From the Streets to the Heart

The project "from the streets to the heart," created by artist Ernst Coppejans, is a documentary portrait series focusing on homeless LGBTQIA+ youth and adults in New York City. The powerful visual, textual and auditory narrative showcases the resilience, courage, and beauty of those who have been marginalized and made invisible by society. The project seeks to raise awareness about homelessness among LGBTQIA+ youth and adults in the city. Every day, hundreds of homeless LGBTQIA+ individuals face discrimination, abuse, and abandonment as they struggle to survive. The portraits, shot by Coppejans in the streets of New York City, are the centrepiece of this project. With the city serving as a backdrop, the focus is on the person, who is captured in all their humanity, dignity, and grace. Showcasing their inner beauty, despite the hardships they endure. The project offers a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of the portrayed, provides a voice to those who have been voiceless, and allows the world to understand the challenges they face on a daily basis. In today's critical period, marked by unprecedented legislative threats to LGBTQIA+ rights, the project serves as a powerful call to action, demanding attention to the urgent need for positive change.