The Little Book of Queer Icons

McKellen co-founded Stonewall in 1989, the UK LGBTQ charity that takes its name from the Stonewall uprising in New York City in 1969. The charity, whose current motto is "acceptance without exception", continues to fight for the rights of LGBTQ individuals.

Invisibility is safe, but it is lonely. Invisibility does not inspire change, but visibility demands it.

"WHEN WE'RE GROWING UP THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE TELLING US WHAT TO DO WHEN REALLY WHAT WE NEED IS SPACE TO WORK OUT WHO TO BE."

"JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE BLIND AND UNABLE TO SEE MY BEAUTY DOESN'T MEAN IT DOES NOT EXIST."

"PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THINGS CAN GO BACKWARD IF WE ARE NOT VIGILANT."

"I promise to respect you: the you that is you; the you that is not me; the you that is not us. I promise to stand by you in the world. I promise to delight in you."

"I WON'T BE A ROCK STAR. I WILL BE A LEGEND."

"IT IS NOT OUR DIFFERENCES THAT DIVIDE US. IT IS OUR INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE, ACCEPT AND CELEBRATE THOSE DIFFERENCES."

"I DRESS FOR THE IMAGE. NOT FOR MYSELF, NOT FOR THE PUBLIC, NOT FOR FASHION, NOT FOR MEN."

"BE YOURSELF; EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN."