June is Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the strength, creativity, and truth of LGBTQIA communities—and to spotlight the stories that deepen our collective understanding of identity, history, and place.
At Honey House Press, we are proud to have supported the publication of a singular work: a full-color photography and oral history book that documents LGBTQIA lives in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
This book is a vibrant portrait of resilience and love. Through compelling photographs and candid, moving interviews, the project captures the lived experiences of queer residents across the region. Their stories reflect courage and connection, as well as the complexity of navigating identity in a region shaped by military culture, conservatism, and coastal change.
Photographer Beth Austin began the project in late 2016. Commissioned initially by Hampton Roads Pride, she set out across the seven cities of Tidewater, capturing portraits that radiate intimacy, joy, resistance, and unity. But she didn’t stop at images—Beth recorded each subject’s voice, gathering reflections on coming out, immigration, faith, military service, and the everyday courage of living authentically. The result is Without Apology: Portraits of Pride, a photography and oral history collection that not only broadens LGBTQIA representation but honors it, with full-color and black-and-white portraits accompanied by personal stories.
We supported this book’s production with deep admiration for its mission: to preserve voices that are too often erased or sidelined. The result is not just a visual achievement—it is an archive of personal truth, offered with grace and power.
If you’re looking to celebrate Pride Month by supporting independent creators and queer storytellers, this book belongs on your shelf.
📖 Want to learn more or get a copy? Would you like to be connected with the photographer? Get in touch.
At Honey House Press, we believe that publishing is about elevating the voices that shape our world. We’re honored to have played a part in this project, and to witness the growing chorus of LGBTQIA stories being told with beauty and dignity.
Trim Size 11″ x 8.5″ (216mm x 280mm)
Binding Paperback Perfect Bound
Page Count 62
Print ISBN 979-8-9858733-2-0
Spine Width 0.16100 in (4.09 mm)
Weight 0.495 lb (224.53 g)
