2 years ago
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Posted On: June 30th 2024, 03:02 pm
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Artist Chris Cortez drew portraits of four people who discussed being incarcerated while trans for an audio essay by our reporter @bethtmp. The portraits show how they would want to be seen if they had more agency over their appearance.
🔗 Take a closer look at the portraits & listen to Willow, Ronnie, Reiyn and April in their own words at the link in our bio.
🎥: Chris Vazquez / The Marshall Project
#art #artist #artstagram
Transcript:
CHRIS VAZQUEZ: Trans people in U.S. prisons often have little control over their appearance. My coworker spoke with four incarcerated people about their experiences, and then The Marshall Project commissioned artist Chris Cortez to draw them as they would want to be seen.
CHRIS CORTEZ: They were kind of symbolic of passport photos…. I feel like that’s also something that’s just very affirming…when they get that license photo that finally reflects what it is that they’re feeling in themselves. So Ronnie was talking about wanting to have a vest, a button-up shirt…. Willow…wanted this young but also, like, sophisticated look…. Specifically for trans individuals, I feel like there comes a part where you’re getting in touch with who you wanted to be when you were younger…. Reiyn was the one that just wanted, like, standard photo…. April used to do pageants…and I kind of did this as a mix of, like, day to day with still some of that pageant beauty…. When I was essentially finished…I kind of just got emotional…. These are things that they would want…in their reach, and the powers that be aren’t allowing that to be possible.
🔗 Take a closer look at the portraits & listen to Willow, Ronnie, Reiyn and April in their own words at the link in our bio.
🎥: Chris Vazquez / The Marshall Project
#art #artist #artstagram
Transcript:
CHRIS VAZQUEZ: Trans people in U.S. prisons often have little control over their appearance. My coworker spoke with four incarcerated people about their experiences, and then The Marshall Project commissioned artist Chris Cortez to draw them as they would want to be seen.
CHRIS CORTEZ: They were kind of symbolic of passport photos…. I feel like that’s also something that’s just very affirming…when they get that license photo that finally reflects what it is that they’re feeling in themselves. So Ronnie was talking about wanting to have a vest, a button-up shirt…. Willow…wanted this young but also, like, sophisticated look…. Specifically for trans individuals, I feel like there comes a part where you’re getting in touch with who you wanted to be when you were younger…. Reiyn was the one that just wanted, like, standard photo…. April used to do pageants…and I kind of did this as a mix of, like, day to day with still some of that pageant beauty…. When I was essentially finished…I kind of just got emotional…. These are things that they would want…in their reach, and the powers that be aren’t allowing that to be possible.
Comments (17)
2 years agogainst_all_oddz
WHY DONT WE PAY MORE TAXES AND GET PRISONERS THE HORMONES THEY NEED???!!!
2 years ago___joosh____
Wow, they don't have control of their appearance, almost like they're in prison. What April is definitely not doing pageants
2 years agoyysaviz
I can't imagine experiencing gender dysphoria in a place as cruel and disaffirming as a U.S. prison. I love this project as a means to fight and resist against carceral oppression and show support for the validity of transness 💝 Thanks for this 💕
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