Labels are a heteronormative lens: Kobe Wagstaff – Lampoon Digital Edition

Kobe Wagstaff photographed friends and their bodies to revel in contradiction and curate a world where archetypes are shown and lensed with softness, and color

Fat, fem, masc, twink: the heteronormative lens

Title: Vessel

«I wanted to explore the varied vessels I see within my community and celebrate these bodies». Within gay spaces, there are so many terms and stereotypes that we throw at each other. Fat, fem, masc, twink etc. 

These labels are a reflection of the heteronormative lens lying within the community’s subconscious. They limit us from exploring the complexities of our minds, hearts and souls. 

Being Queer in Kobe Wagstaff’s words

«Being queer is not defined by the vessel your soul has been placed in. Being queer is undefinable. A right that has been fought for to celebrate individuality and the expression of love. In a world where we seek comfort in stereotyping others and defining people based on an external influence, I contradict myself daily by being an image maker and trying to showcase a feeling. The internal influence is complex. All I can do when I’m constructing an image, is aspire. Aspire to make a visual representation of something that is felt or seen». 

We are complex, and resilient

In this story, Kobe Wagstaff photographed friends and their bodies to revel in that contradiction and curate a world where archetypes are shown and lensed with simplicity, vulnerability, softness, and harmonious color. We are not our bodies or labels. We are complex, and resilient.

Photography Kobe Wagstaff

Jaxon Willard
Benny Brown
Ezra Woods 
Michael Woodcock
Chayse Montoya
Chris Tse

Editorial team

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