Everybody loves flowers because flowers are beautiful. If anyone learned about me, I would be dead. So I have to hide my identity for my safety and protection. When you look at me this way, you will love me because I look like a flower. I am not a flower but I can’t be me either. I can only be beautiful in my own way.” Glossy, polished and posed, portrait of “Ryan” is a far cry from the usual images we see of the struggle of LGBTQ+ people in East Africa. For some, These image may not seem as impactful or stirring as the kinds of reportage or photojournalism that we’re used to seeing in the human rights space. It may not seem a natural fit for a Global Health report or advocacy campaigns. But for the This is Gender panel, the image raises important questions about what it is to see and to represent and offers a solution to the complex issues raised in the ethics of visibility.
The overall impression is one of vulnerability and mystery. The bandages suggest emotional pain, while the mask obscures the his identity and emotions. The bright colors of the flower mask create a sense of hope or and beauty, while the somber background suggests a sense of isolation and struggle.
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