Talk | Some Men in London: Peter Parker in Conversation with Simon Martin

Join author Peter Parker, in conversation with Gallery Director Simon Martin, as they discuss Peter’s book Some Men in London.

This two-volume anthology chronicles the history and reality of life for queer men in the capital between the end of the Second World War in 1945 and the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967.

Several artists featured in our latest exhibition appear in the book, which also draws upon private letters and diaries, police and court records, parliamentary reports, newspaper and magazine articles, medical journals, films, plays novels and poetry. It covers a wide range of viewpoints, from both those who attacked homosexuality to those who campaigned for its decriminalisation. While detailing a community at constant risk of arrest or blackmail, it also describes an often joyous subculture that thrived in the capital’s pubs, clubs, cafés and more public places of assignation. Meanwhile, many people were unaware of, or blind to, the extent to which gay men enriched mainstream culture.

Pursuing this theme, Simon and Peter will discuss not only the painters who feature in the anthology and the exhibition, but consider other artists who made queer desire visible at a time when acting on those desires could land men in prison.

After the talk, you will be able to purchase a copy of Some Men in London and have it signed by the author.

This talk is part of our monthly series of Thursday Lates. Visitors are invited to enjoy our galleries and visit this season’s temporary exhibitions, including Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists, after hours and engage with other activities throughout the evening including a show and tell in the Library, tour and drop-in life drawing workshop.