10 Transgender Men and Their Legacies Zine
This is a passion project I created, inspired by a LGBTQ history class I took. This zine tells the stories and describes the legacies of ten individual transgender men in the past. Even in LGBTQ+ media and history, trans men are often underrepresented, and some people don’t even know we can exist. I wanted to make something that proves we do, that describes our triumphs, our struggles, and our experiences.
For each of the men’s names, the header font I chose was “Stonewall 50” by Bobby Tannham with Feeld. It’s a free typeface commemorating the 50th anniversary of Pride and the NYC Stonewall uprising.
According to Feeld, “Stonewall 50’s mission is to serve as a tribute to those that have fought for LGBTQI+ equality and freedom, and to encourage action where inequality and oppression still exist. Carrying a rich historical legacy rendered in a contemporary aesthetic, Stonewall 50 aims to make an impactful contribution to LGBTQI+ visual culture.”
When creating this book, I wanted to achieve a grungy, but vibrant, “handcrafted” aesthetic, in true zine spirit. I made this during quarantine, so I didn’t have access many physical art supplies or layout methods, so the biggest challenge was emulating a textured, crafty feel digitally.
It was extremely difficult to choose just 10 men for this project. I decided to choose men who are no longer with us, to help honor their memories, and those who had photographs of them taken, but I put no constraints on time or era. These men’s stories and legacies resonated with me the strongest.