family life

Gay dads celebrated in a beautiful new photography book

Harrison and Christopher with their daugther Genhi. Brooklyn, New York (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)

Dads is a new book coming out at the end of this month that focuses on gay fathers and their families. It’s the work of Belgian-born, New York-based photographer Bart Heynen.

For Heynen, who received a Master of Arts degree at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and studied
photography at the International Center of Photography in New York City, the subject matter is close to home: he lives in NYC with his husband, Rob Heyvaert, and their 10-year-old twin boys.

The two men met when they shared an elevator ride in their building in Antwerp and have been together 25 years. The book includes images of the family (below).

Me and Rob with Ethan and Noah at 630 AM. Antwerp, Belgium (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)

Dads features 40 different families, drawn from across the United States and shot over five years. The men featured used different methods to create their families, including adoption and surrogacy. Some are single fathers while others are couples.

Vernon and Ricardo with their twin girls at home. Clinton, Maryland (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)

Several images are more in the style of formal portraiture, while others present captured moments of family life.

Related: Gay dad has the best reaction to son qualifying for Tokyo Olympics

Milo with her fathers and sister. New York City (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)

“I felt a little bit lonely as a gay dad — although there are two of us — but lonely in the sense that all the other families I knew were straight parents,” Heynen told CNN about the thought process behing the book. “I also thought it was important for (my kids) to see other families with gay dads.”

Check out some more of the images below.

Jonathan and Eric with their family during the Shabbat blessings. Brooklyn, New York (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)
Dennis combing Élan’s hair. Brooklyn, New York (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)
Dimitry and Robert with Maxim and Mila. New York City (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)
Al and Chris with their sons Tommy and Luca. Asbury Park, New Jersey (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)
Johnny with his husband and children. Totowa, New Jersey (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)
Art and Jim with their son Ethan and his fiancée Rose. Providence, Rhode Island (Photo: © Bart Heynen from ‘Dads’ published by powerHouse Books)

Dads is out June 29 via powerHouse Books. All images © Bart Heynen.

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