Forbidden love is the one that goes beyond what other people think is “normal”. It’s the one that breaks the established discourses and dogmas. It’s the love that pushes you to be yourself, regardless of the opinions or judgments of others. It leads you to defend your right to love and be loved by another human. It means to be free to love by following your impulses regardless of race, gender, or religion. This is perhaps, the main reason why society forbids it, because it threatens to break old standards that only benefit a small group of people.
These are the stories of rebellious lovers who found, in their love to someone of their same gender, reason enough to break the polished crystal of conservatism. This passion challenges the empty ideologies of a culture constantly threatening their relationship.
Same-sex relationships, have long been vilified by narrow minded people. They’ve endured abuse and discrimination from society. They’ve been judged by this heteronormative world. These couples are the ones that have fought the most against hatred and aggression. Every day, LGBTTTIQ groups have to deal with diverse displays of intolerance just because society considers their love to be “inappropriate.”
Aware of this situation Riese, chief editor of Autostraddle, a site focused on sexual and cultural diversity, developed a project that gathers photographs representing same-sex relationships throughout history. This visual research, mainly focused on lesbian sexuality, displays the variety of erotic encounters and portrayals of homosexuality from the 1800s to nowadays. In collaboration with the LGBT Historical Society of San Francisco, Riese shows 150 years of lesbian and diverse love through an aesthetic approach and a thorough research.
These were the moments when we fought for our right to adopt and be free from violence.
Back then, human rights were the tool to break the legal chains holding people back.
Academia and student groups became more open to diversity. However, society in general and employers had yet to be educated in terms of tolerance.
Role playing has always existed. But it was during the fifties that the game changed. There weren’t more reasons to hide. It was time to leave fear behind and fight for human rights.
Homosexuality has always existed, but for many years it has been a social taboo. Through subtle clothing choices and behaviors, it has been possible to document the lives of women who secretly fought for their right to be with the one they loved.
In order to really understand all the perspectives around heterosexual or misogynistic prejudices in our society, you can take a look at these Photographs That Displays The Delicate and Erotic Side Of All Men. Social constructs can leave a scar in one’s identity, check the story of The Young Gay Man Who Faced A Cruel Reality To Find His Identity.
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Source:
Autostraddle
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Translated by María Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards
