A new photography series is having straight celebrities pose as same-sex couples in an attempt to fight off homophobia.
“IMAGINARY COUPLES” was created by French photographer Olivier Ciappa, and features Eva Longoria posing with singer Lara Fabian, as well as Dallas Buyers Club director Jean-Marc Vallee posing with Sicario director Denis Villenueve.
Other celebrities appear in the series, but most were chosen internationally, and are often unrecognizable to Americans.
Ciappa said it was witnessing homophobia himself, especially after same-sex marriage became legal in France, that inspired the project.
“The celebrities that I shot are heterosexual, but it was essential to me that you would believe these imaginary couples and families they portray were real,” Ciappa said. “If you couldn’t identify with their love and feel it was real, then I would have failed.”
Some members of the LGBT community do see it as a fail, however, saying that straight couples pretending to be gay could be considered condescending or offensive.
The series is set to have its U.S. debut later this year, but will it help fight off homophobia as the photographer intended, or will people find it patronizing and insulting?
Some members of the LGBT community do see it as a fail, however, saying that straight couples pretending to be gay could be considered condescending or offensive.
Some members of the LGBT community do see it as a fail, however, saying that straight couples pretending to be gay could be considered condescending or offensive.
....And I would disagree because I'm not stupid enough to think as ridiculously as this
To people outside France/Belgium, Lara Fabian is mostly remembered for this song:
seems a bit pointless but I'm glad they're at least making an attempt to be supportive