Portraits of gay icons

It shows just how far we've come in recent years that British institution the National Portrait Gallery is dedicating its 2009 summer exhibition to 'Gay Icons' - and without a whiff of controversy. Ten high-profile gay figures including Elton John, Sarah Waters and Ian McKellen have each selected six people who - gay or not - have been an inspiration to them. Their choices are pointedly diverse, providing a fresh, modern take on the 'gay icon' label (both Oscar Wilde and Judy Garland are nowhere to be seen). Among those who made the cut are writers Virginia Woolf and Joe Orton (above), politician Harvey Milk, scientist Alan Turing and sex symbol Joe Dallessandro.