To Be Chosen

LGBTQ+ families currently face the erosion of rights and recognition. I feel that tension as we seek community in a place whose political and cultural structures do not fully affirm our family’s existence. 

After my wife and I asked my brother to be our sperm donor, I struggled to find my place in the process. The steps required to legally protect my parentage meant that the legal system scrutinized every facet of my personhood - my health, my financial standing, my personality, and the safety of my home. I did not anticipate the psychological toll it would take. I began to photograph myself and my wife to find refuge amongst the doubt and uncertainty I felt. By using this process as a means of inquiry, the photographs serve not only as a record, but also move beyond to hold the weight of memory, place, and connection.