highest-ranking trans soldiers within the British Army and was awarded an MBE in recognition of her achievements. Together, they have a happy marriage and a family of their own with two daughters.
Their inspiration for the ‘Trans is Human’ exhibition came from ‘years and years of misinformation and the demonisation of the UK’s trans community’, saying that ‘at such a pivotal moment for the UK trans community, as we face the possible loss of many of our most basic human rights, Trans is Human is more vital than ever. We are supremely grateful to the Outernet team and Yungblud for elevating the campaign and helping to remind the world that trans people are human too.’
Speaking of Yungblud, his track ‘Hello Heaven, Hello’ will provide the soundscape to the exhibition’s visual focus. ‘Trans Is Human is all about celebrating truth, identity and the beauty of being yourself, unapologetically’ Yungblud said, adding ‘That’s something I’ve always tried to celebrate in everything I do. I’m buzzing to play even a small part in telling these powerful stories’.
Scott Neal, Outernet Creative Director, Culture and Lifestyle said, ‘The work being done around trans and broader LGBTQ+ equality is far from over. A recent YouGov poll showed 84% of trans people in Britain feel unsafe in public spaces. Trans is Human showcases the humanity behind individual trans stories to highlight that gender identity is just a part of a person’s story. At Outernet, equality, fairness and safety are values we live by every single day. We thank Hannah and Jake for creating this piece and we’re proud to display it for everyone.’
Outernet is situated opposite Tottenham Court Road underground station. ‘Trans is Human’ will be run for one day only on Monday 17 November.
