What was it that made an attempt to celebrate diversity turn parochial?
 I went to see Gay Icons last week-end and left the National Portrait Gallery feeling both puzzled and disappointed.
The exhibition was put together by ten selectors, including Billie Jean King and Elton John, who were asked to name six people - who may or may not be gay - “whom they personally regard as inspirational, or an icon for them”.
Gay Icons missed a great opportunity to celebrate prominent figures for their roles as advocates of gay rights. Instead, some of the people selected appear to have been chosen only for personal reasons. Awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic gets only a few brief mentions.
The exhibition also lacks diversity in terms of nationality. Most of the people in it are either British or American. How sad!
Here is a list of people who were totally ignored but ought to have been part of the exhibition in terms of what they represent as gay icons:
- Greek poet Constantine Cavafy
- German film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka
- Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar
- Greek soprano Maria Callas
- American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe
- Italian film directors Pier Paolo Pasolini and Luchino Visconti
- US movie star Rock Hudson
- English novelist E.M. Forster
- American author Gore Vidal
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