fundraising idea: calendar

[Betsy]

A number of months ago I had dinner with someone interested in doing a film about intersex people. The film he would like to do is profiling real people (LOL...now where have we heard this before?). Anyways, during that dinner I mentioned I would like to have Bodies produce a calendar featuring intersex people and use it as a fundraiser.

After several months of not hearing from him, he wrote today that he has funding for filming. If anyone is needed, I will send out the usual invitation to participate. He also managed to raise funds for doing a calendar with us.

Here's the deal: instead of the usual candid shots, I would like it feature intersex people posing in very tasteful nude. Nothing pornographic and nothing you would hesitate to send to mom. This is a way for us to reclaim and celebrate our queer bodies.

It could be something solo, or with your partner...however you want. It would be professionally photographed as well.

The finished calendar would then be offered as a fundraiser to benefit Bodies Like Ours.

Nothing is set in stone yet, and nothing has yet to be agreed on but before I pursue it further would like to guage interest. You don't need to be skinny, you don't need to be young.

Betsy

[lost]

thank-you betsy,,,,,,,, I can't stop laughing ,,, when I thought of anyone paying to see me naked in a calander ,,,lmao.

but the movie ,,I am very interested in,,,,,,,,,,, infront of the camera, or behind it . I have a little bit of education in graphics and communication.Inventing and producing our own game show and commercials.using special effects generator,multi cameras,,,etc...,,,, so please keep me in mind if anything comes up.

ps.- are you going to pose for the calender ? hehe :)

[Peter]

I have mixed feelings about the idea of photographs for an intersex calendar. When I was about 18 years old, a prominent fashion photographer came to our house to take pictures of me and my brother.

Shortly after the photo shoot, I asked my mother why the heck a prominent photographer would be interested in me and my brother. My mom replied that the photographer was interested in photographing my face because of my "condition".

To this day, I feel that I was used by the photographer. So, even if the photographs are done "tastefully", it's still a tricky issue. There is the danger of bringing up all the past cultural images of a "freak show".

On the other hand, I am somewhat interested in the idea of a nude photograph of me with my cute little herm face floating above my big fat middle-aged body.

Peter

[Betsy]

Originally posted by lost
ps.- are you going to pose for the calender ? hehe :)

I would never ask anyone to do something I wouldn't do.

Originally posted by Peter
There is the danger of bringing up all the past cultural images of a "freak show"

Absolutely and as one who suffered through many non-consensual photographs of my genitals understand that fear. I think that is why a project like this interests me.

We would be the ones exploiting those who think we are freaks by showing them that we are real people after a lifetime of it being insinuated, either spoken or unspoken that there is something inherently wrong with us. This project would help us erase that notion and show that we are proud of who we are.

The marketing could be a hoot too...think about all the porn sites that advertise "True Hermaphrodites!" and it is a bunch of photoshopped pictures and how we could use that to our advantage.

Betsy

[Glenn]

Having just seen "Calendar Girls" recently, I was amused to see what direction this thread took. It's a hoot if you haven't seen it yet.
I think this is a great idea - lots of potential to be both silly and empowering.

Glenn