Photography Exhibit Shines A Light On Homeless LGBT Youth

This eye-opening photography exhibition opens at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in New York City on July 17.

Samantha Box, "Cocco kisses her girlfriend, Melissa, during drop-in hours at Sylvia's Place," 2007, Archival ink jet.

The New York City exhibition, titled "Queers in Exile: the Unforgotten Legacies of LGBTQ Homeless Youth," takes a closer look at the personal histories of LGBT youth from the Stonewall Riots to present day. The collection itself was inspired by transgender activist Sylvia Rivera's essay "Queens in Exile, the Forgotten Ones," which calls for drastic change in the way homeless youth are treated.

The museum describes the motivation behind the exhibition:

It is a view of history told by those who live/lived it within a community often silenced and ignored, but the vision goes beyond visibility. It is about collective memory and conscience, and repositioning queer homeless young people from 'other' to 'our own.' By recognizing the strengths of generations who have survived on the streets and the valuable legacies they have created in our community, this exhibition acts as an intervention. It offers homeless youth a place by grounding them within an empowered history and lineage, honors
their struggle, and reflects that they matter.

Take a look at some of the work to be featured:

Gerard Gaskin, Untitled, Legendary Series, 1997, Gelatin Silver print, 11 x 14 in.

Samantha Box, "Young couples, Sylvia's Place," 2005, Archival ink jet.

Via Samantha Box, "Having spent the day out of the shelter, Cocco sits exhausted while Melissa, her girlfriend, tries to recuperate from the flu. Sylvia's Place," 2006, Archival ink jet.

Samantha Box, "The resident's beds. Sylvia's Place," 2012, Archival ink jet.

Gerard Gaskin, Untitled, Legendary Series, 1997, Gelatin Silver print, 11 x 14 in.

Gerard Gaskin, Untitled, Legendary Series, 1997, Gelatin Silver print, 11 x 14 in.

Gerard Gaskin, Untitled, Legendary Series, 1997, Gelatin Silver print, 11 x 14 in.

Richard Wandel

"Marsha P. Johnson rides with Stonewall veterans, Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade," 1985, Digital print.

Richard Wandel

The collection will be on exhibit at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art.

It is being presented as part of the All Out Arts Fresh Fruit Festival.