I often think about my older self. Who will be with me when I am older? Will I be living in an aged care home? Will I be living with a lover as we take care of each other? Will I be living with friends?

Wherever I end up, I want to be safe and know that the people around me are empathetic and understanding of me as a person, and of my transness.

All images by: Marlo W (the author)

Meredith, 2023.

Mithra/Mithrani, 2023.

There is a severe lack of representation of older transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals in the media. As a result, their intimate lives – their thoughts, passions, interests, hopes, struggles, regrets – become something of a mystery.

It is important for people to see themselves reflected in society. It is how we experience belonging. As a young transgender person, where will I belong if I do not see myself reflected in my elders? These thoughts led me to search for older trans and gender diverse people in Naarm.

Eden’s hands, 2023.

Marie, 2023.

It was a lengthy process finding older trans and gender diverse people to photograph and interview. I relied on community centres, online networks and organisations such as Switchboard Victoria to connect me with people.

I am so grateful to have met the people involved in this series. Their life stories and insights about the world deserve to be heard, seen and validated. I acknowledge that this series represents only a small portion of the many TGD people living and gone, and is by no means a direct portrayal of the myriad ways older TGD people live.

Mithra/Mithrani, 2023.

Tiff’s legs, 2023.

My first photographic book, Foreground: Portraits of Older Transgender and Gender Diverse People, is a celebration of a group of people who are often overlooked. Sharing the stories of older TGD people is integral to demythologising transgender people to the broader community.

There is a need to platform the voices of older trans and gender diverse people who have long been marginalised and portrayed negatively by society and in the mainstream media. It has been a pleasure taking these portraits and getting to know the older TGD people included in this series. Through this project, I wish to bridge generations through mutual understanding, guidance and respect.

Kim, 2023.

Sasja, 2023.

Julie Peters in Foreground – “…I think it’s important to let people know that we exist and understand what the real people were like, rather than the stereotypes. I think trans people are often disempowered because previous generations have made a huge effort to be invisible. The problem with that invisibility is that anybody else can say anything about them they like.”

Latoya Hoeg in Foreground – “…around my family I could be a faʻafafine, a beautiful word that actually means ‘mannerism of a woman’. So I embraced that term and I understood what it was, even though when I was younger, I didn’t speak fluent Samoan then. I thought it was a bad word like sissy or poof but it ended up being a beautiful word.”

Imogen’s sword, 2023.

Mithra/Mithrani, 2023.

Marie August in Foreground – “You’re all grouped together, and we’re all trans, but we’re all individuals as well, we’re all particular in our own ways.”

Petal Rosalie in Foreground – “Even though some of my friends reckon they knew that I was trans back then, they didn’t say anything at the time. I kind of wish they had now. But you can’t live in the past, that’s for sure. The past is over.”

Julie, 2023.

Wenn, 2024.

Ricki Spencer in Foreground – “It’s time to stop looking for tomorrow, because tomorrow is running out. That’s why I’ve got to try and do something now.”

Wenn B. Lawson in Foreground – “…in the medical world they’ll say things like, ‘Oh, but autistic people get very obsessive about things – maybe this is just their latest obsession’. I say, ‘Just walk with us through it, and don’t make judgements, just walk with us.’ It takes a long time and lots of shifting perspectives to go through any kind of transitional process.”

Sasja, 2023.

Kim, 2023.

Marlo W’s first photographic book, Foreground: Portraits of Older Transgender and Gender Diverse People (edited by Lia Dewey Morgan and designed by Amy Yu), is now available for preorder on their website.

Foreground consists of portraits and interviews between the artist and the 18 participants in the series. Marlo hopes to donate copies to LGBTQIASB+ organisations, programs and libraries located in homes for the ageing.

Marlo’s Foreground exhibition and book launch will take place at Hillvale Gallery in Brunswick (Wurundjeri Country) on Friday 17 May 2024.