Relevance, 35th Anniversary Exhibition II
Invisible. In the past because of fear, and now because we are not part of the dominant youthful culture of self-identified, gender-fluid, nonbinary LGBTQ community.
The risks for loss of jobs, custody of children, and family of origin were real for lesbians in Birmingham, Alabama, when we formed our illegal families.
We became overachievers. In the work force–to be better than othersprovided a degree of job protection. We were also invaluable caregivers to our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Socially we sustained each other via a fiercely loyal underground support network. We were part of a delicious secret society. The dues for membership to this exclusive social club was complete confidentiality. To be invisible was the key to survival. But together we became a powerful group.
Archival pigment print
33 ½ x 29 in.
We were at the forefront of LGBTQ advocacy in Alabama, working within the system and spending our hard-earned fiscal and political currency to move the needle. We did our bit. We could hold hands in public, although we still struggle to overcome historical fear of that simple act of love. Typically raised by heterosexual parents, the younger generations have been left few clues about what came before them. Despite our more recent assimilation into the community at large, during the COVID pandemic we instinctively turned back to each other. We had successfully sheltered in place before. Our extensive experience as members of a trusted pod was useful. We saw each other more than ever, and kept each other safe—again.
Carolyn Sherer is a fine art photographer whose work has been shown internationally and is included in numerous museums, corporate, and private collections. She is interested in issues of identity and creates portraits to document common humanity amongst great diversity. Carolyn has collaborated with the Birmingham Civil Rights to feature exhibitions related to social justice issues; Just as I Am: Americans with Disabilities (1995), Living in Limbo: Lesbian Families in the Deep South (2012), and Family Matters: LGBTQ Youth Perspectives (2014). She also co-directed and co-produced the film Alabama Bound, a feature length award winning documentary about lesbian families in Birmingham. Sherer resides in Homewood, Alabama with her wife, Jean O’Neal.
Space One Eleven Involvement: Exhibiting Artist: The F Words 2008, Race Sex Politics Religion 2010, Barriers 2012