O’Grady lived at Victoria Mansions in South Lambeth Road from 1985 to 1995 when he was a key act on London’s Drag circuit as the legendary ‘Lily Savage’ holding residences at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, The Elephant and Caste, The Market Tavern and The Two Brewers to name a few.
He then went on to achieve national prominence as Lily with prime time shows on ITV and the BBC before becoming a much-loved broadcaster and TV host in his own right until his sad passing in 2023.
The plaque has been supported by Lambeth Council in partnership with the London LGBT Forums Network who deliver The Rainbow Plaque project.
Andre Portasio, Paul’s widow, said: “I am beyond delighted to celebrate Paul’s legacy with the Rainbow Plaque, honouring his vital contributions to LGBTQIA+ heritage and visibility. This plaque, positioned at his old flat in Lambeth, not only commemorates his remarkable journey at the grassroots level but also serves as a reminder of our shared history.
“Thank you to the London LGBT+ Forums’ Network and Lambeth Council for their commitment to preserving our stories and ensuring that intersectional queer voices continue to be recognized and celebrated in our streets and public spaces.”
Cllr Claire Holland, the Leader of Lambeth Council, said: “We are incredibly proud of Paul’s legacy, his cultural contribution to the country and his community advocacy on a wide range of issues, especially LGBTQI+ rights.
“This new plaque at the Lambeth council flat that he lived for a decade is fitting tribute from the borough that is incredibly proud that he was a resident of as he developed a career that would be so influential and bring joy to so many people.”
The plaque will be launched during Pride Month and is the second in the borough following the rededication last month of one in honour of the groundbreaking ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’ film on Wilcox Road, Vauxhall.
For any queries on the Rainbow Plaque project, contact David Robson on LondonLGBTForumsNetwork@outlook.com.
