In Celebration of "Gay Icons"

From now through October 18, the National Portrait Gallery in London is celebrating "Gay Icons" with an exhibit by that name featuring photographs of such notable figures as k.d. lang, Quentin Crisp, and Nelson Mandela.

The hook? The photographs are not necessarily of gay people but of the people celebrated as icons by the 10 gay selectors who helped to shape the exhibit.

Each of the 10 chose six people whose portraits would appear. The selectors are Lord Waheed Alli, Alan Hollinghurst, Sir Elton John, Jackie Kay, Billie Jean King, Sir Ian McKellen, Lord Chris Smith, Ben Summerskill, Sandi Toksvig, and Sarah Waters.

The exhibit opened early this month, shortly after the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York. Advocate.com has an exclusive look at some of the more memorable portraits on display.