In partnership with Outernet London, 40 Years of GAY TIMES: The Exhibition will feature more than 540 covers of GAY TIMES Magazine in a decade-by-decade timeline of the LGBTQ+ brand’s history.
It has been created to celebrate GAY TIMES’ 40th anniversary, starting with the first cover featuring the GAY TIMES masthead being produced in May 1984.
From GAY TIMES’ coverage of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, to pushing back against the anti-LGBTQ+ Section 28 throughout the 1990s, the covers tell the story of LGBTQ+ life and liberation at the end of the 20th century.
As more rights were won through the 00s and 10s, the archive shows how early 21st century progress was reported on by the world’s most popular LGBTQ+ title.
More recent covers celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, through well-known figures in culture and activism.
The exhibit opens with GAY TIMES’ recently launched GT40 campaign, which spotlights some of the best LGBTQ+ talent in Britain today.
Featuring Munroe Bergdorf, Layton Williams, Rosie Jones, Bimini, Black Peppa, Molly McCann, Paris Lees, Lava La Rue and Jake Williamson, the segment invites viewers to enjoy 40 years of queer history.
The exhibition is soundtracked by a new remix of Bronski Beat’s iconic hit Smalltown Boy, which also celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The new remix was produced by British DJ, ABSOLUTE.
The exhibition will run daily at Outernet London in the Now Trending space from June 6 until 1 July.
40 Years of GAY TIMES: The Exhibition will run alongside other LGBTQ+ exhibitions in the space, as part of Outernet London’s Pride Month programming.
Pride in London’s “We Are Everywhere” will run throughout June, ADOT and GALOP will run an uplifting Pride-filled campaign from 14-23 June, QueerAF and Trans+ History Week will spotlight the history of trans+ people from 17-30 June, and Classical Pride in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and GAY TIMES will host performances and events over multiple days from 3-6 July.
To see when 40 Years of GAY TIMES: The Exhibition will be screen at Outernet London, visit their What’s On schedule here.