Artist and Gay Rights Activist Derek Jarman Honoured with Blue Plaque

Derek Jarman, notable British gay rights activist and artist, has been honoured with a blue plaque on the 15th anniversary of his death from HIV.

The plaque was revealed on Tuesday at Butler’s Wharf at a building that served as Jarman’s living and working quarters for periods between 1973 and 1979, experimenting with Super-8 film.

“To me as a filmmaker, Jarman was a pioneer. He was someone you felt clever ’cause you’ve watched his films and pretend you fully understood them,” said director Derek Fletcherat the ceremony.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell also spoke at the unveiling: “Derek was the first UK public figure to come out as HIV positive,” he said, “He was a trailblazer in every aspect of his life and work—a fierce critic of everything conventional and orthodox. A true innovator. One of his favourite quips was from Dorothy Parker: ‘Heterosexuality is not normal. It’s just common.’ I was honoured to have Derek as a friend and comrade.”

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