Portraits that capture non-binary life in America
- Text by Nicole Lane
- Photography by Chloe Aftel

Six years ago, photographer Chloe Aftel embarked on the project Outside & In Between – a cross-country examination of the non-binary and genderqueer community in the United States.
Aftel travelled all over the country talking to and photographing subjects, at a time when the public discourse around genderqueer issues was not as prominent as it is today. In order to find them, she posted on social media and let the news spread by word of mouth.
For the project, Aftel made sure to remove all signs of “professional” portrait work: the shots are not located in a studio, use only natural light, and are not airbrushed. They are raw and real – depicting a community that makes up our population, but is often forgotten or abused by the mainstream.
“I want people to be their most honest selves, to be imperfect and vulnerable and beautiful, as that honesty is what moves me the most,” Aftel explains. “I want to hear about the subject, what they are or are not into, what they do, how they feel, a story about their life, whatever they are into. Anything is fair game to discuss if they are willing.”
Many of the subjects are looking directly at the camera and appear proud, strong and confident. This is partly because Aftel made sure that each person was in control of their environment, and given the chance to discuss exactly how they would be presented. “It was a dual purpose request, as it allowed them to feel comfortable which was key, but it also allowed me more insight into who they are,” she says. “Be it a room filled with their things or an environment where they feel peace, where they chose greatly enriched the image.”
Outside & In Between has already received several international photography awards and is available now. A portion of the proceeds from the four hundred signed copies will go towards The Trevor Project, which is a suicide and crisis support for LGBTQ youth.
Follow Nicole Lane on Twitter.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck

Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims
Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.
Written by: Hannah Bentley

Gazan amputees secure Para-Cycling World Championships qualification
Gaza Sunbirds — Alaa al-Dali and Mohamed Asfour earned Palestine’s first-ever top-20 finish at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Belgium over the weekend.
Written by: Isaac Muk

New documentary revisits the radical history of UK free rave culture
Free Party: A Folk History — Directed by Aaron Trinder, it features first-hand stories from key crews including DiY, Spiral Tribe, Bedlam and Circus Warp, with public streaming available from May 30.
Written by: Isaac Muk

Rahim Fortune’s dreamlike vision of the Black American South
Reflections — In the Texas native’s debut solo show, he weaves familial history and documentary photography to challenge the region’s visual tropes.
Written by: Miss Rosen

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind
Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.
Written by: Emma Garland

Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”
Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.
Written by: Katie Goh