Photographic Exhibition: Ethnic Minorities coming out

This powerful exhibition of photography and text by Sonalle, explores challenges facing ethnic minority people coming out as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Through the combination of powerful imagery and text, Sonalle delves into the complexities of how ethnic minority lesbian, gay and bisexual people reveal their sexual orientation for the first time, portraying both the positive and negative aspects. Sonalle says “As an Indian British-born female, I am aware of the difficulties of coming out in ethnic minority societies. Family members and friends often suffer through their own narrow-mindedness and this leads them to hurt or reject the person coming out.”

Images for this project were produced from May to July 2009. Sonalle’s previous exhibitions have included domestic violence and squatting.

See www.sonalle.com for exhibition images and future exhibition information and venues. This project has been funded by UnLtd (www.unltd.org.uk) and Arts Council England (www.artscouncil.org.uk).

This exhibition has been facilitated by Croydon Area Gay Society (www.cags.org.uk) with the co-operation of Croydon Council, with funding from the LGBT Consortium (www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk).

Part of Croydon's LGBT offering for Black History Month - see www.croydonlgbtnetwork.org.uk/blackhm.htm.