At Queer Reflection, our first Encounters happen on screen. But they aren’t meant to stay there.
Because empathy—real, transformative empathy—doesn’t just happen in the head. It happens in the body. It happens when experience moves off the page, off the device, and into the places where we actually live.
That’s why we’re bringing augmented reality (AR) into the work we’re doing next.
We’re moving from screen to sidewalk. From digital empathy to embodied reflection.
Why AR? Because Place Holds Power.
Every queer person I know has a place they remember.
The street corner where they first kissed someone they weren’t “supposed” to.
The family kitchen where they were told not to come home.
The friend’s couch where they were finally safe enough to say, “This is who I am.”
Place carries story. And AR lets us bring those stories back into the world—layered into the spaces where empathy is needed most.
“You walk the same street a hundred times. But when you know what happened there to someone else, it’s not the same street anymore.”
— Community Feedback, Queer Reflection
This is why we’re exploring location-based storytelling. Imagine walking your city and unlocking first-person reflections at certain points—audio clips, video layers, or interactive text that invites you to stand in someone else’s shoes.
Not just to watch their story—but to stand where they stood.
Designing for Embodiment, Not Entertainment
AR has a hype problem. Too often, it’s treated like a gimmick—something shiny and disconnected from real life. But AR, when used with care, is an empathy amplifier.
It allows for pause.
For presence.
For accountability to the spaces we share.
“When the experience leaves the device and enters the room, it’s harder to look away.”
— Bryan Alexander
This isn’t about spectacle. It’s about creating moments of reflection that meet people where they are—and ask them to stay there, just a little longer.
How We’re Building It
We’re using Apple ARKit and WebXR to make these experiences accessible across devices—with a focus on low-barrier, browser-based entry points so people can engage without downloading an app.
We’re also drawing inspiration from work like:
- The AR Storytelling Toolkit
- Pride Augmented, a powerful example of queer narratives in augmented spaces
- AR Human Rights Project
What’s Next (and How You Can Help)
Our first AR-layered Encounter is in development now. We’re starting small: a single moment, anchored to a single place, with voices from our own community.
If you’re an AR developer, UX designer, voice artist, or someone with a story to share—we want to collaborate. This only works if it’s built with care, by the people who know these stories best.
Email us: hello@queerreflection.com
Learn more about our approach:
Our Technology | The Dinner Table: First Encounter
Because empathy deserves more than words.
It deserves a place to stand.
