Bex Wade's London exhibition responds to UK Supreme Court ruling on trans rights

Photographer Bex Wade opened the solo exhibition 'I Know Who I Am By Being With You' at SLQS Gallery in London. The show features photographs of New York's queer nightlife from the 2010s, including the 2012 image 'NY Nights' taken at a lesbian club during Pride weekend. This exhibition coincides with the UK Supreme Court's April ruling that 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refers solely to biological sex, excluding gender identity. Wade describes how anti-trans legislation in both the UK and US has changed the meaning of their archival work, transforming what felt like celebration into resistance. The photographer, based in the UK, creates images from within the queer and trans community, emphasizing consent and shared understanding. Their work documents protests, Pride events, and nightlife, with recent documentation of a trans protest for British Vogue. Wade argues that trans people are rarely consulted in legal decisions affecting their lives, and their photography serves as a living archive asserting community presence. The exhibition runs concurrently with increasing anti-trans bills in the United States targeting healthcare, drag performance, bathroom access, and art.