ABSTRACT
In the past few years, artists who are gay or lesbian have worked against a background of tremendous political and cultural activity. From London to New York, Paris to Amsterdam, Toronto to Sydney, artists have questioned and celebrated their own identities. Effective activist organisations such as ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) and Queer Nation in the USA, and OutRage in the UK, have emerged in response to a common awareness of cumulative anger concerning increasing levels of discrimination, prejudice and physical violence. Anti-gay legislation such as Clause 28 in the UK which prohibits local authorities from funding any activities (exhibitions, workshops, meetings, the production and distribution of leaflets and so on) that could be deemed to ‘promote homosexuality’ have often been a focus for action. Clause 28 bans the teaching in state-funded schools of the acceptability of lesbian and gay relationships, defining them as ‘pretended family relationships’. The clause has resulted in local authorities withdrawing support and in a great deal of self-censorship.
