Welcome to LGBTQueereads, a vibrant space dedicated to celebrating the incredible talents of queer artists, curators, and authors.
Our current celebrated artist:
JOHN DARCY NOBLE
John Darcy Noble (1923-2003) was a gay man born in Southeast London and became the well-known curator for the Museum of the City of New York’s extensive toy and doll collection at 38. He was a costume designer for theatre, ballet, and the Royal Opera. He was an author, painter, and creator of the whimsical.
He met Robert Mary Clement, his husband and partner of 44 years, in London. The two were active in the Gay Liberation Movement and participated in the first gay pride parade in NYC, initially called Christopher Street Liberation Day March on June 28, 1970. The march took place on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, establishing June as a month for Pride demonstrations.
For the first time, John Darcy Noble’s coming-out memoir has been published in a beautiful book featuring a youthful John on the cover. Allow his tales of innocence and experience to inspire you to find your way and live authentically. His tales are descriptive, poetic, and gay. Proceeds from the sale of this book will support LGBTQ advocacy efforts.
In one of the stories in Towers and Pagodas, John recalls being mistaken for a girl when he was about 14. It's a heart-wrenching story, and one that I wore while I worked on the book. I found this photo while going through his albums, and I initially thought, "Oh, here is a cute photo of John's mother and sister!" A closer look revealed that it is John himself, and seeing the photo shed new light on the essay, entitled "The Poetry Garden." He was just gorgeous at every age, no matter what gender he was perceived to be!
Lori Weidert
Weidert Publishing Services
John Darcy Noble and his husband/partner Robert Clement of 44 years were involved in establishing the first gay pride parade in New York City. They lived near Stonewall at the time of the riots and active in the gay rights agenda. They were both ordained and started a church in NY where gay men and women were welcomed to worship, and to marry, if not yet legally.
