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In the photographic series "Virgenes de la Puerta," Peruvian artist Juan Jose Barboza-Gubo pays homage to the strength and bravery of his country's transgender community.

“In the photographic series "Virgenes de la Puerta," Peruvian artist Juan Jose Barboza-Gubo pays homage to the strength and bravery of his country's transgender community.

With Virgenes de la Puerta ("Virgins of the Door" in Spanish), Barboza-Gubo looks to honor the lives of Lima's transgender community. The photographic series, created in collaboration with Mroczek, reimagines trans women from his birthplace—including activists from the Peruvian trans rights organization Feminas—as saints, cultural icons, and religious figures from 19th century portraiture.

Barboza-Gubo hopes that the work will galvanize better acceptance and recognition of the issues faced by transgender women in Peru, especially when the series is exhibited outside of the country. After an exhibition earlier this year in Houston, Peru's biggest national newspaper El Comercio ran a full page on the show and on the lives of trans women in Lima. "We're told it was the first time a pro-trans [rights] story was published in the paper," Barboza-Gubo says.

Read the full piece and check out the photos here (story TW for mention of violence against trans people)