Jan Dee Gordon is a Los Angeles based photographer. She is the author behind the captivating book LGBTQ of Steel.
You can find the book LGBTQ of Steel here.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Gordon about her inspiration behind the book LGBTQ of Steel, and why it’s important to be an LGBTQ ally.
How, and when did you come up with the idea of LGBTQ of Steel?
I was inspired to do a second book expressing the same theme as my first book Women of Steel in May of 2018. In the book, we can understand how these twenty successful women used their inner strength to overcome the obstacles and hardships in each of their lives, and then lead a life of their choice. They are real examples of the theme of my work. Each reacted to the piece of steel in the photograph as she reacted to dealing with her particular difficulties.
The subject of LGBTQ [of Steel] was born from the fact that my brother, Ben Lewis, died of complications of AIDS at 48-years-old. He was President of a bank and had a Ph.D. but had no idea how one got HIV. He led a double life until he became ill when he had to open up to all of us. He left a 14-year-old daughter who is now in this book as is her partner. The people in this book have all succeeded in overcoming obstacles and used their inner strength to change and lead a life of their choice.
What was your most memorable experience during shooting?
The interviews in which I asked each
What were some of the hurdles you faced?
Getting very busy people to schedule a shoot. Getting an understanding of what I wanted them to do with the piece of steel which was to interpret how they dealt with and overcame the hardships in their lives and succeeded in living a life of their choice.
Would you mind telling us a little bit about your brother Ben Lewis, to whom you dedicate the book?
My brother was President of a bank in Florida and had earned a Ph.D. from Boston University. He had a wife, from whom he was divorced after some years, and a daughter with whom he was very close. He visited often in Los Angeles to see our dad and us. One night while we were in New York we received a panicky phone call from him. He had been ill in the hospital and was diagnosed with HIV. He was totally shocked and didn’t have a clue what to do. We had him come immediately to New York where our son-in-law was an intern at Mt. Sinai Hospital. The hospital had a special person to handle HIV questions and give advice. I went with Ben to see this person. His first question was “How do you get HIV?”
So, this educated person did not know about it at all. He died in 1994 and was, therefore, one of the thousands who knew the facts too late. His daughter and her soon-to-be wife are both in this book.
Why did you choose to pursue a career as a photographer?
I pursued art all the time in one way or another and fell in love with photography after taking a workshop because it was instantly gratifying to see your thought and image on paper so fast.
Describe what your ideal workspace looks like. Do you play music? If so, what are some of your favorite artists to listen to while you’re shooting?
My ideal workspace was my studio – shared with 2 other photographers. The peace of being alone with my ideas, camera, and all I needed was the best. I listened to standards most of the time, but sometimes to nothing at all but the quiet.
What do you think makes a great photograph stand out from an average photograph?
The excellence of composition – together with the ability to carry out an idea, and the tonal qualities of the image.
How did you choose the 50 “LGBTQ heroes”, as they’re described in your bio?
My son was able to populate the book starting with people he knew and then networking with them to know more. Plus, asking everyone we knew who their connections were. It took a lot of patience and follow-up. Scheduling was the most difficult. Sometimes we were able to shoot 3 people in a day and many times just one.
It seemed to me that every person is uniquely styled to who they are as an individual. Who chose the hair, makeup, and wardrobe for each client? What was that process like?
I talked to each person before the shoot about clothing and what their choices were. Then we talked color. Each person did his own makeup before coming to the studio. He or she then brought choices of what to wear and we chose from that taking into consideration the color of the background desired by me.
Many of your photographs include a bright background; how important was your use of color?
Very important. I wanted to show the colors represented in the rainbow used in LGBTQ icons. Their joy after being able to live authentically showed in the brightness of color.
In addition to your photographs in the book, there are some beautiful coming out stories, and some heartbreaking ones too. As well as a few shareable quotes. My favorite quote from the book is by Eugene Maysky:
It’s important to gay-it-forward.
Eugene Maysky
Tell someone who needs to hear it,
“You are not alone; there are people
who love you and accept you just the way
you are.”
Who’s personal story or quote impacted you the most?
I think it is the story of Calpurnia that impacted me the most. She had to overcome unbelievable obstacles, which she did, and then lived an inspiring life to herself and others.
I told myself that you really need to address your identity, be yourself, and be who you need to be.
Calpurnia
Another quote that stands out to me is from Dana Goldberg:
Don’t subscribe to other people’s dogma. You have one life. You have to live it. No one else is going to live it for you, and there is no one else like you on this planet.
Dana Goldberg
Lastly, what message do you want to send to the readers of LGBTQ of Steel?
Understand the importance of fighting for equality and tolerance amongst humanity. Eliminate prejudice. Help a young person struggling with identity. Just understand and empathize with these wonderful people.
Find more of Jan Dee Gordon’s work at humanityofsteel.com
