LGBTQ+ History Month

2024 LGBTQ+ History Month

Throughout February, our free afternoon Highlights tours in the Gallery, at 15.00 every day, focus on key LGBTQ+ figures from the Gallery's Collection.

Postponed: Drag Artist Timberlina,'s irreverent tour of the Gallery, focused on the extraordinary life of the Chevalier d’Eon.

In-conversation with LGBTQ+ trailblazers

2022 marked 50 years since the first Pride event in the UK . Presenter Jamie Windust sat down in our archives with three LGBTQ+ icons to reflect on what Pride means to them.

Travis Alabanza

 

Flo Perry

 

Peter Tatchell

 

Virtual tour

From Olympic athletes to aristocrats, our staff have shared their favourite LGBTQ+ sitters from our Collection.

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    Nicola Adams,    by Kate Peters,    2012,    NPG P1831,    © Kate Peters
Nicola Adams, by Kate Peters, 2012
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    Edward Carpenter,    by Roger Fry,    1894,    NPG 2447,    © National Portrait Gallery, London
Edward Carpenter, by Roger Fry, 1894
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    Marjorie Foster,    by Bassano Ltd,    2 March 1938,    NPG x138263,    © National Portrait Gallery, London
Marjorie Foster, by Bassano Ltd, 2 March 1938
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    Rudolf Nureyev,    by Jane Bown,    1964,    NPG x133114,    © The Jane Bown Literary Estate / National Portrait Gallery, London
Rudolf Nureyev, by Jane Bown, 1964
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    Marion Barbara ('Joe') Carstairs,    by Pacific & Atlantic Photos Ltd,    1928,    NPG x184361,    © National Portrait Gallery, London
Marion Barbara ('Joe') Carstairs, by Pacific & Atlantic Photos Ltd, 1928
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    Gluck,    by Gluck,    1942,    NPG 6462,    © National Portrait Gallery, London
Gluck, by Gluck, 1942
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    Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)), Duchess of Marlborough,    after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt,    circa 1702, based on a work of circa 1702,    NPG 3634,    © National Portrait Gallery, London
Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)), Duchess of Marlborough, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, circa 1702, based on a work of circa 1702
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    Josephine Baker,    by Murray Korman,    1936,    NPG x138145,    © reserved; National Portrait Gallery, London
Josephine Baker, by Murray Korman, 1936

Poetry inspired by our Collection

"In collaboration with visual art, poetry can become its voice. The National Portrait Gallery and the National Youth Theatre asked three NYT members to perform poems inspired by a portrait in NPG's Collection, lending their voice to these LGBTQ+ sitters and intertwining generations. Queer existence is radical; we deserve to be both seen and heard, and to bring our stories to life." - Nay Murphy, National Youth Theatre Member

Dissolve The Gold by Jade O'Shaughnessy

Jade's poem is inspired by our portrait of mathematician Alan Turing, with her asking: if Turing was alive today, how would we apologise? Performed at the National Youth Theatre, Jade's poem explores Turing's life beyond simply being a historical figure.

 

Gluck by Alexander Da Fonseca

Watch Alexander Da Fonseca perform their poem inspired by artist Gluck, a 20th century painter who wished only to be known as Gluck, "no prefix, suffix, or quote.” Alexander describes how they took inspiration from Gluck, who is “proof that gender has infinite variety because it’s a form of expression, and Gluck’s work is allowed to embody that."

 

Why I Can't Sleep on Nights I Think About James Baldwin by Hart Fargo

In this final film, poet Hart Fargo takes inspiration from writer James Baldwin, with Hart telling us, "I am because James Baldwin was." He celebrates, “the humanity of James Baldwin the person, who loved, who feared, who smiled”, with Hart fearing that this side to him has been lost over time.

 

Spotlight: LGBTQ+ Icons

    Josephine Baker,    by Murray Korman,    1936,    NPG x135816,    © reserved; National Portrait Gallery, London Josephine Baker, by Murray Korman, 1936

As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, our Youth Forum delved into our Collection to explore the LGBTQ+ sitters that particularly inspire them. From artists to activists, discover the incredible portraits that they’ve selected, and the connections that they have found within the works.

Explore the selection

Looking to the Collection with Mohsin Zaidi

“Portraits are not just images, they are stories. Heart-breaking and triumphant, colourful and grey.”

Mohsin Zaidi, barrister and author of A Dutiful Boy, celebrates portraits of queer icons of colour in our collection.

Read the blog

LGBT+ History Month T-Shirts

Exclusive t-shirts of your favourite LGBTQ+ sitters from the NPG collection, made from 100% organic cotton and printed to order.

Order now