Photographer Jeff Sheng began his “Fearless” project right after college. Since 2003, he’s been photographing openly gay high school and college athletes who play on their school’s “straight” teams. The photo series is currently hanging in the Pride House at the 2012 London Olympics. Just wondering, is that where I go to stalk Matthew Mitcham when I get to London?
Despite advances we’ve made in the world as a community, can you image the courage it takes to be openly gay on a high school or college sports team? There’s very few out professional athletes and these young men (and women) are showing everyone that sexual preference has nothing to do with being a competitor.
Check out some of the college guys from “Fearless” after the break.
– J. Harvey
If today’s High School and College gay athletes have the balls to be open about it, then I would say the advances in society for our team have been enormous. I tip my hat to you guys. It makes me so proud to see the strength and conviction of the upcoming generations to be who they really are. All the pain and suffering we older gays endured over the decades was not in vain. Bravo!!
I like the message, I just feel the photographer could have been a little more aesthetic and put these guys in some poses that are somewhat different.
I’m mixed on this. a lot these pics are overly sexualized…and are high school kids. Part of me loves the open athlete thing, but, I guess i dont know how fearless it is to be an athlete? Butch gays are the “normal” gays to a lot of heteros I find. I dunno, something is unsettling about this, but props to those kids who can be out and be successful at what they love.