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Speaking OUT: Queer Youth in Focus is an ongoing collaborative photographic essay that allows myself as a photographer and activist and a diverse group of LGBTQ youth to share experiences.

For more information about the process and work please review my fundraising site: HERE

This project is looking for a publisher to help get these voices seen and heard.

Click here for sample of the book prototype

I believe there is strength in numbers, power in words, and freedom in art and I strive to raise awareness with this work.

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Join me on: Facebook - facebook.com/SpeakingOUT.rls

and Twitter @SpeakingOUT_rls

or e-mail SpeakingOUT@rachelleleesmith.com

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Upcoming / Recent 2011:

Mazzoni Center's Elixir: Benefit for the agency’s programs and services
impacting LGBT youth - May 20th

U.S. Department of Education's Federal LGBT Youth Summit in DC during Capital Pride Week - June 6-7th

Out In Jersey Magazine - August/September issue

Gender Reel Festival - September 9th-11th

West Hill United Church of Canada - December 4th

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Speaking OUT:

Queer Youth in Focus

download statement

 

click on images to enlarge

 

 

scroll down for gratitudes and accolades

download full accodales

   

Publications and Interviews

The Human Rights Campaign (or here)

The Advocate

Sex Etc.

She Wired

The New Gay

Federal Youth Summit

Out In Jersey

Philadelphia Magazine's G Philly

School Library Journal

       
self portrait
   
       
   
michael
 
joellen
 
anonymous
       
   
max
 
meredith
 
mandy
       
   
david
 
jeffrey
 
alistair
       
    john   lamar  
joey
    sabrina   tiff  
    sabrina   tiffany  
a.j.
       
    meg   tom  
edith
    jon    
    jon   doug  
meghan
      angelique  
    sam   angelique  
kevin
      beth  
    estevon  
beth
 
jessica
        melanie
    stephanie   sisqo  
melanie
       
    nas   maggie  
bucky
    josh   raven   franco
    josh   raven  
franco
    steven   dory  
    steven   dory  
billy
        jay
   
nikki
 
doc
jay
    megan    
    megan   russell  
kristin
    Tara     alyssa
    tara   ethan  
alyssa
       
    michelle   anonymous #2  
hileri
      mikey  
   
joe
 
mikey
 
kristen
      momo  
    danie   momo  
chris
       
    anthony   chenoa  
ricky
      ami   absent
    ron   ami  
absent
             
             
   
My sincere thanks and appreciation for the following supporters of this project:
   

Robin L. Allen * Tammy L. Anderson * Kelsie Baab * Autumn Bayles * The Bailey Family * Mark Banchi * Christina Beck * Dana Bunce * Kim Bunce * Alisa Brewster * Eric Carbonara * Lauren Caruso * Jeffrey Cesari * Edith Clee * Carmella Cocchiola * Tom Fillmyer * Heather Goldberg * Joe Gorman * Jeffrey Gray * Michele Gudknecht * Jessica Howe * Ben Hustis * Jheri * Patrick Jones * Shirlene Kirk * Michael Knight * Moriah (Momo) Lancaster * Dana Mahoney * Jen Martin * Jessica Mays-Dragoo * Molly McGovern * Mandy Messinger * Ken Miraski Sr. * Allison Muchorski * Doris and Walter Muchorski * Jo Ellen Muchorski * Michelle Platt * Tom Porett * Elizabeth Profy * B. Proud * Puppet * Erica Rancilio * Lise Raven * Jeremy Reppy * Hope Rovelto * Allison, Joe, Mia and Ana Salenetri * Amy Jutton Sayler * Megan Schneider * Susan Schneider * Victoria Skowronski * Marcia and Edward Smith * Hilary Spears * Rachel Stoudt * Rachel Stoudt * Tamara Talansky * Tiffany Thompson * David Timmons * Nicola Visaggio * Christina van Leeuwen * Nicola Visaggio * Angie Walden * Carly & Roxanne Walker * Jay Walker * Bonnie Weber * Brent Weichsel * Laura Wesolowski * Hattie Wilcox

 

Below are statements and quotes regarding Speaking OUT: Queer Youth in Focus

 

Candace Gingrich – Senior Youth Outreach Manager, Human Rights Campaign
It is very powerful stuff that should be seen by as many people as possible.

Human Rights Campaign:
Rachelle Lee Smith has created a powerful (art exhibit) sharing the stories of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. Youth from across the country were photographed and asked to offer their voice, opinions, and comments about their experience as GLBT. In their own words and handwriting, these youth have shared their stories creating a very intimate and personal view on what it is like to be a GLBT person today.

The Advocate:
Portraits of a Revolution: Photographer Rachelle Lee Smith gives lesbian and gay youth an outlet to speak for themselves.
Simple, yet powerful photos of queer youth speak reams

Sean Buffington – President, The University of the Arts
Rachelle Lee Smith's photographic project presents us with the face and the voice of this generation of LGBT youth: they are passionate, angry, funny, and committed. As an openly gay educational leader, I think this project is critical--not only for young queer people, but for their teachers, parents, mentors, and friends. We need to put this project in libraries and schools across the country!

Malcolm Lazin – Executive Director, Equality Forum:
Rachelle Lee Smith’s photographs take us one step closer and provide and inside, emotionally bare look at some of the unheard voices of young queer people. Smith offers a suggestion of the vast numbers of diversity of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth and encourages her subjects to express their own powerful ideas and thoughts. The work is especially impressive in its presentation of image and written narrative of GLBTQ youth.
I have followed Rachelle's work for over ten years. Her work has made a unique contribution to GLBT civil rights

............................................................................................Barbara Proud – Photographer/Professor:.................................................................................. ........ The use of the square format with visible film edges further confines the subjects to a limited environment. They are boxed in. Yet they leap and dance and laugh; they brood or they stare us directly in the eye, their spirits transcending the boundaries of the frame and daring us to be free enough to love, honor and live together in harmony. These are photographs that not only need to be seen, they need to be heard.

...........................................................................Carrie Jacobs, PhD - Executive Director, Attic Youth Center: ................................................................ Rachelle’s work speaks volumes - telling stories that need be told and giving voice to those whose lives need to be heard. She has created an opportunity for LGBTQ youth to express their power and voice. I believe that every young person who witnesses this work will feel a part of that power.

................................................................................. Erin Gotthardt – Coordinator, Identity Center (NY): .......................................................................... Being able to display several pieces from this project in our youth center gave Identity Youth the opportunity to see that they are not alone; there are other young people who have experienced the same joy, frustration, sorrow, hatred, love, confusion, peace, ostracism and belonging. Through this project, the youth were able to find the rare accurate mirror of themselves, and to contribute their own faces and voices to the positive self-view of other queer youth.

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