Growing up gay

the long version

Rita Reed, out of a concern over the high rate of suicide among gay and lesbian teens, and convinced that the stories of Amy and Jamie would help others feel less isolated, gained the trust of these two young people and was allowed into their developing lives. Reed captured moments from the pain of rejection to the joys of first love; from the collapse of self-confidence to the understanding that they were not alone and that, in spite of societal prejudices, they were loved and respected. Reed's photographs - intimate, moving, and generous - establish a level of understanding difficult to achieve with words alone.