The Story of Living in Limbo

EXHIBITION SUMMARY
Living in Limbo: Lesbian Families in the Deep South, photographs by Carolyn Sherer is a contemporary exhibition honoring the current complexities of lesbian family life in the south. The exhibition provides an intimate view of a population that has been largely invisible or underrepresented in public art. The images challenge viewers to envision a world without prejudice and discrimination -- a world that celebrates commitment, family and inclusion for everyone -- a world without limbo. What do committed long-term lesbian relationships look like in Birmingham, Alabama? How are they revealed in public and in private, inwardly and outwardly? The 40 large-scale portrait photographs in this exhibition address these as well as many other pressing issues about lesbian identity. The women in these images fulfill multiple roles in their lives, as dedicated professionals, partners, mothers and lovers. The photographs tease out these strands through both subtle and obvious variations in gesture, expression and dress. All participants stand against a stark white background, forcing the viewer to encounter, head on, the complex reality of an invisible class of Americans. We are in the Deep South. Coming-out as lesbian here is a conflicted endeavor fraught with job, family, social and deeply personal issues. This is vividly captured in the photographs with some women turning away from the camera, too concerned about breaking the silence surrounding their sexual identity. Others smile hesitantly, while younger ones kiss or hold newborn children. This is a compelling view of the very real landscape of lesbian life in the Deep South. It has also been demonstrably effective, not only for the dedicated or sympathetic observer. The sheer courage of the participants and the upfront, unapologetic presentation of their relationships attracted nearly 17,000 viewers to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, located in Birmingham, Alabama, from March -- July 2012. Visitors from across the country saw the exhibition and were deeply moved by the common humanity evident with every photograph. Men, women, young and old -- Living in Limbo speaks to Americans from all walks of life.
Although created about a specific community at a specific time, the message is universal. Now is the time for other areas of the country to benefit from this transformative exhibition of lesbian families.

A full-color, 58-page exhibition catalog is available to accompany the exhibition and includes essays by the photographer, participants and curatorial experts.

看到其中一幅是三人都背對鏡頭
我突然想到
當同志意識抬頭
社會大眾也許開始接受有同志存在的議題
但
台灣工作環境會是友善的嗎
特別是老師, 公務人員

會不會有這樣的對話:
A: 他是gay耶
B: 他做設計的
A: Oh..it makes sense

A: 他是gay耶
B: 他是中學老師
A: 什麼? 這樣好嗎? 學生會不會被教成同性戀阿? 我要連同其他家長去要求換老師

A: 他是gay耶
B: 他是做導演的
A: 喔, 拍很多藝術片或紀錄片吧


A: 我看到C老師懷孕耶
B: C不是未婚?
A: 所以她未婚懷孕? 她不是同性戀?
B: 頭腦打結無法回應

......
自由發揮
.......