Ahead of the American elections, photographer and filmmaker Luke Gilford brings us his ode to queer rodeo in a book entitled "National Anthem", which he started around the time Donald Trump was elected. His first monograph challenges the patriarchal, Christian, whiteness of rural America, "the land of the free and the home of the brave". Growing up in Colorado as the son of a pro bull rider, Gilford spent his formative years around the rodeo. In 2016, he discovered queer rodeo at a Pride event. The meeting resulted in the book, "National Anthem: America's Queer Rodeo", published by Damiani.
He talks to Eve Jackson about growing up as a queer child of rural south-west America, the power of queer rodeo to disrupt the country's tribal dichotomies and why the community represents what America could be: a place of inclusion and acceptance of everyone.
They also chat about his work with body positive role model Lizzo, who he says is changing the world, plus his films featuring Pamela Anderson and Jane Fonda.
