To Survive on This Shore: The Experiences of Older Trans and Gender Nonconforming People

Photographs and interviews in "To Survive on This Shore" portray the joyful and difficult lived experiences of older transgender adults in the U.S.

In 2012, artist Jess T. Dugan and social worker Vanessa Fabbre began collaborating on a project that drew from their work with and in trans communities. They observed that authentic representations of older transgender people are almost invisible in our society. Dugan and Fabbre created "To Survive on This Shore" (2013-2018) to portray diverse trans people and to testify to their struggles and joys as they age -- including how they survive and resist despite social stigma and hostility. They hope that these nuanced portraits can inspire the next generation of trans people.

To view the full project, visit To Survive on This Shore

Many times, we showed up as strangers but were nonetheless welcomed into people’s homes and told intimate stories about their lives. The process of interviewing and photographing each person was often emotionally intense, and we have stayed in close touch with many of the participants.

SOURCE: Refinery29 • AUTHOR: Joanna Cresswell • LAST UPDATED: September 19, 2019