The book Señales: trans, travesti, no binarie...* by Niki Raveau opens a window into lives that are often overlooked, dismissed, or silenced. It is not a conventional chronicle but a vibrant collective portrait shaped through nearly three years of work alongside communities of trans, travesti, and non-binary people in Chile. What emerges is a living testimony that combines photography, storytelling, and personal accounts to build a narrative of identity, struggle, and resilience. Rather than presenting individual biographies in isolation, the book weaves together experiences across different ages and social realities, creating a sense of shared history and continuity. From the voices of children discovering their identities to adults fighting for dignity in the face of marginalization, Señales captures the complexity of lives lived at the intersection of visibility and exclusion.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is the focus on Fundación Selenna, a unique and groundbreaking school project in Chile. Created by families of trans children and youth, Fundación Selenna represents an oasis of recognition and dignity in an often hostile social landscape. By opening their doors to Raveau, they allowed the project to document a space where education becomes a form of resistance, where young trans people can grow without the constant burden of explaining their existence. This perspective makes visible the urgent need for spaces that embrace trans and non-binary identities without forcing them into the margins.
