The trans community has finally found their footing in the mainstream consciousness. Caitlyn Jenner’s iconic Vanity Fair cover and her tell-all series I am Cait, Jazz Jennings’ move into television and the amazing news of a trans model agency’s opening in New York serve to prove this. This year alone, 16 transgender people have been unlawfully killed, so awareness and spotlighting the transgender community is as important as ever.
The eloquent narrative of trans people has been best displayed on Tumblr: from trailblazing photographers, to tell-it-like-it-is models and artists producing raw and emotive work on the social platform. Check out some of our favourite, most awe-inspiring Tumblr trans royalty.
This Brooklyn-based, slick-haired photographer has shot everyone from Doom Generation’s Rose McGowan to trans filmmaker James Graf. He’s the founder and editor of the cool Original Plumbing, a magazine dedicated to trans issues and culture, speaking openly on sexuality and gender. His Tumblr redefines photography through the mechanism of the “trans lens”, bringing his vision to the mainstream with international campaigns. Mac has collaborated with trans model Hari Nef on a recent shoot in Sweden, sneak-peeking some crazy beautiful polaroids on Tumblr.
Amos Mac, founder and editor the the trans mens' quarterly Original Plumbingvia lapatilla.com
Catherine Graffam is an artist to watch, seriously. Her figurative art has caught the eye of the art scenesters like Saatchi, with her undeniable talent for brushwork and illustrations of stark emotion on a canvas. The 21-year-old’s Tumblr reflects her outpourings of emotion onto her portraitures, as she explores her identity as a trans woman. Writing on her page, she says: “I want to show how it feels to be a trans woman in all facets of life,” and her series Trans-Pose, featuring trans women and inspiring activists portraits, does just that from a beautifully personal perspective.
"Marley and Me (It is What it is)", 2015via catherinegraffam.com
The Australian model described herself as non-binary until 2014, when she bravely spoke in public about her transition and position as a trans woman. Pejic is revered worldwide for her profile in Vogue as their first transgender model, her killer walks in Marc Jacobs’ and Jean-Paul Gaultier’s AW 2013 and 2014 shows, and her sleek Tumblr series of stunning selfies and enviable shots from around the world. She’s frank and open about her time transitioning, and it’s incredibly inspiring to see how much she loves life on her Tumblr and Instagram.
Andreja Pejic chilling out with her dogsvia andrejapejicofficial.tumblr.com
With a long-spanning career as a Tumblr icon, she’s the New York it girl that’s speaking out against the struggles of the trans community, particularly the violence against trans women of colour that’s poisoning America. Hari Nef is both a muse and coveted model, storming down the Eckhaus Latta AW15 runway and John Waters-eque Adam Selman AW15 show. Her Tumblr’s a homage to all that’s beautiful about trans.
Hari Nef is a genderqueer it girlvia Instagram @harinef
House of Alexzander is reinventing the boring and beige OOTDs of the fashion bloggosphere with her colourful and inspiring selfies. Alexzander does mirror selfies better than anyone we’ve ever seen, molding gender fluidity her way. She champions the trans and genderqueer cause on her Tumblr with posts advising the campaigns and non-binary fashion you should be following, so check her out.
Elliott Alexzander in one of her cool OOTD shotsvia houseofalexzander.com
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