Britain’s late Princess Diana has been declared a Gay Icon by a panel of 10 homosexual men and women, including Elton John, Billie Jean King, and Sir Ian McKellen. They nominated the Princess of Wales as someone who “inspired them and helped shaped who they have become.” She was chosen by Waheed Alli, and executive TV producer and a member of the “House of Lords.”Per GayWired: “There’s no such thing as a gay community any more than there’s a straight community. Gay people are as disparate as any other group.” an organizer notes. Photographs of the inspirational public figures will appear in a new exhibition due to open in July at the “London’s National Portrait Gallery.” While the gallery is holding back the full list of honorees until closer to the opening, former South African President Nelson Mandela was also named, along with singer K.D. Lang, entertainer Ellen DeGeneres, and politician Harvey Milk.Per Bloomberg:“We’re very clear that this is an exhibition for everybody,” said the gallery’s director, Sandy Nairne, at a press breakfast. “We want to get out to people who didn’t think they’d want to see it.”
Noticeably absent from this collection are Joan Crawford, Mae West, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Joan Collins, Kylie Minogue, Dame Shirley Bassey, Oscar Wilde, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, and Barbra Streisand. Because the portraits in the show had to be photographs, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, William Shakespeare and Alexander the Great were also ruled out. The exhibition is set to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York and will take place at the National Portrait Gallery from July 2 to October 18.Princess Diana
