Thursday, March 30th  – Don’t You Want Me is a social impact photography project that shows the bond between queer and trans people and their rescue dogs, cultivating empathy, understanding and admiration through photography and storytelling.

Jack Jackson, the Toronto-based dog photographer who created this project comments, “Trans Day of Visibility is an important day for the project – to date almost half of the people that are featured in the project are trans, including myself. Through images and storytelling, I aim to capture the joy of being trans and show the many transformations that can take place when rescue dogs and people receive the things they need: love, shelter and to not live in fear. Partnering with and exhibiting the project at Toronto Humane Society is a dream come true for me. Toronto was the first place that I could call home, it was somewhere I finally felt free to be myself – there was space for me to belong here and I saw myself represented in society. When you see yourself reflected in society you start to see possibilities of a future. There were no role models when I was growing up, and too many times I couldn’t see a future. The people featured in the project are an inspiration to me and their insight and transformations help not only other 2SLGBTQ people, but everyone.”

“Toronto Humane Society is thrilled to display this exhibit and celebrate our 2SLGBTQ+ community” says Tegan Buckingham, Director, Integrated Marketing and Development at Toronto Humane Society. “For Trans Day of Visibility, Toronto Humane Society stands in solidarity with the Transgender community in their fight for justice, increased representation, and inclusion in society, and is proud to partner with the ‘Don’t you want me’ initiative to help spotlight a beautiful and diverse community.”

The exhibit is on display at Toronto Humane Society until 14th April alongside a poster on the exterior of the building. Through his dog photography business, Jack Jackson dog photography, Jackson is offering dog photo session prizes to select dogs in the GTA with 5% from every sale being donated to Toronto Humane Society! People can enter here for a chance to win.

Throughout the spring Jackson will be interviewing and photographing local people who would like to take part in the project. Individuals who are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, have rescued a dog and have experienced firsthand how their dog changed their life are encouraged to apply to participate.

Media Contacts: For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:

Jack Jackson, Jack@dontyouwantme.com, 416 871 3425

About the Don’t You Want Me Project

The Don’t You Want Me project celebrates the lives of queer and trans people and their rescue dogs and creates a visual global platform for them to tell their stories. Coupling compelling images and personal narratives, our aim is to cultivate empathy, understanding and admiration of people and their rescue dogs. Finding strength and purpose in the unconditional love of dogs, we watch the participants heal and transform. This reciprocal bond and resulting transformations form the backbone of Don’t You Want Me.

About Toronto Humane Society

To improve the lives of animals.

Toronto Humane Society excels in all ways an animal shelter should. With industry leading shelter care, animal training and behavioural consultations, and veterinary services. Toronto Humane Society finds new homes for thousands of animals and helps keep families together.

Toronto Humane Society is more than an animal shelter. They are an educational resource and support system. A leading voice in animal welfare and accessible care. Toronto Humane Society is a center of excellence. A space where best practices and boundary-pushing knowledge exchange meet with unyielding optimism and a love for animals to create something special. Toronto Humane Society is like no other. For more information, visit www.torontohumanesociety.com.
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