Being 'Gay in Trumpland': 20 Images Showing the Pain

"As a gay man I became frightened that the civil rights gains the LGBTQ community had fought so hard for, might be in danger of being reversed. I felt helpless. I am first and foremost an artist. I took to the studio to express myself. Using Mike Pence's history of anti-LGBTQ actions as an indication, I came to the conclusion that Pence and his ilk didn't just want to send us back into the closet, they wanted to eradicate homosexuality. I then set out to visually communicate this by not allowing the men in the photographs to connect. To thwart the fulfillment of their sexuality, if you will." -- photographer Ron Amato

What does he hope viewers will take away after experiencing these images?

"My goal is for the photographs to evoke a feeling of empathy for people who are unable to make loving connections and build rich, fulfilling lives due to oppression. Realizing healthy interpersonal relationships including sexual fulfillment is a human right regardless of orientation." -- photographer Ron Amato

Scroll through to check out Amato's powerful imagery. For more, please visit Gay in Trumpland and Amato's website at www.ronamato.com.

Credit: All Images (c) Ron Amato 2018