The Princess and the Queer: A study of why Princess Diana was the hero of the gay community during the AIDS  crisis and became an iconic figure for queer people.

This thesis shows why the involvement of Princess Diana during the AIDS crisis was a step forward for the gay community. In the 1980s, the AIDS crisis wreaked havoc on the gay community in Britain. Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party was in power during that decade and did very little to stop the homophobic British public from blaming the gay community for the AIDS crisis. However, there was a figure of importance who did care for homosexual AIDS patients. This was Princess Diana. Diana’s visits to the AIDS wards from 1987 onwards transformed her in the eyes of the gay community from just another princess who was part of the establishment to a gay icon. This image evolved even further when it became public knowledge that Diana had suffered from neglect and was treated like an outcast by her husband and the royal family. Diana received massive support from the gay community because the problems she faced during her marriage were all too familiar to many queer people. Tragically,...Show moreThis thesis shows why the involvement of Princess Diana during the AIDS crisis was a step forward for the gay community. In the 1980s, the AIDS crisis wreaked havoc on the gay community in Britain. Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party was in power during that decade and did very little to stop the homophobic British public from blaming the gay community for the AIDS crisis. However, there was a figure of importance who did care for homosexual AIDS patients. This was Princess Diana. Diana’s visits to the AIDS wards from 1987 onwards transformed her in the eyes of the gay community from just another princess who was part of the establishment to a gay icon. This image evolved even further when it became public knowledge that Diana had suffered from neglect and was treated like an outcast by her husband and the royal family. Diana received massive support from the gay community because the problems she faced during her marriage were all too familiar to many queer people. Tragically, Diana died in a car crash on 31 August 1997. However, even decades after her death the gay community still sees Diana as relatable. This is because Diana’s story is often portrayed in the media through a queer lens, which keeps her memory alive and seemingly makes her part of the gay community.Show less

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The Princess and the Queer: A study of why Princess Diana was the hero of the gay community during the AIDS crisis and became an iconic figure for queer people.