(Picture: Thomas Evans/Caters News)

Transgender models have been photographed beaten up and dressed to show the abuse transgender people face every day.

34-year-old Thomas Evans, from Manhattan, New York, hopes to depict the reality of the abuse transgender people face.

He photographed celebrity models Dina Delicious and Brian Michael Smith as part of the shoot.

The masterclass, held by Thomas at Central Connecticut State University, USA, coincided with Trans Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance.


Thomas believes the community is suppressed by a lack of access to health care, employment and housing – which can lead to increased likelihood of drug use and the risk of HIV.



Thomas, a photo artist, said: ‘These models are well-known in the trans and LGBTQ+ community, I wanted the students to hear their stories and see these people living their truths.

(Picture: Thomas Evans/Caters News)

‘The first portrait shows the accepted, what people see in prescribed genders of masculine and feminine.

‘Then for the second we show the abuse trans people face in society.

‘Each model posed in two different portraits.

‘We gave Brian the look of a bloody nose from makeup, it was very dramatic and intense.

‘The first look is to show what is acceptable in society and approved, that is beautiful and in the box of beauty, masculine and feminine and what is accepted.

‘The second shows the abuse in society towards trans people – physical, sexual, verbal, mental and cultural.

‘The most common is verbal abuse and that can be just as damaging, we want to represent all forms of abuse from the sides you can see to those that you can’t.’

The photographs contrasted two images, the ‘glamour’ of accepted gender norms and the physical manifestation of abuse geared towards the trans community.

Covered in makeup to create fake blood and bruising Brian Michael Smith and Dina Delicious hope the photographs will bring awareness to the .

(Picture: Thomas Evans/Caters News)

35-year-old Brian is an actor famed for his role on the NBC show Queen Sugar. He believes it was important to highlight the treatment of the trans community.

That the photos were released on Transgender Day of Remembrance made the experience more poignant for him.

The violence trans people face According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 29 transgender people in the US died in 2017 due to fatal violence – the most ever recorded. These victims were killed by acquaintances, partners and strangers, some of whom have been arrested and charged, while others have yet to be identified. They say that while the details of these cases differ, it is clear that fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women of colour. 2018 has so far already seen at least 22 transgender people fatally shot or killed by other violent means.

He said: ‘It remembers the victims of violence and suicide, a lot of them because of the communication around trans people, the stigma and violence.

‘It’s important these people may not have experienced physical assault and to see that impact of a violent situation.

‘When allies understand they are more likely to stand up for real people, honouring their identity.

‘All people should be free to explore how they want to define themselves, nothing is set in stone.’

Dina, a recording artist, actress and activist, from New York, found the ‘polarity’ of the images exciting as she is used to be photographed in a more glamorous way.

She said: ‘I’m used to having photos taken, but it was interesting and exciting meeting these students.



‘I think while in the editing room they will understand it in a clever way, at the time they were taking photos it was in an artistic way.

‘It’s very emotional for me, I believe seeing photos will open their eyes and create a dialogue.’

Thomas was inspired by the women’s marches after President Trump’s leaked comment ‘Grab them by the p****’ and the need to support children who are non-gender conforming.

Thomas said: ‘Growing up as a gay child, I felt a lot of shame, so I tried to hide who I was and created these walls, but now as an adult I recognise being able to access masculine and feminine is a gift.

‘As a gay man, I am able to present as a man and still have the emotional response as feminine, which to me is more compassion, sensitive to the world, more empathetic.

‘To me being able to carry both is a gift, I want to take the best of each energies and use them.

‘I hope for zero judgement on how people present themselves and breaking down stereotypes.

‘Society is moving in such a rapid direction that gender is not male or female anymore, the new generation is gender fluid.

‘They don’t have to decide to be either a man or a woman in the world but can create their own path, I’m trying to normalise that idea.”

In the masterclass Thomas highlighted his Femme the Man campaign.

Thomas added: ‘I never set out for the photo campaign to be controversial, I follow my passion in life and feel like I’m expressing my hope for equality.


‘I want to promote diversity, equality, compassion and love.’

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