Who is Your Favorite Gay Icon?

[Aceinthehole]

Or perhaps just an LGBT+ person you look up to in general. They don't even have to be famous. Sometimes it's important to recognize people within our own community. 

 

My choice is Freddie Mercury of the British rock band Queen. I've listened to Queen from a young age, but it wasn't until I discovered my sexuality that I found a new respect for the flamboyant front man. Even in the face of HIV AIDs, Freddie's confidence never seemed to fade.  He was unapologetically himself, and racked up fans by the millions, even at a time when being part of the LGBT+ community wasn't accepted.  

Edited October 5, 2018 by Aceinthehole

[Wesley8890]

I've got three, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and RuPaul. Watching RuPaul makes me feel less ashamed about wanting too occasionally wear makeup so i can be pretty.Elton and Freddy are two of my favorite artists and their personalities really spoke too me. This was actually the first time I've admitted to liking to wear makeup 💄

Edited October 5, 2018 by Wesley8890

[Aditus]

There are some, some who only I know, but Freddie is my all time favorite.

Edited October 5, 2018 by aditus

[Carlos Hazday]

Larry Kramer.

 

From writing Faggots and The Normal Heart, to pro GLBT and HIV+ activism, he's done it all. Talented, opinionated, and passionate, the man has done as much for his community as anyone else I've heard of.

[Ron]

There are several in the world who have fomented change in their societies for the betterment of gay people everywhere, both those known widely and those who remain quietly in the background. So for me a gay icon would include everyone who has or will "come out" and dare to be and live as the person they are.

[Thorn Wilde]

David Bowie. Not only is he perhaps my favourite musician of all time, but he's an inspiration in terms of rejecting gender roles and restrictions, expressing both the masculine and the feminine. David Bowie has helped me on my own journey of gender and self expression. He was bisexual, and transcended the gender divide.

 

For similar reasons, I also love Brian Molko from Placebo. He's bi, and when he started out, people had no idea of whether he was a man or woman. He also unabashedly writes and performs love songs to male lovers, songs full of feeling and eroticism. His bandmate Stef, who's gay, and a magnificent bass player, is of course also responsible for much of this.

 

And then, there is Quentin Crisp, whom far too few people know about. Look him up. Seriously. And watch the films about him, starring John Hurt.

Edited October 5, 2018 by Thorn Wilde

[Headstall]

I agree with all the names mentioned.

 

I know it isn't what you're asking, but I want to give an huge honorable mention to a tiny straight woman who had the courage to go against the grain at the risk of her career, take on President Bush at the time (back in the very early nineties... I still remember the reaction when she said he couldn't even spell AIDS), work tirelessly for all AIDS sufferers, be relentless in her activism, and set up a foundation that has done great things in its support of AIDS research.

 

Rock Hudson put a human face to the horrendous epidemic, but his friend, Elizabeth Taylor was the bulldog who wouldn't go away. Against all advice from the Hollywood establishment at the time, she committed her life to the cause. It all started when she listened to a handful of gay men and agreed to chair the first AIDS fundraiser. She never quit... not till her last breath, and she is my hero. R.I.P. wonderful lady.

[Aceinthehole]

12 hours ago, Wesley8890 said:

I've got three, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and RuPaul. Watching RuPaul makes me feel less ashamed about wanting too occasionally wear makeup so i can be pretty.Elton and Freddy are two of my favorite artists and their personalities really spoke too me. This was actually the first time I've admitted to liking to wear makeup 💄

 

I love Elton John as well! So many meaningful songs from him! They're actually making movies on both Freddie and Elton. Freddie's includes the story of Queen, and is coming out next month. Elton's doesnt have a date yet, but theres a trailer for it which looks great. 

 

I actually just found out about RuPaul last year. I've watched a few of his shows, and I love his personality. 

 

Rock make up as much as you want! I'm sure you kill it! 

 

8 hours ago, aditus said:

There are some, some who only I know, but Freddie is my all time favorite.

The man's a classic!

 

5 hours ago, Carlos Hazday said:

Larry Kramer.

 

From writing Faggots and The Normal Heart, to pro GLBT and HIV+ activism, he's done it all. Talented, opinionated, and passionate, the man has done as much for his community as anyone else I've heard of.

 

I've never heard of Larry Kramer. I'll have to look into him! Sounds like a very accomplished guy!

 

4 hours ago, Ron said:

There are several in the world who have fomented change in their societies for the betterment of gay people everywhere, both those known widely and those who remain quietly in the background. So for me a gay icon would include everyone who has or will "come out" and dare to be and live as the person they are.

 

Very well said. 

 

2 hours ago, Thorn Wilde said:

David Bowie. Not only is he perhaps my favourite musician of all time, but he's an inspiration in terms of rejecting gender roles and restrictions, expressing both the masculine and the feminine. David Bowie has helped me on my own journey of gender and self expression. He was bisexual, and transcended the gender divide.

 

For similar reasons, I also love Brian Molko from Placebo. He's bi, and when he started out, people had no idea of whether he was a man or woman. He also unabashedly writes and performs love songs to male lovers, songs full of feeling and eroticism. His bandmate Stef, who's gay, and a magnificent bass player, is of course also responsible for much of this.

 

And then, there is Quentin Crisp, whom far too few people know about. Look him up. Seriously. And watch the films about him, starring John Hurt.

 

I love Bowie! Another guy who was confident and brave in the face of so much adversity. His courage paved the way for many different people. Plus his music speaks for itself. 

 

1 hour ago, Headstall said:

I agree with all the names mentioned.

 

I know it isn't what you're asking, but I want to give an huge honorable mention to a tiny straight woman who had the courage to go against the grain at the risk of her career, take on President Bush at the time (back in the very early nineties... I still remember the reaction when she said he couldn't even spell AIDS), work tirelessly for all AIDS sufferers, be relentless in her activism, and set up a foundation that has done great things in its support of AIDS research.

 

Rock Hudson put a human face to the horrendous epidemic, but his friend, Elizabeth Taylor was the bulldog who wouldn't go away. Against all advice from the Hollywood establishment at the time, she committed her life to the cause. It all started when she listened to a handful of gay men and agreed to chair the first AIDS fundraiser. She never quit... not till her last breath, and she is my hero. R.I.P. wonderful lady.

 

I honestly have never heard of her. Huge respect for an Ally that would put her career at risk for what she believed in. At one of the lowest points of the American LGBTQ+ community she seemed to have been a rock for us, that is very worthy of gay icon status in my book! I'll have to look up videos of her pushing back against Bush. Not to get too political, but we could use people with that backbone to step up today. 

 

[Brayon]

Lady Gaga, and her inspiration Freddie Mercury.

[Mikiesboy]

There are all the well known personalities people have mentioned. But i learned that it's really okay to be who i am from my first boyfriend and now Husband, @MichaelS36. And the man who has taught me more about writing, poetry, queer history and acceptance is a phenomenal writer here on GA.  He posts often about Gay History, our words, our poetry, music and theatre.. and that is @AC Benus . Thanks AC, for all you share and do.

 

@Thorn Wilde i know who Quinton Crisp was and the films are terrific.. thanks for mentioning him, brought back some memories.

Edited October 5, 2018 by Mikiesboy

[Aceinthehole]

1 minute ago, Mikiesboy said:

There are all the well known personalities people have mentioned. But i learned that it's really okay to be who i am from my first boyfriend and Husband, @MichaelS36. And the man who has taught me more about writing, poetry, queer history and acceptance is a phenomenal writer here on GA.  He posts often about Gay History, our words, our poetry, music and theatre.. and that is @AC Benus . Thanks AC, for all you share and do.

 

@Thorn Wilde i know who Quinton Crisp was and the films are terrific.. thanks for mentioning him, brought back some memories.

 

That was so sweet! Always inspiring to see. Also love the recognition of writers on this site! 

 

5 minutes ago, BHopper2 said:

Lady Gaga, and her inspiration Freddie Mercury.

 

Lady Gaga has an absolutely beautiful voice. IMO she's one of the best modern day singers.

[Backwoods Boy]

3 hours ago, Headstall said:

... Elizabeth Taylor was the bulldog who wouldn't go away. Against all advice from the Hollywood establishment at the time, she committed her life to the cause. It all started when she listened to a handful of gay men and agreed to chair the first AIDS fundraiser. She never quit... not till her last breath, and she is my hero. R.I.P. wonderful lady.

Somehow I missed this aspect of one of my favorite actresses, probably because I was still in the closet and not paying proper attention.  It makes me appreciate her all the more.

[Palantir]

5 hours ago, Thorn Wilde said:

And then, there is Quentin Crisp, whom far too few people know about. Look him up. Seriously. And watch the films about him, starring John Hurt.

Watch the films!

lol I don't need to - I remember seeing him live on the tele.

[Thorn Wilde]

34 minutes ago, Palantir said:

Watch the films!

lol I don't need to - I remember seeing him live on the tele.

 

Those films really are extremely good, though, just saying. 

[JamesSavik]

Brian Kenny from QAF? (the American one)

 

I don't really know. I've yet to meet one.

 

The film and TV versions of gay people are usually silly and weak. 

 

Comic relief. 

[Former Member]

On 10/4/2018 at 10:07 PM, Wesley8890 said:

This was actually the first time I've admitted to liking to wear makeup 💄

The mascara isn’t considered makeup?  ;–)

 

 

In addition to most of them names mentioned above, I’d add Neil Tennant, Holly Johnson, Tom ‘Glad to be Gay’ Robinson, Sylvester, Jill Sobule, kd lang, and Melissa Etheridge.

 

And honorary members of the LGBTQ family including Annie Lennox, Billy Bragg*, and Madonna.

 

And then there are all the LGBTQ movie & TV directors and LGBTQ writers…

 

 

* How many other straight guys wrote and sang lyrics like this in the early ‘90s?

Trust
🎶

He's already been inside me
And he really didn't say
And I really didn't ask him
I just hoped and prayed

He's already been inside me
And I really don't feel well
I keep looking in the mirror
But it's hard to tell

Will he stay by me and take my hand
And hold me till I sleep
Or will he crumble and fall to the floor
And weep
Oh feeble man, oh evil man

He's already been inside me
Would he have told me if he cared?
I know I ought to find out
But I'm much too scared

He's already been inside me
And I know it can't be good
Nothing feels
The way it should

Will he hold me in his arms again
And wipe away my tears
Or has he already taken
My best years
Oh evil man, oh feeble man

🎶

Edited October 17, 2018 by Former Member

[Thorn Wilde]

Don't know if he's actually an icon, but Rob Halford of Judas Priest probably at least made a few machismo metal fans a bit less homophobic when he came out. Of course, how anyone could have missed the fact that he was gay, given his dress style and songs like Hellbent for Leather and Turbo Lover, is utterly beyond me.

[Former Member]

4 minutes ago, Thorn Wilde said:

Don't know if he's actually an icon, but Rob Halford of Judas Priest probably at least made a few machismo metal fans a bit less homophobic when he came out. Of course, how anyone could have missed the fact that he was gay, given his dress style and songs like Hellbent for Leather and Turbo Lover, is utterly beyond me.

Back in the ‘70s, I had no clue that Freddie Mercury was Gay even though his group was named Queen. Of course, I was still in high school and still in the closet at the time. I didn’t realize that his mustache was part of the Castro Clone look. I had no idea what Queen implied.  ;–)

[Saraband]

I'm loving ALL of this. Especially the Freddie love (although I confess to being a raging Brian May fan, myself, appropos of nothing).

 

I have to add Justin Tranter, formerly of Semi-Precious Weapons and currently one of the top bitches of the songwriting business (accorded the title by RuPaul himself). Tranter's first really big moment from the writing room was his contribution to the Fall Out Boy song "Centuries:" he wrote the chorus. The chorus that goes "you'll remember me for centuries," to the tune of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" and in the words of Marsha P. Johnson -- who originally said them to a camera. Probably 99.98% of the people who know that song do NOT know of Marsha P. Johnson, let alone the debt the queer world owes her. But Justin Tranter is sly, and is committed to bringing queer thoughts into the mainstream. And I love him for that, even if I don't give a crap about Fall Out Boy.

[Former Member]

33 minutes ago, Saraband said:

Probably 99.98% of the people who know that song do NOT know of Marsha P. Johnson, let alone the debt the queer world owes her.

There are two documentaries about Marsha P Johnson. Pay It No Mind – The Life and Times of Marsha P Johnson (2012) and The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson (2017). The newer one follows a Transwoman as she investigates Johnson’s murder.

[Saraband]

16 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

There are two documentaries about Marsha P Johnson. Pay It No Mind – The Life and Times of Marsha P Johnson (2012) and The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson (2017). The newer one follows a Transwoman as she investigates Johnson’s murder.

 

At least one of those doco's contains the footage wherein Marsha says the words :). I don't remember which; I've only seen part of each one. (I may be a terrible person -- especially as a historian -- but I really can't watch documentaries for fun.)

[Former Member]

5 minutes ago, Saraband said:

…as a historian…

Since I’m not a historian, I watch them for educational or entertainment purposes. KQED (San Francisco’s PBS station) broadcasted many documentaries that explained LGBT history to me. Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, has shown me even more and in a much wider variety than KQED ever did. I’ve learned about all sorts of segments of our community that I didn’t know anything about. Many have been from countries not usually seen in the LGBTQ context (except, in some cases, as a place to visit on vacation). In the last couple years, I’ve seen documentaries from Waziristan in Pakistan, Jamaica, Japan, and the Kingdom of Tonga – even one mostly filmed in the foreign (to me!) land of Atlanta! Over the years, I’ve seen many movies about the experiences of Trans people. A year or two ago, there were several about the legalization of Gays in the UK more than 50 years ago. I learned a whole lot more about the four Lesbians who were elected to California’s Assembly, paving the way for the Gay men and other Lesbians who followed in their footsteps!

 

One lesson I learned from all of those documentaries (and fictionalized historical narratives) was that Trans People, People of Color, women, and effeminate Gay men were often fighting for our rights while less obviously Gay men ‘passed’ while hiding in the closet. We need to acknowledge our actual history, not just the whitewashed version that some try to pass off as accurate. I appreciate what our forerunners did to make my life easier and safer. We need to pay it forward!

[Thorn Wilde]

Ooh, thanks for mentioning Marsha P Johnson, @Saraband! You're right, so many forget about her. They also forget that Stonewall was a riot.

 

Also, as far as Queen goes, I've always had a soft spot for John Deacon. He was the prettiest one. Also, bass players are awesome.

Edited October 9, 2018 by Thorn Wilde

[Former Member]

On 10/5/2018 at 5:10 AM, Carlos Hazday said:

Larry Kramer.

 

From writing Faggots and The Normal Heart, to pro GLBT and HIV+ activism, he's done it all. Talented, opinionated, and passionate, the man has done as much for his community as anyone else I've heard of.

In the role of angry old man, San Francisco has Cleve Jones…  ;–)

 

 

And then there’s Armistead Maupin, author of the Tales of the City series. A man who gentle humor became a must-read when his stories were serialized in the local newspaper beginning in the ‘70s. The fist book was turned into a miniseries that was, at the time, PBS’s most watched miniseries ever. It also became the target of venom and vitriol in Congress, being an early excuse to cutoff funding for PBS. The second and third books were also turned into miniseries and were shown on Showtime. Netflix is set to premiere a ten episode continuation of the series in 2019 with Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, and Barbara Garrick returning – Ellen Page will play a grownup Shawna! The book series one of the 100 best novels on PBS’s The Great American Read.

Edited October 9, 2018 by Former Member

[Carlos Hazday]

1 hour ago, droughtquake said:

In the role of angry old man, San Francisco has Cleve Jones

Never met Cleve, but have read some about him, and heard plenty of stories from people associated with the Names Project when I worked on a few Quilt displays in South Florida. I honored his legacy by having the main character of my series arrange for a few panels to be displayed at his school. A little history for the youngsters who didn't live through the holocaust.

 

1 hour ago, droughtquake said:

And then there’s Armistead Maupin

Love him. Somebody gave me the first book as a Christmas present years ago; I devoured the others within a month. I shared a link to that same series of mine with the president of Washington's gay rugby club when I decided to include the Scandals in my story. He paid me the hugest compliment when he said my amateurish attempt reminded him of Tales of the City.

Edited October 9, 2018 by Carlos Hazday