Transformation tattoo for Transgender son

Steve Peace a Canadian tattooist has updated his wife’s tattoo of their children to reflect the new gender of her eldest son Ace. The original tattoo was done over 10 years ago, and showed a portrait of their children, Elliot, Hamish and Ace- when Ace was living as a girl.

Steve has now changed the tattoo of a young girl wearing a pink dress and pigtails into a boy wearing a blue shirt and shorts to reflect Ace who is a transgender teen. The tattoo transformation was kept as a surprise for Ace and shows how much they support his decision to be who he really is.

In an interview with Global News Steve said:

I think it really reaffirmed, for him, that we believed him […] Parents often sit in the closet themselves. This was putting it out there. Parents need to really support their kids in these situations. I thought he was happy before, but no — he’s happier now. It’s crazy. He smiles all the time.

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Tattoo by Steve

Watch the video below to hear Ace’s story:

Coming Out: Arjun Kamath

Photographer Arjun Kamath has created a haunting photographic series portraying a tragic story that celebrates love and explores destructive homophobia in India. No matter how accepting some parts of the world are, the Coming Out collection demonstrates the persecution and violence that gay and lesbian people still face in India.

The two women start their journey by bravely stepping out the closet, inspired by their love for one another and a courage to defy the culture and stigma surrounding them. But their laughter echoes through the forest and reaches the Rakshasas (a word for evil in Hindu mythology), they believe that the only love should be between a man and a woman…

Production-Design – Nishitha Karumbaiah
Make-up – Sonia Keer Dhawan
Costume-Design and Styling – Amritha Rajavelu
Creative-coordinator – Arvind
Maitreyi – Sarah Harish
Alpana – Shraddha Srinath
Parivala – Arvind
Story, Photography and Creative-Direction – Arjun Kamath

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It’s a free world.

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The twigs cracked under Alpana’s feet as she stumbled out of the closet; Maitreyi’s calm presence gave her the hope that the forest was a safe place. As the two girls trudged ahead, the winds of the forest roared, blowing an eerie chill past the endless line of dying trees…

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As Maitreyi and Alpana grew comfortable in each others arms, the glowing sun started to reveal itself through the perilous clouds

india4The women begin to relax and play in the forest.

imndiaaThe Rakshasas of the forest had heard Maitreyi and Alpana’s laughter…

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Maitreyi and Alpana would pay for their sins…

ijjMaitreyi and Alpana were shoved back into the closet…

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