Photography

While living in San Francisco in the 1980s, Leon saw many queer, femme lovers and friends making a living in the sex industry. Word from the artist: “My close friend, a dancer, afforded me the behind-the-scenes experience that birthed the Market Street Cinema series. In this series, I hoped to depict the dancers’ lives in an intimate and personal manner. I wanted to introduce people to the nuanced softness found underneath the tough exteriors of the dancers. I strived to capture on film the relationships they built, the dressing room camaraderie, the dark shabby stage, and a glimpse of their customers.”

This series of photos was created during the early years of ACT UP in New York City and San Francisco. Leon joined ACT UP NYC in 1990, when the fight against AIDS was in full motion. PWA’s and queer allies were at battle with our government for the right to live, fighting against public intolerance and ignorance. 

Words from the artist: “At twenty years old, my artistic intention was to document a stylized version of my community, representing the lives of young punks and queers in San Francisco. I submitted a photograph to On Our Backs for a contest, which marked the inadvertent beginning of my dyke erotica career.”