In July, Florida's Lieutenant Governor, Jennifer Carroll, put the spotlight on how lesbians look â┚¬â€œ and how they don't. When she found herself at the center of a lesbian sex scandal, Carroll made the questionable choice of defending herself by telling reporters, â┚¬Å”Usually black women that [sic] look like me don’t engage in relationships like that.â┚¬Â The implication cut through loud and clear: pretty black women are not gay.
Carroll's comment offended both LGBT activists and lesbians of all shapes, colors and sizes. They took their outrage to the internet and one of the most effective statements was made via Twitter, where lesbians posted photos of themselves next to the hashtag #ThisIsWhatALesbianLooksLike. The results were strikingly diverse and on July 26, less than two weeks after she made the offensive comments, Carroll publicly apologized.
Watermark already had a summertime fashion spread focused on lesbian style in the works. In the shadow of Carroll's stereotypes, it has become fortuitous that these images are now an opportunity to showcase and celebrate some of the beauty, diversity and incredibly expressive fashion choices from Central Florida's lesbian community.
Story by Jamie Hyman
Art Direction by Jake Steven
Photography by Lee Vandergrift
