Shown: British painter Gluck in a collage graphic created by BBC.

Art Activism is Nothing New

Explore how LGBTQ+ artists have long used creative activism to challenge exclusionary narratives, foster belonging, and push for social change. Art has always been a powerful tool for advocacy—this is nothing new.

This video provides a summary of the first week of our Pride and art activism posts for 2025.

The music is from the opera “Peter Grimes” by Benjamin Britten.

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Benjamin Britten
Openly gay composer Benjamin Britten lived + worked with partner Peter Pears. His operas gave queer love a place in the classical tradition—subtle, but undeniable.

James Baldwin
James Baldwin—Black, gay, prophetic—used words as weapons against racism + homophobia. His truth-telling lit fires in hearts + movements. “Love him and let him love you.”

Janis Ian
Out singer-songwriter Janis Ian turned pain into poetry. From “At Seventeen” to activism for LGBTQ+ youth, she gave voice to those silenced and strength to those waiting.

Gluck
Nonbinary painter Gluck rejected gender roles + signatures, demanding to be known simply as Gluck. Their striking portraits + floral works defied convention + centered queer selfhood.

Jane Greenwood
Architect Jane Greenwood, openly LGBTQ+, designs spaces that welcome everyone. A leader in inclusive, sustainable design, she builds justice into the very walls around us.

Walt Whitman
Queer poet Walt Whitman revolutionized American verse with Leaves of Grass. His radical celebration of love, the body, and democracy helped lay groundwork for LGBTQ+ literary pride.

Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster’s quiet queerness gave way to bold visibility. An Oscar-winning actor + director, she’s broken boundaries in a male-dominated field, proving LGBTQ+ excellence belongs anywhere.

This is art activism.

This is Pride.