Forgive Me is a passion project that explores the experience of growing up queer in a religious household, whilst investigating the relationship and intersections between homosexuality and Christianity. As the gay son to a Northern Irish Pentecostal Pastor, I grew up in a restrictive environment that did not facilitate an easy transition as I discovered my sexual orientation and came into my queer identity. Surrounded by oppressive religious opinions, I was raised to believe that homosexuality was a sin which was punishable to an eternity in Hell. I wanted to curate an ethos that would encourage young men not to repress their sexual identity and to deduct their fears from religious doctrine. Forgive Me is to disrupt the power-dynamic the church holds over LGBTQ+ boys. I dedicate this to every queer boy who was made to feel like they chose a life of sin, a dedication to every boy that was called an abomination.
A THORN IN ONE’S FLESH An editorial inspired by the phrase ‘A thorn in one’s flesh”, a metaphoric phrase that came from the Bible found in Judges 2:3: “it is enemies that shall be thorns in your sides”. However, today the phrase is used to describe a constant source of irritation. It can be used to reference someone who is problematic, and that’s exactly how queer boys can be made to feel within religious families – the thorn in their family’s flesh, the problematic irritation that brings shame upon the family name.
CONCEALED This shoot is about masking your queer identity. That you conceal a major part of your life to fit in, but Luke 12:2 says, “nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known”. This verse basically means that no sin will go unseen, and that nothing can be hidden from God. This how it can feel walking into church on a Sunday morning – you put on a masculine façade to try mask the gay. Hoping no one would see through the mask and discover your secret. However, there is still an overwhelming feeling of guilt and shame knowing that God sees through it and that there is no way to hide the truth from him.
SODOM & GOMORRAH A biblical tale, Sodom and Gomorrah is a story about the destructive consequences of sin. The two cities were known for their sinful ways and the people were described as disgusting and corrupt for their sexual desires. One of the biggest sexual sins was homosexuality and due to the sinful action of these cities God destroyed them by setting the cities on fire. This story is where the word sodomy originates from, generally meaning anal or oral sex between two people of the same gender.
FALLEN A fallen angel is an angel that has been expelled from Heaven, due to their “sins”. These fallen angles have been identified as being led astray by Satan, in an act of rebellion against Jesus. As a queer boy in a religious household, you can be made to feel like a fallen angel that the life you have “chosen” is one of sin. To come out as gay, you can be made to feel as though you have been stripped of your innocence and purity, just like the angels, or that it is a defiant act of rebellion against your parents.
GENESIS Inspired by the story of Adam and Eve, Genesis reimagines the creation and temptation of man with a homosexual twist. This queer reinterpretation of the classic Bible story shows them give in to temptation, as they take a bite of the forbidden fruit and commit their homosexual desires. Growing up queer in a religious household you are told to not give in to temptations, as they are sent from the Devil. Once you make that decision to experiment with your sexuality, it can feel as though you’ve just bitten the apple like Eve.
UNGODLY HOUR . PT 1 A two part series inspired by the phrase “I’d rather be a sinner than a saint”, this shoot shares a similar ethos. It encourages the decision to explore your sexual orientation and queer identity, even if that means being portrayed as a sinner. A lesson to not waste your life in fear of the unknown or for an eternity that isn’t guaranteed. The new mentality of “I’d rather be a queer than a saint”.
UNGODLY HOUR . PT 2 A stripped back series questioning why the intimacy between two men is a sin. Leaving behind the stylised and editorial aesthetic of the previous shoot, it focuses on the male body and physical connections. The series is shot in a pure and innocent form, contradicting the opinions of the Church.