Lissa Rivera (MFA 2009 Photography, Video and Related Media) is challenging the status quo of societal gender roles, one frame at a time. Her ongoing "Beautiful Boy" series, which debuted last year at Rivera's solo exhibition at ClampArt gallery in Manhattan and is currently on view at the Millbrook School in Millbrook, New York, began with an intimate confession between two friends. In BJ Lillis, the subject and muse of this photo series, Rivera found someone with whom she connected on multiple levels. When Lillis felt comfortable enough to reveal that he was genderqueer—that is, a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions—he confessed that he'd like to wear dresses more often, but only felt safe doing so at home and during his time studying at Wesleyan University. "Being a photographer, I was like, 'I think about how gender often feels really restricting, so I can't imagine how you feel,'" Rivera says. "'But just taking selfies with your iPhone in your bedroom and not being able to express yourself isn't that great. How about I take your picture?'"

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