Lesbilicious - the web’s tastiest lesbian magazine

A new photographic exhibition of gay icons will open this summer in London - but many commentators are dismayed at lack of obvious gay icons such as Judy Garland or Madonna.

The National Portrait Gallery will feature 60 icons chosen by ten high-profile gay figures.

The list of icons is a mixture of gay and straight people, and includes kd lang, Virginia Woolf, Harvey Milk, Daphne Du Maurier, Lily Savage, Nelson Mandela, Quentin Crisp, Diana, Princess of Wales and Will Young.

Conspicuously absent from the list are a number of people widely considered to be gay icons such as Kylie Minogue, Liza Minelli or David Beckham.

The list has been criticised as unrepresentative and snobby by several commentators, including The Observer writer Barbara Ellen.

“Arguably, the exclusion of obvious icons such as Garland or Minogue could be construed as self-hating, anti-gay in itself,” write Ellen.

“Certainly anti a particular strain of gayness, a stern slapping down of ‘queens and screamers’, almost as if they are the wrong kind of gay, throwbacks, embarrassments, who should quieten down, shut up. Which, ironically, is what homophobic elements of straight society have always wanted too.”

The icons were the personal choices of the people on the panel: Sandi Toksvig, Sarah Waters, Waheed Alli, Alan Hollinghurst, Elton John, Jackie Kay, Billie Jean King, Ian McKellen, Chris Smith and Ben Summerskill.

Panel Chair Sandi Toksvig defended the gay icons, admitting that it was a list of personal choices rather than the choices of the general gay community.

“I sometimes think we’re joined together not by our sexuality but by other people’s reaction to it,” said Toksvig.

“Each of the selectors in their own time has had a tough time of because of their sexuality and what they needed was people to inspire them to carry on.

“What I hope this exhibition will do is to give courage to those people who still struggle with their sexuality. It might make people feel better about themselves and it might make other people rethink their perceptions of gay life.”

Posted in: Books & Art |