Barnaby Edwards

Mary Renault (coloured pencil on paper)

Today’s LGBTQ+ hero is author Mary Renault (1905-83). She wrote same-sex romances set in Ancient Greece and was in a relationship with her partner, Julie, for 50 years until her death.

#42 of 2023

#lgbthistorymonth #lgbtpride #queer #LGBTQ #MaryRenault #ThePersianBoy

Feb 12, 2023 at 9:50pmWeb
Show threadJeanne ReamesFeb 13, 2023
@barnabyedwards As much as I admire her writing on Greece, Renault was actually NOT a supporter of the budding gay rights movements of the time. She spent a lot of effort on anti-Apartheid work in South Africa, but was rather dismissive of similar work for queer rights--although she was never dismissive of the gay readers who wrote to her. It was an odd position, but it leaves me with mixed mind about her as a gay icon.
Show threadBarnaby EdwardsFeb 13, 2023
@mathetria It’s an interesting point, isn’t it? Noel Coward and Quentin Crisp were equally dismissive of LGBTQ+ rights, but I’d definitely count them as gay icons. No one else at the time was writing same-sex romances, so Renault was providing much-needed representation. You don’t have to actively campaign for LGBTQ+ rights to be a hero. After all, let’s not forget that Boris Johnson went on a Pride march - and he’s as close to the opposite of a gay icon as it’s possible to be. 😊