For the past ten years, photographer Jeff Sheng has made it his mission to shine a light on issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans through his work. In this 99U presentation, Sheng shares Fearless, a project on “out” athletes on high school and college sports teams and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a series that shows closeted members of the armed services with their faces obstructed. “These brave men and women were serving our country, going to war, yet they couldn’t be open about who they were,” he says.
Sheng shares how important (and difficult) it was to build trust amongst his subjects, and how the tide of social change affected his work’s visibility. ”Whatever creative process, we have a responsibility to the potential of our power…It can’t just be about what brings us fame and fortune.”

10 Observations by Mike Arauz

Writer Andrew Solomon has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. Now he turns inward, bringing us into a childhood of adversity, while also spinning tales of the courageous people he’s met in the years since. In a moving, heartfelt and at times downright funny talk, Solomon gives a powerful call to action to forge meaning from our biggest struggles.

Animated adaptation of a commencement speech given by George Saunders at Syracuse University, May 2013. Video by Above Average. Via swiss miss