As a writer and editor, I've struggled with a lack of diversity in queer images for years. I mean, you can find some diversity on free stock sites, as you mention. It's not a total desert.

But in my experience, you have to do very targeted searching to come up with real diversity. As an older, rural queer myself, I know that finding images that represent me isn't going to be easy.

In fact, I eventually subscribed to a paid stock service, which isn't a million times better than the free services, but it is better. (Mostly because they just have so many more images altogether.)

Also, there's an excellent service out there called The Gender Spectrum Project, a free stock image site that prides itself on diversity.

Although, they are highly youth centric. And very urban.

Still, it's a reliable service for people looking for diversity within those constraints.

I'd never thought about the concept of shadow definitions, and I love thinking about it now that I've read your article. I love reading about linguistics, and I speak several languages, so I think about the difference between dictionary definitions and received definitions all the time.

But this concept of visual shadow definitions gives me a lot more to think about, kind of upping things a level.

Thank you!