Trans Is Human is a photography exhibition created and produced by acclaimed actor and filmmaker Jake Graf and co-produced by award-winning campaigner Hannah Graf MBE. It launches at Outernet London, the UK’s most visited cultural attraction on Monday November 17th and will be free to visit. Soundtracking the piece is a track from Yungblud’s latest Number 1 album Idols called Hello Heaven, Hello.
Across the Outernet screens Trans is Human elevates and celebrates the stories of thirteen deeply inspiring but ordinary transgender people from across the UK. World-renowned photographer Mariano Vivanco took the beautiful black and white portraits of each of the participants which make up the exhibition. The photographs are accompanied by stories about personal journeys, battles with adversity and how inner strength and living authentically creates the most powerful resilience and hope.
These include Sarah, who overcame sight loss to support LGBTQ+ people with disabilities while running marathons, to Amanda, a refugee and the first Miss Trans Global Uganda, and Leo, a speaker and life coach with Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy who empowers others
Born in 1980s London under Section 28 and assigned female at birth, Jake knew from a young age that he was in body that didn’t fit. Hannah was assigned male at birth and growing up in Cardiff she hid her innate femininity from her family and friends until joining the British Army in her late teens.
Their journeys were wildly different, Jake falling into drug and alcohol addiction, Hannah excelling in the military and serving across the world. In 2013 Hannah came out as a transgender woman and became one of the highest ranking transgender soldiers within the British Army and would later be awarded an MBE Jake discovered community and purpose in the film industry. Now, they are married and parents to two beautiful daughters.
Hannah Graf MBE and Jake Graf said ‘The idea for Trans is Human came about following years and years of misinformation and the demonisation of the UK’s trans community that left us almost entirely dehumanised. Working with Mariano to allow these very human people to soar was an absolute pleasure and thrill. Now, at such a pivotal moment for the UK trans community, as we face the possible loss of many of our most basic human rights, Trans is Human is more vital than ever. We are supremely grateful to the Outernet team and Yungblud for elevating the campaign and helping to remind the world that trans people are human too.’
Yungblud said “I’m honoured that ‘Hello Heaven, Hello’ will be a part of this exhibition. Trans Is Human is all about celebrating truth, identity and the beauty of being yourself, unapologetically. That’s something I’ve always tried to celebrate in everything I do. I’m buzzing to play even a small part in telling these powerful stories.”
Scott Neal Outernet Creative Director Culture and Lifestyle said “The work being done around trans and broader LGBTQ+ equality is far from over. A recent YouGov poll showed 84% of trans people in Britain feel unsafe in public spaces Trans is Human showcases the humanity behind individual trans stories to highlight that gender identity is just a part of a person’s story. At Outernet equality, fairness and safety are values we live by every single day We thank Hannah and Jake for creating this piece and we’re proud to display it – for everyone.”
Mariano Vivanco said ‘The Trans is Human project means so much to me because it embodies everything I believe in; truth, honesty through visibility, empathy, and the power of storytelling through photography.
When I’m behind the lens, I’m always searching for those real moments of authenticity and vulnerability — the spaces where people reveal who they truly are. With Trans Is Human, we created a space where trans individuals could be seen beyond labels, beyond politics and beyond prejudice — simply as Human.
At a time when fear and misunderstanding still shape so much of the conversation, I felt it was my responsibility to use my art to amplify truth, dignity, and love. For me, this wasn’t just a photoshoot; it was a collaboration rooted in compassion, respect, and a shared hope for a more accepting world.’
