Pride Blog: Queer Pioneers

Maddie Humfryes, Visitor Programmes Officer at Whipsnade Zoo, on inspiring figures across natural history and science.

As we celebrate Pride Month this June, it is the perfect opportunity to highlight the LGBTQIA+ community who have always been a part of art, science and history. While in the past they haven't always been suitably remembered or recognised, we are regularly rediscovering their stories today and are able to show the truth; that a diversity of people has always been involved in exploring the diversity of nature. 

Gluck, 1895 - 1978

Renowned botanical artist Hannah Gluckstein was known as Gluck as they rejected any forename or honorific (Miss or Mr). The seriousness with which Gluck insisted on others addressing them only by their contracted surname was such that when an art society of which she was vice-president listed her as 'Miss Gluck' on the letterhead, she resigned. 

Gluck pushed gender norms by dressing in what was considered in a more masculine way by having short hair, wearing trousers and ties and smoking a pipe. Their own mother described them as having ‘a kink in her brain’. They were open about being a lesbian and had many love affairs in their lifetime. A joint self-portrait with Nesta Obermer, their partner at the time, was viewed as an iconic lesbian statement as ‘a love that knows no gender’. A piece of their work hangs in the Tate Britain today entitled ‘Flora’s Cloak.’  

Brigitte Baptiste, 1963 - Present

Baptiste is mostly recognised for a powerful queer ecology TED Talk in 2018 entitled ‘Nothing more queer than nature’ and for being one of the founders and previous director of the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute, which has been operational since 1995. 

Baptiste identifies as a transgender woman and has a master’s degree in tropical conservation and a doctorate in environmental science. The Humboldt Institute is based in Colombia and works with various stakeholders to work in favour of nature and biodiversity.  

She has worked both in academia and non-profit organisations mainly researching how biodiversity is affected by change in land use, like farming or deforestation. Last year, the BBC celebrated her career in exploring the common patterns between biodiversity and gender identity and campaigns for better funding to get more LGBTQIA+ people into higher education. She was highlighted as a ‘Climate Pioneer’ as part of the BBC 100 Women list which celebrates inspiring and influential women from around the world. 

Elke Mackenzie, 1911 - 1990

Born Ivan Mackenzie Lamb, Elke started her career researching and identifying lichen as an assistant keeper in the lichen collections at the Natural History Museum in London. In 1943, she travelled to Antarctica where she spent three years collecting hundreds of lichen specimens, many of which were new to science. 

In the 1960s, she separated from her wife, her mental health worsened and she was diagnosed with what is recognised today as gender dysphoria (a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there's a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity.) She began her transition from male to female in 1971 whilst she was at Harvard University, where she was director of the lichen collection at the time. Harvard unfortunately forced her into early retirement at the age of 60 after they were ‘appalled by her decision’ to transition.  

Most of her published work is under her birth name ‘I.M Lamb’ but in one of her last publications, she acknowledged and thanked herself. Her achievements have not gone unnoticed as she was awarded the British Polar Medal for her involvement in research in Antarctica, was elected an honorary member of the British Lichen Society and nine species of lichen/fungi are named in her honour. 

There are a host other extraordinary pioneers waiting in the wings for you to discover such as Franz Nopcsa, Alexander von Humboldt, Louise Pierce and Sara Josephine Baker if you are interested in researching further.

You can join us at ZSL for Pride celebrations in June and July. We will be running a free queer ecology themed ‘Walk of the Week’ on Thursday 19th June at Whipsnade Zoo and there will be a Pride Takeover evening at London Zoo on Friday 4th July as part of our Zoo Nights. More information can be found on our websites.

Maddie Humfryes (she/they) - Engagement Officer, Whipsnade Zoo