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Where love is Illegal

Robin Hammond – Witness Change

At least 69 countries have laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. In addition, at least nine countries have laws criminalizing forms of gender expression that target transgender and gender nonconforming people. In these countries people who love each other or do not conform to conservative definitions of gender identity, must live secret lives. Discrimination and hatred is not limited to countries that outlaw love. Worldwide, violence and prejudice against the LGBTQI+ community is rampant, targeting those who simply wish to live openly as themselves. The team behind Where Love Is Illegal believes that stories have the ability to connect people, transform opinions, open minds, and change policies. Led by photographer Robin Hammond and his non-profit organization Witness Change, Where Love Is Illegal documents and captures personal testimonies of survival from the LGBTQI+ community around the world. Those who were photographed as part of this global storytelling campaign chose how they wanted to pose, what they wanted to wear and how to present themselves. They all hand wrote their stories and letters to be shared with the world.