During a trip to Cuba in January, photographer David Tesinsky gravitated toward a transgender woman named Malu who managed to become a celebrity of sorts by living freely in stark contrast to the nation’s “low profile” queer community.
The visual artist also turned his lens on Natasha and Alina, self-identified gay men who transform into drag performers in Havana nightclubs after dark, for his “Before Night Falls” series.
“I’m inspired by contrast,” Tesinsky told The Huffington Post. “That somebody could just be selling fruits and vegetables during the day for a living, and then can turn into a queen of the evening on stage at night.”
Discover how “Before Night Falls” expands the conversation on gender and identity in a country with a history of neglecting its LGBTQ citizens here.