Australian-born filmmaker Emma Leslie wanted to showcase the beauty and strength of transgender children — so she started photographing them.
Leslie began her photo series "Transcend —Portraits of Transgender & Gender Diverse Youth" in 2015 to help bring awareness to transgender youth.
"I wanted to create a photo series that would have an impact," Leslie told Revelist. "As a photographer, I have the opportunity to shine a light on a topic and give a voice to those who may not yet have the avenue to do so."
The children, who she found in Facebook and transgender support groups, chose their own outfits and backdrops for this photoshoot, which gave them autonomy over how they'd be represented. The photos shatter the stereotypes of transgender people, which makes them absolutely inspiring.
Leslie began this project by reaching out to transgender and LGBTQ support groups. They helped her find parents and children willing to participate in the photo series.
__"__The process involved a lot of research, many Google searches and emails to various transgender and LGBTQ groups trying to find anyone who would hear me out and help me to find willing parents and kids to have their portrait taken," she told Revelist.
Leslie wanted to dispel any stereotypes about non-binary gender identity — starting with transgender children.
"There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding gender diversity. Gender is a spectrum," she said. "It’s not black and white, there’s no right or wrong. It’s subjective. It belongs to that person and that person only."
By allowing the children to pick their own clothes, props, and locations, the kids were really able to express themselves any way they wanted.
"I left it up to the kids to choose where they wanted their photo taken and what they wanted to wear," Leslie told Revelist. "It was about them and how they wanted to be seen, to best reflect their personalities and to show their authentic self.
For instance, Korra (pictured here) brought balloons. Briella — a five-year-old who's the youngest person in the photo series — wanted to be photographed in her new pink room:
"[Briella] had only just started her transition a few months earlier, therefore her hair was still fairly short and growing out," Leslie said. "She showed me her closet, which was full of girly clothes and a tutu. She wanted my advice on what to wear. I saw there were a number of colored and long hair wigs in the closet. I suggested that she wear a wig and her face lit up like it was Christmas. As soon as she put that wig on, she turned around, flicked her hands through the wig and posed with so much sass it blew me away. It was so cute."
Evie, a 10-year-old, wanted to be photographed in her mermaid tail.
No matters their demands, Leslie said all of these children are amazing. "They are so special, incredibly knowledgeable and bright," she said. "Some are shyer than others, some are more outgoing. They are just like every other kid out there, however they are going through more than most adults would throughout their entire lives."
The photographs are meant to show that these kids are not any different from any other child — and their gender identity doesn't define them.
"I've learned that children, no matter how young, need to be listened to," she said. "They know so much more than a lot of people out there give credit for. A number of comments have been that how can a child know what it wants at that age."
These photos are part of Leslie's exhibition, which runs through May 15 in her native Australia, and is sponsored by Family Planning Victoria and Yarra City Arts Program.
"One comment which really stuck out was that the images had positively 'changed the way I think of people.' Which is exactly what I did this for!" Leslie explained about the response to this project. "This is real, it’s not a choice, it’s not a cry for attention. These are precious children and they need to be loved, nurtured and listened to."
Ultimately, this project became something of pride and passion for Leslie and she created amazing memories with the kids.
"The best part [of this project] was seeing and hearing how happy the kids were with their photos," she said. "I gifted all the kids a framed print of their image and the look on their faces when I gave it to them was just priceless. They were so grateful and appreciative."
Here's the big picture Leslie hopes to paint above all: "I hope that [others] see how 'normal' these kids are. How much they look like their own kids and friends. They're everyday kids. There's nothing to fear!"