A[rt]sexual Allows Photographer to Spread Asexual Awareness Throughout the United Kingdom

Details: Category: Cake Recipes; Published on Thursday, 19 January 2012 18:47; Written by Lara Landis; Hits: 543

Asexuals are experiencing the same thing Gays and Lesbians went through twenty and thirty years ago. The statement might have come from activist Sara Beth Brooks, but these words came from Holly Falconer, a photographer from London. Falconer has embarked on an ambitious photo project. She initially made her requests on the AVEN forums. AVEN members responded positively. Her work has taken her to many corners of the United Kingdom, including Liverpool, the hometown of the Beatles.

By reaching out to AVEN, she reached out to a younger audience. She did not intend to focus on a specific age demographic. She would love to hear from Asexuals who are over thirty years of age. Her subjects currently fall into the 18 to 22-year-old age demographic.

Falconer, who attended London University and has a degree in English Literature and a Master's Degree in Journalism and literature met sociologist Mark Carrigan at the same time. The pair have remained in touch since their University day. Carrigan works with other researchers on the Asexuality studies website; Falconer hopes her photography will increase Asexual visibility.

The photographer worked for several LGBT publications in the United Kingdom. She knows the Internet allowed for people to form online Asexual communities. Many of her subjects face problems similar to the problems she faced during her own coming out process. Every one of her human subjects has had an interesting story to tell. Her journey has taken her throughout Great Britain, and she has learned about many different aspects of Asexuality.

Media coverage of Asexuals in the United Kingdom has not always been positive, although most people respond with confusion. The project has taken place during a time when there is increasing visibility and coverage of Asexuality. Falconer has had to explain her work less frequently as more people become aware of Asexuality.

Carrigan may have given her the nudge for the A[rt]sexual project, but she believes she would have embarked upon it even if the University of Warwick sociologist had not given her an idea. She hopes the project will bring more understanding media coverage of Asexuality.

Falconer will not release the photographs until the project is done. Exhibits in London featured her work. People can follow her work on Hollyfalconer.com and A[rt]sexual.

Her work has been limited to the United Kingdom. She would like to be able to expand the work into Europe, the United States and elsewhere, but she does not have the funding to work outside of Great Britain.