Cianni has been working on the Gays in the Military project for years now. He recently released a book of photographs which he discusses in an interview with Nathaniel Frank for The New York Times’ Sunday Review. Check out the interview and 15+ featured photos. Cianni was partially funded by a 2010 Faculty Fund Award which allowed him to take two road trips to interview subjects in the summer of 2010.

In 2009, I heard a radio interview with the mother of a soldier who had been discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell.” And I felt not only an emotional connection with what she was saying but also a political connection, and I think those are the two elements that are the basis of my projects. I realized I wanted to be part of the repeal movement, and I asked myself, “What’s the best way I can contribute to the repeal of this policy?” The best way I can contribute is to start talking to people and photographing people about this.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/03/09/opinion/sunday/exposures-military.html?hp&rref=opinion