LGBTQ+ icons including Munroe Bergdorf and Bimini Bon Boulash tackle queer homelessness through new portrait series

Drag royalty Bimini Bon Boulash and activist Lady Phyll are just some of the LGBTQ+ trailblazers featured in a new digital portrait series, which will raise funds for LGBTQ+ homelessness centre The Outside Project.

More than 25 queer icons and allies are part of the This Other Eden photo project, captured by British photographer Luke Nugent, including actress and trailblazer Munroe Bergdorf, author and DJ Fat Tony, and queen of London nightlife Princess Julia.

The limited edition digital portraits will be on sale from Thursday June 9, ranging in price from hundreds to thousands of pounds.

Half of all proceeds made from the NFT sales will go towards supporting The Outside Project, which operates a community shelter, centre and domestic abuse refuge for homeless and vulnerable LGBTQ+ people in London.

Carla Ecola, the director of The Outside Project, said the organisation was “hugely grateful” for the support.

“The Outside Project exists to make space for those in the queer community impacted by homelessness and domestic abuse,” they said.

“The LGBTIQ+ community needs to have secure identity responsive spaces on the city map that aren’t just connected to nightlife, and our organisation seeks to support the creation of basic housing and healthcare provisions for our community.”

More than 60 LGBTQ+ people were supported by The Outside Project’s accommodation services over the last winter period, while many more have used the community centre and outreach support as a lifeline.

Homelessness continues to disproportionately impact the LGBTQ+ community, with almost a quarter of people aged 16 to 25 at risk of homelessness identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or non-binary, according to AKT.

The portrait project was put together by creative studio Temporal Shift with Palm NFT Studio and NFT platform Nifty’s to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last week, with the aim of capturing what queer culture looks like in 2022.

Mark Moore, who founded chart-topping 80s dance music act S’Express, took part in the project due to his own personal experience with homelessness. “Having been homeless when I was a teenager I am more than happy to be involved with something as important as The LGBTIQ+ Outside Project,” he said.

Director and actress Jeanie Crystal, who also took part in the portrait series, said: “Thinking about methods to distribute wealth to those that need it the most should be one of society’s main priorities.”