It´s Not Okay.

"It's Not Okay" (2022)

Dalicano is a vocal advocate for the importance of media that offers positive and authentic representation of the LGBTQ+ community, recognizing its power to foster acceptance and visibility. It was this kind of representation that helped her come to terms with her own identity as bisexual.

This self-portrait series was inspired by her frustration with the double standards around sexuality in media—especially the belief that increasing LGBTQ+ representation or education "indoctrinates" children or "turns them gay." She began to question: If a glimpse of a queer couple is seen as indoctrination, what do we call the centuries of media centered on heterosexual love stories?

Dalicano reflects on how society normalizes heterosexuality from an early age—through Disney films, family teasing, and even T-shirts that joke about toddlers’ “little girlfriends” or predict a boy will grow up to be a heartbreaker. Expressions of same-sex affection, however, are often met with censorship or outrage. Why is it acceptable to sexualize children in heteronormative contexts but taboo to affirm same-sex love?

Her photo series challenges this imbalance by flipping the script. In each image, Dalicano turns common microaggressions aimed at the LGBTQ+ community back onto heterosexual identities. Lit by a computer screen and candlelight, the portraits create an introspective atmosphere as she confronts the over-saturation of heteronormative media and draws attention to the hypocrisy in censoring queer expression.

Ultimately, the series underscores her belief that sexuality is not a learned behavior but an intrinsic part of who we are—and it deserves to be seen, respected, and celebrated.

Left to right: Doubt I and Doubt II