LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit Photovoice Gallery
Welcome! We're excited to show you our photovoice project collection. This was designed by LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit Foster leaders in Minnesota as a safe and accepting way for their voices to be heard. The purpose of photovoice is to share perspectives, help other LGBTQ2S+ Fosters not feel so alone, and educate the public on what it is like to be queer in care to help change the system. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Love to me looks like the love a dog gives you. They love you for who you are. No matter who you are or what you’ve done. The love is basically unconditional.
-Jana, Southern region
As a trans person, I find myself nitpicking every little thing that I feel is out of place in how I present myself. Gender dysphoria is no joke, and can be extremely detrimental to one’s mental AND physical health. This is one of the only photos that I took only one time and was completely satisfied with my presentation. When I look at this photo I see MALE.
I came out as transgender towards the end of my time in foster care, but I had known throughout the entirety of my time in placement. Both of these experiences (being LGBT and a foster youth) taught me lessons that I will cherish for the rest of my life. For me, it was important to learn that things will fall in place eventually, but that almost everything takes time. Patience is hard, but patience is key. It’s important to surround yourself with people who know your worth and can affirm you of that worth.
-Finnegan, Twin Cities region
Art has a way of allowing people to take awe of expression typically filtered from society. This painting is one that I painted several years ago. I call it "My confiscated thoughts/My Autistic Brain". This painting represents who I was, who I am, and who I aim to be. I grew up in foster care a bisexual autistic child. My thought held hostage in my brain because of fear of what would happen if I ever let them out. Only able to be who I was around my mom and the family I found in my LGBTQI+ community. So, for me, without a doubt, love and care mean acceptance. An unconditional kind that welcomes us to be who we are unapologetically. Love is having someone who is willing to be a safe space for you. A space where one can be their true self without fear of rejection for the way they choose to express themselves. No holding back. Just true unequivocal, indisputable acceptance.
-Nia, West Central region
As you look at this photo collage, you may notice that I didn’t take it in the moment. The reason for that is it’s hard to determine just one thing that’s means so much to me. I’m the top left corner, I’m seen meeting a very powerful congresswoman. Advocacy is my passion. It’s in my blood, it’s what drives me. Move over to the top right corner, I’m seen with people I consider family. I played rugby through college and made so many lifelong friends. I didn’t come from a big family, or really any for that matter. So having them is awesome. Drop down to the bottom left corner, another family that I’ve chosen to live and that chooses me. Spending holidays alone is depressing enough, so I got invited to a good friends thanksgiving and it’s been tradition every year since. Then we see the bottom right corner which is a very flamboyant selfie of mine. Showing off my pride suspenders and bow tie. I was in Philadelphia for a conference and decided to dress up to walk the streets. And last but not least, the middle photo. My fiancé, my rock. She has been there for me when no one isn’t. She’s shown me the light when it’s been nothing but cloudy skies. I can’t thank her enough for being there for me. Love isn’t just one thing or person that I can capture, my whole life is filled with love.
-Shane, Northwest region
Someone would notice the sunset first but the picture is about the tree. You see, I find peace in nature so I honestly love how the tree is just there because when I find peace, I'm there but others look past when I am taking care of myself. Love and care for me starts with peace because if I can't be at peace with myself, why would I care about myself?
-Isaiah, Twin Cities region
Standing with my community and Allies, and being unapologetically authentically me. Feeling free enough to stand in the front of the Senate Of Minnesota and be heard/seen no matter how we look. Seeing the change in house votes as we voices our feelings about bills and policies being passed citywide.
-MJ_Artist, Twin Cities region
Mac has this bed, and that's normally where you'll find him. The times I felt most safe in care is when I was with Mac, the dog at the group home. Mac really helped me through some tough times, when meetings went bad or when I got bad news I could hug Mac and in that moment everything was just a little bit better than before. I took the picture right before I aged out and left because I wanted to have him wherever I went. Mac makes me feel safe and loved. Mac watched me grow up and was there for times that I fell apart, but he helped me pick up my pieces. The bond you feel from a pet is strange and not easy to describe unless the person you're describing the bond to has had their own pet. I go and visit Macaroni, his nickname, often because I need my annual dose of his love. I think he serves as a great asset to the house as an emotional support to any boy who is in need. I'm so glad I was able to have this relationship with Mac, and I'm even more grateful that I still get to see him even though I've technically aged out.
-Travis, Northeast region
If you notice in the photo I have a lot of items that represent my identity. It has my favorite movie, book, and music. It also has the work I love doing, my culture, and my coffee. In it are also the more core parts of me such as my sexual orientation (Bisexual) and a rainbow heart I made to signify my love is fluid. In it you can also see my Myer's Briggs personality type which is INFJ (The Advocate) and a painting of a blurry train going by which reminds me of my time in foster care. I also have my glasses in the photo which represents my "vision" for the future. I am resilient, kind, ambitious, and fun. That's how my experiences as an LGBTQ2S+ Foster have shaped me into who I am today.
-Shawna, Northwest region
I drive my strength from the people around me who I love, they help build me up and are always so supportive. I also drive my strength from myself, wanting to break the generational trauma, by being better for my family and choosing different reactions.
-Jana, Southern region
Sitting and doing my daughter's hair while also ensuring she is comfortable and also occupied while I tend to her hair. Being gentle and soft with her hair, giving her good affirmations as I comb her hair. Seeing her smile and be so vibrant when finished.
-MJ_Artist, Twin Cities region
I draw my strength from remembering that if I had a hard day, I always have someone in my corner, whether it's God or my significant other. A lot of my strength is actually just me trying not to have trauma of mine repeated. What inspires me is that I have a person that will be by my side and help me with problems even if I cannot deal with them myself or try and it isn't healthy.
-Isaiah, Twin Cities region
The experience I had as a LGBTQ+ foster youth have shaped me into who I am today because in foster care I had a safe place to "come out”.
-Jana, Southern region
Love and care is the way you feel around a person or animal or object. When you care you love unconditionally and will always have a spot in your heart ❤️
-Anonymous, Twin Cities Region
Would you like to be a part of our photovoice gallery? While the official deadline has passed, we are accepting submissions on a rolling basis until funding runs out. Learn more and submit your story below!
Open to Minnesota Fosters age 14-26 who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or Two-spirit
Use a photo and writing to answer a reflection question from our LGBTQ2S+ Leaders:
1. How have your experiences as an LGBTQ2S+ Foster shaped who you are today?
2. What does love and care look like to you?
3. Where do you draw your strength from as a LGBTQ2S+ Foster? What inspires you?
Receive a $20 stipend for a completed submission! Photos will end up in a gallery hosted by Foster Advocates; photo displays can be anonymous.
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This opportunity is open to Minnesota Fosters (in care, reunified, adopted, or aged out) who identify as LGBTQ+ and Two-spirt, ages 14-26.
What if I don't identify as LGBTQ2S+? While this opportunity is not open to you, Foster Advocates has a lot of other opportunities. Reach out to info@fosteradvocates.org for more information!
What if I'm not in Minnesota? Right now our opportunities are only available to Fosters in Minnesota.
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Use both a photo and writing to answer a reflection question and share your perspective in our photovoice gallery. Our three questions are:
1. How have your experiences as an LGBTQ2S+ Foster shaped who you are today?
2. What does love and care look like to you?
3. Where do you draw your strength from as a LGBTQ2S+ Foster? What inspires you?
Choose a questions, and then take or find a photo that answers the question for you.
For your photo writing reflection, share 3-5 sentences about the photo to help the audience understand. If you're stuck, use these writing prompts:
*Describe your picture–what would someone else see? What is it really about.. Why did you take it?
*What do you think about when you see this picture? What do you feel when you see this picture?
*What happened before this picture?
*Why is this important to you? What does this say about you?
*What will happen next? What is the next step in the story of this picture? What will happen soon?
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Foster Advocates will be hosting a photovoice gallery on their website! We plan to have that go live at the beginning of April, and will share that out on our listserv and social media. The goal is that the gallery will help other LGBTQ2S+ Fosters (in care and out of care) not feel so alone, and to educate the public on what our experiences are like.
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We know not everyone is in an environment where they can be safely out. We will be collecting personal information for payment or followup questions, but will NOT share it in any other space. You are eligible for a $20 stipend for submitting a photovoice, and $30 if you submit for more than 1 question. There is an option to select “discreet” mode for followup where we will not mention the project details in writing.
For the gallery display, you will get to select whether you want your first name connected to your photovoice or want to be anonymous.
We will collect some information about your identity and overlap with Minnesota foster care that will NOT be used with your photovoice; that will be used to show collective experiences across all submissions.
Reach out to info@fosteradvocates.org if you have questions—we can followup by email, phone, or text.