RISE OF GAY DESIGNERS
Certain “artistic” professions—such as fashion and the performing arts—have historically provided a relatively tolerant haven for LGBTQ people. Yet faced with a homophobic society, most of them remained “closeted” to outsiders, and designers, such as Cristóbal Balenciaga and Christian Dior, were not widely known to be gay during their lifetimes. By acknowledging the contributions that LGBTQ people have made to fashion, we cast new light, not only on their experiences, but also on the history of fashion itself.