Queer in the Country (2023) focuses on queer people who live in the UK countryside. LGBTQ+ representation tends to highlight individuals who live in major UK cities, perpetuating the idea the countryside is narrow-minded and socially conservative. Many queer people from rural areas believe that if they want to find their “tribe” and become their true self, they must relocate to a city. This series documents people whose mere presence in rural areas might change the way the countryside is perceived.
“As a country boy myself, Queer in the Country really spoke to me. Growing up in a rural setting, you’re drawn to the shininess of the city, a place where you feel you can better express yourself. But I know a lot of queer people in the city who yearn to go back to the country. Often when they do, they’re thrilled at how welcomed they are. There is an acceptance of difference, of eccentricity, in the countryside that has always been there. But when you’re younger and you are focusing on forming your own identity, that can be difficult to see. You feel like your life is on hold. Through great photographs, this project balances these contrasting elements. Brilliant and joyous.”
– Mark King, Head of Design and Special Projects at Queer Britain
